Wenger was right to extend Johan Djourous contract & Great News for all….

Towards the end of 2010, Emmanuel Eboue signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal! Roughly ten months later and after his squad number was given to Gervinho, he was gone, sold to Galatasaray.

Why did Wenger bother to offer him a new contract?

To make sure we got a half decent price for him, that’s no doubt why and the amount we got for him was €3.5 Million.

So, just because Johan Djourou has recently signed a new long-term contract, it’s not a foregone conclusion that his future career remains with us, a contract means nothing these days, other than if and when Wenger decides to sell him, he’ll make sure we get a fee for him rather than let him walk away for nothing.

After Eboue signed on in 2010, he went from scoring in a 3-1 victory in April assuring that were still in with a chance of winning the Premier League, to being at fault for the last-minute penalty against Liverpool which cost us two points! This in turn left us six points behind the then leaders in the league. A blatant shove in the back of Lucas Leiva cost us dear that season.

After that result we went on a rotten run until the end of the season and from having a chance to win the league, we finished fourth.

My point, Johan Djourou hasn’t had the best of seasons, he’s not managed to reach the standards he displayed last season prior to his injury. Having been asked to play right back hasn’t helped his cause and that isn’t his fault but he’s slow, clumsy and without sounding too harsh, he’s not ever likely to be our first or second choice central defender is he?

Why was he given a new contract earlier this year we all wondered?

Well maybe that was down to the number of injuries we had suffered, maybe JD was getting itchy feet as he hadn’t been playing much in the centre, who knows but one thing we do all know is, should Arsene Wenger decide that our Swiss internationals career belongs somewhere else, we’ll get  a fee for him and that’s the reason I think he was offered a new contract….

I’d still rather him than Squillaci on the bench though.. 😉

A joint statement released yesterday by the London Chest Hospital and Bolton said:

Fabrice Muamba remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital and is continuing to show signs of improvement this evening. He is now able to breathe independently, without the aid of a ventilator and he is able to recognise family members and respond to questions appropriately. These are positive signs of progress.

However, his condition remains serious and our medical staff in intensive care will continue to monitor and treat him.

Other reports have said that Fabrice is speaking in both French and English to friends and family so it’s all sounding a lot more positive than before.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before he’s back home with his family….

Fantastic news, just fantastic and on such a bright note, I’ll end….

Have a good day all…..

150 thoughts on “Wenger was right to extend Johan Djourous contract & Great News for all….

  1. Matt J says:

    Hey Rico,

    Good article there mate, moving along JD you heard anything more on prince podolski apprently he was meant to of completed the move last night? or is this just more hype?

  2. rico says:

    Hi Matt, thanks – nothing more on the Podolski rumour, i wouldn’t believe any of it if i were you, not uless afc.com confirm anything…

    the ‘medical’ report showed just what utter garbage the story is….

  3. Matt J says:

    Yeh i know just something you want to believe and just be done with lol… Matia Suarez story seem to of fired up and vertonghen apprently on a dutch tv show aired last night hinted that talks were going with AFC.. if this is too be true i would be very impressed with wengers delevoplement in the market this year… Good news about muamba though hey?

  4. rico says:

    Good news indeed on Fabrice, hopefully he’ll recover fully and be home soon, not sure about him playing footie again though but there will be a role in the game for him somewhere i’m sure…

    Just read LG’s post, they reckon the Podolski deal is on….

    M’Vila watched watched by us again at the weekend…

  5. Disco Stu says:

    I’m no Eboue fan boy but that wasn’t a blatant, stupid shove in the back. It was very clever play by Lucas Leiva who just stopped dead in his tracks whilst sprinting after the ball. Eboue who was behind him could do nothing to get out of the way and raised his arms instinctively. Granted it did look clumsy and it was a nailed on pen but watch it again and you’ll see exactly what I’m saying. Sometimes you just have to put your hands up and say fair play you got me. Very clever play, if you or I were chasing that ball like your life depended on it in injury time, Lucas would have outsmarted us too!

  6. Gunner-Mac says:

    Never was a fan of Johan Djourou like you say he’s clumsy and IMO he cost us the milan tie with his stupidity that night in meeelan.

