Guinness And An Arsene Press Conference – Life Is Good
Jul 30th, 2010 by 'holic
A tough week, that one. I needed a proper pint this afternoon, and then enjoyed the added bonus of an eagerly anticipated Arsene press conference. I didn’t realise how much I had missed them. The press conferences, not the pints, obviously!
This was always going to be hugely interesting, entertaining even, and both Arsene and his questioners didn’t disappoint. He toys with the assembled presshounds when the mood takes him. Far too much is read into every single word as ATVo carry the event to the wider public.
“Frankly, we are not close to signing anybody yet,”
A hundred angry posters hit the keyboard. Well what did you expect him to say? Until we have actually signed somebody, or the clock strikes midnight on 31st August, there is nothing else he can say.
“At the moment we are still looking outside to strengthen the squad, if we find the right players we will do it. In what position I cannot tell you.”
The manager confirmed we are looking at other targets whilst stressing, as he has to, that he is also banking on natural progression from his development of a young side in recent seasons. He could possibly have phrased it a little better!
“We are not a team that is at the end of a cycle, we are at the start of a cycle. So our future will be decided not by who we buy or need but as well by how much we improve.”
I’m not sure everybody picked up on the words ‘as well’ in that sentence. Clearly there is an intention, no, a need, to blend any new signings with those already in place.
Those who thirst for the spending of wads of cash are not the only ones to have concerns. I’m not sure he shot down rumours surrounding the signing of Mark Schwarzer with a degree of enthusiasm that would have suggested to me that we are in the market for someone better to guard our goal in the coming months.
The inevitable Cesc questions were dealt with as diplomatically as Le Boss could muster. Can we make it any more plain?
“We do not negotiate. If I want to buy your house and you do not want to sell, you do not negotiate with me, that is completely normal.”
The inquisitors continued inquisiting, and the blusterer continued blustering, and all in all we learned nothing we hadn’t known half an hour earlier.
Nothing happened today that will change any viewpoints. Frankly entrenched views can now only be changed by the performance of whatever team represents us over the coming months. Ever it was thus.
And So Onto The Dubaibury Cup
I wouldn’t go so far as to label the Saturday and Sunday fixtures as friendlies, or training games, but the fact that all four sides face two matches in twenty-four hours means that the infamous handbrake will most definitely be on for much of the weekend.
Arsene confirmed that Diaby, Denilson, Song, and Bendtner, along with Fabregas and van Persie, will be missing. Opportunities therefore present themselves to the likes of Frimpong and Wilshere, both of whom must be playing themselves into contention for a squad berth at the Grove as opposed to a loan spell elsewhere in the first half of the season, at least.
I’ll be watching the clash with Milan on television before heading for the Grove on Sunday. Hopefully I will have a snap or two of the Celtic contest from a new vantage point. We shall see. Even more exciting is the fact that the grandson I am working so hard to educate will also make his bow at the new home of football on the same day.
I’ll be back with my thoughts on the Milan game on Saturday evening, but Sunday promises to be a long drawn out affair. It could be Monday evening before I can share my day with you.
I hope you have a great weekend wherever you are watching the game, ‘holics. Thanks for reading.
Oh, and BtM, I hope you sorted yourself a ticket out for Saturday?
68 Responses to “Guinness And An Arsene Press Conference – Life Is Good”
Great blog mate. Always enjoy reading but never really post. Keep up the good work. And a guinness yes please.
2nd drink!
I’ll have your best whiskey please!
Not my Tyrconnell, Hazza? Oh well. Can’t keep a good thing quiet, I suppose.
Cheers Marko. The Guinness is particularly tasty today, I have found.
Talisker 10 please…
On our favourite football club: he says ‘ideally’, but to read too much into that is quite stupid and ideal for the haters amongst us. It very much conflicts with the arsenal.com messages and indeed the news that Per Mertesacker and Mark Schwarzer are both expected to arrive soon. Apparently Rosicky may be allowed to leave, with either a sneaky bid for Özil being made or Wilshere being given more chance and later on in the season, JET and Wellington. Ramsey managed to get ahead of Denilson last year: this time around Wilshere should get ahead of Rosicky and/or Walcott and Eboue.
