A Russian Tragedy
Feb 24th, 2012 by 'holic
I wish the fella luck, of course I do. I want him to be an outrageous success for us if we are at some point in the coming hours able to persuade the Football Association to sanction the protracted deal. I would be less than truthful if I now proclaimed that he was just the player I thought we needed.
Back when Andrey Arshavin signed, sometime around midnight possibly, at the end of the January 2009 transfer window, I was not quite as optimistic about his arrival as others. Out of character for me, you might say. I’m not about to say “I told you so” tonight as another last gasp deal takes him back to Zenit, initially on loan.
It was in April of that year that the Russian playmaker single-handedly salvaged a point for us at Anfield, scoring half of the eight goals that night. The following season Arshavin found himself press-ganged into service as centre-forward when all of the recognised strikers were ruled out by injury. He started 25 matches in the Premier League and got into double figures. Even those less than impressed with him since would have to accept that was quite a contribution from someone so vertically-challenged.
That season also brought the failure of Russia to qualify for the World Cup, and many would argue we have not seen the best of Arshavin since then. Last season he made 52 appearances in a Gunners shirt, but 16 of those were from the bench, amid growing question marks about his fitness and attitude. This season he effectively became a squad player, demoted by the arrival of Gervinho and the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
In hindsight it was good that what will probably be the final view of him in action was the superb chipped cross which enabled Thierry Henry to grab the winning goal at the Stadium of Light. The fact that he didn’t play at the same venue a week later after our midfield had been humiliated in Milan tells us a great deal about how far down the pecking order he had fallen.
That is of course the curious thing about the timing of his departure. That malfunctioning engine room won’t have Ramsey fit to start in Sunday’s feud with the swamp-dwellers. Arshavin was a Rosicky sneeze away from playing in the preferred role he was never able to secure for himself. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame him for going. It is probably best for him that he does.
His departure though, coming so soon after the loss of Fabregas and Nasri, leaves a threadbare midfield looking barer at a time when we will not be able to replace him. I’m not convinced his departure before the summer will be what is best for Arsenal. It is such a shame that our marquee signing of the post-Highbury era hasn’t worked out the way all had hoped. Food for thought, perhaps, as the mythical transfer warchest is possibly prized open in the coming months.
161 Responses to “A Russian Tragedy”
ScruzGoram – er Gooner – LOVED the “Llama Song” !
ALOHA Maui Craig – so glad to hear from you man. And I’m glad you’re gonna get that Arsenal Kit you’ve been dodging for so long. Once Roger gets it in your blood, man, it’s over!
I’m gonna miss our tiny Russian. Mercurial? Yes, he’s Russian after all. Slothful? Yes, again… But, talented? My, oh, my yes. I got his strip after the game at the KOP.
He scored 4.
He scored 4.
He’s only 5 foot 4.
Best wishes Andrei.
Good shout, Snir as regarding the scum. I’ll only add – funk the spunks.
BMBD
I agree Holic it probably is best for both parties but still a sad end.
If only…..
First!
Thanks, again ‘Holic!
BMBD
That cheeky Goonerholic posted while I was still in yesterday’s bar.
So I’ll say it again, agreeing with Lars:
MMMMMMMMMMM
EEEEEEEEEEEEE
HHHHHHHHHHHHH
Europia League for me!!
He wasn’t what we needed when we signed him and isn’t what we most need now but I really don’t think we have such an embarrassment of riches that we can afford to let a potential game changer go at this point in the most difficult season we have had in many years.
He changed the game when he came on against Man U too 😉 …..
Spot on Holic about the watershed in his performances following the Russian failure to qualify. Something changed in the little fella’s head then.
And nice observation about our memories of his final contribution to the team.
I wonder what he could have done if he had been played ‘in the hole’.
Wenger must be sacked now. This is the last straw.
Now we are threadbare again in that department. It is probably because his love child Diaby is about to come back.
he played him alone up front for 6 months and Arshavin got booted and maimed every which way. he refused to bring in players to help him.
Then he plays a fantastic game then Wenger benches him for the FA Cup.
it is as if wenger did not want him to succeed at all. Almost as if he set him up for failure.
