Wenger’s Lies, Toothless Board & Another Missed Opportunity…

Morning all.

‘If Thomas Vermaelen leaves, I will replace him’ were the words muttered by the Arsenal manager just a few weeks ago. Thomas left, yet no-one to replace him arrived…

What he did do though was to allow the only other senior defender who could have been that fourth choice player to leave as Ignasi Miquel moved to Norwich City on a permanent deal. I’m not suggesting that the player had has suddenly become the next Tony Adams but when we have so few defenders, surely they’d be certain games in which the young player could have been used.

Well I guess that means either Isaac Hayden or Semi Ajayi, both 19 years old and both well over six foot are seen to be close to making the step up.

He didn’t sign the midfielder we were all crying out for either. Again, Hayden can play in the holding midfield position, but then so can Francis Coquelin who somehow escaped the exit door this summer…

Well, we did sign a striker and not the one I expected either, not until yesterday afternoon when having been linked to Tottenham for the last couple of days, in jumped Arsenal and snapped up Danny Welbeck and the story goes that he was willing to move to Tottenham, until he heard of our interest and then he made it clear it was Arsenal he wanted to join, and on a permanent deal….

Now there’s a reason to get behind the guy if you needed one… lol

He got what he wanted and we got our striker. Clearly he’s not a Cavani, Falcao or Costa but if he plays week in week out, he’ll only get better. Daniel Sturridge didn’t really do much a Chelsea but once he moved and played each week, his game improved so very much. Something similar could happen with Welbeck.

He’s tall and quick and throw him in with Alexis, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Campbell, we are already stronger up front imo. Fingers crossed this will see Sanogo relegated to the bench at best and with Arsene Wenger refusing to allow Campbell to move on deadline day, I hope we see more of our Costa Rican too. There is no way in this world Sanogo should be considered ahead of him. There’s still time to send the Frenchman on loan and I really hope we do.

So our final summer signings are:

Alexis Sanchez

David Ospina

Mathieu Debuchy

Callum Chambers

Danny Welbeck

All very very good deals in my opinion but they would have been a lot better had three of them not been just like for like as others departed so in affect, this summer has seen us sign just two additions to our frail squad.

Where is the young physical quick defensive midfielder that we have needed for years and where of course as said is the new centre back…….

Amazingly, Arsenal are pro-active in putting up season ticket prices and getting what they can from the fans pockets yet they are hopeless when it comes to addressing our needs in the transfer market. We have bucket loads of cash left and yet we have a squad lacking in certain areas yet again. We get told no players are available of quality, yet clubs who finished above us have made quality signings so why haven’t we? Who or what is the problem?

We again talk the talk of a big club but let the fans down as we act like a middle of the road club when failing to finally buy what we need. two players short again, how often have we said that over the past years.

Is that the best that the money from Puma and The Emirates could do? No, it’s the best that Arsene Wenger could do and it’s appalling.

All the spin about this summer being the one in which we were going to spend big and really take advantage of FFP rules was just that, spin!

The manager who having been rewarded with a new contract has shown no signs of being a changed man. Yet again this campaign will be one in which we have 11/13 players who can be relied on and after that, it’s scraping the barrel and it will no doubt cost us dear against the ‘big’ clubs.

And behind the manager is a board clearly full of toothless tigers who are happy to let Wenger continue to be so frugal and so very average. And behind them is a majority shareholder who clearly knows so little about football and that winning trophies is what this game is all about.

If he did, surely he’d have done something about this mess a long time ago, but I guess Arsene Wenger tells him that he knows what he’s doing just like he does the rest of us and Kroenke falls for it…..

Try and have a good day guys…..

 

 

237 thoughts on “Wenger’s Lies, Toothless Board & Another Missed Opportunity…

  1. ozgunner says:

    “he will only get better” how many times have we heard this line – FFS – unfortunately there are examples after examples this is not the case with many of Wengers buys. Whats the fascination with protecting Grioud, he f*cks over not only his family but the club rules and Wenger sings his praises like he’s god gift to football

  2. goonster says:

    We ll be fine guys….Danny welbeck ll suprise a few and gratify himself. I told ginge yesterday that am willing to wager he ll outscore falcao. He has a point to prove plus he’s young and english. Am not worried about him. He ll come good. Morning good people.

  3. AndrewH says:

    Very good post summing up the window, morning all.

    Now the dust is settling, I was interested in our net spend. According to the final Daily Mail online chart, we have a Net Spend of 46.4 million.

    Spent £78.2m
    Received 31.8m
    Net 46.4m

    2nd highest behind Man Unt (includes 6m loan and Welbeck sale) who spent 153.1m, sold 31.2m and have net outlay of 122m (their maths out, not mine!)

    Of course, this is a bit estimated as we always non-disclose.

    I would say the winners are Chelsea who have a net profit of 0.8 million, plus Fabragas and Costa!

    Losers are us if we have a CB injury or two. Seems even more stupid that we are 2nd highest spenders and forgot we only have 2 and a half CBs.

  4. ozgunner says:

    goonster – think about what lines we been spun by the storyteller and read your line “he’ll come good” make sense in any way? What does him being young and English have to do with quality players, there are plenty that were declared as having a point to prove, Bendtner being another classic Wenger f**k up.

  5. potter says:

    The defensive midfield will not happen whilst Wenger remains at the club. He doesn’t want one, it doesn’t suit his kamikaze style of attacking football. We will play with a keeper and a standard back four , Arteta and Ramsey will be box to box , Ozil pulling strings for Cazorla , Wellbeck and Walcott. That of course is until we get more injuries then it will be a case of pick any one from whats left and fill the gap.
    Nothing really changes in the world of Wengerball.

  6. Bob John says:

    Morning Rico. Great post. Agree 100%. I guess the writing was on the wall when he started playing Monreal at CB in pre-season! So we are left with 5 and 1/2 defenders. Gibbs is only 1/2 in my view due to his fragile body. We are being run like a Sunday morning team when someone can’t play the manager asks in the changing room, “who fancies playing centre-half today?”. Scandalous!!

