Morning all.
This is not the first time Yaya Sanogo has spoken about being an Arsenal player.
I told my agent the choice would be made between these two clubs. Lille’s coach Rudi Garcia called me all the time. I hesitated a lot.
Gilles Grimandi came to see me from time to time at Auxerre too. One day he called me for a meeting in a Paris hotel and Arsene Wenger was there. I was very impressed.
Wenger told me I would get opportunities and reassured me about my injury. He told me he had followed me for years. That meeting was very important and today I am an Arsenal player.
It will be an amazing adventure. I am just eager to start in one of the best leagues in the world. It is a dream that has come true.
But why haven’t the club officially announced the deal yet I wonder? He’s passed his medical and he’s ready to grace the grand turf at The Emirates. It can’t be a case of the club waiting for the transfer window to open because last year, the club announced a deal had been secured for Lukas Podolski in April.
Maybe they want to wait and slip the announcement in with a couple of high quality signings, just to dampen the ‘oh no, not another crock’ comments. Or something similar. You know how grumpy we Arsenal fans get if a player is cheap or free……
Unless his name is Sol Campbell of course. He was good…..
This coming seasons fixtures have been released this morning and here they are….
AUGUST
Aug 17: Aston Villa (h)
Aug 24: Fulham (a)
Aug 31: Tottenham Hotspur (h)
SEPTEMBER
Sep 14: Sunderland (a)
Sep 21: Stoke City (h)
Sep 28: Swansea City (a)
OCTOBER
Oct 5: West Bromwich Albion (a)
Oct 19: Norwich City (h)
Oct 26: Crystal Palace (a)
NOVEMBER
Nov 2: Liverpool (h)
Nov 9: Manchester United (a)
Nov 23: Southampton (h)
Nov 30: Cardiff City (a)
DECEMBER
Dec 3: Hull City (h)
Dec 7: Everton (h)
Dec 14: Manchester City (a)
Dec 21: Chelsea (h)
Dec 26: West Ham United (a)
Dec 28: Newcastle United (a)
JANUARY
Jan 1: Cardiff City (h)
Jan 11: Aston Villa (a)
Jan 18: Fulham (h)
Jan 28: Southampton (a)
FEBRUARY
Feb 1: Crystal Palace (h)
Feb 8: Liverpool (a)
Feb 11: Manchester United (h)
Feb 22: Sunderland (h)
MARCH
Mar 1: Stoke City (a)
Mar 8: Swansea City (h)
Mar 15: Tottenham Hotspur (a)
Mar 22: Chelsea (a)
Mar 29: Manchester City (h)
APRIL
Apr 5: Everton (a)
Apr 12: West Ham United (h)
Apr 19: Hull City (a)
Apr 26: Newcastle United (h)
MAY
May 3: West Bromwich Albion (h)
May 11: Norwich City (a)
*All fixtures subject to change due to TV scheduling
Bet I know which one you looked for first..
It’s August 31st……
Have a good day all…
Haaaaa………….That was quite quick Rico. Well done with the fixtures.
I looked for the Spuddies game first and then Manure.
Good morning Rico and all.
Excellent post Rico.
Apologies for my misinformation about the first game last night. will have words with my source!
Morning devil, Adam and all again…
You are a hoot Adam, it’s a shocker 😉
not a bad start for us.
I was thinking of hunting you down and chastising you Bj 😉
But full of information Rico. If you want a shocker then read The Belcher Report.
Nice end of March and start to April and is the a rule that Arsenal have to be away for the last game of the season.
My poor boy , expecting his first baby , due date 31st August.
BJ.(?). You don’t get it from Caught Offside did you?
Think I’ll give that a miss Adam 😉
Gjoe, Adam mentioned that earlier too, when did we last get a nice home game to fight for our 4th place trophy….
Oh no Potter, hope it’s early or late….
WOW we could not have asked for a better run in that’s fore sure.
End of March Joe :- you sure.
