What has happened to Henri? Arsene hints that Xhaka ready to play…

Morning all.

Not much Arsenal news around really. Arsene Wenger has been bigging up Jack Wilshere by suggesting he’ll be offered a new contract real soon which I think is all rather odd. Yes he’s played a few matches on the trot now for Bournemouth and he’s earning rave reviews from Eddie Howe, but I’d have thought any contract talks would be something which can wait, at least until he’s proved he can stay fit for a long period of time. Right now the priority surely has to be Kos, Santi, Mesut and Alexis.

He’s been talking about Santi and how the team misses him:

He’s important to our technical stability in the team, to the quality of our decision-making and to our build-up from deep midfield to the high midfield. That’s an important stage because it gets the ball out from the defenders.

We have enough quality players in our side to get around that, even if Santi a massive player for us. We are good enough to find solutions despite the fact he’s not there.

Funny he says that as he hasn’t found a solution yet.

One man who might be the answer is Granit Xhaka, another player who the Frenchman has been discussing as his absence is being questioned by many:

I’m very happy with Granit’s commitment, I think he’s developing well. He hasn’t maybe started enough since the start of the season but he is adapting to a different league, a different way of playing. Overall I’m happy because every day he’s focused on working hard and I’m confident he’ll get his number of games.

Good, play him tomorrow I say.

In November you see the first signs of players who need a little breather, especially in areas where you fight and run a lot. I try to combine both to give players fresh legs and also get around the fact that Santi’s not there.

Ah, so that’s the November excuse then. Why wait to see the tired legs though, why not rotate before and keep the players fresh and fit, after all, isn’t that why we have a squad? I would say that Arsene must know know what he’s doing, however…..

Anyway, enough of my ramblings on a quiet Saturday morning but before I finish, what has happened to this guy?

From:

henri

 

To:

henri-lansbury

What is it about footballers and beards, long hair and tatts?

Still, Henri was in good form last night. Three goals scored in a 5-2 victory over Barnsley. He’s one player I’d still love to see back at Arsenal.

Have a great day guys… And hope the Chavs batter the Totts…

65 thoughts on “What has happened to Henri? Arsene hints that Xhaka ready to play…

  1. allezkev says:

    Rico, just had a look at those Alaba links and what a load of tosh, another no-story…
    The guy has just signed a new contract up till 2021, hardly points to him wanting to leave does it…?

  2. allezkev says:

    It’s not like Arsene to give up on a player he’s invested a lot of dough on, especially £16 million, so the next few months are going to be interesting re: Calum Chambers.

    He’s done quite well under Karanka at Middlesborough.

  3. allezkev says:

    Yep, agree there 100%, Sanogo is out of contract this summer, so I’d imagine that he’ll be allowed to quietly slip away back to France.
    Debuchy also, maybe out the door this January especially if a fee is on offer…

  4. rico says:

    Good re Sanogo, but I wouldn’t put it past AW to keep him… 😉

    Yes, I saw that about Perez, he could make a difference on our left side, and at least Ramsey won’t be forced to play there… That’s if AW believes in him..

  5. allezkev says:

    Centre-back Rico, I guess it all depends on what Arsene has in mind for Mertesaker.
    If BFG leaves, then he might retain Chambers, otherwise a chance to get his money back might tempt him to sell Calum…
    With Holding and Gabriel in reserve we’re quite well stocked for centre-backs.

  6. allezkev says:

    Have you been watching the cricket Rico?

    Looks as if England have thrown away the advantage of batting first.
    A bit surprised to see Broad left out…

    Cook really needs to be making a score…

  7. rico says:

    Not this morning Kev, forgot it was on… Broad is injured I think.

    Good to see Bairstow and Buttler in the side, both got decent scores too. Bit of a flop though, although until we see how they bat, don’t know what the wicket is doing…

  8. Wavy says:

    To Theo a son, Arlo. (Bet he ends up as a folk singer! Football shanties perhaps)

    I wonder if our number 14 will be taking any paternity leave? Will he ever get his figure back? Or will he at last learn how to dribble independently?

    Congrats to him and his wife. I wonder to if he’ll go on and score a hat trick of small boys?

  9. allezkev says:

    Mr Adam, did you join the scrum for a bargain on Black Friday?

