Morning all.
Just what the real Arsenal is these days I don’t know. One week we can look half decent, the next few weeks, we look awful. Going forward with pace looks exciting, especially when Welbeck, Alexis, Santi and Oxlade-Chamberlain are on form together but then when it comes to the opponents getting the ball and pushing forward, the keystone cops come alive and it’s embarrassing!
It’s embarrassing for a club like ours to be producing such rubbish on a football pitch. Some think that’s down to the manager, others the players – I think it’s a combination of the both and nothing will change all the time neither changes so expect a rocky ride for the next two and a half years..
Perhaps today will be a better day, after all, the team seems to like a 5.30 kick off. Maybe they’ve had enough time to wake up and realise they need to go to work because that’s what they are doing, with of course the added bonus of doing something which they love and not all of us can say the same. Neither do we go home with £100,000 in our pocket each week like some of our players do but work a darn sight more than some of our lot do!
It’s a year to the day since Theo Walcott suffered injury during our FA Cup victory over the Toots and he’s expected to make his first of the season. Let’s hope he has more input than he did after coming off of the bench against Southampton and I know that sounds harsh because he’s been out for so long but if he’s not up to it yet, play in the reserves until he is.
David Ospina replaces Wojciech Szczesny in goal but don’t expect many changes to the squad which travelled to the South coast:
Honestly I have to check who is available and who is not. The two keepers, Ospina and Martinez, will come in. After that, we will see. I cannot rotate too much either because we need stability. Who comes back? We have the 18 players [that played against Southampton] – nobody else will play.
Well I just hope that whoever plays gives their all and Arsene Wenger has done something about our shambolic defending and I include the midfield in that. Although goodness knows why I think he might have as he hasn’t done that for years.
Still, you can’t get a diamond, regardless of how hard you polish an old stone….!
Hull boss Steve Bruce is likely to make changes with Tom Huddlestone and Stephen Quinn available after suspension. Andrew Robertson, Liam Rosenior and Gaston Ramirez are all out having suffered injuries against Everton.
We all know what happened back in May, ten minutes in and we two goals down and a repeat of that opening period of play, the same thing is likely to happen because Hull City will be up for this game, Steve Bruce certainly will!
We have got to want this victory more because the reality is, it’s the only competition we have a chance of winning, if of course luck falls our way in the draw and other big guns suffer upsets.
Let’s hope we don’t suffer one today!
COYRRG’S!!
Agag. Bond St is a high-end shopping area. I often see Kev there, usually in Armani. 🙂
🙂 Adam re your last on the old post….
Bonjour Adams and Eves.
I doubt if you are all naked like them in this weather…….you will be all dressed up in snow and freezing like the ice queen. Unless you are living un a mudhut 😉 lol
Nice post Rico. Will be nicer if we win today.
I am gutted that Podolski left. He has not been used well. Watch him flourish now like Gervinho is doing at Roma.
Sorry Arsene. Your time is up.
Rico. Did you check your Whatsapp?
Hi Devil, thanks…
Agree re Arsene…
Morning all, nice post rico.
Unfortunately we haven’t enough defenders to rotate so probably see the same four clowns we saw last game plus Ospina, hopefully he can make a difference. Wouldn’t mind seeing merts dropped for chambers as well but not sure he’ll do any better.
Such optimism.
Ah yes, I never go to work without wearing my Armanis… 🙂
Waterloo is a dull, miserable place today…
Actually it’s like that most days…
Morning Lewis, thanks..
I’d like to see Merts dropped too, but Kos wasn’t much better last match…
All a bit too easy for them to get selected as AW has no other option. I’d rather see Hayden start but he’s not ready apparently…
Nipping off for an hour, need some groceries….
Kev, Napolean thought the same!
Let’s hope we are on Wellington’s side today! As Rico said, it’s the only competition we are likely to win, If all things go our way!!
So we won’t be winning the Cup!
I’m really looking forward to today’so game. I looking forward to all the progressive changes tactical and others that Wenger has spent all week drilling into our defenders and our defensive mid-fielders……oh, I’ve just remembered we haven’t got any of the latter!
Happy Sunday each and all.
Nice one rico, Arsene will tell ya he can get blood out of an old stone !
Good morning all…
A decent win with my boy Serge shining will be a start…
Wavy, call me biase, but i’m confident we can get a 2 all draw today even with our defence, get another crack at them at the KC and anything can happen.
Just seen an article of Sanogo talking about why the FA Cup means so much to him. Uh oh, does that mean he’s starting?
Wavy 🙂
Micko, it won’t be nil nil, that’s for sure!