  7. rico says:

    Stu, we’ll have to agree to differ on that one about Eboue then 😉

    GM – good point, just why we should have signed JV in Jan, maybe the Milan result would have been a lot different…

  8. Matt J says:

    yea i dont know either, read this morning that another african player who played or plays for bolton had a heart attack in training… kinda odd! but hope he pulls through..

    Yea thats were i read the podolski story and they seem to be quiet clued up on the transfer surrounding… only time will tell..

    M’vila would be a great signing, but what would it mean for song? also talksport mention yesterday we are link to two Udinese player along with one of there keepers.. seemed to linked with everyplayer under the sun at the mo lol.

  9. alanbstardmp says:

    Hi Rico & all

    Thankfully F Muamba is pulling through. If AW gets Lukas & Vertonghen comfirmed, a few of us may also be in a hospital bed through shock

  10. rico says:

    I’d love us to get M’Vila but in all honesty, his price is valued too high for our club i’d have thought…

    Song is faffing around about his contract i think, maybe he’s thinking of moving on, if we sign M’Vila, I would care 😉

  11. rico says:

    Lee suggested that i have a sidebar with names of players NOT linked with us, i think he’s right, would be a lot easier than listing those who are 😉

  12. Lee says:

    Morning Housers!!
    Rico, if song keeps stalling on signing…to sell him and buy M’Vila wouldn’t break the bank and would be an upgrade imho!!
    Great news re Fabrice!!! 🙂

  13. Scott From Oz says:

    Rico,Lucas took a fall…..no question.
    Great news re: Fabrice,sensational to hear.
    Evening all.

  14. devilgunner says:

    Good morning Guys and Chicks of the Proud Gunners’ Faith.

    M’Vila would be an upgrade in our midfield, but not at the expense of Song. I would rather Song was kept and M’Vila purchased. Both Arteta and Rosicky are not going to get younger whilst Diaby has played less than an average of 20 games per season since he has been with us. Just 110 games in 6 seasons.

  15. devilgunner says:

    Evening Scott.

    Did I answer your question properly yesterday??? I saw it (late in the evening) after I went off and you were soundly asleep by then.

  16. Lee says:

    I thought I read that Diaby was playing against the dippers in a reserve match today……must of been a dream!! 😉

  17. rico says:

    Morning Lee, if we sign M’Vila, i wouldn’t care what happened to Song 😉 (is that cruel of me)

    I too read that Diaby was turning out for the reserves tonight…

  18. rico says:

    Evening Scott, we’ll have to agree to differ 😉

    Morning devil – suggestion is getting M’Vila would allow Song to become Mr Creative 🙂

  19. Scott From Oz says:

    Yes Devil,and thanks.
    It confirmed we are on the right track,as by luck or design,everything you suggested is what is happening. I’m still shaking my head at how well the kids went first up…..amazing what difference a few months makes at this age.
    Thanks again,and I will keep you informed if their progress.
    I can never know what to think of Song.
    I still think when he plays well,we play well,and conversely,if he’s off,we are off.
    He’s important,but if he does have reservations about being at the club,move him on.
    I never again want to see a player not 100% committed at the club.
    We all loved Cesc,but we did keep him one season too long,in my opinion.

  20. rico says:

    That article is very good devil, but it’s wasted by just posting it on NN for us to read, they need to be sending it to all the newspapers, one of them will pick it up and do their own research and no doubt find it to be spot on.

    Then of course they would no doubt print it…

    Or send it to the BBC, Sky News, ESPN etc etc…

    It’s about time all this was looked into a lot further than ‘just a blog’ and i mean no disrespect there….

  21. Scott From Oz says:

    Rico,I reckon Eboue was naive in his challenge,but the tosser fell.
    Anyway..revenge was good a few weeks back!!!!

  22. rico says:

    I have left a comment on that article, suggesting they send it to one of the newspaper groups….

    ogban, JD and Squill, and sign Vertongen 😉

  23. rico says:

    Peed me off though Scott, we were in with a cracking chance to win the PL, had we not conceded those two points the confidence would have been higher, maybe enough to have prevented the rot that followed….

    Eboue was naive, but he should have known better and had naffed up too many times….

  24. potter says:

    Morning all, In all fairness Stu :- it would not have happened to me, Lucas would have been at least a yard in front of me and I would have had stopping time. The rumour mill has started early and is more positive than usual however we should all know that until we see the players on the pitch with their squad number , rumour is all it is.