    Oxford Street was rammed yesterday evening, then those delightful cyclists decided to congregate in Oxford Circus to demonstrate…

    Not sure what they were demonstrating about, after all they have their empty cycle ‘superhighways’ (lol).
    They have London in gridlock, so what else do the great unwashed cycling fraternity demand..?

  10. Wavy says:

    He can celebrate his next goal by miming “rock the baby” whilst sucking his thumb! That would be an original celebration! A goal or two tomorrow would be good from him though. Here’s hoping.

  11. Alex says:

    Good afternoon.
    Sanogo out did you say ???
    Mamma mia !

    After how many games you see him play you reach to that conclusion ?

    Walcot plays a full decade and still no football brain at all and is okay to keep him.

    And so the Ox and the Ramsey.

    Poor Sanogo is judged after how many chances ?

    And what wrong did he do ?

  12. BT62 Gooner says:

    Hi Rico, all well,we have been fogged in for the last couple of days…lol
    Some visitors arriving soon,tisk, the upside is the lemon drizzle cake is out…lol
    Hope your warm and cosey

    As for JW give him feck all!!

  13. rico says:

    Ha ha BT, I like a lemon drizzle cake. Have a lovely time with your buddies…

    Yep, nice and warm, about to shut the chooks up and turn the Saturday night viewing on….

  14. Le Coq Monster says:

    Evening all.

    So far no results going our way !

    What do we want in tonights game ?……………..with heart ….Chav win !……………….with head……draw best, then Spuds win !………………………..so probably a win win situation !

    We should destroy Bournemouth tomorrow…………fcuk me !……………… they are nothing compared to……..The Arsenal !
    None of this ….” Oh we didn`t lose and maybe at the end onf trhe season we will look at it as a point gained shit ! “……………only a win will do !………….this is not a MWG…………….it should be a dead cert even for a November !……………………….although a dead cert, I will take my customary position behind the Sofa and hide like a Crew Alexandra player not wanting to get on the coach !

  15. Le Coq Monster says:

    The thought of that lot becoming the Invincibles mark 2 and not even getting CL would be worth a laugh ! 🙂

  16. allezkev says:

    Black Friday on Saturday is rammed in London…

    The way the results have gone/are going today are making Bournemouth an absolute 3 pointer.

  17. Le Coq Monster says:

    If Spuds win this they would have beaten both Chavs and Mansour City plus drawn with Dippers and us !…………fcuk the head !………..come on Chavs !

  18. Le Coq Monster says:

    OK !…..Chavs scored whilst I was writing last comment !…………..now both play for a draw !………………….. 🙂

  19. Le Coq Monster says:

    Howe said, as reported by the Premier League: “Naturally, as a player I would watch the top teams and aspire to be those top players: Arsenal were a side I watched a lot to find ways to improve my own game. Since becoming a manager I do the same thing. Arsenal have had a big influence in my football ideas.”

    Look !……….if Howe wants to suck up to us as a potential manager, then actions speak louder than words, so throw the fcuking game tomorrow and you might get an interview sometime in the future………take it or leave it whilst I`m in a good mood !

  20. Micko says:

    How’s you rico, history will tell ya we’ve picked up fewer points and suffered more injuries in the month of November over the last 10 years than any other month, if you don’t believe me just ask tsgh if you can drag him away from his executive box at the bridge these days lol !

    2 points this month, I wouldn’t bet against another 3 tomorrow, prehaps the tide is turning……..

    As for shipping folks off to Australia, a lot of hopes and dreams have been deported down under down the years, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy and that includes Arsene lol.

  21. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all

    You`ve got to like this in congratulating The Spuds for going a whole undefeated season ! …………………………..Autumn !

  22. ScottfromOz says:

    Kev, we have more than our share of muppets prancing around in Lycra who are unable to hold their line on the roads as it is, and that’s just the Irish expats, let alone the cyclists lol.
    No more please.
    Morning all.
    3-1 win today, and Aaron will achieve that hard earned hat trick 🙂

  23. Le Coq Monster says:

    Scott……………..Seeing as it is probably 10+ hours in front in time machine Australia, I hope that 3-1 is the result not a prediction,

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