A draw against a bottom six side might represent progress!
Would like to see serge as well TS. Not sure how likely it is. We’ll probably see the same tired team because as others have said its our only chance of a trophy.
Morning biase…
morning all!
AW no longer says, we can still be champions …
Fell in reality. Months later.
we must figth fot this Cup, be 4th or 3th in the League and in the last eight of Champions league. Nothing more is esxpected fom this season. If we can reach those targets, will be nice.
Line up for today? I really don’t know!.
Sanogo up top, Walcott/Sanchez either side.
Might be the way to go. Not sure that Sanchez can hold the ball up top.
Sanogo may be a clumsy clot, whose never gonna be prolific in front of goal, but I think he can cause Hulls defence enough problems to allow Sanchez & Walcott some space to work their magic…
How do Kev, did you see Ozil is back training, hopefully over his depression, a few weeks away yet.
Thinking outside the box…
Monreal as def/mid…
He’s a defender, he’s great getting forward, he’s an intelligent footballer, he’s recently been playing a central role in the team. I’d rather give him a go alongside Coquelin than expose Chambers again or waste Rosicky there…
Hi mate, yeah, I’ve also missed Ozil…
It’s not really the same, not seeing him wasted out on the wing is it?
The way your talking kev anyone would think he’s one of the best no.10’s in the world lol.
Whatever happens I’m gonna enjoy the game over a few pints of Guinness later with the country cousins, back to work tomorrow.
Thanks Micko, he sure would eh. We know different though….
Finally I have seen a defence worse than ours..
Dover Athletic!!
Just read this on the online gooner forum :- No arguments from me
Our problem is terrible management, archaic training methods ensuring regular long term injuries, complete absence of any tactical application and a complete lack of boardroom accountability.
Nutshell.
Potter pretty much sums it up, imho…
I’d add a useless majority shareholder too!
Come on Yeovil.. 🙂
Good afternoon Rico and all……
City 1 down come on Wednesday…
Afternoon to you Bt and all.. How rude of me… 😉
Strange scores in the FA Cup…
Is Hayden the answer? I’ve never seen him play so can’t comment but……
Qpr already out too..
Ipswich are beating Southampton..!!
Aftrenoon All,
Rico you may be right regarding.
Is it the manager Is it the players
But would it not make more sense to sack the manager,
rather than the 25 first team squad?
Hi Fred, I’m all for AW going, i really am because a new manager would hopefully oik out the average…
Stewart Robson, English former midfielder who spent six seasons with Arsenal, has no doubt that, with José Mourinho at the helm, the team of Arsene Wenger would be comfortably installed in charge of the Premier League.
“If Jose Mourinho was the coach of these Arsenal players, they would be on top of the table,” said Stewart Robson talkSPORT radio.
For the former player, Arsenal’s problem has a face and a name: Arsène Wenger.
“You can hire the best players in the world, but if not you work with them in training you will have problems. The problem is not the players, but the coach. As always, “he argued. >
Us arsenal fans cant win,can we,
everytime we have a bad game,all the experts
give us the reasons why we are useless and predictable.
Yet us arsenal fans who payout and are emotional,
get slagged off for giving our opinion.
excellent point Frednerk
Rico have you had a look on untold lately?
I’m not sure even Jose could do much with Merts Jm… 😉
So Robson is saying that AW has failed to equip the squad in key positions in order for us to compete and then he contradicts himself by saying a better manager would the EPL with this same ill-equipped squad? lol
So mean Rico… 😀
Lee, he’s better than Merts from what I have seen of him. He has pace, can tackle and jumps, that’s a good start….
Mean but true Ts… 😉
I haven’t Lee, should I?
If rather you in defence in front of the sloth!
If you have players running at you,not many defenders would look that good,
one on one defending will always favour the attacker,
setting up front to back and dragging attacking players inside,
is what we should be doing,two banks of four.
Wenger plays 2 at the back and just hopes to keep the ball.
Merts could be a little better with cover.
Sorry to sound like a knowall.
Wanted to know if you recognised anyone commenting???
Fred, but you’re putting pressure on another player to cover him, for me upgrade him to a CB that has pace, reads the game, a good communicator and gets stuck in!
Afternoon Rico and the house.
Todays team Ospina BellerinChambers Merts MonrealCoq, Rosisky Cazola Walcott Campbell Alexis.
Subs Martinez Dubucy Koss Ox Niles Akpom Zelalem.
Fred, did you notice how the Scum kept on pulling Matic out of position, and how exposed it made Terry and Cahill…
All of a sudden those two traditional English centre-backs looked like cart horses and the miserly Chelsea defence conceded 5 goals…
You’d be a better option Lee, you are just a little bit taller… 😉
Rick, that team looks a tad too vulnerable for my liking….