Mar 15: Tottenham Hotspur (a)
Mar 22: Chelsea (a)
Mar 29: Manchester City (h)
APRIL
Apr 5: Everton (a)
quite a lot could be hanging on that lot.
I always find typing that quite strange too Adam.
I was thinking of the lap around the grove with PL trophy.
Why is that Rico? 🙂
morning all.March looks like a tricky month for us.lets hope we don’t collapse again.
The last six are not too bad but, none are walk overs and if we don’t strengthen… well….
Is your mail working Adam?
Sorry Potter my sarcastic side getting out to play I didn’t take my pills this morning.
August through to May look tricky Kt 😉
Apparently not. I have received nothing this morning. I am waiting for a call from a friend.
Moyes us in for a tough start.city,chavs and pool in the first 5 games is quite challenging.
Manure may find themselves in the soft and smelly then, before the end of Sept.
What a shame.
I wonder if bale will have picked up an ‘injury’ trying to engineer a move to madrid on deadline day 😉
re your article maybe 1st of july has something to do with it
or maybe you dont know your transfer windows
Do you think he’ll move Kt?
It’s because he’s that good we are waiting for Chelsea to come in and nick him from us!
Seriously, I don’t like the fixtures at all. We are playing back to back big games all season and we all know that december (everton,manc,chelsea) mostly decide the title not talk of the run in march (spur(a), chelsea(a), manc(h), everton(a).
Has anyone seen the spuddies fixture list????
Their third game is a potential banana skin for them. 😉
We need to learn how to play well in nov, dec and jan. Thats has been our problem for a long tym
I believe he will rico.its abit quiet right now but madrid are just biding their time.once ancelotti is appointed expect movement then.zidane has already told bale to hand in a transfer request.things will start to warm up soon.The main reason madrid want ancelotti is because of his pedigree in europe.they are desperate for their 10th CL and will do anything to get it.i expect them to splash out on bale/cavani/isco.
Looking at Feb/ March games there is usually at least one that clashes with F.A.Cup matches. If so the games get moved to the end of the season. The teams affected for us would be Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd. Would make the run in a bit harder.
Good Kt, would be hilarious…
majorjoe, did you actually read what I have written?? Podolski?
I need a current post about higuain
feel free to write one jamesajor…
Usually I have lots of respect for majors. But I have never heard a major speak from his arse. I doubt this particular major has read the article.
I attained the rank of Major in the French Foreign Legion. My third wife was a Berber.
Good morning all.
Aahhh the draw.
I reckon people tend to worry a little too much.
As long as we play everyone twice, does it really matter?
Of course, we can say that because we will have a fairly settled squad and manager….no need for concern about a total change in tactics and attitudes.
Bring it on!!
It would not be a day ending in Y if we didn’t have some newby chiming in with a few little sarcastic posts, would it 🙂
Apparently juve are furious with madrid about being lied to with regards to higuain.madrid told them they wouldn’t sell him w/out a manager but it seems we are close to signing him.if its true then i may start to believe again.
KT, juve stuffed around last season with RVP when they couldn’t really afford him.
Higuain could be a similar case.
Also, Real need cash….they will sell to us because we can pay up front.
Juve want to pay in instalments.
I honestly believe Higuain is ours.
Ditto Devil….
IT WILL B A GOOD START AND END,BUT WE BETTER BRING HIGUAIN AND FELLAIN AT THE EMIRATES
Adam, I thought that was your 4th?
Hi Scott
Adam, you watching the cricket??
Morning all,
Nice concise post Rico. Must be hard to keep them coming on a daily basis!
Hope ur right re: higuain scotty.
Thanks Lewis, it is some days….
According to AS higuain is ours.£22.2m and £115k a week.
Who Kt?
its quite a good feeling knowing for once we beat a european giant to a player scott.if we add top notch AM/DM to the squad…
AS are reporting it rico.
