Morning all.
Well that was all very different to Saturdays 6-0 drubbing of Lyon. Wolfsburg were more disciplined defensively, quite rough too at times especially with Jack Wilshere but eventually, one slick move opened the door and that was enough to win the game.
The German side had the better of the opening stages of the game and could so easily gone ahead through Bendtner but our old boy made a right hash of things.
Just after twenty minutes, our first real chance came. Ozil was instrumental in the build up, but like Bendtner, Walcott fluffed his lines. He should have buried that chance.
Bendtner and Klose had further opportunities before the half-time whistle blew as did Ozil but the score remained even as they went off for tea and stickies…
Early into the second half and young Reine-Adelaide showed why Arsene Wenger rates him so highly. He was under a bit of pressure in midfield but managed to create a bit of space and off he went towards goal. Walcott had made a run through the middle, one which the young Frenchman spotted. A perfect pass was followed by a perfect finish.
The same two players nearly made it 2-0 but credit to the Wolfsburg keeper who was quick to leave his post and clear the ball.
Up the other end, Cech was showing why Wenger was so determined to sign him. Everything he did was assured and done with ease. More testing times are no doubt ahead of him but so far, so darn good. Joshua Guilavogui will probably agree as his long range was kept out by the big Czech…
On the hour mark, changes were made and on came Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey. Chamberlain went on a similar run as he did on Saturday but there was no goal this time in fact this time he passed to Ramsey who tried a cheeky chip on goal. It went high and wide.
Chuba Akpom, who had replaced Ozil at half-time went close to making it 2-0 as did Isaac Hayden….
Nikki B got a standing ovation (cough) when he left the itch with ten minutes to go and Arsenal held on to win the match and with it, lift The Emirates Cup for the first time in a while. The players (apart from Lyon who had apparently sulked off home a bit like their French counterparts at Le Tour), stuck around and chatted together as the fans showed their appreciation and then that was that.
Saturday showed us that when teams are open and try to attack us, we’ll destroy them with ease. Yesterday showed us that when sides defend well and are more disciplined, it’s harder for us to break them down although we created a few good chances, we just didn’t take enough to make the victory more convincing.
And let’s not forget, Wolfsburg had more than their fair of chances too and at times it was all a bit too easy for them when on the attack. If we defend and I mean as a team in such a manner against the ‘better’ sides this season, Cech may not be able to save us. We all have our own views as to why Wolfsburg found it a bit too easy and no doubt you’ll share them in the comments.
Younger players were on show over the weekend and imo, they all looked pretty much at home within the team but how much they’ll feature for the first team remains to be seen. Who the manager signs before September 1st and injuries during the season could determine that. As of course will potential loan spells although Arsene Wenger has confirmed Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi are going nowhere. Both will train with the first team and play for the under 21’s.
At least it looks like we finally have a bunch of players in the Academy who will push for a place in the first team as long as they continue to work hard and improve. And be patient!
Gossip:
- French publication L’Equipe are reporting that Arsenal and Bayern Munich will this summer attempt to prise Kingsley Coman away from Juventus.
- TalkSport report that Arsenal are in pole position to sign Juventus Spanish striker Fernando Llorente.
- The Telegraph report that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make an increased bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema after an initial offer of £31 million was rejected.
- The Metro report Arsenal are hopeful of wrapping up a deal for Barcelona midfielder Sergi Samper in the next few weeks.
That’s it for Monday….
Good post boss.
Hi Rico
Great post. Like you I’m even more optomistic than usual – we have basically two teams who play as well as each other and the players are interchangable, with good ones coming through..Wolfsburg were exactly the type of team we have trouble with, pressing hard and defending in packs, but we didn’t lose our way and get frustrated like we’ve done in the past.
My only problem with Petr is that his kicking for touch is rubbish – we’ve got used to Arsenal goalies being very good at kicking for touch 🙂
I’m surprised the the Turds are not buying Trasch – they usually do.
Cheers
Brian
Thanks Devil, Brian and morning to you all..
🙂 re Cech, Devil and I were talking about that when they were in Singapore, seems odd seeing a goal kick go to an Arsenal player… lol
Great post as usual, Rico…
In Wenger’s shoes, I’d zip the purse shut, start with the players I have and wait for January…
It’s credit to football that instead of going all out to buy Samir Khedira and Dani Alves…Wenger promoted Coquelin and Bellerin….
This season, Iwobi, Akpon, JRA may yet add to the growing list of players the football world should be yearning to see. No one enjoys seeing the Messis and Ronaldos season after season!
GM all. Good post Boss Lady!
RIP Bobbi Kristina Brown!
Morning Rico and all, good post
Cech will be immense for us, its the 1st time since we had the big german in goal i feel confident
Thanks Gdna & Tai, I wouldn’t.. lol
Very sad news Gdna…
Got to dash, few things to do, back in a bit…
Top post, as always.
Morning all.
Tai, is spending money to improve the squad a problem or an advantage?
Very good read Rico.
Tai are you Stan’s accountant? 🙂
I would like to ask those who saw the 2nd half……how did Hayden do? as he an improvement on Arteta? did he bring Coquelin team like qualities to the team? I know he had a good shot saved but that is all. Do you feel confident with him in that position??
Dev- Hayden brought energy to the game when Wolfsburg were pushing upfield for a goal…; Hayden is just coming back from over a year out..
Hayden is not ready to be an improvement on Arteta imho… Arteta had a very steady game. He won the ball that fed JRA who then assisted Theo…
Lol… Mg- did Cech become a Krauts recently? 🙂
Tottenham and Liverpool spent a fortune last year….that worked wonders lol
Why is it so may STILL see spending as THE way to success??
What did Citeh spend in recent years?
What did they win last season?
You got to laugh when the media link every French kid to Arsenal…
Another CAM/winger… the last I checked we had so many of those 1 or 2 were being played as CDM. lol
Scott- Shitty have spent £930 million pounds in 9 years. 🙂 Bigger than most developing countries GDP.
So far as a club/manager spends £60m on a player every season in order to take our minds of serious issues around the world we may be happy… 😉
Scott- One of the ex-pro’s tried to excuse the sperds mismanagement by citing that the £80m was Bale money so it pales in comaparison to what we have spent and just finished 3rd or 4th… 😀 😀
Ginge, it’s a farcical situation, IMO.
UEFA and FIFA have a lot to answer for.
Ambition is not comparing Arsenal with Liverpool and Spurs.
Last 5 years spending…
The first number is total spend and the last number is average annual net spend
1.Manchester United £405,200,000 £65,560,000
2 Manchester City £385,700,000 £47,080,000
4 Chelsea £416,509,000 £37,231,800
3 Liverpool £349,000,000 ; £35,126,000
5 Arsenal £253,625,000 ;spend £19,805,000
I see only 1 over achiever on that table… but maybe I am biased. 🙂
Scott- We need 2 more players to compete but any person can name Vidal/Schneiderlein or Benzema as the players we should buy… imho.