  7. rogerbij says:

    Wenger knows alright – HE KNEW we needed a DM, CB and striker. He knew because he bid for ALL of them on deadline day – Nastasic, Carvahlo, Welbeck et al.

    Im furious because this was a cockup game of stupid poker that should never have come to this. Buy what you need, do it early, have the players bed-in during pre-season.

    If bonus players come around at the end of the transfer window then play poker, BUT never play if youre not prepared to lose. We lost. And we should never have been playing.

  8. Bob John says:

    Hi Potter. Thing is our most successful teams under Wenger had Petit or Gilberto as DM’s So what’s changed? Apart from his brain!

  9. potter says:

    I suppose his fascination with all things Pep and Catalunia. Once he tried to copy the Barca style the holding presence disappeared from sight.

    Ticket fiasco :- As of yet no , they said they would listen to my phone call which they claim to have recorded and that they would come back to me. As of yet I have heard nothing.

  10. dugoti says:

    All in all we are at +2!? not good enough to win much! Last Jan he brought in A CM on loan to cover the position!! he admitted the problem then and didn’t do much about it later! We have depth, height and steel issues all over the pitch! just another top four competitive squad but not good enough to win the big trophies!

  11. rogerbij says:

    Tried and failed miserably for Carvalho. Try harder 2 months ago! Not on deadline day for a 22 year old to change his life!

  12. Woody says:

    I wonder what Emirates and Puma make of it all. When we negotiated deals with them, it was on the basis that we invested in the squad so we were more competitive – you never want to give a load of sponsorship money to a sinking ship!

    I can only hope that we are going back in to complete the job in January.

    Maybe I’m a bit too hopeful, but Wenger always says you can’t really add more than 3 players at a time, so maybe he wants to bed these players in and add a few more in January.

    That would mean we only have 4 months to get through with the current squad, then come January we can add a centre back and holding midfielder.

    For Welbeck, I just hope he’s been wasted out wide and can do a job for us up front. One thing that should be for certain, he will never get played on the wing. Not when we have Walcott, Ox, Sanchez, Cazorla, Pod, Ozil, Gnabry…

    I was actually wondering whether Gnabry could play through the middle with his pace.

  13. Nickie says:

    Cherry on the cake would be if Wenger bought Welbeck as a “CF”…..Plays Sanchez RW, Welbeck LW and Sanogo CF. I can see it now, get the pitch forks ready! lol

    Afternoon all,

    Nice post Rico

  14. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Wenger – Old man in a young man’s game?

    The positives of the Welbeck signing are are that Yaya Sanogo gets nowhere near the first team. He’s not just not good enough for ours – no other premiership club would want him anywhere near their first 11.

    I’ve never been a Welbeck fan, and I can’t see that changing, but it’s an improvement on Sanogo. Whether or not it’s an improvement on Campbell, I don’t know, but the positive thing is – we now have a Plan A and a Plan B.
    I still feel a bit sorry for Joel Campbell.

    As regards the DM.
    Do we actually have one anyway? or is Flamini or Arteta just acting it?
    As I’ve said a DM is a position – not a person.
    Any midfielder with a brain can operate the role. It’s not rocket science. Chamberlain is a clever lad with an engine – try him alongside Ramsey. If Wenger thinks wingers can play centrally and central midfielders out wide then this position should be a piece of piss. It really is a piece of piss.

    As re: defence. Including Bellerin we have 7. Two sets of full backs with three central defenders, with one who can float between all positions including the DM.

    You could say it’s a calamity waiting to happen, but look at the 1970/71 team.
    George broke his ankle equalising in a 2-2 draw up at Goodison on the opening day of the season.
    Sammels broke his ankle pre season and Simpson did his cruciates in pre season. Three main men out.

    It wasn’t planned but it happened. Rice, Roberts and Kennedy were promoted and Storey moved into midfield.
    They team began to fade towards the end of November and all the big guns came back.
    The rest they say is history.

    I’m trying to be positive.

  15. solomon says:

    AW and the tooth and emotionless Board are destroying the club. Arsenal does not deserve them! Gooners, we reach out and painfully accept 6th place finish come 23 May 2015!

  16. Josie Boxer says:

    I genuinely believe that AW could be suffering from ailment, onset of dementia or similar….the FA cup win, that thankfully gave us a semi and the final over very beatable teams, although we struggled, papered over the cracks. AW has missed the bus one time too many and I fear this season he will be caught out, at our expense. fro the love of The Arsenal I hope I’m wrong, I fear I’m not….

  17. AndrewH says:

    syg, yeah, I think we need a bit of positivity.

    Both our fault really. We were both in Cyprus last time and it was a great last day. Up till one waiting in a Napa bar! Made my holiday!

  18. . . . and gawd bless Dennis Bergkamp says:

    Bob John mentioned Petit in an earlier post and it got me salivating about a midfield of:

    Petit Ramsey

    Ozil

    Just imagine (wipes away a tear).

    Someone once described Petit as being able to ‘pass like a feather and tackle like a hammer’. If it worked then I don’t see why it wouldn’t work now. I’m disappointed that the club didn’t try harder to fill the DM position – and, don’t be fooled, if they really wanted to they would have done. As good as Chambers is it’s not fair to expect him to cover CB, RB, DM, keeper and tea lady.

  19. Ruel Carvey says:

    I am waiting for the excuse on why he (wenger) did not buy a DM and CB, waiting last minute and trying for players who are going to be hard to replace is RIDICULOUS

  20. Ruel Carvey says:

    Or he is trying to be smart and say he tried to get them, but the clubs would not release them, so we have continue use Arteta and Flamini

  21. rico says:

    Exactly Roger..

    We could be out of the races by January Woody, I absolutely dread our next fixture which is at lunchtime to add to the suffering…

    Mind you, that might make AW spend some money if that’s the case as his ‘top 4′ spot’ will be under serious pressure..