  25. allezkev says:

    Good Morning Gooners.
    Great news re: Muamba.
    Great post Rico.
    Tend to agree with your theory Rico, really don’t see Johann as a long term !st teamer, but he can do a job in somebodys team if you find him the right partner.
    Like Eboue, i think that Johann is a really nice guy and well liked around the club. That obviously explains why some players do stay longer than we expect them to imho.

    Miquel looks a much more accomplished defender.

  26. Elliot Vaughan says:

    My biggest concern is that he has been rewarded a contract far above his ability. He will not move on to a better club, hence he will have to take a salary cut. It would of been better to give him a free transfer and ask him to move on.

  27. rico says:

    Morning potter and AK

    Thanks re the post AK, i don’t think he’ll be with us for too much longer, he should be playing each week and that’s not going to happen at afc, TV, Kos, Merts, Miquel and of course Bartley coming back in the summer…

    However, are Bartley, JD, Miquel really good enough?

    Still think we need Vertonghen and have Bartley/Miquel ready to step in when we get the usual injuries and play in the Cups…

  28. Scott From Oz says:

    Agreed Rico,but still another case of a scumbag taking a dive.
    Devil,a few weeks back,I brought up an example of refs playing favourites.
    Can’t think of which ref,but in 2010/11,he referred app. 30 games,in which he gave 9 penalties.
    Of these thirty odd games,app. 10 or 12 involved Utd.
    Of the nine penalties he awarded,Utd received 7 or 8 of them.
    Forgive the numbers,they’re my best guess from memory,but they are definitely close to the true figures.

  29. devilgunner says:

    Hiya Sir AK. How are you all?

    Imo I think that AW should give JD one more season. He would have settled more beside PM,LK and TV. If AW gets Verts then our defence is much more complete since that would be BS,CJ,AS,KG,TV,LK,PM,JD with Verts covering for them all. And do not forget Miguel, Yennaris and Coquelin with Song dropping in now and then.

    So give him at least till May 2013. Then when we will win the Champions league, courtesy of a 90th minute headed goal by JD, sell him for a good tidy sum since that goal will send up his value. 😉

  30. rico says:

    Abou Diaby is set to start for Banfield’s side after returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained when the first team beat Liverpool at the start of the month.

    “He is a top player, it is so frustrating to him and the Club that he has been unable to get a run in the team due to injury,” said Banfield.

    “You can see what he brings to the team and hopefully he can get over his injuries in the next few weeks like Tomas Rosicky has. He had his injury problems but is now playing fantastically well and hopefully Abou will go down the same road.”

  31. allezkev says:

    Rico, i was chatting to a friend, about a week ago, and he has a mate who is a big Glasgow Rangers fan.

    This Rangers fan that Bartley is a good player, but in his opinion, not quite up to Arsenal standard.

    Make of that, what you will. But i did kinda think that this season, was the season, that if he was gonna step up to the Arsenal squad, that it would be now!

  32. devilgunner says:

    Y not Rico…….stranger things have happened in football. Remember Iinighan vs Sheff Wed?? He was in the same boat as JD, yet he got us the winning goal.

    We wait and see.

  33. Scott From Oz says:

    Djourou shows the odd touch of absolute brilliance,if you watch closely enough.
    His biggest problem is that of ten passes,six or seven go to opponents!

  34. rico says:

    That’s interesting AK, as last season their fans were raving about him, he’s had injury problems too hasn’t he?

    I guess a lot depends on what Wengers plans are, if another defender is not in them then it’s going to be a case of the best of the rest, just who that is i don’t know??

    We all know who we need, just hope AW is thinking the same…

  35. allezkev says:

    Rico, personally, i would still give Bartley a chance. Say from the subs bench, with the odd start in the Carling Cup, up till January.
    Then look at his situation again.
    Lansbury falls into the same catagory.

    I think if we let either go too soon, that we’ll regret it…

  36. Scott From Oz says:

    I love Lansbury.
    He’s got a great attitude,a big heart and loves the club.
    Three big ticks for me.