DNA…
Spending money on the right quality for a position you truly need to improve is good. But when you buy Vidal for that b2b role where you have Ramsey and Wilshere…though both not exactly in Vidal’s class yet but still growing to that level…it’s killing the future of Ramsey who steps permanently to the bench. For whatever Vidal will bring, sacrificing the promises of Ramsey and Wilshere for that is not worth the candle.
Neither would I welcome any striker that would not only push Giroud to the bench but also limit the appearances of Walcott through the middle…
I wouldn’t want any DM that would confine Coquelin to the bench …
So where else do we need to strengthen?
Splash the cash and kill team spirit? Managing Cech taking over no 1 spot is Herculean enough…signing players for the sake of signing to me is negative management.
Because we have Chamberlain, nobody seems to appreciate his quality…he needs playing time this season! So does Wilshere…Chambers, Gnabry, Akpom, Iwobi …and somewhere, there’s Welbeck.
Ginge, and any anyone with no imagination can suggest spending is all that’s required…….but then say we shouldn’t be compared to clubs that spend and fail lol.
God it’s hard 🙂 🙂
Tai, but we simply MUST spend.
I mean, what else is there to do?
Spending…..Citeh showed last season it guarantees success.
So did Liverpool and Tottenham.
Spend on world class players like Falcao.
Spend…spend…spend….
Sure Scot…I think the football world has gone outright lazy…spend , spend , spend on players…nobody cares to build them. Unfortunately for Arsenal fans who crave to join the bandwagon, Wenger still is interested in building.
Ok, I’m being facetious, but seriously, there is more to buying the right player than simply spending the most amount of money.
With Coquelin, Arteta and a few young guys, which DM should we buy?
One that is going to be content sharing game time with Coquelin, or a guy who wants a guarantee of first team football?
Scott. Who, on here, is advocating that we just spend?
Tai I am with you again. As I have said earlier….I would spend silly money on only Bale and Ronaldo since their bodies are built like gladiators, however many seem to forget that for every player who costs big bucks you must remove someone from the team. Let’s say AW bought MS from S’oton for 25mill. would he have bought him just to be understudy to Le Coq? Or benched Le Coq to play MS?
as you said……would you buy Vidal for 28 mill and leave him on the bench if AR and JW or SC are playing well? I doubt AW would do it.
no I do not see AW buying any superstar atm. He might buy good backups to what we have, players who are good on the verge of becoming greats but yet can sit down on the bench for some time.
Imagine an attack with Sanchez, Ronaldo and Bale. Would Theo, Ollie, Welbeck, Chamberlain etc just be happy to accept rotation and play only a few games? what if Sanchez, Ronaldo and Bale go a whole season without getting injured??
Unless we improve on what we have there is no need to buy just for the sake of buying it.
Tai, I think Wenger has the balance nearly spot on.
Ozil and Sanchez show he will spend, but he also doesn’t have to pay 49 million for a ok player like Sterling to balance the ledger as far as homegrown players are concerned.
Good post rico, have no BT so enjoyed the report.
Devil. The players you mention have spent so much time out injured that they do in fact only play a few games.
Come on Scott you know what it’s like some fans think if you spend large amounts of cash the team is sure to win the PL.
But as tsgh’s money table shows that’s not true and they seem to forget in the last three summer transfer windows Arsenal has bought three world class players.
But this transfer window we got a world class player for very little money but it’s not enough I agree withTai I’d be happy if all we bought was Čech.
Adam,
The comments are there for all to see.
Everyone can make up their own minds….
Devil, that’s what I’ve been saying….why buy a top class DM when we already have one?
Neither will want to sit on the bench, and soon enough, one will want out.
Best off having an older guy, IMO….one content to play a bit part.
Alternatively, one that can rotate between DM and another spot.
Joe, I still think we need some cover at DM, but not a big gun….too much room for conflict, IMO.
Someone defensive minded who can play a few roles, IMO.
Scott. I can’t see them though.
Look harder 🙂
I think the answer is much simpler than that. 🙂
It’s simple alright, Adam.
My 11.47 said it.
As I said, the comments are there to see.
Scott……That is why I asked about Hayden’s performance yesterday. Is he someone who AW can trust to provide a bit of competition to Le Coq and deputise for him when not playing?
I have always like Arteta, before he came to us, but now at his age his legs have gone a bit. Can he bring the same impetus and team qualities that Coquelin does? imo not anymore. They are both different.
Did the team become stronger with Hayden on the pitch??
I asked Tai a simple question and look what it escalated into, didn’t CFC spend less than Arsenal last year and won the league? People acting like Arsenal don’t spend silly too, what about paying Sanogo? Didn’t Welbeck and Chambers command a combine fee of approximately 30+ million.
Oh ok. That answers that then.
Devil, I never saw the game…….no highlights, either.
I’ve never seen the kid play, to my best knowledge, so can’t comment.
Do you think Arteta can still do a job against some teams?
We need competition in the spine of the team.
I think we need a back up for Per. I doubt Chambers , Kosser and Gabriel offer what Per offers.
Maybe Monreal can read the game as well as Per but CB is not his natural position.
We still need a backup for Ramsey more than LE Coq but that may just be my view. We do not have a box to box CM in the mould of Ramsey especially in the big games where we have played Stoke/Crystal Palace, travelled to South Europe and then going to play Chelsea/Yanited or City the following Saturday at 12pm away…
I find it funny how fans class Ox needs more games to show his class when he has played 35+ games per season over the last 3 seasons but is still in learning but is judged to be a player we can rely on…
I’d be ok with cover for Coq been purchased but as my comments over recent weeks I never thought it would be a 25m plus player and if Wenger can’t get a player that’s better than a player at the club already he won’t bother.
Afternoon all
TS. If he gets an injury free season I think that Ox will prove extremely valuable. When he is on the move from wide, he is almost unstoppable. Otherwise, I think that’s a fair asessment. Personally I would add the central striker proviso, but that’s just me.
Tsgh is it a size issue with Kos, Gabriel and Chambers 🙂 do you want another 6’7″ cb at the club.
The goal Ox scored v Lyon showed him at his best, IMO.
One thing I’ve always liked about him…though there’s plenty to like….is his willingness to shoot from range.
I reckon he still has upside to him, Ginge.
Scott….against some teams yes. Albeit only 3 to 5 teams. so that makes it only 6 to 10 games a season. Teams like Bournemouth, Watford, WHU can be games where Arteta takes over from Le coq. He can even chip in for the last 20 mins for other games which are already won so that Coquelin can rest. However I feel this should be his last season. not anymore, not even one. If I was in his position I would retire at the end and take up a coaching post at the club. the young ones at Hale end love him so he knows that he is secure for the future. And yes personally I would like to see him and Per as coaches at the club when they hang up their boots. They are good readers of the game and what they bring to the team on the pitch is similiar to what a good coach brings to any team.