It is common knowledge Gazidis signed him against wenger’s will. Was this wenger’s form of revenge?
Such talent ruined by a clueless manager.
wtf??
yeah, i hate wenger, too. i much prefer victorinox.
:eyeroll:
samba to anzi. darn.
Here is a link to some like-minded folks: http://le-grove.co.uk/
would like to point out he played only five games as a striker for us, not six months
Gosh Eduardo..I really miss you man..I never recovered from your departure…)0;
Arshavin was ruined by the clueless, senile French idiot we have masquerading as a manager. He was never played in his preferred position and every time he looked like his career was taking off at Arsenal Wenger benched him. As you correctly say, it is almost as if Wenger didn’t want him in the first place and he spent the last three years proving a point to Gazidis. The fact Gazidis and Wenger hate each other proves the point. I cannot for the life of me see why selling Arshavin helps us in any shape or form when we are already without Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere, Diaby and Ramsey in the midfield for various reasons. We have a wafer thin squad (due to Wenger’s incompetence) and now he reduces it even further when we’re competing with Chelsea and Liverpool for 4th place. Managed correctly, Arshavin was a world class player. A true case of a lion led by a donkey. Enough said. If you ever wanted proof that OGL has completely and utterly lost the plot look no further than this urrerly ridiculous and suicidal piece of transfer business today. Madness. Wenger can’t go soon enough for me. Giving him any money to spend in the summer and keeoing him on beyond May will be like throwing Arsenal’s future down the toilet and the fans season ticket money with it.
Where do we find these characters? Perhaps they follow ‘Holic home from the Sainsbury’s?
“Spies” – pfft!
Announcement from REDaction:
Finally ; Sunday is a massive game for the club and supporters. It’s
time to put all the negativity behind us and get behind the team
instead. Whatever your thoughts on the current problems at the club at
board, manager, or player level, this must be secondary on Derby Day.
OK, this is really starting to get on my nerves!!!
WHO CARES WHAT HIS PREFERRED POSITION WAS?!?!?!?!?
His application was the worst I have ever seen. Ever.
I’m glad he left.
I know, his departure with nobody arriving instead leaves us one short but even if he was still on our books I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the pitch, so it’s better IMO that he left, so that AW won’t be tempted to pick him.
I’m sorry, but his laziness is not something I can forgive.
It’s like after the two losses to City this season. We weren’t mad at the players and commended the players for their efforts.
That’s what I want from our players, doesn’t matter who they are.
That I’d be able to say – He tried his best and ran his socks off for us, the fans.
OK I am boycotting Goonerholic until AFTER the game on Sunday – Fack this shite…
Hmmm! Seems like there is a modicum of contradiction being spouted around at the mo’. IHW@9 and HS@16, I haven’t seen your names appear too frequently in the bar but your responses lead me to believe that you two were probably mouthing off for Arshavin to “get his lazy arse out of the Arse” or words to that effect and are now freaking out now that has happened.
There is no doubt Arshavin is talented but we now need players who can graft for 90 minutes as well as curl a cross onto Titi’s toe from the touchline. Five minute cameos are no longer the order of the day if we are to salvage something from the season, it’s time to roll the sleeves up and whilst I admit that several of our players don’t seem to have that mentality we can’t rely on players who aren’t performing. The worrying thing in the last two games was that it wasn’t just one or two who were off the boil it was an epidemic similar to the one suffered by the England cricket team. It is a tad strange that we had several national captains Arshavin, Rosicky, Benayoun, Ramsey but none of then seem to have any leadership qualities that are so apparent in the likes of future Captain Jack. I really hope some words were said behind closed doors this week and that we get a response on Sunday. COYG
A fair point SG but criticism for lack of application applies to more than the Owl in this squad.
I’m the first to commend application and we simply have not seen enough of it from enough players on a regular basis for far too long.
goodbye little llama.