A.S is a Madrid based football paper and one of the mouthpieces of the Bernabeau , Marca is their main one as El Mundo Deportivo is to Barca with Sport being the secondary one.
Tuttosport reporting madrid said no to juventus.
La Gazetta saying tevez has agreed terms with juve.
Too much smoke for there not to be a fire surely…
Thanks Potter. Kt, I didn’t know who AS was…
Could be some truth then..?
morning all
when is the two pre-match for the Champions League?
Maybe , maybe not . These are all daily papers and deal solely with sporting events. I have no doubt that their journo’s are under the same pressures as ours to fill column inches.
I am watching the cricket now Rico. Lovely.
The Halstead Gazette are reporting Wilfried Umbongo has agreed personal terms with us….
Never met a nice one…
Lee. Where is Wilfred from?
Kt
I suspect it is true regarding Higuain and if so that is a serious sign of intent. That bloke is quality.
Juve, like most clubs around Europe, are skint and they want to buy players by protracting payments over future years. It is not uncommon to stretch the payments like this but if you have the ability to pay the transfer fee up front, you are in a very strong position.
That is a great advantage Arsenal now have.
Fingers crossed.
Lee
🙂
Now sign Rooney.
Rico, just call me Thomas! But until I see the news on AFC.com I will not be convinced by anything anybody, journo or my brother’s cousin who knows the kit man who overheard the na,e of ??? Will I believe we have signed anybody! Sorry.
I have a wish list like all other fans but I’ll keep it to myself for now. I am prepared to all when ‘my’ players of choice have decided their respective future – elsewhere!
That’s one for the future then!
Sorry forgot to add the Continassa redevelopment, which will have a short term impact on Juve, much as the Emirates and Highbury redevelopment did for us.
Have Farca paid us for Cesc yet? Just asking.
It’s even better now, finally…
Having needed to collect 26 points from their final 10 games of last season to seal a Champions League place on the final day, Arsenal will be hoping to make life a lot easier for themselves in this respect in the upcoming campaign.
With a big-spending summer potentially ahead, many punters will fancy Arsenal to finish in the top four at 4/6 to secure Champions League football for the 17th consecutive campaign.
However, of the four English clubs bracing themselves for the Champions League this season, it is Arsenal that look to have drawn the short straw in the Premier League fixtures that directly follow their European adventures.
The Gunners were unbeaten in their six league outings after European fixtures last season, but three of these were against fellow London opposition and only their trip to Manchester City would have been considered especially difficult.
This time, they have been allocated an away game after five of the six Champions League dates, including trips to the two title favourites – Man City again and Man Utd.
None of the other three clubs involved in the Champions League have such difficult fixtures following European games.
Chelsea have the best of it as they are at home in five of their six, while even though Man City will take on all of the other three teams in the competition, they at least face Man Utd and Arsenal at the Etihad.
Although 1/8 is not the most appetising of prices to feast on, Chelsea’s chances of finishing in the top four this season are hard to oppose based on their intertwining of Champions League and Premier League fixtures.
Tottenham are the obvious direct challengers to Arsenal for a top-four spot and they are at home in games following five of their six Europa League outings.
And with Andre Villas-Boas more likely to be able to rest players in this competition than Arsene Wenger will be in the Champions League, this could be significant.
Therefore, Tottenham’s prospects of a top-four finish at 5/4 suddenly look a bit stronger after the unveiling of the fixture list.
Central Africa I think Adam….. not quite sure though!
Ha ha Lee..
Wavy, neither will I..
The Congo?
Do do do, come on and do the Congo….
That’s it Adam…
Afternoon all
Hi Rocky, warm enough for you?
anyone mentioned yet (sorry, not read all the pests) about our wanky fixtures following Champions League matches this year?! 5 out of 6 league games immediately following champs league games are away! What a pisser!
Hate it Rico. Got teh window open next to me for a bit of air, but that means I hear ther deliveries / bottle recycling etc from teh Savoy every 15 minutes. Getting a little tetchy now…..