We have to remember that they turned the team around after that 3-8 reverse at OT.
Ginge…..as I said……Gabriel competes with Kos not with Per. The season after next will see a CB combo of Gabriel and Chambers. MArk my words.
Devil, even half a dozen games a year, combined with some Cup ties and even the odd CL game offers Coquelin a break….is it enough?
That’s the 8 million dollar question 🙂
Bender
Good post Rico……I still think we need another cf as I don’t think Theo is good there so to welbeck and giroud can’t do it alone
Afternoon All…
Rico, that was a stupendous post… 🙂
After all this spend some f…… money stuff. I must say I enjoyed both matchs over the weekend it was nice to see what we could do against a team who thaught they could play open football against us.
And how we played against a good German team that was organized and had some good players.
I concur Dev with CB assessment
Giroud seems to be a vital cog in the way Wenger wants the team to attack…
OG12 at the apex, with fast wingmen and midfielders linking and playing off him…
Welbeck is a different option.
Walcott is another.
Sanchez yet another…
So if Wenger was looking to suppliment or upgrade Giroud then I suppose a similar striker is what he would want.
A Llorente, or a Dzeko, maybe a Benzema as we don’t have another Giroud type at the club…
Benzema would be expensive to buy and his wages would be astronomical…
Llorente and Dzeko would be a cheaper option as far as a transfer fee is concerned.
Akpom may develop into a centre-forward eventually, but he needs games…
I don’t know what the answer is, but I suspect that it’ll be based around finance and the way Arsenal start the season…
Lol Joe. nothing to do with size but more of a player similar to Canavario, Tony Adams or Desaily type of defending.
Reason Chelsea can’t replace that person at the bridge at CB but are buying Stone to be and understudy imo. even though they have Cahill, Zouma, Ivanovic who can play CB
I am with you Adam on Ox,I believe the sky is his limit but Ox still played 42 games last season and scored 4 goals. Yes it may be argued that he needs to have an injury free season to accomplish is potential…
Also the season before he played 23 games and scored 3 goals. the season before that he played 40 games and scored 5 goals. So in my view he gets enough games.
The question now is why is he starting 42 games and how many more games should he start to for him to achieve what we thing he is capable of?
Personally, I find Ox very exciting but running with the ball and losing it and then putting your team under huge strain does not do it for me..
Gotze at 21 y.o 2 years ago was scoring 15+ goals out of 42 games playing in a similar position to Ox
However one may look at it, it is not good enough for a right winger/attacker; certainly not a player we can rely upon. In my view Ox should be ushered in ‘softly’ as I see him as an impact player…
Kev- I think you are spot on.
Saying that I watch enough Juve to know Llorente will be a huge gamble as he fell behind Morata and Tevez.
In my view, OG12’s relevance to how the team places is hugely undervalued.
TS. But didn’t Arsene try AOC centrally a few times where he lost the ball in dangerous situations? Perhaps even for the killer goal against Monaco. Having said that, he did also score a great goal against them. I think he is incredibly useful, easpecially when he runs at defenders, forcing them to make decisions. I would see him wide right for the coming season at least but he can finish from there too.
We could certainly do with another striker…
If we can get a younger Inzaghi or Shearer or Andy Cole. lol
Llorente will be good. but not at the 11 million mentioned. I would not part with more than 5/6 million for him. But he will be good for AFC to rest Ollie. Although I feel that Akpom can do a similiar job.
Juve do not play the same way as AFC do. As KEv said….Ollie is a vital cog in the way our team plays. Llorente can do the same job when Ollie is to be rested.
I’m with Adam on AOC, he is very dangerous when attacking from wide positions.
He is also still very young and had a lot to learn.
I’m not sure if I see him playing centrally, we have so many players who can already fulfil that task…
I’d keep him wide and set him a target of 12 goals this season, a la Freddie…
You are very wise, Coach… 😉
Tsgh I don’t remember you telling us that Wolfsburg had beaten Bayern 4-1 last season in the build up to emirates cup.
Ok, I gotta go back to work, I’ll leave you lot to discuss our prospects, from the settee…
Lata
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Rico – Good summary of the game and the questions it poses and/or doesn’t quite answer. You can never fully judge a team’s readiness from preseason games, but they can give you an indication.
Kev – I think you’re correct about Arsene still having questions about what the team may or may not need in the way of new recruits. I think next weekend’s game will make up his mind.
Personally, I think we need backup for Le Coq. If there are no suitable candidates in the Academy/U21 teams that could step-up this season, we need to buy a CDM. It doesn’t have to be a seasoned international, but a promising young player who could learn from Arteta in what should/will be his final year as an Arsenal player.
There is a fine balance to be struck when bringing in new players. The necessity of meeting the immediate needs of the team while not interfering with the the advancement and progression of current first team players and contenders from the club’s Academy.
Ginge – I missed our Saturday game. How did your favourite CDM, Maxim Gonalons, do against the Arsenal?
I wouldn’t want to fix anything in the squad. Every position is still covered with a 2-3 competitive players.
Tipping Theo for cf role to compete with Ollie. On the right flank Ox Welbeck and Ramsey (Wenger plays him there) can cover there.
Left it’s Alexis spot though Welbz can deputise there too.
The tricky CDM position is where am unsure of. If flamini-which i think he should leaves it’s only ideal le prof signs a competitive deputy for le coq.
At 6ft 5ins Llorente would be very good against teams who like to play air ball instead of football. I prefer him to Dzeko. In England he would prefer it much more than Italy where defences are more tighter.
But would he want to play understudy to Ollie?? Or he would grasp his chance and shine?
He is 30 after all. Cant see him giving us more than two seasons…max 3.
You are right he was played centrally on some occasions.
His goal against Monaco was superb.
Ox is very dangerous when he comes on in my view especially when games are cagey.I think his influence on games is lower when he starts in games…
That might just be me being too harsh on him even though I rate Ox very highly.
I just think like Gotze, Draxler, Depay, Dybala, Isco who are as exciting as Ox is they have less influence on games when they start.
Moreover, when Ox starts with Bellerin behind him I think Bellerins work load is increased as opposed to having Welbz or Sanchez or even Ramsey playing on the rhs…
Maxim went missing Cg. lol
Dev- you have a point in the Juve playing differently to us; But you might know better, not sure how a 30 y.o who has scored over 20 games only 1 time since 2005 is so highly regarded?