    Thanks Nickie, please don’t suggest that line up again.. 😉

  22. t-buzz says:

    Hi Rico,
    Been ages!! I dont see us challenging for the Premiership title with this squad especially as we played like amateurs at the weekend. Still early days but would have preferred he signed a DM and another defender…

  23. Bob John says:

    syg. LOL re: Ryan Giggs. Nasty slimey piece of work and his place as part of the coaching staff has coincided with the Mancs downward spiral. Hardly Brain of Britain is he!

  24. Chris says:

    What a one-sided piece of work – we have no idea who they tried to get, or what the obstacles were since they do their transfers quietly. It isn’t just about money. Some players dont want to come for a hundred reasons. Looking back over opinion on this forum – I’m sure there will have been pinions despairing why we didn’t buy Samba or Torres. I’m not even a Wenger apologist, but let’s have a proper discussion. This is just hot air.

  25. rico says:

    Hi t-buzz, long time indeed, how are you??

    All is not good eh, CB and a DM and we’d all feel very different today. Yet again a huge opportunity to show some proper ambition has passed by…

  26. southyorkshiregunner says:

    t-buzz. Leicester will finish in the top ten. We out played them most of the match. We were unfortunate that Koscelny suffered a head injury and that Wenger has a hard-on for Sanogo.
    I can’t see any need to panic until we need to panic.
    We will get a reality check over the next few games – If we are still unbeaten, then I fancy us.

  27. rico says:

    http://allarsenal.com/shop

    This Arsenal site has recently designed some Arsenal supporter T-shirts of Ramsey, Szczesny and Wilshere – have a peep if you are interested…

    T-shirts are:

    1. The Welsh Jesus
    2. Keep Calm and Pass to Wilshere
    3. A Pole in the Arsenal Goal.

    I quite like the Jack Wilshere one….

  28. AndrewH says:

    syg, will remember that if we go back, cheers. We usually stay in Protaras which would be even nearer.

    I remember where I was when Bergkamp signed, and certainly when Ozil signed. Shame didn’t add Cavani to the list, mind you it would have been a boring … at home!

  29. rico says:

    Leicester in the top ten Syg, can’t see it myself. We should have ripped them apart and would have had Sanogo not played and AW tried a different plan b a lot sooner.

  30. S2S says:

    Hey everyone,

    I think I may be one of the few who is happy with the squad and I think if we have enough players to survive till January. In January we should get rest of the reinforcements. These are the players I think we have for each position.
    CBs: Per, Kos, Chambo, Hayden (if it comes down to it)
    Rbs: Debuchy, Bellerin, Le Coq
    LBs: Gibbs, Nacho
    Deeplying Playmakers: Mikel, Abou, Flamini
    B2B: Rambo, Jack, Tomas
    #10s: Mesut, Santi
    Wingers: Sanchez, Ox, Theo,JC
    ST: Danny, Sanogo.

    Not the best but a good squad to get to December and after that we can buy some reinforcements. Plus we can always call Jenko back from loan if we require him.

    Till December we shall have 10 big games including PL, CL and League cup. Lets get Diaby’s yearly quota of playing in 10 games be done in these games. He can be a big big influence in those big games. In the games against mid table teams we can have Mikel playing there and against clubs at the bottom Flamini. Lets manage our resources well and get to December and then hope against all the hopes that we do some business in January.

  31. emma says:

    Gd everyone,
    Thank goodness the window is closed.
    Glad we signed Welbeck massive upgrade on Sanogo and quicker version of Giroud. Good link up play, smart and intelligent. Hopefully he scores bucket loads of goals. Sanogo should be sent out on loan. He definitely needs it for his development.

    Disappointed we couldn’t get a CDM/CB before the deadline as that would have made it the perfect window.

    No escaping it(CDM) next summer as Coq, diaby, Flamini and arteta contracts are up in the air this season if not renewed. I see Podolski leaving in Jan window as he would find it difficult getting playing time other that that his social media antics is not helping him alot

  32. southyorkshiregunner says:

    or 4. Speedo King

    or 5. I’m not Robin’s Brother

    or 6. The Scoring Machine

    or 7. Indestructible Man

    or 8. Mr. Versatility

    or 9. Gobby French Git

  33. rico says:

    Chris, not one sided, just my opinion. If you don’t like that opinion, it’s fine, but the reality is, it’s reality….

    Top clubs don’t leave deals until DD….

  34. AndrewH says:

    If Diaby came off, we would be in a pretty good place. But chances? 1 in 15 maybe? If fit for say 10 out of 15 games, and performing like he has on a few occasions, he would be just what we need. But then, that would be a miracle.

  35. rico says:

    emma – there are a lot of players covering a lot of positions in that picture. Lets hope Chambers, Kos and Monreal don’t get injured at the same time.

  36. ozgunner says:

    there are always the exception to the rule on players being available late – but think back to Wenger comments before the FA Cup – he seemed to understand what was needed – WTF went wrong? We are working on these deals everydays of our lives he said – uummm OK then Arsene

  37. Tbuzz says:

    I’m fine rico and glad to see HH is as busy as ever!!southyorkshiregunner,fair point re:Kozzer being injured…the sooner he recovers the better. I hope J.Campbell gets to play and doesnt end up being loaned then sold next…

  38. Joaquim Moreira says:

    good post.
    why did not try Schnerderling or the two players bought for the Totts? Fabio is a very good defender and cheaper; the Montpelier is good and cheaper. Why we insisted in Carvalho for 2-3 months? He was very inflated in my opinion and we need more players thhat concentarce all our interest in just one player..
    Our defender is lack (we suffer goals every game), no enought players. the squad, the same. Moreover, the consequences of the World cup and not well pre-season for mostly of the players will be tragic soon.
    And why we loan Jenkinson if we not replace him? every year we haven’t enought players, specially defenders. We never prepare the team earlier. Last year, we try Suarez. We need a central forward. This year, until Giroud injuried, we needn’t. Can you find any significant differences between this season and the last one?
    Everybody knows we need a DM and good defender. We wait until the last day for bought them. We fail. Meanwhile, we dropped 4 points and the observers already say that Arsenal are already four points of the leaders and will be difficult to get them. I’m agree. Looking to the others teams we are worst them 4/5 teams and our performances were very poor. We are lucky to get 5 points in our pocket. The target is be lucky for be the 4th.
    For the CL, a very diffcult group with Glastasaray stronger then last week.
    What we think? Attack in January where probably, everything is lost in this season?
    Do you think that the players are motivating, looking arround and see the componentes stronger then us, ambitious, believing in theirs qualities and potential and tired of hearing empty promises every year ?