Lee I know milk turns quickie,
point I’m making is we are open doors at the back.
Interesting line-up Rick…
Le Coq hardly played for Charlton… btw
fred – i’d rather AW signs another and leave Merts on the bench. Then let Chambers gradually come through rather than flog him to death…
Afternoon Rick, another game for Chambers, what is Wenger thinking…
Yer watched it kev,good spot.
Hate to say it but the spuds looked organized
and strong
Rico- I would rather we took him down to lands end,
stick a light bulb in his ear,and try to flog as lighthouse.
Replacement…Just joking.
Kev With Chambers Monreal and Le Coq together it looks very poor.
Have you been down South today Kev ,I saw a London Cabbie do a brilliant U turn in a very narrow road and I thought Is he in a hurry to get back for the match.
Sanchez starts??? Over play players……nah not Arsene!
Has Adam gone today?
I think so, Lee.
Evening all….
🙂 Fred, I’ll help you carry him…
Jammy Mancs!
Good job he’s a tough nut Lee, ridiculous how many games Alexis has played. He should have been rested against qpr at least…
Did you mean Will Lee?
Not been South of the Thames today Rick.
St Johns Wood, Hampstead, Shepherds Bush, etc…
Tottenham Court Road now, opp Natuzzi…
How can the Yeovil defence concede just one goal to the Mancs yet we can’t?
Ok, 2-0 now, me and my big mouth eh… Lol
Yep you got it Rico!!! 😆
Next week’s good Kev for P & M!!
I wattsapp you Lee 😉
Lee, have you heard of Critical Mass?
Lee 🙂
COYRRG’S!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love all the praise Alexis gets and its deserved but wouldn’t it one day be nice to hear that kind of praise be given to a couple of defensive signings……
A whole team would be even better Rico…
Let’s just play Sanchez till he’s broken.
How did he miss that!
Great stuff from Campbell! Did you see that Arsene???i
I meant for signings Bt lol
Alexis tracking back is awesome…
Great run. But….
Lucky foot Lewis…
Sounds like we could have been 2-0 up…
We are so easy to get at. Every game! Yet he still can’t sort it out.
Bloody heck, Merts just headed a corner away… 😉
No midfield!
BFG!!! lol
Fooking heck, he’s scored with a header 🙂 🙂
Good player that Mertsacker. 😉
What a move….
🙂 Lee
Can’t believe we scored from a corner?!
1-0 to the Lighthouse… 😀
The Lighthouse puts Hull on the rocks…….
His light went out on that cross!
And again!
lol Per
Real Madrid lose to Valencia….
This game should be dead.
I hope Barca lose to moyes lot too lol
Lewis, it sure should be….
Le coq has been good.
Blooming heck, coquelin has made a tackle in midfield, a good one too….
Just imagine if another proper midfielder was in ther too Lewis, or instead….
Good half. Should be 2 or 3 though.
Totally agree rico.
Shearer is gushing over Alexis, that must be hard for him… lol
Shearer singing Arsenal’s praises!
Agree Lewis, that’s the only let down tonight, goals… Perhaps a few more second half after a stern talking to from Arsene… 😉
I know.he has me laughing….Rico……The Pain…
Campbell is integrating with the team …
Alexis is tired
TW is in the pitch?
what’s happen to gnabby’
Theo is having a great game then JM…?
Bullard’s teeth are a thing of beauty!
He’s also raided Adam’s wardrobe!
Perfect challenge from Coquelin….
Adam has a wardrobe fit for the cover of Vogue…
We need a wardrobe in front of the back4
I’d call him something more than a pain Bt…
COYRRG’S – wake up!!
first successful tackle from Le Coq in 3 games… lol
Amazing how Pearce lays into Campbell with such ease, the poor guy has hardly played this season!
Anyone wondering why I call Walcott jogger should watch this game
The pain he must be suffering praising Arsenal…..lol
Wth is happening, get a bleeding grip Arsenal
Bob, I think many share your view, give him a couple more games and maybe he’ll improve…
I knew really Bt lol
FFS
Bad miss, bad….
Lol, this is getting painful…Rico
We desperately need another
It is Bt, very….
How about a change Arsene?
Sanchez is made of granite!
Good change…
God tracking back Joel
Thank fcuk for that
Thank the Lord he’s ours!!!!!
Get In…..
Get him off now!
Now Arsene, give Akpom a run-out
Build on him Arsene, bloody build on him and this month!!!!