We may not win the qualifier Rocky, so it might not be a problem 😉
I did think of you earlier Rocky….
I was going to add that Rico. When do we find out who we will be playing?
Not winning the qualifier will be a disaster… Photos of Higuain spotted at Heathrow airport now trending on twitter…might be photoshop
Imminent I think Rocky, few tough sides in the draw…
Podolski is trying to encourage Lewandowski to join us….
Think he might need to have a word in Wenger’s ear first…..
Hmmmmmm. You should invest in an indoor swimming pool Rico. According to experts Britain’s wet summers could last for ten years. If you manage to have a good roof catchment area for water it is possible you will have free water all year round. Just the heater and tax to pay then. 😉
Hiya Rock. how are you mate?
I have already posted that issue that 5 out of 6 champions league games have an EPL away fixture for us.
AW must get a big squad to be able to compete. At least 14 top players with around 7 good backups and around 4 or 5 young players.
Lewandowski in – Podolski out. Along with The Krankies and Gervinho.
Afternoon All,
What happened to Lioc Remy..is he banged up.
Afternoon Fred. Loic is still trying to untangle himself from all the twitches, nudges and winks he has managed to land in. Seems as if they are popping up all over his body like a slap cheek syndrome virus and he has trouble trying to scratch himself all over and trying not to fall over himself.
Hi Dev. It takes the piss doesn’t it? Chelsea get 5 out of 6 at home. Looks like the FA are bumming Mourinho again. It’s like the prick never left.
Ha ha Devil…
I’d keep Pod Adam, the rest can go though ….
Hi fred, he’s not but apparently she was 😳
Afternoon DG
Good post.
There is no science to help us to predict who we want to play and when. Teams go through patches of good and bad form, key players get injured or suspended (on both sides) – all of which can happen at any time. Sometimes it is easier to get up for three big games on the trot, then a big game after a few easier games.
Away games after CL games is a pain but that is where you need strength in depth. Hopefully we will have new signings, a stronger squad and a proper finisher on the end of the chances we know we create.
So I don’t care who we get or when. All I want to know is that we finally have a squad that can cope with a hectic season.
Olymipiacos want Rosicky…. According to Tsgh favourite radio station…
Like the special effects rico
Thanks Kj..
I care big time who we get and when we get them. If we leave it too late, we could already be out of the CL and struggling in the PL…
It’s crucial surely, if we are to truly challenge and make these signings Gazidis has promised us, that any signings are part of our pre-season…
Rosicky is one player I would not like to see leave. He can provide us with a lot during the last 30 minutes of games and also be there to rest others for rotational purposes.
fred – I did feel a tad naughty after writing that….
Felt the same last week with my joke,about the old man.
I’d keep Rosicky. He’s a tenacious little bugger.
Good Afternoon KKJ.
Ermmm!! who did you refer to when you said Good Post? Me or Rico?? because I did not write today’s post mate. Its Rico. Aye, it’s all her doing Capt Jas Hook!!!!!
And in the cups, depends on who comes in i guess…
Rico. Rooney in for me. Sooner the better.
In Rooney we have a wise and cunning street fighter Adam. He is the number 1 top choice for me mate. Whatever baggage he has.
He loves a Grannie too.
Encouraging words from sagna today.
And gerv believes many clubs would seek his services.
Rooney will be shit for morale in the dressing room. You jus tknow he’s a little c**t. Sure he’d be good for us, but at what cost?
Sagna and Gerv can both do one.
I’d keep sagna the five head can find a dead bear and poke his head up it’s arse…..
Rocky. But he’d get you a good price on some Tarmac that’s left over from a job down the road.
Hi Rico,
“who we get or when we get them’
You jumped in there, you missed the context. I wasn’t referring to players I was referring to ‘teams’……..!
I don’t care who we get (Man City/Chelsea/Stoke) or when we get them.