  39. Mr Wath says:

    Hot air seems your opinion Chris seeing as you were not around you have no idea what people said or thought of Samba or Torres….

    As for not knowing who we tried for it seems everyone else got mostly what they wanted we have had all summer to get players in and yet again failed where it matters most of all, the central midfield and centre back… Hot air or fact…? Think you’ll find that’s fact…!

  40. rico says:

    Exactly Oz, yet this was meant to be our time, the time the club have been waiting for, the time when FFP and the sponsorships would reap rewards. What utter claptrap from the club….

  41. AndrewH says:

    syg, two answers why we didn’t try everything possible to sign Carvarlho.

    1) because AW believes Diaby is going to be fitter than at any time of his life and do a ‘Ramsey’ of last year

    2) because AW is indecisive, wont pay the dosh (he thinks it’s his own), and if he did make a bid, he daftly left it till hours before the deadline

    Ok, which one is correct?

  42. Joaquim Moreira says:

    emma: i can play in a central forward but i’m not confortable in play in that position. But I can.
    Same of our players were played in wrong positions this year.
    We must have two right players for each position and same who can play there if necessary; not the opposite.
    That it’s one of the biggest difference between Chelsea and us. They had prepared the squad earlier, with time and the news players didn’t strange is integration. In this final window, they didn’t need to buy someone. They bought for the others not be stronger and be weakers (specially Arsenal). For Chelsea side, it’s important to be in the moment London best team.

  43. ozgunner says:

    no way is Wenger not getting some serious kick backs on all this money he is NOT spending – his retirement/payout fund must be enormous now – Wonder what Puma are thinking about now, having been proud to be linked to a ambitious progressive club – I am convinced he looks at the league and buys what he believes will get us fourth and nothing more –

  44. Woody says:

    I don’t think we should be too worried about the City game Rico – it’s a season we will have trouble with not one game. We are stronger than when we played them last year at home.

    I’m saying that based on the fact that we should have a team to put out at the moment!

  45. Mr Wath says:

    Andrew other problem with Carvalho is 3rd party ownership hence drove up the price…! Should not of been left til the last minute as usual though…! Same old story different transfer window…!

  46. esxste says:

    Transfer Window is closed. We have what we have now till January. Time to find some optimism and positivity.

    The only thing anyone of us can do now is get behind the team and support them 100% regardless of what we think Wenger should or should not have done in the TW.

    If one can’t do that, maybe its time to reconsider whether one is actually an Arsenal fan, or just whiner who pretends to be an Arsenal fan?

  47. Gunnerdna says:

    Morning all, good post rico. I’m really disappointed that we did not get a DM & CB, but very happy with Danny Welbeck signing, because he is better than OG & Sanogo imo. I hope AW didn’t risk our season on waiting for Kaderia as a free agent by not even trying to get him. We all have to just hope that we stay within touching distance to CFC & Man City until January.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9bVczud2w

  48. AndrewH says:

    The problem esxste with AW recieiving no criticism is that he will never see what’s wrong with his transfer dealings. Do you really think people here ‘whining’ don’t feel pain and care so much about Arsenal? To me, those that don’t get upset when we lose are not the real fans. I wish I didn’t get so upset, it just happens!

  49. ozgunner says:

    AndrewH – Wenger doesn’t give a toss about us, none of them do. You know they are saying hopefully this will shut them up, what do they know. We faithfully support, forget all the lies, accept all the sales pitches and they know it. They seriously don’t deserve us and that is a fact.

  50. djviperg says:

    He said he will replace him, not buy another player, you just assumed!! we have Bellerin and Coqalin can play at back also, I would have live to have got Papadopulas, Howdes, Sabutich or hummels, but window has closed now, lets just get behind our team and support what we working with, we can still do it, I think we still done ok in window, usually we get 1 if that.

  51. Tbuzz says:

    Rico, i havent been LG in years…!! I know Geoff And Pedro are doing well since the Metro newspaper like to quote from their site occassionally!lol

  52. rico says:

    Agree Wath re Carvalho. If AW really wanted him, 1st July should have been the day to start the ball rolling, if not before like they did Alexis..

    Perhaps they struggle to multi-task with signings….

  53. AndrewH13 says:

    Agreed Oz, unfortunately. What’s worse, and I’m not talking Arsenal here, is that many of us fans feel a defeat more than many of the players. Guess they have their 30-300 grand a week to console themselves.

  54. ozgunner says:

    we should soon start to see some of the so called offers we made for some of these players – be interesting reading no doubt and can’t wait for Wenger to try the “we tracked him for some time” crap.

  55. rico says:

    🙂 Tbuzz, don’t think Geoff is around on there any more, he certainly doesn’t write posts. All Pedro now I believe….

  56. esxste says:

    I’d have liked Wenger to have made good on his words about a replacement for TV. Chambers was supposed to be signing for the future, not a replacement.

    But I accept that sometimes the transfer market doesn’t play in a logical fashion like on Football Manager. That it isn’t always all about money, and when it is, that there is the need to be careful with money.

    Maybe Wenger should have spent more. We’ll see where Man Utd end up at the end of this season to see how throwing money at any player on the market works for fixing problems.

    Right now though it’s time to get give our guys the best support we can when they’re on the pitch. Otherwise we’ll be the agents of our own demise.