Joe – I don’t know it all.. 😛 it escaped me…
Wolfsburg are a solid team; remember Gustavo and
over 24 goals per season even…
That is why I would not pay more than 5/6 million for him Ginge. He will be a good back up/rotation for Ollie to rest him or when we want to bombard teams. But not as a regular.
over 40 million for Benzema?? we will be just paying over te odds for a name.
Afternoon all…
Thanks re the post guys…
Just going to catch up…
Hi Rico.
Dev- I think £5 to £7m is a fair fee for Llorente as you have said.
Hope all is well Cg?
Please don’t say we are signing an ‘old Crouch’… 😉
Cg- Lacasette, Gonalons, Grenier all got stage fright. 😉
Only Fekir sort of redeemed himself…
The new manager Fournier won’t last if he goes about conceding as many goals…
Then again they say pre-season is meaningless and so…
On our part we have had similarly good pre-seasons and started the season half asleep and so no resting on laurels for the boys I hope…
Joe- I meant … remember Gustavo, Perisivic and Arnold did not start.
Also Vieirinha is normally a RB/RW but played CM yesterday in absence of Arnold and Gustavo.
I know it wasn’t our full team either…
I think we might face Wolfsburg I the group stages of the UCL..
ha ha Rico. he is tall and has eyes eyes. 😉
Benzema is not playing for Real against inter seems he’s “injured” or could it be……..
Stop it that way lays madness
Joe- Benzema is heading to Yanited. 😉 and currently posing with Witsel’s ex-girl.
Wolfsburg are a good team and you know how much trouble we have had with German teams of late.
Arnold and Santi did seem to get on 🙂
Darn the eyes Ts! 😉
Benzema to Utd, really?
What another woman that’s going through high paid footballers, tsgh I find it hard to believe that.
Since Sagna has left Arsenal we seem to be very short on wag news.
James has just scored great free kick
lol Joe. Joe- I read she has a well stamped log book if you get my drift. 🙂
No offence to anyone btw.. but I thought Benzema was fasting?
For wag news speak to Dev…; it use to be Dev and Goonie but goonie claims to be a red-neck born again trainee televangelist. 🙂
Rico- Well I know you and Lee have a thing for eyes.
I wonder why no one is going in for James? A tad over rated for £60m+ but inflation and all so I guess it is warranted. 🙂
Metro 🙂 🙂
Arsenal are ready to sign Rolando Aarons with the winger’s contract row continuing with Newcastle United, according to reports.
Aarons’ future has been up in the air in recent weeks with the player struggling to agree terms on a contract extension with the Magpies.
New talks had apparently been held to get things sorted out, but the Daily Express says that’s not true – and Arsenal are now looking to sign him.
Liverpool are also known to be keen on the attacker who is rated as one of the most exciting talents in England.
This would be some deal!
Not any old eyes though Ts… 😉
lol.. cheeky Rico.
Just for your entertainment AW will scupper NUFC’s deal for Chancel Mbemba. Hope you check his birth certificate.
Joe- how did Kondogbia play?
Gdna, your last comment went into moderation, possibly because of some of the content which I have edited and removed..
No agenda here, so please don’t think that’s the case…
Just respectful debate and no ‘C’ word, that’s all what is asked….
I didn’t seeinter vs RM game but judging for some comments in the media it will appear Munchini has a long season ahead… lol
lol rumour is Psg have made a bid for CR07. £120m? 🙂
Jovetic signing for Inter is interesting…
Tsgh only heard he’s name mentioned once didn’t know he was playing till he was mentioned.
Ginge – My apologies for the delay in replying, but I’m having a few computer problems. Other than that, I am very well than you. I trust you are the same.
Thanks for your opinions regarding the other Lyon players – “…Lacasette, Gonalons, Grenier all got stage fright. ?
Only Fekir sort of redeemed himself…”
As for “…Then again they say pre-season is meaningless and so…”. I don’t think it is meaningless. It can/should give you an indication of team cohesion and fitness. Depending on the level of the competition, it can give you an indication of your team’s strengths and weaknesses. I think the Everton game in the Asia Cup and the Wolfsburg game in the Emirates Cup showed us where we were at. Next week’s game against Chelski should further the assessment.
I think Arsene will bring in one or two more recruits, but that may not be until the end of the window, when the selling clubs are more likely to deal at Arsene’s valuations for the player(s).
With that, I’m off for the night(morning). I’ll catch up another day.
Rico, I asked Tai a honest question to which he answer. I wasn’t trying to provoke anyone, most of my post might come off as being harsh or critical of players or whatever, because I’m tired of sitting and sprinkling fairy dust, I have been doing it for years now and the at the end of the season I blame referee, injuries and oil money and keep recycling the same excuses. Even without injuries I still see this squad as best 3rd/4th, we added Chec who was second choice at the CFC, why am I going to suddenly start believing we are a stronger team than they are?
Darn internet!!! 🙁
Gdna, I didn’t suggest you were trying to provoke anyone…
We all have different views and all have different ways of putting them across. I personally don’t think think we are that far away from winning big things, but I do think we are a couple of players away from doing so…
Cech is great start but ….
Night Cg…
quote Gdna
“I blame referee, injuries and oil money and keep recycling the same excuses”
if something is a fact it aint an excuse, its a reason, an explanation, but not an excuse, there is a difference.
any of you going to Members Day tomorrow at the Emirates, if not you can watch it live on Arsenal Player from 11am, its normally a bit boring viewing, but hey its better than nothing.
Rico, I agree we aren’t far away from winning the PL, I honestly do, I’m just hoping for 2 more major addition to team to have a genuine belief that we can seriously challenge, even though that doesn’t guarantee we win the PL. I think if we improve and failed because of the financial power of others or whatever other circumstances , fans will genuinely understand and appreciate the intent. imo
Eduardo, analyze it as u like, all team gets referee decisions over the season, most of our injuries are caused by overplaying players/rotation and Oil Money Chelsea spend less than us last year and won the league, so for me its an excuse.
Eduardo, actually, I am not sure it’s factual as many other sides suffer similar referee problems. Injury, yes, that’s factual as we seem to suffer more than most.
Money, well in the past we haven’t had much, but now we do so no excuses. In fact Ivan said said we have had money for a couple of summers now but I do agree with AW when he says too many players at one time is risky and other clubs happy spending supports that view…
But, imo, two more and we are great to go….
Gdna, I pretty much agree with you. If we get to Sept 1st and we are saying ‘wow, now that’s a bloody good squad’ then i’ll be happy and if we don’t win the league but come really close having truly competed all season then that will be the time to put hands up and give credit to whoever wins.
I know fans have their favourites and believe certain players can ‘fit in if needed’ but for me, Coquelin can’t do it alone and as much as this will upset Ts and others, Arteta needs to be used as a last resort imo or in a more advanced role where so much is not expected of his legs.