Hi Devil,
No your post mate regarding the odds.
Rocky,
“Rooney will be shit for morale in the dressing room. You jus tknow he’s a little c**t..”
Agree 100%.
There’s a storm brewing here 🙁
Not jumping in at all Kj. Just replied to what I read.
Me too Adam, in a flash. Rooney and Higuain with Giroud on the bench, now that’s a great strike force and gives us many options imho…
I’m all for Gervinho naffing off too…
Yeah, he’s a c..t, but he’s a winner and he might instil some of that into our team of bottlers.
Actually nobody knows what he’s like and I am more concerned with the benefits he would bring to the team.
Champions in any sports are seldom nice people but rather, single minded and self obsessed.
Hoping arsene is going to have a punt at illarramendi, the lads a bit special.
Wilfried Umbongo is apparently an arsehole but he’s a true winner, just what we need…..
Lewis. I agree. A really interesting player.
Is he a winner though Adam? He’s been walking around in a sulk all season at Man U last year. He was benched for longer spells than he would have liked… He has a terrible attitude that I just don’t tthink we need. Higuain for me. Younger version… more sell on value (as lets face it… That’s what we do…) and hopefully less of a little gobshite.
Lee. Is that the bloke from the Congo?
My fear though Adam, is that he will be Gallas 2.0
😆 Lee…
Way down deep Adam….
Devil,
Oops, I deleted the top part of my post, hence why me praising your post was confusing. Sorry. i was praising you and Rico!!
Rico,
Apologies for confusion. Same reason as above, my post did seem to imply I meant players when I did not. Of course I care about who and when we get them in. Need to be quality and here for pre-season, absolutely. Higuain is a belter though when that gets confirmed…!!
Lewis, I agree that boy is a class player.
The very same.
The Russian gymnast Olga Nickersoffalot in the 1970’s was an asshole but extremely good! Just saying….
Rocky. As always mate, I respect your point with regards to him. But he is proven PL quality. Higuain had an in/out season under Mourinho and has never quite lived up to the billing. He is class but, for me, Rooney would be the better bet. I would take them both and out Gervinho. With that strike force and some midfield power, then perhaps we might go close.
Lee. Wasn’t she coached by Stuart Hall?
Cantona was renowned to be a pain in the arse. He went to Manure with a lot of baggage. However he calmed down and managed to instil a winning mentality in the players. He was the catalyst to the winning years that followed.
Rooney might be the same for us.
Phew Kj, I did have a worry that you might be looking forward to Umbongo signing 😉
Illarramendi was awesome in the U21 tournament, reads the game well, can tackle and pass. Got the lot I would say.
Party Hands Hall?
😆 Adam. Although far worse that my earlier….
Rico,
Um-bloody-bongo – someone is taking the Michael. I wouldn’t be beating the drum for that boy………
It’s a dead cert on illarramendi, bleacher report is never wrong…..
That’s him Rocky.
True Adam. I know where you’re coming from, and agree to an extent that we need someone who can do it, and hit the ground running. Although Rooney hasn’t done it last year and is certainly holding a lot of suet at present. He almost looked last year like he’d given up. Don’t get me wrong, if Wenger could sort him and his attitude (not totally, as I agree with people who say that’s what makes him the player he is) out, then great. If not, it’s a lot of money to spend on a potential shitbomb that could split the dressing room. But agree… Both of them together would be great.
Lewis. I agree. The Belchers are mythically prophetic. I hang on every word of Lucien J Cockhead Jnr.
I do like to laugh at BR every now and then! What’s the guys (I say ‘guy’… we all know it’s probably a 7 year old kid writing their stuff) name that writes for them, Adam?!
Rocky. I think the Daily Mash is probably more accurate.
Are you thinking of Hiram T. Knobnosher the third? 🙂
Something like that!! Sure there was a quarteback or something in there too!! It was defo the 3rd though!!