  57. Gunnerdna says:

    Rio Ferdinand on Welbeck “If he gets that trust to be No 1 striker at Arsenal he will flourish and explode.”

  58. Joaquim Moreira says:

    We won the charity shield and we are int he stages at he CL (with lucky…). but don’t forget this: how many players are out with injuries and suspended?
    We started the pre-season earlier without many players; Chalmers was very good but he his better then the duo Mets-Kos? In my opinion, his good performance his also the consequence of lack preparation of Mets and Kos. In my opinion, we don’t need a defender for be in the line up every week, but a defender “fresh”, with quality for replace someone need it. And the same with DM. AW in my opinion is wrong when same type of players like Khedira. We have “famous players”: Ozil, alexis,wilshere… that is enought. We need “workers” and not well know players, but with ambicion, fresh and strong. In that way, Schnerlerding was a very good option. It was difficult buy him?
    Even Sandro, now in the QPR…

  59. Woody says:

    I just hope it’s a Daniel Sturridge situation. I didn’t want him at Arsenal when he was at Chelsea…too selfish for me, but he turned out to be more than decent at Liverpool.

    Different players yes, but I’m hoping he can bring other players in to the game.

  60. esxste says:

    No offence ozgunner, but Standard Media.co.ke is hardly the likes of The Scum, Daily Heil, Daily Sleaze, and the rest. Not to mention the awful TV pundits

  61. rico says:

    esxste – I thought Chambers was the reason Jenks went on loan, ie a right back cover…

    Shows what I know eh…

    Regardless, this lad is going to be expected to mr fill in, instead of allowing him to become a master of one position..

    Poor kid.. 😉

  62. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Post Rico.

    But keep in mind….this season we have increased the number of Englishmen by two. And two England internationals at that.

    Some are underwhelmed that we got Dw23. But go and take a look at the blogs of Yanited of Manure supporters and they are not happy. If one takes percentage then its only 1 in 25 which does not mind DW23 going.

    And finally …..Phelan has also backed Welbeck, 23, to thrive at Arsenal.

    “He is still only a young player and with young players you will get peaks and troughs but it is a case of Danny feeling more important in himself than he probably was over the last 12 months,” said Phelan.

    “He is in a position where he can play where he wants and I think that is why he chose Arsenal because they give him the opportunity to play in his best position, which is a striker.

    “A club like Arsenal is a fabulous club, it is a well-run club. From a footballer’s point of view, if you want to choose a football club, then Arsenal is right up there with the best.”

  63. naz says:

    To quote Kevin K, I would love it both of our CBs got injured and we miss out on top 4. Dont get me wrong I want us to be successful but i am starting to believe that this will not happen under Wenger. This man is a joke. I thought after FA Cup he would have changed, yet its a same old same old with him.

    I realise that i will get slated for this but you have to look at the first few games and you can see what i mean.

    We dont have CB cover, CDM or striker. Even when you want to give Wenger the benefit of the doubt he spits on your face examples:

    Ozil playing left winger. the two games he played in that position, he was useless not his fault. Flamini and Arteta as CDM accident waiting to happen. neither can defend.

    As for strikers, how in the world can sonogo be picked before JC… if i was JC. I would walk. We needed a left sided player for years now and he has not done anything. Wenger is so stuck up and the only way he will learn is by missing out on £25m.

    If he needs a tip on selecting a line for Man C. here it is..

    GK: Sczesny
    RB: Debuchy
    CB: Mert
    CB: Kos
    LB: Gibbs

    CDM: Flamini
    B2B: Ramsey

    RW: Alexis
    ACM: Ozil (Santi
    LW: Pods (Ox

    CF: JC and the

    Here is the trick for wenger to remember (Use left footed player on the left)

    oh an substitutions can be made at anytime not on 85th minutes. Here is the tips on who to brink on

  64. AndrewH13 says:

    Nice to see ex Manu people giving support. Very mixed from RM when Ozil left. Team mates supported but many stuck the knife in. Never thought I’d say it 10 years ago, but as a whole ManU showing more class than Moureen/Chelsea and R Madrid.

  65. rico says:

    Thanks Devil. I’m not at all disappointed that we signed Welbeck and certainly not Chambers either.. In fact I am pleased with every single signing the club have made.

    Just very disappointed that they didn’t take two steps further and sign a DM and CB. That’s my only gripe. We have missed a really good chance to win the PL…

    Unless Coquelin is suddenly going to become a footballer and Diaby is going to stay fit for most of the season.

    Neither are likely to happen….

  66. esxste says:

    Rico, perhaps. I’m not so sure any more, as Bellerin looks pretty decent. And Wenger has mainly been discussing Chambers as a CB/DM.

  67. Bob John says:

    A lot of talk about how lacking we were upfront against Leicester but I was horrified at how easily they got to our area and in on goal whenever thay broke up our attacks. This was, after all a team of championship players, albeit enthusiastic ones. God knows what would have happened against the Chavs, Citeh, Scousers or even the Spuds!!

  68. esxste says:

    With Welbeck, I wonder whether he took advice about his future from anyone.

    I might be wrong but the way I read it was that Welbeck demanded a permenent move after Arsenal expressed interest. Would Fergie have been on his advisors list?

  69. AndrewH13 says:

    I still feel we’re bit short in the Striker dept 🙂 🙂

    Start of last season and before Giroud got injured, we were worried what would happen if our sole target man got hurt. As it was he tired as he was run into the ground. Let’s hope Welbeck stays fit till January because I feel sorry for Sano.

  70. Mr Wath says:

    That’s the problem Bob, the defensive side of the midfield is not robust physical or quick enough. Does Callum solve that is played as a central midfielder with maybe Aaron and Jack in front of him…?

  71. Hell Raising Devil says:

    but from the comments I get the feeling that many are mumbling and grumbling about us not gettig Falcao and getting DW23 instead.

    cast your mind back a couple of weeks. I did not want Falcao. 1) He is non Eu national. Therefore long hours of travel. 2) He is not the same as he was before the op. 3) he has age against him. 4) no sell on.