Ashavin needs regular football ahead of the Euros this year. He is not going to get it with us. But he will get it with Zenit. Playing regularly followed by a successful Euros, could rejuvinate him. He would then return to us next season, like a new signing, dare I say it, if he fits into what ever the summer restructuring of the squad brings. Otherwise, the loan becomes a sale. We all move on. The alternative is that he twiddles his thumbs on the bench or in the reserves, is underprepared for the Euros, flops and is bitter about the whole thing. We then have no choice but to unload him in the summer as damaged goods for whatever we can get for him. At least this way we have a hope of getting a top international back at the top of his form and the bean counters can be kept happy with a decent deal.
Snir –
Brother, I understand your point…
but, good Lord, I will miss this kind of quality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PFVXJPx2O8&feature=related
😥
BMBD
Come on Arsenal!
Snir for president!
And NBN in the government too.
i think we should fram highbury spy’s post. it’s *literally* a caricature of the anti-wenger brigade. laughable, really. i sure wish everyone would read the latest stillman, because both sides are making our (in the us) current presidential runup look measured.
ScruzG @ 23 –
Snarf, snarf… Llama Llama misses mama. (Parent’s with small children will appreciate that)
I’ll miss you Arsh.
bath- While I think you’re right on the back of these two last weeks, I think it’s being overplayed.
The spine of this team is showing great application.
Woj, Kos, TV, Arteta (despite the fact that I have come to accept that he’s a Denilson with a better defensive work rate), Song (true, there are games he awful, but most of the games he carries us on his shoulder), BFG, Jenkinson, Bac (despite that Milan game), Yossi when he came on, RvP…
The last two weeks have made it as if all these players aren’t trying and never did try throughout the whole campaign. That’s just not true.
Apart from the last two weeks where my complaints to the team is for their application, most of my complaints this season, were about their naivety and inability (for instance, inability to break down parked buses, but then again, there aren’t a lot of teams which can actually break down such a team, even Barca and City are extremely struggling with it, especially away from home).
Nice reflective piece ‘Holic .
A classy player ill-served by the system we have played throughout his time at the Club , though one who also contributed to his own demise by an at times shocking failure to bring any sort of work ethic to the table to match his stellar talent .
The only real surprise is in the timing .
Can’t help feeling more than a twinge of sadness at the manner of his departure , but as Ollie and Lars have both said , it’s all a bit “meh” , and that emotion (or lack thereof) , tells its own story .
Good luck to the fella – hope he has a great 3 months and we pick up a big fat fee in the summer .
Ollie – You’re not even gonna be in London when I’m there 🙁 !
The quality is still there. I agree with NBN. Perhaps regular football will pick the lock inside him, rejuvenate him, and allow him to come back to us on form.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAb_mVSBgLU&feature=fvwrel
BMBD
Is that the same “Spy” whose utter bollocks caused me to cease spending 3 quid on The Gooner by any chance? (Best 3 quid I no longer spend, by the way, so if it’s you, thanks).
Donkey leading a lion – that’s funny. Must be the way you tell them. Frank Carson RIP.
Oh and I hope Blogs continues to do his impression of him . The one today was particularly hilarious .
GT – Don’t let ’em grind you down Sir .
You watch lads, he’ll be back and this time even more ADVANCED but most probably in age
Yeah I know Snir. Sad about it. I blame Sky (or is it ESPN?).
Speechless
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw4IlKRPmc
Sorry but there seems to be a serious assumption running through some of the drinks that Wenger sent Arshavin on his way against his will. It seems more likely to me that Arshavin wouldn’t accept being a squad player and said as much to push the move through. That of course is my opinion. I can’t say I blame him considering his position with a lot of the fan base and his position in Wenger’s midfield pecking order have dropped precipitously this season. Hearing boos on being introduced to a match would drive many a player to sever any loyalty to a club.
I wish he would have been given a few more chances in the attacking midfield position where he seemed a more natural fit, but that is no excuse for his lack of application in recent years when asked to play out wide. In fact part of the reason I hoped he would be played there is his lack of defensive effort wouldn’t be as costly as it was on the wings.
Water under the bridge. I am sad to see him go, but more sad that he is leaving under these circumstances.