The Daily Mash is the only thing that gets me through the day these days!
Bull-necked college quarterback?
Sounds familiar!
How can you think that Kj 😉
Great win for England….
I’ve got Umbongo in the back of my cab…
He’s on his way to London Colney
Rico,
Wasn’t umbongo a drink or something from the 70’s? 😉
Kev,
Will you be taking Umbongo back to his drum? 🙂 🙂
Turn round Ak and take him back to Heathrow…. 😉
Kj – what month in ’63 were you born?
http://youtu.be/wYj5o4kQsXs
January Rico, Capricorn if that means something
Rico, i knew it was a drink!!! Well done.
Bloomin heck, spooky Kj, but that makes you a few days older than me 😛
Always remember to respect your elders Rico and you won’t go far wrong……….! Turned fifty a few days after New Year day but I still haven’t spent my birthday money, I kid you not. Going to get it this month.
There is always an exception to every rule Kj, you must be the one for respecting elders 😉
🙁
Now now 😉
Boooooo!! Over 5 Million hits, Lady of the House. 🙂 : Would you believe it?? 🙂 🙂
Boo to you agag, no, not three years ago 😉 How’s the hols going?
rico, you’ve done an amazing job. 😉 I’m sure you know. 😛
Back in Manila. Just flew in. Depressing, really. 😥 It was just for a week, unfortunately.
With a lot of help from my friends agag… 🙂
Oh no, but a week is better than nothing….
And you have a lot of those, rico. 🙂 Yours starts soon. I’m envious. Haha. How long are you away?
Oh, and I really do wish the Higuain announcement is forthcoming. Weneed cheering up.
Just a week too agag, Saturday I travel 🙂
agag, have you sent me a mail?? My PC security is blocking it, so i wondered if your account has been hacked into?
All quiet on here tonight so I’m heading offski…
Catch up sometime tomorrow…
Night all….
Rico, don’t you go spending my Fiver whilst your on holiday.
Remember, Interest can be charged… 😉
You need to be worrying about that interest Ak 😉
Nighty, gone now….
RIP James Gandolfini….
51 is far far too early – RIP James Gandolfini…..
Morning Lee and all…
Also would of been my mum’s birthday today…….. 🙁
🙁 🙁 Hopefully she’s ‘up there’ having a party Lee……
With James Gandolfini…. 🙂
And my Dad 🙂
Can’t believe Carroll has signed a six year contract at West Ham…
That’s good then Rico!!! 😉
Morning Rico, Lee and all.
Sad about James Gandolfini and I am thinking about the loved ones we have all lost after your comments this morning.
He liked a party Lee 😉
Morning Adam, sadly there are far too many 🙁
Too many gone I meant, not too many to think of………
I have to love and leave you both, fitness class this morning and then taking Fido for a pre holiday wash, cut and blow dry…
Catch you all after lunch, the new post will be up around 9.30…
Our love and memories of them help make us who we are.
Morning Adam, how are you?
So did my mum Rico….they’ll be fine then!
According to the media we tried to snatch the pony-tailed one from the hamsters…..that’s got to be a joke right?
Good Morning Lady and Gentlemen.
Have we signed Bingo Bongo yet???
Or Nobo Dy?
Or Bobo the bear?
Has Adam been signed yet?
I think I can broker the signing of Adaminho….a Tayyab’s or Mangal loyalty card and we’ll get him!!!!
18 yrs ago today AFC showed intent and ambition in the transfer market…..Sir Dennis Berkgamp signed! Let’s hope history repeats itself!!!
Is it really 18 years ago???
Time flies. And we are still talking about him 🙂
As long as the club show ambition to match mine.
18 years? Where did that go?
I must give up crack! For breakfast anyway.
Never get the crack pipe out before noon Adam….it’s the law!
Dennis or Gerwankho??
Lee. Put that pipe away mate.
New Post is up my lovely lovelies.
Cu on the other side. The grass already seems greener.