    Same with Cavani.

    Here we are not playing FIFA 15. Or soccer manager. Unfortunately some people play and think everything is as simple as that. these are morons who think that real life football is the same as those two games.

    many issues determine transfers. and all difficult issues. in game a player is just a name. in reality…..many issues are involved.

  72. Hell Raising Devil says:

    First Phelan, then Rio and now even DB07 has put in his two pence worth of opinions on DW23.

    And all of them feel that Manure have gaffed in letting him go.

  73. AndrewH13 says:

    Home in bed today with thickest cold I can remember having. Usually its one quick post during day when at work. Consolation is chatting with such a nice crowd 🙂

  74. rico says:

    esxste – you have a point, Bellerin looks a solid player, I guess I just wish Chambers found his place and he mastered it, he looks as if he has it all to play the b2b role. Time will tell I guess…

    Guys, what about Hayden or Ajayi – If needed are they ready? Haven’t seen them play so don’t know the answer. Where’s Rick…

  75. rico says:

    Exactly Bob, just why I dread the City game…

    Still, Arteta will be back by then…. 😉

    On that note, Fido needs a walk, catch up in a bit….

  76. Mr Wath says:

    Andrew, I hear the ice bucket challenge sorts out a cold in double quick time…! Replace the water for whiskey, sorted……..

    Dev, no way would I want Falcao on that dosh and I reckon they worried about RVP as well… Those injuries are becoming a bit more regular. Welbeck is a good buy he. Has always played 2nd fiddle to Rooney and RVP last few years and is a player who has it all. Let’s hope we don’t play him centre back.

  77. tsgh says:

    Excellent post summing up the window, afternoon all.

    Syg, you are age discriminating at 12:33 again? 🙂

    Rico, nothing wrong with middle lane; My 3 wheeler hugs the middle lane perfectly 🙂

  78. Micko says:

    Looks like it’s the same ole, same ole for the rest of the season, more of wenger doing his best impersonation of Rigsby on the touchline, hands on hips blaming the world and his dog when he only has to look in the mirror, talk about making a rod for his own back.

    Andrew made a good point last nite, if it weren’t for the injury to Giroud we probably would have ended up with no-one, great planning.

    I’m in the “Welbeck will do really well for us” camp but I still can’t fathom how we didn’t bring in a defender.

    rico, are you able to confirm how many consecutive appearances needs to break his record for Arsenal, is it 5 or 6 ?

  79. tsgh says:

    Rico, I was at the youth game last week and Hayden was played RW of all positions… I can understand him playing RB or box to box but RW???

    Apparently it was Miquel who pushed for a move last minute; funny how Hayden was not given any games after the NYRB’s game but he has become our emergency CB/DM…

    Odd how Olsson has been loaned too…

  80. Mr Wath says:

    Ts, think Olsson is gone, loan with view to a permanent move…. Think his attitude has got the better off him with a bit of self entitlement creeping in…!
    Hayden seems to have the right attitude so we’ll see but we down to the bare bones if/when we have to call on untried and inexperienced players and then it’s unfair pressure as well surely..?
    Hey ho…….

  81. Woody says:

    I think you can rule RVP out for most of the games. He’s always been injury prone and he’s also old now.

    I heard he overstated his injuries last year because he didn’t want to play for a shit Moyes team and risk making his injury worse a head of the world cup. Shows you how self centered he is.

    Falcao was not worth the money for sure. You imagine that they are paying about £1m a week to their 3 main strikers. Possibly even more with bonuses!!!

    Fuck that!!!

  82. goonster says:

    Funny how thick the British tabloids are. 10 years ago it was wenger is ruining our national team. The kept banging on how we had no English man on the pitch. Fast forward today the same egg heads are ripping us a new one for letting manure sell us a dud while they nab one of the best strikers on the planet who by the way is not English. You can’t just win with these scum suckers. They must live miserable lives. Morning again housers. Am still chuffed we got welbeck. Hmmmmm had a ring to it….Ozil to sanchez sanchez lays it down to welbeeeeeeeeeeeeck! What a goal! That almost rip the net in half 😀

  83. Danish Gooner says:

    Wenger will regret not signing Carvalho,he will become a titan of midfield and Chavski will probably sign him in january,had your chance but blew it big time now he is out of reach !!!!

  84. Mr Wath says:

    DG the problem again with Carvalho is Mendes is his agent and 3rd party ownership, you could well be right he will turn out a proper player but it was always gonna be a problem with Mendez involved.
    There were still other options though.
    We will reap what we sow in that regards.

  85. Mr Wath says:

    The ones that keep quiet and get their head down Emma are the ones more likely to make it not the ones who sulk when they don’t get what they want….. Far to much Bendtner attitude for my liking….. See ya…!

  86. Gunnerdna says:

    Man United make a mistake selling Welbeck to Arsenal. You don’t sell a young home grown player with Welbeck ability to a rival. They should have sell Van P overseas and kept Welbeck. Mistake by Van Gal. imo. United fans would fell better if he was sold to Vila or Wes Brom. At least he can get his shots on target.

  87. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Afternoon all.
    Hiya Ginge. Age discrimination ????????

    Curry was fine. It took me 10 mins to knock back starters and mains so I could come back to the HH blog to talk bollocks with you LOL

    As for positivity.
    What else is there?
    No point crying about it. What’s done is done.

    My problem was the pile of shit from Ligue 2 that parades as our No. 9.
    That’s supposedly sorted. …. Supposedly

    https://twitter.com/BlackScarfAFC/status/506713859575799808/photo/1

    Then you see shit like that…

    ….and his street robber signature of DAT MAN WELLBZ – it doesn’t bode to well mate. Adebayor MK2 ?
    My constitution when it comes to show boating dick heads is fckng NIL.
    But everyone deserves a chance. I just hope he takes it and concentrates on his football.

    Ian Wright did.

    Other things – @Geoff on twitter had some right bollocks on twitter last night and he’s still on about it now.