  37. rico says:

    I wouldn’t let either go, especially not Lansbury, but I think you might know that AK 😉

    Three big ticks from me too Scott, simply love the guy….. He should have gone to Bolton, not to West Ham and Big Sam…

  38. Scott From Oz says:

    Sorry Rico,just not sure which it is.
    I read the stats a few months back,then cited them from memory a month or do ago.
    Again,my numbers are bloody close.
    Is there a way to check?

  39. allezkev says:

    I suppose Rico, that it all depends on the remit behind the loaning clubs decision on any given player?
    That is to say, does a club, loaning a player, just take someone who can fill in whilst their own regular is injured?
    Almunia filling in for Green for example.

    Or do they take a player, with a view to turning that loan into a permanant signing?
    Like Stevenage signing Luke Freeman.

    i think that Owen Coyle only takes players that he would like to sign, given a chance.

    Would Lansbury be in that catagory???

  40. allezkev says:

    Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba has a positive attitude towards life, says Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger

    Whenever Arsène Wenger is asked to explain the rationale behind the youth policy that has underpinned his 16 years with Arsenal, he invariably refers to the special chemistry that bonds players who have matured together.

    Early days: Fabrice Muamba joined Arsenal as a trainee in 2002 before he later moved to Birmingham City Photo: GETTY IMAGES

    By Jeremy Wilson

    11:24AM GMT 20 Mar 2012

    Comment

    The stated aim is to foster a particular team spirit and strength of common purpose against opponents who may be more disparately formed. A further knock-on is that, even if players do ultimately go their separate ways, life-long friendships have been formed. It is one reason why former players are among the most frequent visitors to Arsenal’s London Colney training base and why the mood on Monday among the current squad was so somber and subdued.

    Fabrice Muamba had spent his formative years at Arsenal and was to grow both as a person and a footballer in the company of current players, including Robin van Persie, Johan Djourou, Jack Wilshere, Manuel Almunia, Alex Song and Kieran Gibbs.

    Even after leaving Arsenal for Birmingham at the age of 19 in 2007, he has continued to regularly visit the club. Wenger, who has become such a father figure to a generation of players, spoke yesterday of the lasting bond between Arsenal and Muamba.

    “This is of course a massive shock to us all,” said Wenger. “A football player always remains attached to where he was educated. Fabrice had his friends from childhood here and they remain your friends forever.

    “As a man, Fabrice has a positive attitude towards life, he is full of determination and has a great desire. Everyone at Arsenal has huge respect for Fabrice. Even after he left us, he often passed by to say hello and speak about how it was going for him. We feel very deeply attached to him.

  41. allezkev says:

    Liam Brady, Arsenal’s head of youth development, worked closely with Muamba from 2002 until 2007 and was in Barcelona with the club’s Under-14 team on Saturday evening when Muamba collapsed following a cardiac arrest.

    “I was watching the Tottenham v Bolton game on TV,” he said. “I was completely horrified by what happened and we are hoping and willing him to pull through. Fabrice was always a happy boy at Arsenal, a well-mannered boy. He seemed to really appreciate the opportunity he had and was fully intent on giving his best. He has been like that ever since he was 12.

    “He comes to visit us, he calls in when he can. Fabrice remembers where he came from and he’s a smashing young man. He’s determined to make the best of his career and let’s hope that determination helps him pull through the situation he is in.”

    Although there is clearly no set path from aspiring schoolboy to Premier League footballer, Muamba’s journey was especially remarkable.

    Having arrived in London from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he simply turned up at the Arsenal academy in Hale End and requested a trial. David Court, the club’s assistant head of youth development, could still clearly remember the moment.

    “We are not in the business of offering trials to everyone who wants one, but he had such a nice and persuasive manner we gave him a chance,” he said. “He is one of those kids that has such desire, you want to see them succeed. He would do things other boys wouldn’t dream of doing. He always wanted to improve himself.”

    Steve Bould, who is now Arsenal’s Under-18 coach, also worked with Muamba at Hale End. “When he was at Arsenal, Fabrice was hungry for information – he always wanted to improve and he would be out on the pitches for hours having a go,” he said. “He would try anything to be the best he could be. It is the same with his studying – he’s a really bright lad. He was here recently because he loves to come down and see what’s going on. The lad lives and breathes football.”

    As Muamba still lay critically ill in hospital, Wenger summed up the emotion of staff and players at Arsenal. “You pray that the damage will be repaired and that Fabrice will come out healthy and we will see his smile again – that is all you wish for,” he said.