My thoughts? We get Mertesacker and Schwarzer, sell Almunia, loan either Chesney or Mannone to top Championship or lower PL clubs, do the same for Lansbury, Frimpong, Traoré and Eastmond. Both Nordveit and Djourou are back ups for Song as well as for the CB places. Bartley out on loan too, as well as JET after the Carling Cup and Watt, Sunu, Murphy and the like as well.
Will I be right? Probably not. Who cares.
Great blog once again my holicing friend.
Nice blog, I’d like to mention this quote which makes it pretty clear we will bring in one CB:
“We are still on the search because at the moment we only have three centre backs and we have seen last season you needed five. I believe we need at least four because we have some other players who can fill in this position but overall we are still on the search.”
how can I watch the press conference? I am ATV subscriber. In the Match Center they show nothing. Under Press Conferences there is also nothing. And under TV/Events/Launch Arsenal TV nothing happens as well.
Hope you succeed in saving your grandson from the dark side and give him the true passion to follow. I do regard my greatest success as a parent as saving my kids from the temptations of Manure and the Huns. A dirty Martini, if you will ‘holic. Have a great weekend.
Good report on press conference.One minor point-I think I read somewhere that the cut-off for transfers on 31/8/10 is 5pm. It would stop all those 5 minutes to midnight episodes on S.S.N.
@chippy (from yesterday): The defensive problems can’t be faulted on the defensive line alone, we had the best back 4 in the league or close to. If the offensive half of the team bothers to defend this season the frailties will disappear.
Man Indebted and Chelski had less injuries than us and they will have more injuries this season with their ever older players. If anything injuries should level them even more.
Nonetheless I agree that Gallas left big boots to fill, I can see why it won’t be easy to find a replacement.
Your headline summed up my day. Arsenes words today reminded me why I’ve been a gooner for 27 years.
A Mojito por favor. Havana Club 7 anejo in it.
Skål!
Oh and Hazza. There’s some good whisky out there, none good whiskey though.
😉
Thanks haho and Matt. Good to see you both again.
Hart, it was on at the match centre but I think they must be in the process of transferring it to the talk section. Don’t forget to click on the press conference tab.
Bath, I am hoping Sunday makes an impression on him. He is looking forward to the whole day as Dad is bringing him down on the train. Another treat for a nine year old!
Thanks smartie. 5 pm is always the official cut-off point, but there is some hanky panky permitted where papers are being sought from countries in other time zones, and bullshit like that!
Haha have to agree with SwedishGoon on that one… Whisky>>>Whiskey.
Errr. Arsene a blusterer ? Did I read that right ?
Behave yourselves, whisky snobs. Grab yourself a decent drop of Cooley before passing ill-informed judgements 😉
Muppet, you are probably right now I have seen the official definition. I was referring more to the way in which he blows hot and cold on such occasions, switching from affablility to irritated in a split second whilst often spouting words intended to derail.
Am I pardoned?
Matt,
Agree 100% on the more offensive players needing to put in a shift they didn’t work hard enough at times last year and left the defence and song exposed,
Pint of the Black Stuff tonight please barman
O….kay, if you notice a few typos please bare with me, with a friend in town since 3.00 is bad news when it comes to sobberness. Once again Le boss wants to show these hacks of journos Cesc’s contract, I wish he had it with him (that would have made news).
Am just seated here hoping that these robbing thieves that i pay £52 to every month show me some Arab cup, I won’t hold my breath though – monopoly is a bitch. (Incase anyone is wondering am going on about my pay TV company)
I’ll just have some water, i fear for my head tomorrow. Already intoxicated
I think so… I think so…
Reading inbetween the lines, I believe that Arsene just doesn’t want to show his hand. The clubs, agents, mercenaries and other roaches are all licking their lips.
I agree with Arsene. Let him set the agenda. Not the wail or the massive on Le Groan. If he believes we are going to improve, I think he must have good scientific reasons for it.
If there is anything in life I am happy to be snobby, elitist and nerdy about, it is drink and Arsenal. This blog had always fitted me well…
Guinness for Chippy…
Goonerette, I have discovered the perfect cure for any hangover…
…stay pissed 😉
Muppet. Exactly that, and yet still there are those who expect him to give full and frank disclosure in public before the events. Cheers.