  88. tsgh says:

    Agree Wath re WC and Mendez.

    Funny how teh media are telling us Rojo was awiting work permit but we all know it is a fat lie… 3rd party issue.

    Also Falcao takes home just over a third of his salary in the guise of management fee. You can’t make that up. 😀
    .. Doyen and Mendez take huge wads of his salary to get around his ownership issue.
    The same way Morata was not joining us the moment Jorge signed him…
    The 3rd party parasites realised and learnt form the Tevez, Mascherano and Hulk issues so instead they take part of player salaries and limit selling on fee…

  89. tsgh says:

    awaiting*

    Rumours has it that Lvg was forced to sell Welbz according to someone close to J Hope his agent.

    If Yanited fail top 4 they lose huge chunk of their new sponsorship deal so it was Kamikaze mkII; me think

  90. emma says:

    Wath – u are right re Olsson
    After his last interview I knew he was off. Good player but needed to be patient despite the fact that Zelalem was promoted ahead of him. We all knew at the moment Zelalem promotion is just marketing strategy in the states. I believe if he was patient the club could have gotten him a championship club to help in his development.

  91. tsgh says:

    Wath, like Zlatan was good and he knew it.. sometimes you have to fight your corner me think…

    I believe Kris was always training with the seniors but he felt he was not going to get a chance which I think he was inpatient.

    Like Toral, Bellerin they were signed with ‘certain guarantees’.

    I think Torals’ would have moved if he was not injured for several months last season… that is why he is on loan me think…

    Arteta and Rosicky all liked Kris and thought he had a chance…

  92. Gunnerdna says:

    Ts, if Man U fail to make the CL they will still be getting 50 mil per season from Adidas, that’s more than what we get from Puma. The problem with Man U is their huge wage bill.

  93. Gunnerdna says:

    Michael Owen “Arsenal have pulled off a very good signing in Welbeck. He’s young, English, fast and someone who Wenger can get more out of… People talk about a lack of goals but he’s hardly played as a striker at United. He will suit Arsenal.”

  94. Mr Wath says:

    Think Olsson technically good Ts but far to lite weight and for me didn’t look like would push on, we have had many like him, am sure he will have a good career but at the very top I doubt it, just my opinion obviously.
    If your gonna sulk when you don’t get picked do something about it don’t whinge about it. Will he whinge when we loosing and hide..? Enough said.

  95. tsgh says:

    Bt- we lose a bit of money from the 2 qualifying games according to Aw’s words after the deal was announced…

    I have no ideal or can’t recollect how much re our sponsorship; I read the value somewhere but the board and Aw will move the goal post slightly… we won 2 trophies recently afterall. 😛

    Spot on Wath re light wait…

  96. George says:

    Hi all,

    Today is my birthday and instead of seeing sokratis. draxler, falco etc…I see Silvestre sabotage in Welbeck MKII.

    I am very suspicious with Manure assistingus. Its common knowledge we will be battling Manure for 4t. They have sent Welbeck to make Sanogo look good.

    Unless Welbeck does a sturridge,i am not convinced and actually so fkd off i can’t even celebrate my 21st +vat…

    How is DW any better than Campbell, Afobe or even Akpom? He was 3rd choice at Utd.

    I am fearing a drubbing against City.

  97. tsgh says:

    Dna- that is why I was not raving about our deal unlike Ivan the Corporate spin master… 🙂
    Then again more folks north of Watford wear football Jersey’s even to job interviews so I guess more jersey’s are sold in Manchester.. 😛

    Syg will kill me for that. 😛

  98. Mr Wath says:

    Mancs sell circa 500,000 more shirts a year than us, that’s a lot of cash…! Hence a way better sponsorship deal.

  99. George says:

    Thanks Ginge. WATH….

    No Porsche yet, just the camel…. Seeing as we haven’t signed a CDM , at 38 I can still run faster than Arteta…Out come the Predators..

    Someone get me a T shirt that says…” I was there when Sanogo scored…”

  100. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Happy birthday George..i hope your wrong about City, i’d hate to hear the word ‘accident’, this early in season.

  101. goonster says:

    How tall is he though. I keep hearing he’s tall but I just saw a picture of him with theo and trust me there wasn’t much height different

  102. goonster says:

    The English Premier League…thanks bt. He is not that tall then but hey I ve seen him take on ivanobitch and held his own.

  103. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Campbell transfer was aborted for 2 millions..
    We must understand then Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky, etc are one year older with all the consequences.
    We have this year, probably between 50-60 games (and there are players cal up for theirs countries).
    So, in my opinion, this squad is not short. It Is very short.

  104. Mr Wath says:

    You could be waiting a while George lol……
    We need to rotate the players better than last year JM and hope we have more luck with injuries

  105. Mr Wath says:

    JM, all gossip and rumour though, we don’t know that for sure…!
    If we don’t get as many injuries as normal the squad is good and improved from last season we just lacking the two players we really needed to be really competitive but for now nothing we can do just be frustrated and move on I suppose.

  106. esxste says:

    I don’t dispute peoples right to have an opinion, and if you review my previous posts I’ve always shown the proper respect.

    I just fail to understand how I can share an opinion that we need a CB and a DM, and yet still have optimism and confidence that Arsenal can compete with the likes of Man City and Chelsea, while some of you seem certain we can’t!

  107. Mr Wath says:

    That’s why it’s an opinion esxste because you still think we can compete yet others don’t only time will tell who is right to think we can or can’t compete and I wasn’t knocking you merely saying it’s all about opinion as that then leads how we see the team squad and results panning out. Can’t see us being that competitive when we failed to address two key positions but as said we will soon see.

  108. Mr Wath says:

    For me the one key area is where we were over run last season so sense would lead me to think nothing will change with the same players. Maybe a formation change or tactics could surprise me but if you play the same way with same players I would expect the same results. Hope I am wrong.

  109. esxste says:

    We shall see.. I just don’t understand the negativity and certainty of impending doom. Is there no hope left in there?