What a fantastic footballer he is. Where would we be without him?!
He heard you Lee 🙂
Lucky Coquelin! Idiot!
Ox looks bad…
Get him off I say
Just walk off Alex
The stupid thing is that Ox stuck his knee into the player… Then came off worse…
Phew, job done!
Decent performance.
Hopefully Ox is ok.
Phew is right Rico…Next round plz be kind..
Big one Bt…
Ox looked great when he came on, will be dreadful if he’s out for a while…
The worst player was TW. We was no where.
fortunatelly, we had Bellerin in the some side.
In each game. Coquelin was, at least, booked.
Kos wasn’t fit in Southampton.
Can anyone explain me why Chambers had played on the midfield and we had, for instance, Campbel on the bench agains Southampton?
Evening rico,Hhouse. Job well done, but please not another injury. The fact AW took Campbell off when Ox was limping hopefully means just bruising. Then again, Ozil played on after a crack another 45 mins!!
Jm, just as I said in the post, if he’s not ready, play him in the reserves and I think theo needs a few games in there….
Evening Andrew, I’d have taken Ox off, we were 2-0 up with just minutes to go, what’s the point in leaving him on….
Campbell had a good game but he needs to work on he’s finishing also the best ref i’av seen at an Arsenal game this season.
Campbell needs to build on his stamina too imo.. for a 23y.o he is a tad unfit…
Albeit he is not match fit…
When is the capito returning? Our midfield is looking dire.
Tsgh having seven midfield players out injured will do that to you
Ts, what do you expect, Campbell has had no game time, how can he build up stamina?
Joe, we may have midfielders out but apart from Arteta, who can make our midfield stronger?
And Arteta can’t do that on a good day but credit where it’s due, we look a bit better with him playing…
Just back from the match. All rather low key really with a very poor crowd. Still, we played little patches of nice football.
Adam, there seemed to be a lot of vacant seats around the stadium..
Hi BT. Yes, lots. The row behind us which is normally crammed with degenerates was virtually empty.
Adam, how good did Joel look in the flesh?
Rico. He has a calmness about him and obviously a quick mind. Good touch too. When he was playing the simple ball he was fine but the more telling passes aren’t quite there yet. All in all good though but what is his position ? He was wide midfield today.
Adam, into thought he looked good, really confident and very promising. Does make me wonder why he has been left out for the first part of the season.bhad he played more, he may well be flying by now.. Doesn’t he play up front for his country? Perhaps a similar role that Alexis plays….
Rico. Yes, I’ve seen him coming in from wide for his country. He was good today. I hope he enjoyed it.
I hope Arsene enjoyed it more Adam….
I’m off now so goodnight Adam, Bt and all. Sleep well…..
Evening Rico Adam.
Good to see some one praising Joel. He along with Theo are being hammerd after to days game. Jonathan Pearce crucified him saying he is not up to P/L standards thats after just one game.
As for his position, I seem to think he has mainly played on the right .
Evening Rick – idiots, all if them. First start in a year for theo so how can he be blasted? And Joel, his first start too I think…
Tits!!!!!
Gone now…
rick why would anyone care what a clown like jonathon pearce has to say after his comment today when Arsenal was leading 1-0 that “Arsenal need to do something”, it seems he had a pre-prepared script along the lines of arsenal in crisis, Hull winning, the holders going out, and it did not matter that AFC were leading and totally controlling the game, the script was to be used
Shylock Wenger’s dream signing:
Former World Cup star Demy de Zeeuw has taken a novel approach to finding a new club after being released by Anderlecht in the summer.
The 31-year-old, who made 27 appearances for the Netherlands, was clearly fed up waiting for offers to roll in and took matters into his own hands by advertising himself on business social networking site LinkedIn.
The tough-tackling defensive midfielder, who previously played for AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and Spartak Moscow, wrote: ‘I’m looking for a new club in Europa, Middle East or MLS.
‘Salary depends on city club and country for more info please send me direct message
JM, Walcott has been out for a year, he needs game time.
Every time he gets an outing he’ll improve, and after 3 or 4 games he’ll be up and running, provided some Neandrathal doesn’t croc him again..,
Didn’t see game, but have read that both Bellerin and Chambers had good games.
All very positive.
Not sure about how well Hull played, I cannot really recall hearing on the radio any near misses or sustained Hull pressure.
Seems that they were fairly crap opposition.
All I want now is a home draw in the next round…
Morning all..
Me too Kev, just like last season. But knowing our luck, we’ll be away to Stoke!
Well done to David Moyes whose Real side beat Barca… 🙂
New post up now..