Ollie, thank you for the invitation to join your government. Will there be bunga-bunga?
a great player ruined by wenger,,not the first but hopefully the last!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the under world of arsenal bloggers dont help players or club
The Steppes in his haircut gave me a few lines over the years. I regret the passing of Russia’s finest coiffure. A limited vocabulary and range of phrases is diminished further.
Trolls. Trolls. TROLLS!
One thing about AA being played out of position: he mostly played at Zenit as a wide midfielder in a 4-4-2, usually on the right but with lots of freedom to change wings. He plays there for Russia, too. He only moved into a DB10 role behind the striker late in his time with Zenit, and even then he played the role quite wide. So, apart from the emergency spell as up-top striker, he didn’t play so much out of position with us as many people say.
Some vintage AA goals here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lxiy01qzlg
including a delightfully cheeky one 2.22mins in.
The boy can finish.
I think what’s been overlooked regarding Arseshavings Arsenal tenure and lack of starts was his 15k ‘game start’ bonus.. That has to be the most ridiculous contract in Arsenal history. It meant the parsimonious Arsene refused to start him for fiscal over tactical reasons and it bred negativity and self doubt in the wee man.
I’m not one for the foul mouth, but it was potty.
I have now realised why I’ve been pottering about with Adobe Illustrator for a few years… it was all about this
http://i.imgur.com/xlLFo.jpg
Holic, Your last paragraph, scary, isn’t it. NBN @ 24, Ideally, would love to see that happen. Well played.
i must say, LO@38, that is BRILLIANT.
i love how wenger ruins players. then they so often get snapped up by clubs (say, like barcelona)…maybe he does ruin them, because by and large they SUCK afterwards. hleb, anyone? oh, wait…
Nice one, Fellover…
Funk the Spunks!
BMBD
nbn, nice vid. one thing i notice there, is he has a MOTOR. one that has been, sadly, largely lacking at arsenal. some of those half-field sprints ending in a sublime chip, well, i see why he was so desired.
Note to Nurse Wolfie,
please note that all Arse shaving duties are hereby suspended.
Please do not dispense with any razors however, as this equipment costs money and The Quackery is broke. We cannot afford any new resources, at all.
It is possible that Arse shaving may be back on the rosta by the summer and we are, in any event, soon expecting fresh demands from our returning Brazilians.
Sincerely,
Mr T.
This is great news.
Talent without application means nothing and his attitude was disgusting and undeserving of his wages
I can forgive a poor performance if I see 100% effort.
“as the mythical war chest is possibly prized open”
Personally, I have given up worrying about whether there is any war chest or not.
I am tired of trying to decide who I believe when it comes to Arsenal’s finances.
Do we have £100 million, or £50 million, or £10 million, or nothing ?
Does it really matter if we don’t have enough money to bid for all the top, top players on everyone’s wish lists ?
We have never bid for established top stars anyway (Dennis excepted).
And if we do, it will not matter how many tens of millions we bid, ‘cos if Citeh want them too, they will simply outbid us, however much we have. So if the player’s motivation is money, we have no chance in an auction anyway.
I’m bored with thinking about Kroenke and Gazidis and Usmanov and money and shares and property sales and Financial Foreplay (zico) and ticket prices and seasons falling apart and . . . . . . .
Supporting Arsenal used to be fun – even when we were really crap.
So I’m looking forward to meeting some true, great Gooners on Sunday again, and having a laugh before we go and beat Tottenham.
Maybe then, we will have some great performances and goals and proper football to talk about again.
Anyone remember that ?
Geoff @52 –
good evening to you.
Clive will be glad to hear your words next time he’s in the bike sheds !
😉
Trev knows 😉
Hey Spy, at least you used to print pictures of gorgeous birds with your abuse, 😉
I suppose we’re supposed to just listen to this drivel, as well, and not shout him down?
Screw that! Feck off spy.
BMBD.
*spooning up a bite of the propaganda bollocks off the club table*
hmm. tastes like chicken.
Well Im sad and disgusted that he’s gone. Talk about timing – two days before the fucking NLD!