  42. allezkev says:

    Written by Sam Wallace, The Independent;

    When faced with the prospect of the Spanish government waiving the collective €752m debt the nation’s football clubs owe to the country’s tax authorities, the reaction in Europe last week was one of outrage. The German tabloid Bild even asked how long the German taxpayer would be obliged to subsidise the wages of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

    What they meant was that while the European Union members bailed out the Spanish economy, successful Spanish clubs were failing to meet their own tax obligations. Strictly speaking, Real Madrid have no tax debt among the €170m debt that the club carry, but Barcelona owe €48m of their overall €364m debt to the Spanish taxman.

    Uli Hoeness, the outspoken president of Bayern Munich, got to the point rather more quickly when asked about the proposal to excuse Spanish clubs their tax debt. “This is unthinkable,” he said. “We pay them hundreds of millions to get them out the shit and then the clubs don’t pay their debts.”

    It is a uniquely modern European dilemma, encompassing EU bail-out funds and the competitiveness of the continent’s respective leading clubs, all of which ultimately adds another fiendishly complex element to the concept of Financial Fair Play, as proposed by Uefa president Michel Platini. It is further proof that while Spanish football is undoubtedly top dog in Europe, with five teams in the quarter-finals of the two Uefa competitions, it is not without problems.

    As The Independent’s Pete Jenson reported in these pages on Saturday, a government report in Spain last week disclosed that the equivalent of £625m is owed by Spanish clubs to the country’s public purse, with £353m of that due from 14 of the 20 clubs in the top division. This is not money owed to banks, investors or owners. It is owed to the Spanish people.

    On a sporting level it is “financial doping” at its very worse. On a social level it is nothing short of a disgrace in a country where youth unemployment currently runs at 50 per cent.

    Not all top Spanish clubs are culpable and it was reassuring to read in the breakdown of club debt by AS newspaper that Athletic Bilbao, the team of largely home-grown Basque stars who left English football spellbound with their schooling of Manchester United last week, do not owe the taxman a cent. So too Real Sociedad, Getafe, Villarreal and Sporting Gijon.

    On the other hand, Atletico Madrid, currently eighth in La Liga and drawn against Hannover 96 in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, owe the Spanish public purse €155m (£128m), more than any other club. The money from the €50m sale of Sergio Aguero to Manchester City last summer went straight to the tax authorities. Valencia, who play AZ Alkmaar in the same stage of the competition, owe €6m in unpaid tax.

    When Hoeness expressed German football’s bitterness that their government is, indirectly, subsidising the success of Spanish clubs it is the likes of Hannover he was talking about. Atletico’s big signing was Falcao from Porto last summer, a £33m signing financed by third-party ownership deals. Hannover bought Mame Biram Diouf from Manchester United. Enough said.

    No one would pretend that British football is the perfect financial model, especially given Rangers’ and Portsmouth’s debts to HMRC. Even the Germans have had their problems with Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. But unpaid taxes at a time when public services are being cut and jobs lost are particularly repugnant.

    Real Betis, Real Zaragoza, Racing Santander, Levante and Mallorca (denied a place in last season’s Europa League because of their finances) owe a total of €118m to the Spanish tax authorities between them. There are also suggestions that unpaid social security contributions by some Spanish clubs rival those eye-watering figures for unpaid tax.

    In the past, Spanish football has been protected by the assumption that punishing badly-run clubs would cause such a backlash against government by voters that it would not be politically expedient. There is no points penalty in Spain for going into the equivalent of financial administration as there is in England. But attitudes are changing.

    The governing political group Partido Popular has described the situation as “intolerable”. The government was forced to disclose the figures of unpaid tax because of an official request by Caridad Garcia of the Izquierda Unida (IU) party.

    A spokesman for IU, José Luis Centella, made the connection last week between the financial hardship felt by the Spanish people and the clubs’ failure to pay. “This is bad news for all the people who have lost homes and suffered from the cutbacks while there is this tremendous generosity towards football.”

    Wisely, the Spanish sports minister Miguel Cardenal announced last week that the government had dropped any consideration of giving football clubs a clean slate on their tax debts. There has even been a call from the centre-left party PSOE to ban clubs with tax debts from competing in the league, a rule that, already in place in Italian football, would change the face of La Liga overnight.