Oh, haho, you are so welcome. Thank you.
Ticket sorted thanks, Holic. Crouched as we speak in the starting blocks in Stortford, just waiting for the Saturday morning alarm bell to trigger the train to Tottenham Hale then H&I. I’ll try to dust some of the dry ink off the pointed end of the quill and venture my impressions of the weekend.
Enjoy your grandson on Sunday as I have enjoyed Henry today.
Good man BtM.
I found out too late today that they were still selling Saturday tickets at the Box Office, despite the sold out notices online.
Glad you are sorted.
I’ll have a pint of black stuff and then a cava chaser and then a mojito please. Time for celebration.
Have some fun this weekend guys. Life is good. Especially now The Arse are back.
Blimey, Catalan. Let me just check the garden for some mint…
Good thing you didn’t miss the pints, ‘Holic, but looking to the new season let me raise one for Arsene Wenger who indeed is the right man at the right time. The time of course being the end of a summer without Arsenal. We can do it this season so let’s get right behind Wenger and the boys.
Get drunk and listen to bullshit.
Start the cycle = play the broken record.
bt8, the pints were crucial this week, trust me.
Steve, like I said, nobody will be persuaded to change their entrenched views by what is said. That swings both ways.
Have a great time on sunday Geez. You’re doing a great job with the lad. Point of info – I’m after getting the new shirt for all 3 binlids; is it still good for you to do it off the link on your site, even though its now out on sale?
Cuba Libra still going down well here. Cheers my man!
PM in top, Esso, and yes, I will get something through the banner ad here.
Cuba libra, eh. I’d better order some more coke…
Being the confirmed drinks nerd and being in a pedantic mood, I should point out it is ‘Cuba Libre’. I have just been in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Cuba for some months and they would have your balls down there for that mistake. Actually, try the ‘Nica Libre’, a rum and coke made with Flor de Caña, probably the best rum in the world, Nicaraguan, and in Nicaragua a ‘Nica Libre’ costs about 50 pee.
Just thought I’d mention it.
Don’t kill the messenger.
I know its only preseason holic but what is your opinion of the likes of frimpong and nordviet?
Spare a few seconds in your haze to have a thought for the poor North Korean footballers and coach who will pay a terrible price to wash the affront of a 7-0 defeat in the first international game broadcast live on state TV, now labeled as treason.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/worldcup-07282010173446.html
Just had a couple shots of Black Mapple Hill and I remain firmly convinced: whiskey >>> whisky 😉
Dear Songinho,
It has come to be my opinion that there is a higher possibility of (thank you Sensei, but we respect each other here, thanks) than either Nordviet or Frimpong becoming first team starters. But alas this is just the opinion of an old old man with nothing better to do but rant on about you youngins and your Nordviets.
Have a good day,
Sensei
Songinho, I think we have to be careful about making snap judgements about young players on the basis of a couple of good performances in pre-season.
Having said that they have to start somewhere, and I must say Frimpong looks interesting. If he can avoid being suckered into rash ‘card acquisition’ by wily opponents I think we have a prospect on our hands.
It will be harder for Nordtveidt. Obviously he won’t make the breakthrough at right-back with Sagna and Eboue ahead of him. With Arsene openly admitting he is seeking a new signing or two in the middle then Havard’s best chance may be denied him. I do wonder though if he has looked any less ready than Koscielny thus far?
Bourbon, Matt?
Just stating the obvious. Gosh.
The press conferences show a master plying one of his many crafts, on top form, with verbal skills honed over thousands of such instances over the years. What a master! And it doesn’t ever get worse. One of the teams in the English Political League should order a set of DVDs and require its ministers to study the verbal footwork, pacing, triangulation, and eye for open space that is represented.
He gives nothing away, and he fans the flames of speculation. Nothing close? Let the Daily Blah speculate about the imminent arrival of the genuine Ronaldo. No hint at a position? So someone can spot a feint towards Paolo Maldini (if Sol, why not? They’re here this weekend) And on it goes, a sea of mini-tempests, and amid them, two or three real disturbances, hidden in the squall.
Nothing other than a flute of Chateau d’Ychem, por moi, M. Garcon. And a soupcon of absinthe to celebrate the first toe in the rivers of Babylon of the ‘holic grandson.
totencum 1-4 villareal lol
@haho: Delicious bourbon. Very easy to drink. Too easy actually.