Was he lazy? Yes
Was he petulant? Yes
Maybe even rash in his decision making? Yes
And don’t get me wrong – I was genuinely as frustrated as anyone else watching him walk along the sideline’s in his pathetic effort to track back.
But he is immensely talented.
And at a time when we need creativity – we’ve decided to let go one of the most creative players we have.
I truly find it flabbergasting how someone like Theo who IMO, has done fuck all during the whole season, can possibly get his place in a team ahead of a man as talented as AA let alone the Ox. I accept his form has been poor but AA has more talent beneath the crevices of his toenails than Theo will ever have. While I have absolutely no doubt of his culpability in respect to his laziness, its my opinion that the blame in situations like these has as much to do with the management of the player than the player himself:
If he was somewhat lazy why did we hire him?
Why was a player who plays in the hole behind the main striker recruited when we intend on playing a demanding 4-3-3 formation?
And if my memory serves me correctly, why was he on the bench during the semi final of the FA cup against Chelski, (when he was on a great run of form), when we somehow played RVP on the wing at a time when RVP was only coming back from injury, (and by sheer coincidence was also in the latter end of signing a contract with the club)? A few days after AA was benched against Chelski, he walked out on Anfield and gave a 4 goal masterclass.
I don’t deny that AA was blameless in his tenure at the club, but are the club blameless in his management? This was a guy with proven pedigree who moved, Family, Country, Children, Culture to make a new start and fulfill a talent. Has the club done him justice?
Evening Trev, ‘holic and all.
I’m stunned to read the club raised club level by 2% for next season and announce a freeze for general season tickets.
I’m sorry Kroenke but you and whoever you have installed to run our great club are so out of touch with what’s happening at our beloved club and with the economy too. You don’t deserve ownership of this great club and we as fans certainly do not deserve you.
Utterly contemptible and disgraceful decision, shame in you.
Hmmm that should have read shame ON you but hey my shame run through your veins and every cell in your body.
Steve, we’re too old to be chucking abuse at people we don’t know online.
Behave yourself, silly bollocks. I gave you a free pop at Arsene, but don’t abuse fellow Gooners.
I really would be grateful if we kept it civil here people.
On this, of all weekends, we should not be forming a circle and aiming the weapons inwards.
Let’s hate the proper cunts for once, shall we?
FOYS
Good work Fellovergen 🙂
Nice link Lurky .
Bearded , Trev , – Great posts .
Mr T – 🙂 Nurse Wolfie will have to get back to you tomorrow 😉
Spy , whatever your views , surely you must realise that the way you choose to express yourself is hugely divisive , especially given who we are “entertaining” this weekend . Very very sad .
Night All .
News item: bt8bbgfg sold to Russian club for an undisclosed but widely rumored lucrative fee. 😀
The Russian is on a mission, no need to worry.
Sorry to see him go though, despite his shortcomings, I enjoyed his maverick streak demonstrated while on the job.
Dosvedanya Tovarisch.
*Shaft takes two shots of Stolichnaya and crushes the Arsenal shot glass in his hand*
evolution of a club badge
http://i.imgur.com/q1q5H.jpg
As I said earlier on the previous thread I’m not sorry to see him go.
A number of folks in the bar are blaming Wenger for his poor performances.
If this is true its probably because he was consistently picked for the 1st 11 irrespective of how badly he performed in the previous match, rather than the position he was being played.
fellovergen, Most excellent! Now that cheered me up. However, Fox is reporting Theo gets the nod over the Oxcellent.
Theo has to play in this game.
Has to.
Spurs will play very high up the pitch both in possession and off the ball, which will make enormous amount of space which Theo can exploit to the maximum since that is his strong point as opposed to running at defenders which is his weakness.
Prophetic? Here’s Ferguson on the signing of Arshavin 3 years ago this week:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/4785524/Arsenal-lack-balance-in-transfer-dealings-says-Manchester-Uniteds-Alex-Ferguson.html
Bt8b@71: that was probably the ferguson of the mindgames days speaking.
The more I think about AA the more I think he is the sort of player around whom you build a team, or you don’t play him at all. If I am right in that then he was doomed from the start because AW builds his teams around the players he has raised, not the ones he buys.