Up front, well a top top striker wouldn’t go a miss and as much as I respect others views that we have many options and I too think we do, I’m not wholeheartedly convinced it’s enough but instead of a striker, I lean towards a winger – someone like Reyes or Bobby who get the goals we are missing…
Finding someone like that is the problem, especially someone who will walk into the dressing room and fit right in….
Reus springs to mind though….. 😉
Would Chelsea have won the league with Cech in goal for them this season, I’d say yes and probably sooner than what they did, great signing for a sloppy second !
Too right they would Micko…
I don’t get the Cech questioning myself but that’s one to keep and say ‘i told you so’… lol
gdna you can’t take what is spent in one summer by a team and ignore what was spent on the squad overall, that is stupid economics, the chelsea squad overall cost way more, just as the man city squad and man utds have too.
rico you say cos we have money now we can have no excuses, but you also say we need a top striker and a top midfielder, so unless the top players we want are at clubs a lot worse off than Arsenal then having money makes little difference, we don’t have the sort of money that will make Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, probably Tottnum or Liverpool either, and of course Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or PSG sell us one of their top players if they don’t want to.
For example why should Real Madrid sell us Benzema if they really don’t want to, and few players force their way out of a club like Real Madrid. To say cos we have money there can be no excuses for us not signing the top class players verges very much on the idea that buying players in real life is like buying one in a computer game.
It takes three to tango, sometimes even more, we need the player, his club, many times his family, all to be agreeable to the move, and then we need it to be within our scope money wise, not only transfer fee, but wages too, bring someone in on way more money than our top players and most if not all of them will demand a pay rise too.
Yes we have lots of money, and if a top players moves within our range then it can’t be used as an excuse, but if his club don’t sell him or have no need to sell him, or if the player just does not want to join us, then what are we meant to do. I’ve seen some say we should make Real Madrid an offer for Benzema that they can not refuse, but even that term needs explaining, with the sort of money Real have, what is an offer they can not refuse, (reports suggest they have turned down an £85M bid for 30 year old Ronaldo, and an £80M bid for Bale),. If we want Benzema and Real make him available we can not make an excuse for not signing him(if he is someone we want) even if the asking price is £5M to £10M more than we think he should cost. How far over the top should we go on his wages if that is what he demands £1M, £2M, £3M a year more than we think he is worth, how much over the top in transfer fee or wages does it take before a reason is called an excuse and we are told by Gooners “no excuses”.
the problem is far too few fans consider the realities of what it takes to get a transfer done, especially one where a club has to “force the issue”.
The statement that it all evens out in the end over refeering decisions is wrong the evidence is in front of your eyes during any given match or season.
If you don’t trust your own eyes their is more than one site on the web that has all the facts necessary in writing(stats 😉 ).
By the way refs changed the kind of decisions they where given for us or against us at the start of this year.
With this and effect injuries where having on the team abated we won an FA cup and had the most points accumulated in the last 19 PL games.
Rico I’m not actually sure on what your stance is on “competing for the league” is, by that I mean I hear so many fans say as long as we “compete for the league all season” is all I ask for, but in many other statements they make, its clear that even if we went the full season unbeaten in the league and lost out on goal difference, they would say it was not good enough, they would say “our squad/team was not good enough” and of course there can be “no excuses” for that.
For God’s sake we have a fair few fans who say “even if we win the league and/or CL I want wenger gone”, do you really think being at the top or near the top all season but not winning it would be greeted with anything other than the usual shitstorm of whinging and soundbites. Only two seasons ago we led the table for most of the season, and ended up only 7 points off top spot, but a very large amount of Gooners said “we did not compete for the league”.
For me in the most part when our fans say “all I want is for us to compete for the league” is actually code for “nothing other than winning the league will do me” and I will have my “excuse” to complain.
again Rico I don’t know where you sit on this so please don’t take it as I’m having a go at you or claiming you are one of those using “code”, I am making a general point on it, and only mention you as you used the phrase “happy if we compete for the league”, as I too am a fan who is happy if we compete for the league, and not one who demands we win the league, even if that demand is hidden behind “compete for the league”
spot on joe, and also when a points costing decision happens also matters, its no big deal if like CFC last season when a few debatable decisions went against them when they were ten to fifteen points ahead in the league with games running out, but it is a big deal if it happens when you have had a couple of draws or defeats in a row and then your hit by bad calls, an iffy run can be made into a bad run or an awful run, same too if you are just putting a good run together and wham, the ref fucks you up, confidence is hit, and can mean more points is dropped in the next game.
Eduardo, last season was the best 1 since 08 for AFC to win the league, what happened? Excuses!!
no gdna, a better team won the league, a team that cost way more than ours, whose wage bill is also well above ours. and in fact I would say the season before last was the better chance of winning the league, and as I said before you confuse someone stating a reason for dropped points as “excuses”, but that is your Modus Operandi. I do wonder if someone gives the reason why we won a game you call it excuses too.
Joe, didn’t Arsenal get a big decision at Old Trafford in the FA Cup Semi when HB could have been sent off for taking out Ashley Young? Michael Oliver also made two good call when both Man U players was booked for diving. Those call if didn’t go the right way could have cost us the FA Cup. imo
Eduardo, did you simply miss my:
‘Finding someone like that is the problem, especially someone who will walk into the dressing room and fit right in….’ ??
Also, haven’t my previous posts said that other clubs may not want to sell or players won’t move?
Doesn’t mean there can’t be an alternative target does it…..
ah now a call is going our way even when you state it was the right call, ah all is clear now.
Gnda and what cost us the league in 2008 injuries and refs and I feel we had a better crack at it in 2013-2014 season.
I didn’t say a top midfielder Eduardo! I didn’t even say a top striker other than signing one would’ be unwelcome….
rico, I, as explained, was making a general point, not one at you regarding transfers, I only asked for clarity about the “competing for the league” line, and again as explained i was talking in general terms, unless you were indeed talking in “code”. like those I was referring to.
Joe, don’t throw that bloody ref thing up again… 😉
West Ham have completed the signing of 17 year old George Dobson from Arsenal, he mainly played in defense for AFC, but did feature in midfield too. He had only signed pro with AFC during last season, but it was reported that he thought there were too many others ahead of him at Arsenal and his best chance at making it was to move on, Newcastle tried very hard to sign him.
Gdna that proves my point Oliver got two decisions write and your where surprised but it wasn’t just you it was us the rest of the Arsenal fans and the media.
Also that match was in 2nd part of the season 🙂
On HB sorry I cant recall the young foul but I did miss the first half of that game.
Eduardo, I thought my ‘competitive’ comment was quite clear really. That means not drawing with lower league sides, not always rolling over for Chelsea and putting up a real fight…
Do that and very few fans will moan imo….
And of course having the squad to do that…..