    Were the Spanish tax authorities to call in their debts tomorrow, Barcelona would surely be able to find, or borrow, the €48m they owe. Atletico, on the other hand, would find themselves in the kind of dire situation currently enveloping Rangers.

    There is a lesson for English football that in the risky game of investment and borrowing that most clubs enter as they attempt to fulfil the ambitions of supporters and owners, there are certain obligations that are non-negotiable. Football clubs command such loyalty and affection that they are too often cut slack, but, as the situation in Spain is starting to show, there is always a limit.

  43. allezkev says:

    It nice to know that a proportion of my income tax went towards subsidising La Liga…

    You couldn’t make it up…

  44. Scott From Oz says:

    AK,as I said a week ago,who cares how badly the country is going when they’re football teams are winning????
    I believe that is the site I read about the ref In question,but can’t find the article.

  45. devilgunner says:

    Whhhhhhaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttt>?????? THAT IS UNBELIEVABLY OUTRAGEOUS. So we, EU citizens pay our income tax for la Liga subsidy????

    What is the EU going todo about this I wonder????

  46. Scott From Oz says:

    Devil,no matter what people think of Wenger,our club will never be in that situation.
    It’s a disgrace.

  47. allezkev says:

    Coach, i did warn you a few years ago, when Malta was joining the EU, that it is an organiation for failed domestic politicians and corruption.
    The EU makes the IOC, FIFA and UEFA look like kindergartens.

  48. allezkev says:

    Scott, you make sure you stay, just as you are mate….
    There’s plenty of countries out there just waiting to rip you off and ruin what you have….

  49. Scott From Oz says:

    AK,we’ve just had a super tax approved,and its brilliant.
    It taxes the mega rich mining companies a percentage of their profits.
    Pleny of political spin coming from the announcement,but why shouldn’t we get billions of dollars to keep in our country rather than overseas investors pocketing it all?
    After all,in fifty,a hundred years time,we are the ones who will not be able to walk a hundred yards without falling into the bloody great holes they’ve left,whilst they’ve drained us of our natural resources AND our money.
    Our politicians have actually done a bloody great job over the last ten or fifteen years.
    We were in a great financial position when the GFC hit,and came through it In better condition than any other established country in the world.
    Personally,I’ve never,ever been as comfortable as I am now,and that’s par for the course with family and friends.
    I’m a very proud Aussie,and am proud of what our countries leaders have done for us in recent times.
    The downside is i can’t get to the Emirates lol.
    Next year,though,I’m planning on invading your shores.

  50. Scott From Oz says:

    Lee,in the last few years,there’s been a slow,steady build up of a movement known simply as Aussie Pride.
    It was about time,too,that Aussies started realising what a great country this is,and stopped whinging about the price of petrol,and other trivial things.
    There was also an issue of people emigrating here,yet not even attempting to embrace our lifestyle.
    Aussie Pride,Aussies showing a patriotic side…….it was a long,long time coming.

  51. Lee says:

    I loved it over there, as I said to you the other day Scott….mud huts an all 😆 Manly was my favourite but wasn’t there long enough 🙁

  52. alanbstardmp says:

    It’s typical southern European. They have been bludging on the EU nations all the time. What;s the surprise. The PIIGS as they are called, are not industrious nations. Never have been. So why allow them in the EU?

  53. Scott From Oz says:

    Alan,I guess we prop up a few of our neighbours,don’t we?
    Stuff them.
    Look after ourselves first.
    It may be harsh,but charity begins at home.

  54. Scott From Oz says:

    Day off tomorrow,so no need for sleep.
    I live on 5 or 6 hours a night.
    Between work,coaching kids,HH and training greyhounds,sleeps not a luxury I indulge much in lol.

  55. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    #AFC Res v #LFC Res: Martínez; Angha, Hoyte, Miquel, Meade; Yennaris, Özyakup; Aneke, Diaby, Ansah; Afobe. 2pm kick off

  56. allezkev says:

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    No Serge Gnabry for Arsenal as he’s away with German U17’s. January signing Thomas Eisfeld is still nursing a knee injury.

  57. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlog

    Close

    Arsenal concerned by Thomas Eisfeld. He’s played just 45mins since Jan move from Dortmund, where he was plagued by injuries.