Bt8b: also, do you realize you have been sold to FC Shakhta Raspadskaya Mezhdurechensk, a now amateur Siberian team whose best result was 9th place in the Zone 6/RSFSR of the Soviet Second League in 1969, when they were FC Motor Mezhdurechensk. The undisclosed sum is whatever you can afford to pay.
Fellovergen@67: cocked guns. Way to go.
Hoofs ball high enough to clear the 80s and land in the mid-90s, makes his excuses and leaves…
Not often I say this but to all the negative posters here FUCK OFF and go support Spurs. I love this site because most people on it really love the gunners and the snipers had not intruded. Please Holic ban all these idiots that r now cropping up
My apologies Holic if my comments seem divisive given who we entertain tomorrow. That certainly wasn’t the intent and I think you all know me well enough at this stage – I’m no “negative nelly”.
But I honestly cannot fathom how we’ve let him go. Its not as though the squad is thin enough already without loosing one of the only players we had on the bench who could change a game.
I really wanted AA gone; he simply didn’t seem to have the will to play for the team or for himself for that matter. But, I am not sure what effect this move will have on the rest of the squad…I hope some of the lads who walk on the pitch instead of running take note of that…
Joe – most Arsenal fans didn’t want to see him get any minutes but now are going crazy over his loan which to me is baffling because, while we are shorter in numbers now, nobody wanted him to play in the first place so why does it matter ?!?
I think he left not because of the boos at the United game but the boos that greeted the announcement of his name on the bench against Blackburn.
Seems as if Gibbs is out again, if that’s the case then it stopped being sad and turned into ridiculously funny. That guy is not an athlete. He is a porcelain doll at best.
Much of the argument above just goes to show how fickle “fans” can be. For lord knows how long it has been clear that when we start with Arshavin, we’re startig with 10 men. His lack of application was the absolute mirror image of the extent of his talents. All the talent in the world is just no good without application. The man just couldn’t be relied on to work for the team. That has to be the bottom line. I dont understand the hand wringing when so many have been asking for exactly this to come to pass. Personally I’m sorry it didn’t happen sooner as that may have been a marker for some other shirkers to shape up or ship out. I honestly can’t see his departure as being anything other than small beer. I await more in hope than expectation the wholesale expunging of the sick lame and lazy from the squad this summer. Over to you Arsene.
So long the little Russian.
A lovely luxury to have when we could afford it, not the man you need for a long, scrappy climb back to the summit. Good luck in Russia old son.
Re: the trolls, what can you do? Best to just ignore them and they’ll soon head back under their bridges. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, even if it is a fucking daft one.
Looking forward to tomorrow. If anyone would like to clatter Adebayor in the first few minutes that would be fine by me. This would be a very good time to show that we don’t approach every game the same way, and that the players recognise that some matter far, far more than others.
COYG
Joe ,
Never had you down as a “negative nelly” at all . It’s clear from your always excellent posts that that is not the case . I agreed with large parts of your post .
The point you make about the Chelsea semi is particularly salient . The decision to leave AA on the bench for that game was baffling , and doesn’t get any easier to understand with the passage of time . When the time comes to analyse Arsene’s time at the club , that decision will rank fairly high in the bloopers column .
So to answer your question , I don’t think the Club has always done him justice on a number of occasions , but I would postulate that the greater sin is that the player hasn’t done himself justice in pretty much the last 2 years (with notable and sporadic exceptions) .
Right , I’m gonna get off that fence now , its pretty uncomfortable ! 😉
Cheers N7 indeed.
I think a lot of people are maybe disappointed because they’ll have one less player to abuse and moan at 😉
Morning all.
Snir , and ClockEndRider – spot on re the fickleness of fans . Those that booed him at Blackburn , (it was the decision rather than the player that was booed at Manure) , are generally the loudest condemnatory voices now that he has been loaned out . That is largely because at @9 and @16 the target will always be Arsene whatever he does . Damned if he does , damned if he doesn’t .