Rico who me I didn’t start it this time I swear 🙂
I love it here when you guys debate with insulting each other- sets the HH bloggers apart from many imo…..
See, it can be done 🙂
Yes, even you Gdna…. Lol
Even I can recall the Bellerin incident Joe and you know what people have said here about my memory. 😉
He could so easily have been sent off. In fact he probably should have….. But, I guess that what is meant when people say decisions level themselves out….
Rico I think your been hard on Arsenal when Chelsea comes to Arsenal they park the bus and they have the best defense in the PL a whole 4 goals better than us.
Tsgh if your still out there did we have a better defense in the 2nd half of the season.
Kev and Rick will be upset by that news re Dobson. All rather odd….
Joe, I don’t think I am, we have to learn to get by the bus, that bus had been an obstacle for too many years years now it’s about time AW found a way through.
And we did that to a degree yesterday so fingers crossed….
And why ask Ts about our defence, did you not watch them Joe? Lol
I am not saying it didn’t happen but I do question your memory of the incident. 🙂
But like me, I am sure you would need a full spreadsheet to remember refs decisions that went the other way. 😉
But I can’t remember if we had better defense in the 2nd part of the season than Chelsea you know that part of season when we where better than them. Tsgh is the best stats guy I know.
Boy do I hate the start we had to last season 😉
I could make a rather sarky comment about Dobson but I’m not one to gloat.
I’d need more than a spreadsheet Joe but I’m not as paranoid as you about refs…. Lol
Stats are banned here as you know…. Surely it’s easy to look up how many goals we conceded during the first half of the season compared to the second….?
My guess is that during the second half, we conceded less,…. Can’t think why…
Go on Micko, others do, it’s your day… Lol
rico, it’s too bitchy and would lower the tone, I’m bursting to but can’t do it !
I have never seen Dobson play so cannot comment.
But was he a good player???
Do what Nike say Micko……
It turns out we let in 13 goal from the first of Jan till the end of the season.
And before then?
So we sign Cech and release Ches on loan.
Then we keep Ospina.
So does this make any sense now????………
http://www.squawka.com/news/reports-arsenal-look-to-sign-former-ac-milan-goalkeeper-amelia/426289
Quote Rico
“Do that and very few fans will moan imo”
this is a point me and you don’t agree on, when we were trophy less for a number of years so many fans said all they wanted was a trophy now and again, then we win the FA Cup back to back and the very same fans are saying it is a meaningless trophy, that only the league/cl count as worthwhile trophies.
Two years ago we, as far as I’m concerned did challenge for the league title, we fell short, a full 7 points, yet so many Arsenal fans say we did not challenge for the title. so forgive me If I think even if we were to lose the league by goal difference next season there would be nothing but a whinge fest from a whole section of our fan base. I have seen so many fans say even if we win the league or cl they want wenger out, so I don’t know what this sort really want or what would satisfy them.
there is a large section of the Arsenal fan base who move the goalposts all the time,
all I want is for us to keep our best players
all I want is for us to keep our best players and win a trophy now and again
all I want is for us to keep our best players, add some quality players (expensive) and win a trophy now and again
Devil, I’m not surprised at all and I actually don’t think Szczesny will return. Martinez will be the next keeper to replace Cech imo…..
HRD if we want to, as it seems, to loan Martinez out so he can get the game time he needs, it would make perfect sense to have an experienced 3rd choice keeper, one who is unlikely to get much game time, but if anything happened to either of our first two we would still have experience on the bench. Last season we had 17 year old Ryan Huddart on the bench for a couple of games. thank God we did not have to play him.
Eduardo, you are like a dog with a bone…
I talk about my opinion of both myself and what I believe Arsenal fans will think. Doesn’t mean I’m right of course…
The clue is in IMO…..
And I was talking about the PL, not the FA Cup.
I rate Martinez very highly, and there a couple of guys coming through with great potential, Keto looks to be a very good prospect
woof
What is the ‘woof’? Taking the pee because if so, you know where you can go…..
Last year we conceded 36
23 between the beginning of season and end december
13 between 1st january and end season.
it was the 2nd best season in terms of goals conceded since season 08/09
in the seasons between we always conceded more than 36
I was right Chelsea let in more goals from the first of Jan till the end of the season with 18.
eduardo, think you’ll find it was dear ole Arsene who didn’t take the FA Cup too seriously a little while back, not the supporters ! He’s back on track again and about time too !
So was that down to Ospina, Kos, or Wenger?
Or, Coquelin?
What does prove though Joe? A season is ten months, not five.
rico you said I was like a dog with a bone so I barked, it was only a playful bark, wait till I growl, then you might have something to complain about, ha ha ha
well micko a lot of our fans who complained about that, now dismiss the trophy now that we have won it. that is my point.
Thanks Devil the fact that when we had most of our defenders fit we let in less goals than Chelsea.
Also it might have been the Coq effect as well but it gives me hope for the season coming.
Finally Eduardo, a ‘ha ha’ that does help us all to see the lighter side….. Lol
Bollox eduardo…..excuse my French.
on our defensive record second half of the season, surely no one factor can be the “excuse”, would not having a regular back five, an out and out DM, and having Ramsey, Ozil and Giroud all fit not have all contributed to better overall team performances and so less goals let in and more goals scored(I don’t know if we did score more goals in last 19 league game than in the first, but I’m sure someone on here will know the answer)
It proves what ever way it happened we finished the 2nd part of season with a better defense than Chelsea.
It also proves the start of the season killed us.
micko its not bollock, I know quite a few Arsenal fans who now deem the FA Cup a meaningless trophy, there are several Arsenal sites that have lots of fans who express this view. ANR, Le Grove and Arsenal Times are just three such sites where I have seen many state it in the last two years. Its one of the reasons why I left Arsenal Times.
Well, I don’t know any Gooners that deem the FA Cup meaningless eduardo, perhaps I oughta put my name down for the Mars One mission, if they’re gonna be anywhere, they’ve gotta be there lol.
Evening Rico and the House
After spending the last two days delivering fliers I thought i would check H/H before I watched the recording of yesterdays game, I have a few thoughts to make.
I hope this works…..
https://www.facebook.com/elias.g.psomas/posts/10152900331306394
If not meaningless not important enough for them to except that Wenger should keep his job.
Rick, spit em out, don’t keep us in suspense !
Like Micko I have a view of Dodson which I will keep to myself.
I will say it was he choice to leave us for the club which he has supported all his life
(his words) .I hope we get a good fee and that there is a sell on clause
I for one really rate the FA Cup, shame AW didn’t as he could have won it years ago. But 4th came first for the club…..
Evening Rick, I await in anticipation…….
That’s a big fail Scott, got a feeling I know what’s coming !!! Bring it on.