  58. allezkev says:

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    Arsenal get things underway in Kirby. Some early touches for Diaby before Sterling has a shot saved by Martínez. 0-0.

  59. allezkev says:

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    Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal. A long goalkick from Jones bounces to Sterling, who brilliantly jinks inside and slams home. 1-0.

  60. allezkev says:

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    Arsenal almost level after a bright spell of possession. Afobe robs Wisdom and skips into the box, but his shot hits the post. 1-0.

  61. allezkev says:

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    Diaby operating in a slightly deeper box-to-box role than normal today. Lots of touches. Keeping the ball moving. He’s done well.

  62. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlog

    Close

    Arsenal seeing plenty of the ball now, but lacking ideas in the final third. Afobe and Özyakup lively. Still 1-0 Liverpool.

  63. allezkev says:

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    Diaby coming into the game more and more now. A couple of trademark drives towards the box, but rusty passes let him down.

  64. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    HT. Arsenal dominated after early Sterling goal, but have lacked end product. Afobe lively. Diaby bright. #AFC 0-1 #LFC.

  65. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlog

    Close

    Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool: Abou Diaby turns in Özyakup’s pass for the equaliser. Deserved.

  66. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    As expected, Diaby off after an hour. A touch rusty, but lively in patches and got confidence boosting goal. Solid performance.

  67. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    Arsenal dominating possession but it’s a game of few chances. Liverpool dangerous on the break with Suso and Sterling. 1-1.

    Liverpool, do love the long-ball….

  68. devilgunner says:

    It is something we do everyday Rico. I simply love spending around 30 minutes daily doing things I used to enjoy in my young days. Then the missus takes over since I have to bugger off to the training grounds. Like I have to do now. But I make it a point to spend at least 30 minutes a day with his schooling. It helps me get closer, unwind and get ready for a training session.

  69. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    Arsenal have lacked midfield drive and direction since Diaby left. Aneke off now for Boateng. 5 mins left. Still 1-1.

  70. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    FT. Arsenal six unbeaten after Diaby equalised Sterling opener, but Gunners failed to turn possession into chance. #AFC 1-1 #LFC.

  71. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    Abou Diaby picked up an ankle knock after scoring, but played on another 15 minutes and looked fine. Always the plan to play an hour.

  72. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlog

    · Open

    Martínez made some excellent saves, Miquel was solid and Afobe lively, but #AFC’s star man was Yennaris. So tenacious. Brilliant.

  73. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Did you think it read “Diaby played for more than a second so therefore is out injured for a few weeks”?

  74. rico says:

    Evening Scott 😉

    Yep, that is true, his come back is going to plan, that’s all we can hope for and for him to finally stay fit….

    He may just have a big part to play in this season yet….

  75. rico says:

    Thats me done guys, catch you all tomorrow….

    Nighty all, Scott, you have a good day 😉

    TTFN 😛

  76. Scott From Oz says:

    You can keep Junior Hoillett after that dive.
    Gets brushed,and I do mean brushed,across his neck by an arm,and goes down like he was decapitated.
    The dog can stay right where he is.
    Bendtner wasvery,very good on a losing side.
    Frasier Campbell had a shocker,but was an inch away from carving Blackburn to pieces on several occasion.
    What are your thoughts on him guys,because he looks to be a very good player potentially.

  77. allezkev says:

    Jamie Sanderson‏@YoungGunsBlogReply
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    Arsène Wenger says Sébastien Squillaci and André Santos both fully fit ahead of #EFC, but #AFC squad unchanged from #NUFC win.

  78. allezkev says:

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    Wenger says Wilshere is just a matter of ‘progress and fitness’ after ‘very good’ scan results. Coquelin close to training return.

  79. alanbstardmp says:

    Scott From Oz says:
    March 20, 2012 at 2:03 pm

    Alan,I guess we prop up a few of our neighbours,don’t we?
    Stuff them.
    Look after ourselves first.
    It may be harsh,but charity begins at home.

    That’s right Scott. We support every bugger in our area, and beyond, which I’m happy to do so long as we don’t ruin ourselves in the process

  80. Scott From Oz says:

    Alan,as harsh as it sounds,I I make no donations to charities now,with one exception……kidney foundations.
    It’s close to me heart,but that’s it.

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