@Sensei: That’s was another one of `Apy `Ary’s tricks, now there will be money for more redundant transfers…
@Matt: Just a random question. Doesn’t Harry seem like a jive turkey to you, or is it just me?
@sensei . I don’t think frimpong and nordveit should be starters for arsenal either. I just think frimpong and nordviet have a shot at making it at arsenal provided , as holic rightly said, we don’t overhype them. Cheers and thanks for your opinion. 🙂
I propose that Arsenal fans World wide post letters once a week for the next four weeks to UEFA & FIFA complaining about Barcelona FC’s ‘tapping up’ of Cesc Fabregas. Also post a letter just once to Arsenal FC requesting that they formally complain to UEFA & FIFA. I have drawn up 3 template letters that I will email to willing participants. All you need to do is type in your own Name & Address before printing off & posting. Momentum will be boosted by you forwarding the email to every one of your Arsenal FC fan family & friends, encouraging them to participate.
The aim of repetitive letters is to create an Admin headache for UEFA & FIFA with thousands of letters received from all over the world & display the strength of feeling from Arsenal FC fans. The purpose of the single letter to Arsenal FC is again to display the strength of feeling from us fans.
My email address for this campaign from where I will email you the letter templates is …….. ArsenalFansHateBarcelonaFC@gmail.com
what channel can I watch the game on ? only live audio on arsenal tv right?
Depends where you are baron. It’s on Sky.
We will finish above spurs, everton and villa next season.
Did Vermaelen get a word in at the press conference?
Sky S N yesterday – “Villareal will be very interesting opposition for Sp*rs as this is just the sort of side that they could face in their Champions League qualifier”. Oh my aching sides.
Only a pre-season friendly, did somebody say?
I am going tomorrow with my 6 year old daughter, who has been asking every day for 3 weeks, how many more days is it ’til we go to Arsenal?
Some football to get excited about again, at last.
Hope you both have a great day Sunday ‘Holic.
No new signings then and not really surprised with what Le Boss has said. It would be plain daft to start mentioning names etc now. Nice comments about Cesc with which I agree totally. He has 5 year left on a very lucrative contract. We still pay him if he becomes shite or was to pick up a bad injury. Crack on young man and do the honourable thing.
I am going to the Saturday with my 10 year old and 6 year old. I rarely get the opportunity to take both to games so it is a nice outing for me. Both are very excited.
Someone asked about Frimpong above. I watched him play a couple of seasons back in the all conquering under 18s team. Must say I was very impressed. I am looking forward to see what he can do 18 months down the line.
One last point. Is it me or is twitch boy the new James Condron???? He is never out of the media spouting shite about something or other. He gets to a Champions League qualifier and all of a sudden he can’t shut up. “I want to sign Joe Cole, he’s triiiiiiffic. Oh well. I want to sign Raul, he’s triiiiiiific. Oh well. I want to sign Faniano. He’s triiiiiiiific. Oh well. I want to sign Scott Parker, he’s triiiiiiific. Oh well.” Harry, shut the fuck up. Even spuds are getting bored of you.
Here’s to Saturday. Keep the faith.
Half a day on Le Groan and my eyes are bleeding from reading all this anti-Arsenal tripe… Luckily I also read boards for Chavs, Mancs, Scousers and Spuds to get a more optimistic outlook on our team.
Wenker out
Diabolical Denilshite
retard manager
fucking wobble headed cunt
Leeds all over again!!
senile loser
greedy manager
going to be a shit season
I am seriously considering not following the arsenal this year
Wenger’s shit love children
the club should read the blog as it seem the fans know more
deluded AKB sheep
we will win fuck all
mid-table squad
beyond the joke now
It is simply criminal that is has come this far
fuck that cunt Wengker
no quality player in their right mind would want to join us
retard Wenger
this shit has to stop
Sack Wenger, and cut out the cancer at the heart of our club.
why the AKBs still buy into this Arsen knows bollocks is beyond me
Wenger must go.
big stench seeping from the Emirates
Typical made-up statistics.
don’t give a shit about the fans
wenger is stubborn to believe in his own squad
nothing will save Arsene Wenger
he is a fucking brainless prick of manager
Arson Wengker
our manager is retarded
my expectations for next season is maximum 4th
how are we meant to take Arsene Wenger seriously mate?
this guy is a slacker
so fucking demoralising
We will win fuck all with this retard running the club.