Joe, winning two FA Cups on the trot have IMO, settled a lot of doubters… This crop now know how to win something and that feeling is priceless….
Even the CC may have achieved that feeling….
I can’t get the link to open Scott…
Spot on Rick re Dobson. Too many undercover hammers amongst the Arsenal ranks it must be said.
Joe- I am always lurking somewhere, I just keep quiet when Micko and Rico are in that mood. 😉
Eduardo you make sense; I guess football and Arsenal is life and death for a few so, we either win or bust.
To me it seems like some fans are so lucky that the only problems in their life is the team they support Arsenal merely finishing 3rd in a very competitive league and lifting up the FA cup.
damn!!
What a shame.
Try this……
https://fbcdn-video-i-a.akamaihd.net/hvideo-ak-xpt1/v/t42.1790-2/11234888_795135163939825_1349988902_n.mp4?oh=1e9e790f8ac325e9307477629f91c8f6&oe=55B91FBA&__gda__=1438207348_6efaa70cbd4b2bd8b16bf7063bc35930
My pillow calls so night all…
Be nice eh… Lol
Interesting how one player AW was continuously bashed for not signing is not going to be plying his trade in Stoke. lol. Ibrahim Affelay.
Ts, you are lucky to be allowed to ‘lurk’.. One day eh…… Lol
Gone now….
Nice Rico.
What are you trying to post Scott. Hope its family friendly? 😀
micko I named three arsenal sites that there are many one, maybe you’ve been on mars that you’ve missed them. In fact the guy who runs Arsenal times stated on a regular basis that Wenger would never win another trophy at Arsenal, and as soon as we won the FA Cup this changed to Wenger would never win a worthwhile trophy at Arsenal. As I stated its one of the reasons why I left Arsenal times, just too damn negative.
Also Micko twitter is full of fans who put forward this same view.
rico I would say 4th is more important to all clubs, even LVG said last year it was more important for Man Utd to get top 4 than to win the FA Cup. the reality is that CL football is more important than the FA Cup. Thankfully we have finally been able to obtain both.
‘Allowed’ is a bit harsh, sorry Ts, lol
Lol Scott……I wasn’t expecting that buddy !
Night even. lol
Eduardo, of course getting 4th is important, but winning the PL is more important…..
If we can’t do that then I’d rather win the FA Cup and come 2nd or 3rd
Now can I go… 😉
Night guys….
Micko, what a man he is lol.
9.55 Eduardo, bit below the belt! Not everyone reads other websites you know!
Eduardo, sorry to disappoint you matey but I can’t be arsed with any other sites, I’m sure your find a home some day !
On trophies, the FA cup broke a drought.
The second one was even sweeter for mine.
It is now time to step up though…..nothing short of a PL win will satisfy everyone.
IMO, it’s not absolutely crucial to win this season, but certainly in the next 2-3 seasons, though there’s no reason we can not be ultra competitive.
As I said yesterday, there are 4-5 clubs with the financial backing to compete, so, and I mean this respectfully, it’d be arrogant for people to think we MUST win it in any given season.
The League is too competitive.
rico the question is which would be more important, finishing 4th and no cup win or finishing outside of top 4 and winning the FA Cup. For a few years that was the balancing act Arsenal faced, go all out to try and win the FA Cup increasing the risk of missing out on CL football. as I said thankfully at the moment we can manage both.
Re the goal keeper situation.
I think the signing of Amelia and sending Martinez on loan will
not happen, Last season we had 1 foreign and 2 home produced GK the right balance.
I cannot see Arsene sending our home produced G/K on loan and replacing them with 2 foreign
ones.
3 foreign G/K out of a squad of 17 I don’t think so.
Scott I am appalled you have the balls to post that filth on such clean wholesome site I mean a spurs jersey.
Rick even if we did go with 3 foreign keepers we would still have place in our squad for one or two more foreign players, and that is with us including Flamini and Rosicky in the squad and reports suggest one or both may leave.
Joe, the mans a legend lol.
For any one interested our U19’s playe Celtic on Wed in Durban
It is being shown on everspot.tv/football durban about 4pm.
It will be interesting to see the make up of the team, maybe a insight of the side to play in the Champions League U19 this season
Going to watch the game
Night all.
Night Rick and everyone else….
rick will the their be a live stream for that game.
Nite all, I’m probably starting to grate on some of ya, Up the Gooners !
Just coming in…a lot happened here today…have to wait for tomorrow though.
Night all.
only five more weeks of the transfer window
Mick, I’m glad you’ve gone as you was getting right on my wick…
Come on Rico, make up your mind, is the FACup a serious trophy or not???
Or wing you be happy until Arsenal win the ‘big one’…
The Ilford and District Charity Cup…
Some people are impossible to please…
Take Adam for example…
Please…. 😉
Or will you not be happy….
Sarasota eh Wavy….
Sorry to see Dobson go, he was from the same area of Romford as Tony Adams and Ray Parlour….
But that don’t court for nuffink these days…
Five more weeks of hell good night all
Rick, see that we’ve signed up a promising young striker from Ajax…
And we seem to be sniffing around a highly rated young player from Newcastle…
The Academy seems to be getting itself back on track again, at last…
Kev, it’s good do see, but damn, what went wrong in the first place?
Still, I guess that’s not as important as the fact it’s headed the right way….long may it continue.
Morning Rico and all.
Morning all it seems the moron has started playing mind games,he seems to know to beat teams without having a ball kicked.cech will our hero this time since he understand the mind games,the answer from wenger is to keep silent and not give anything.if he talks he makes the media and moron happy…
A good morning to you too adam
Just you and me, Adam……all of your nightmares have come true 🙂
How are ya champ?
The football starts getting semi serious again this weekend.
What day is the game, your time?
Morning scott and adam
Hi Scott. I don’t know but I imagine Sunday afternoon. We know it’s getting closer because Mourinho has come out from under his slimy stone of resentment to start popping at Wenger once again.
Good Morning Lovelies and hunkies.
Time to wake up and tear everyone apart.
i am still groggy though.
Cant wait to see how we shape up next Sunday. Will Mourinho park the bus?? I doubt it. he will go for an open game and attack us. Then we will win and he will dismiss it as a friendly game.
He will begin to park the bus from day 1 in the league. Because then he will want to accumulate points.
But the press lap him up Devil. They hang on every filthy accusation that spill from his lips. And he, naturally, sees it as part of their deep respect for him.
Eduardo, you final question to me doesn’t really seem relevant as I’m not sure going all out for the FA Cup would hamper the 4th spot place and to be fair to AW, wasn’t he doing just that the season we got knocked out by a lower league side? (can’t recall which one but Gervinho starred for is misses in front of goal)
Also, we’d have been in the CL still so if any cup had to be sacrificed, why not the CL as we were never likely to win that?
Kev, for me, yes. I love the FA Cup..