    We did take a beating against the top teams last season, and we can’t let that happen again. But what really killed our title charge was injuries to key midfielders all around the same time. All the riches we had in midfield, the area people said we didn’t need to strengthen with Ozil was the area where we struggled.

    We’ve strengthened even more with Sanchez, and now Welbeck. We have the quality. We just need hope 🙂

  110. Mr Wath says:

    Esxste, everyone on here been crying out for defensive midfield players for years, buying just Ožil was never the answer we needed more and we have still yet again failed to resolve that problem area.
    We lack a physically strong quick and robust player in central midfield and in my opinion it will be our downfall again, as said I hope not…..

  111. esxste says:

    I don’t think it was our downfall last season. That’s the point. I agree its a weak spot in our team. We’ll likely pay a price for not investing there. But I don’t think that price will be the PL title.

  112. Sammy Nelsons Pants says:

    Just eleven injuries away from: ospina, flamini, chambers,Monreal, Bellerin, Rosicky, Ox, Diaby, Poldi, Campbell, Welbeck . Well, seven, with Arteta, Giroud, Theo and Gibbs all out ATM. Not a bad 2nd eleven guys.

    We ARE stronger than last year. Trouble is, so are the mancs n chavs. Hope we can hold the middle with what we have though…..

    Falcao just a huge risk at 346k a week, and dodgy cruciate…..

  113. Lee says:

    I’m just shocked at people that have supported Arsenal for a few years telling people not to be negative! Then saying maybe they’re not Arsenal supporters?

  114. frednerk says:

    Well what a night to go with the last 3 months,
    when asked at the airport why he was deserting the last day of the window..Wenger put his hand in his pocket and just waved his mobile………………..See I have This.
    We all knew did’nt we,he would’nt satisfy our craving’s,for a bit of muscle.
    For me he lied again,
    “For sure we will be replacing Tommy,he said”
    It go’s right through the whole system at the arsenal,
    Tecnical ability 1st and formost,
    “my coaches can teach you how to be tough”Trust me.
    Well not to sure if anybody on here would trust wenger now,even the die hards have changed in the last couple of weeks.

    Anyway time to support our great team now,and hope we get some luck,would’nt it be great to hear to those words again.
    Lucky Lucky Arsenal.

    Wellbeck..What a surprise that was,we would never have got him if old red nose was about,their loss is our gain,
    Danny has been a top player since a he was 12yrs old,played 2 years up at 15,he was a tiny little kid who never grew much(oscar slater’s)..wengers nicked him.
    I agree with stan if played down the middle,he could be the,
    ……….The Dogs Bol-lux,for us.

  115. BT62 Gooner says:

    Rico, thanks for the advice, found out on Sunday a relation is a seasoned gin maker. So have put her under surveillance, to find her sloe stash….lol.. check your mail..

  116. rico says:

    Fred – I liked that…

    Bt, I only know that because a seasoned sloe gin maker told me the other day when I accused her of picking all the sloes at the local park… 😉

  117. potter says:

    esxste our downfall last season was a combination of many things and one of the biggest ones was the manager’s inability to accept the situation and adapt to negate the opposition. Sure we were caught short but our tactics on those days were suicidal , and effectively despite signing improvements to our attack he has ignored the defensive problems which is why so many of us are worried that it will happen again.

  118. Micko says:

    Just one problem with that story Fred, everyone knows Arsene has specially designed trousers that come with no pockets !!!

  119. BT62 Gooner says:

    Fred,like you i hope DW, will be the Dogs Danglies…like you fully behind the team and at times the sofa..

  120. frednerk says:

    Wellbeck could be a top finisher look at some of his goals,how many players infront of goal look up when the keepers charging out and wait till the keeper go’s to ground,then chips him..Wellbeck seems to that a lot..his goal tally so far has about 5/6 of those,and his only 23yrs old..it could work for us.

    Micko..I know that..Will correct:

    Wenger put his hand in his money belt entered a four digit code and waved his mobile..Ps: my mistake.

  121. rico says:

    Indeed Micko..

    Potter, I expect so, I really like it. Not as nice as when served draft in Spain in a frosted glass after a day on the beach… But, as you say, it’s pretty darn good…

  122. Micko says:

    Nice one fred, lucky he wasn’t wearing it when he was swimming in Brazil, he would have drown with the weight of it !

  123. rico says:

    🙂 Bt. Didn’t take you too long then to suss that one out…. lol

    Guys, having been up what seems like ages, I’m off to bed…

    I promise positivity will be resumed tomorrow…

    Night folks, you all have a good sleep…. 😉

  124. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we can sign a few players, those who are undisclosed before the end of the market and are free now, like: valdez (Barcelona -GK)Réveillère (ex-Nápoles),Dossena (ex-Sunderland),Diego Lugano (ex-WBA),Marchena (ex-Corunha),Katsouranis (ex-PAOK), Jonas (Valência),etc

    Why do we not try to sign a defender?

  125. AndrewH13 says:

    Welbeck should have taken into consideration that his good injury record is likely to plummet as soon as he signed on the dotted line for us!

  126. tsgh says:

    Goonie, re Welbz; yes he is just like Balo’ and Quincy..

    Quincy was at Malaga 2 years ago and is now ith Panathanakos or Boavista me think…

  127. Lee says:

    Welback injured you couldn’t make this shit up could you?
    BT/Rico you can pick the sloes and put them in the freezer and then use when defrosted.
    Happy birthday Adam.

  128. rico says:

    🙂 Micko, Wath’ll see that….

    Morning all..

    Happy Birthday Adam…

    Good luck Mr and Mrs Rocky, hope all goes well today….

  129. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Mumblers and Grumblers.

    Happy Birthday Adam. May you grow older than the hairs on your toes.

    Good Luck Rocky. and wife. If your wife is a Spuddie and you are a Gunner…..will your baby be a Spunner??? lol

    Enjoy this special day mate. Hope all goes well.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

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

Continue reading