I dont believe Wenger
we’re buying crap
I dont want to hear about injuries
Song our mediocre DM
If wenger cant see signings hes more of a jewish batard then i thought
fucking cunt Wengker has dropped the ball again
glorified fucking book keeper
We have gone backwards
no wonder Cesc wants out you underachieving prick
Surely, we should have AKB defecting to the doomandgloom brigades this season
The senile old git
our useless fucking midfielders
I’m getting angry now
That bastard Wenger
Next time I see Wenger I am going to verbally abuse him
Sack the arrogant cuntbag that is Wengker now
I hate Wengker more than I hate Mourinho
I’m sat behind Wengker on Saturday. I will be giving him what-for, don’t you worry. The arrogant cunt won’t know what planet he’s on.
WENGERS CAN GO FUCK HIS MUM AND HIS GRAN THE SHIT FACH MOTHER FUCKING CUNT.
On haho’s suggestion, ‘Holic please make mine a Nica Libre or rather make that five in quick succession. Speaking of things Central American, I was sorry to see Honduras go out so quickly in South Africa. I half expected Maynor Figueroa to repeat his halfway line goal for Honduras that he scored last season for Wigan, but the fairy tale was not to be. My money is now on Figueroa to accomplish the repeat against Chelsea, Tottenham or some other Arsenal rival.
Wise opening words ‘holic 🙂
Look, we can all agree that a new signing or two is necessary to maintaining progress but yesterday was hardly a day for Wenger announcing to the world his target/s and strategy for the transfer window and beyond. Only a complete nim-kom-poop would have the absence of mind to so do.
So quite obviously Wenger was going to be a little circumspect, telling the baying press all they supposedly wanted to hear, while in actual fact saying nothing.
Meanwhile, I wait patiently……
Keep on believing!
Matt, thanks, but I stopped reading all of that puerile drivel long ago, and I would rather that was the only time I saw it on here. It’s not any blogger’s job to tell anybody what to read or what not to read, but it is my right to choose not to subject myself to that degree of ignorance and illiteracy.
Thanks to Trev and Steve I have been talking up the game to my 4 and a half year old son and now I’m so excited myself I can’t go to sleep.
`Holic and holics, please accept apologies for that comment, I regretted it as soon as I pressed the button, it’s such a great day there was no need to spoil the mood with this hateful nonsense.
Holic, forgot to add that I would not mind at all if you binned that comment.
Matt,
Thanks for reminding me why I (long ago) stopped bothering to read that crappage.
It’s good to know I needn’t go back until the season-end just to see what they say then.
You’re ok Matt, like G says it should act as a reminder.
Ready for Celtic now. Will be interesting to see how many are in the ground for the first game.
I’m in Sweden atm Goonerholic so I don’t have Sky Sports.. Is there anywhere on the net I can find a stream of Sky?
http://www.iraqgoals.net/
Best I have is on Sopcast channel 6816, if you are on Windoze.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6851053/
John Hartson – “Arsenal are a team in transition all the time….”
Eh?
Well he is Welsh, I suppose.
Chamakhattack! 1-0
Chamakh – new signing with worst hair since Sagna
(sorry)
Gibbs and Kos definite standouts of the first half. Kos may be small but gets everywhere, gets between every ball and does very well. Gibbs was just all action, love that guy. Frimpong was good, Wilshere was ok, Nasri is doing well, Chamakh too, Vermaelen is Vermaelen, Arshavin seems lethargic and lazy but quicker when at full pelt than he was last year…
Fabianski not looking as anxious as last season.
All in all, very good.
Positive: Koscielny, Chamakh, Clichy, Gibbs, Nasri all played well. At times we really chased down Milan well when they had the ball, I’d like to see more of that.
Negative: we really should have been out of sight by the time Milan scored their goal. And the defending was really poor for the goal and quite honestly, it really is an awful free-kick to concede. Sagna must keep his head cool there, even if the Milan player had caught up with the ball there would have been no immediate danger.