Morning Adam, Scott and all..
Mourinho getting a bit concerned I see….
Morning everyone.
Joe Say….he’s never dull lol.
What he either misses or, more likely, ignores, is this…….when you buy a half billion dollar squad, it means you have a lot of quality players, offering the option of selling those players down the track STILL for big money, so thereby giving a false sense of net spending in following seasons.
He’s a cretin, but we all know it.
I must add, Joe Say will be so pissed of we got Cech, no matter what he says in public.
Where’s my ol’ mate Micko?
Morning Scott, Adam , Rico and all..
Jose, is at it again. The whole media are after AW. 🙂
It was refreshing to hear ole’ Harry give an unbiased view though this morning.
He tipped us potential champions; but thinks we are another striker away from dominating this league and competing in the uCL.
Asked why we were poor in the first half of the season; Harry mentioned injured and the fact that we were the only top 3 side who had the most players in the later stages of the world.
He was also asked whether we needed a new a new CDM. He mentioned you can not have enough cover but mentioned that if we are able to keep JW, AS17 and Arteta fit then the Cech signing will prove to be the best signing. He further mentioned how he thought MA08 is only appreciated whe you watch him on the touch line…
Jose sounded very Pep-esque.
Scott- how much did you pay the bloke to wipe his bollox with the sperds jersey? 😛
Morning Al…
Morning Scott, Rico, Adam, Ginge…
Morning Kev and Ts..
This DM and striker debate will go on until we miss out on the PL after Coquelin is injured for key matches and we don’t score enough goals… 😉
Ginge, how funny was that lol.
Arteta…..he only looks bad when pacey sides hit us on the break.
Hiya Kev.
Rico, it’s just such a tough call on what’s right and wrong when it come to transfers, this time around.
Usually, it’s damn obvious to everyone what we’ve needed, but this is different, IMO.
I mean, plenty on here think we need different players and different positions covered, where often we are pretty uniform in our opinions…..at least in positions.
Good old ‘Arry. He always was a gooner though. He’s probably happier today after he had it off selling his house though. What was it £7.8 million? Not bad for a bloke who can’t turn a computer on.
Hey, I can’t either 🙂
According to reports from The Express this morning, Arsenal are expected to wrap up a deal for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente by next Monday.
The lofty Spain international, who measures in at a whopping 6 foot 5, has contributed 23 goals to Juve’s last two Serie A titles since joining the Turin outfit from Athletic Bilbao in summer 2013.
He looks set to leave the Old Lady this summer, having managed just 25 league starts last season. He’s now aged 30 and into the final two years of his contract.
Last week, Llorente was dubbed Manchester United’s ‘surprise’ replacement for Robin van Persie by Mirror Football, after manager Louis van Gaal had quipped to the press on the club’s pre-season tour; “It’s not the striker that the media has written. But you have to wait and see. The transfer period is open until August or September 2.”
But according to The Express, it’s now title rivals Arsenal who are set to sign the towering target man. Citing French publication L’Equipe, they claim the Gunners will sign Llorente by next Monday in a £8.5million deal.
He’ll likely serve as back-up to current first-choice striker Olivier Giroud, who signed a three-year contract at the Emirates last week.
😀 Adam. He reckons we will be seeing more of him on BT sports for the first 2 months a least… until the next managerial jobs becomes available.
Does Harry’s success mean education is a waste? Maybe the saying that ‘a wiser man pretends to be foolish’ holds true.. 🙂
Potter if you are around. My Spanish is ziltch and so don’t know how accurate the translator is from marca.com
Apparently Yanited have bids I for Benzema and Pedro…
I know Scott, if only it was all simple eh… lol
The vertically challenged one has said we have a squad capable of winning the PL……
I think an injury to Coquelin and we are in shit street.
TS. You beat me to it. 🙂
Literacy? Who needs it? It was probably his dog Rosie that negotiated the house price with a predetermined code of paw gestures.
Still, ‘e’s a triffic geezer ain’t e?
Brudder.
iPads help, but predictive text sucks 🙂
Lee, you’re right on Coquelin……I reckon everyone would agree there.
Young or old, cheap or expensive…..them’s the questions, but a DM is a must.
Morning Riz
Couldn’t agree more Lee…
I just don’t see Jack or Ramsey being the answer and Mikel’s legs or his body won’t cope with many games imo…
Llorente for £8million, 30 years old, hasn’t played much for the last two years…
I’ve always liked him, so it’s a thumbs up from me…
This time last year, Coquelin wasn’t even in the equation, so whose to say that another youngster couldn’t step out of the shadows and become as important as Coquelin and Bellerin currently are now?
Kev- where were you when Boris was giving his wife a lift on his bike? 🙂 A nudge off that bike would have been appreciated. 🙂
That is where most men are going wrong I think. If a Bullingdon Club member can let his wife ride on the same bike with him through Kensington then surely my mrs can’t complain if I tell her to get in the wheel barrow. 😉 to save some money.
Agreed rico, Scott re Mikel
Morning all.
If we buy him at least somebody else can’t! That’s about as good as it gets!
Do we really need him?
Kev, it’s possible, by should we cross our fingers, or be proactive?
Arteta can play v some sides, Coquelin does the majority of the work but heaven help us if he cops a long term injury.
Ginge, don’t laugh too soon, Boris could be running the country in the near future…
Conspiracy or what?
You have a point Wavy…
——————————-
I still can’t get the phantom reasons why the news is always filled with alleged threats from some bogey men when Boris (possibly a future PM) is always on his bike without a body guard?
I better cut this before Micko comes out of hibernation. 🙂
Digger, if you keep on talking about it, it will happen mate.
Kev…you have seen Hayden play much more than I have done. Do you rate him on the same level that Coquelin and Bellerin were before they broke through last season? do you think he can come in and do a job and keep Arteta out?? can he have the same influence that Coquelin had on the team?
😀 kev. There goes another myth about making sure one looks presenatable.
If any 40-something year old bloke went for an interview at Pound Land dressed like Boris does he wouldn’t get the job but he is so successful he claims 100k is chicken feed. lol
Tbh Coach, Rick is the man to ask, he sees the Stiffs and Youths on a regular basis.
I’ve seen Hayden ‘live’ a couple of times and he definately has the look of a player who can reach the required level…
New post up now…
I’ll get my tin hat on….. 😉
Morning All,
At least we have agreed on one thing…that Coquelin should be first choice DM…and just as well, for Coq is Wenger’s proof that he has been right all along… Solutions to deficient departments do not necessary mean buying…you can generate one within.
I believe we are now concerned with who steps in should Coq get injured long term. Go back to our pre-season matches and watch Carzola deeply. Something tells me that Carzola will hold with Ramsey beside him should Coq be absent…Carzola’s brain can do it.