Snir – I don’t think the booing had anything to do with his departure , although obviously loosened any bond he might have felt towards Arsenal . I think its all about game time ahead of The Euros .
Fellovergen – More excellent work @67 . 🙂
Morning Ollie .
tabs, for me it was still not only the ‘decision’ at the Man U game.
Had Thierry Henry been available at that time and had he come on, I’m not sure there’d have been a lot of booing.
True, had Arshavin came on from Arshavin, no booing either.
It was a combination of things.
Let’s not forget that there were some cunts booing him when his name was announced on the subs bench before Blackburn!
But yes, I think his main motivation would have been the Euros (although was there any chance of him being dropped? But perhaps he wants to be on top form so he can go to Barça/Man City/PSG and earn a lot of money :p)
Arshavin come on for Arshavin? I meant for Theo
Yes , they are very fair points Ollie . Agreed that the animosity would have been lessened had it been TH12 coming on at Manure .
The booing pre-game at Blackburn was unforgivable .
Too early to one-two our way all the way downfield and into the net ? 😉
bathgooner wins the ball in a crunching tackle on the edge of our box and chips it elegantly to tabs.
I am not going to be a hypocrite and say I am so so sad to see the Arsh leave, to me it gives AW more reason to play the Ox and I for one am delighted about that.
The past season and a half he has looked like player screaming I dont want to be here, so why keep him ?
He has spoken about being 8kg over weight for over a year and not shed the pounds so how dedicated is he. At a time were passion and drive can take us to 4th why would we want hold onto him as he shows neither.
When he first joined I was very excited and his displays on the field only enhanced my apprieciation for him. Sadly that player who joined last knockings in Jan soon turned into a fairly lazy I cant be aresed player who holds no intrest for me.
Over the years we have had our fair share of average players who make up for it with grit and determination for example one Mr Ray Parlour, technically gift ? world class ? star player ? No ! but by god did he work and I loved him for it.
Good luck Arshavin.
tabs , grateful for the support from the west country , takes the ball on his chest , takes a quick tug on his fag whilst surveying the scene , and then plays a glorious 40 yard raking ball out to the left flank …
bathgooner, seeing the elegant raking ball soar out to the left wing, drinks a can of red bull and then hares down the middle to join the throng on thee edge of the opposition box.
…Lars makes a decoy run down the right wing to open up space in the middle…
…only to find himself in an offside position which forces him to turn back…
Tabs , suitably enlivened and inspired by Bath’s turn of pace , takes one more long tug , feels the nicotine ricochet around his well toned muscle groupings , and then charges off in pursuit of Bath towards the penalty box , without knowing what’s happening on the left flank …
Bathgooner bends his run out to the left flank to collect the incredibly spun ball from tabs that seems to have hung in the air for an incredible period of time, takes it on his chest, beats a Sp*d, pauses for Lars to get onside and chips it across to the right wing…..
Tabs , as he watches the ball soar over his head , bellows “its time for the Super Swede to deliver”
bg then ambles in towards the centre again at an Owl/Denilson/DB52=esque pace to see what’s happening…..
…runs into the box and jumps for the ball…
…AND IT’S IN!
Tired of waiting for Lars , Tabs ambles out to the right , picks up the mall and hits a cross come shot of unswerving pace and accuracy …
Oh, what lovely team play that was! *runs over to tabs and bathgooner to celebrate*
Well in Lars
bg arrives in the box in time to see the others heading back to the centre circle after effusive displays and two yellow cards for excessive celebration.
Hmm , that move deserved a better finish Lars . Yellow card old son .
Bath , it appears we were undone by the dark arts of self -assisting 🙂
Laters gents
I take a certain comfort in being back in my usual spot of 101 . 🙂
tabs There was indeed a bit of onanism there, tabs. Thought there was a chance of a lovely move there with some real time-warped ball control!
tabs, that wasn’t self-assisting, I was only jumping for the ball@99 😉
*ducks to avoid to bottles and pint glasses thrown his way*
Ha ! Indeed . Took me right back to my teenage days . About to cop a feel and your mum walks in . Shame on you Lars , shame , shame 🙂
Laters Chaps .
See, I had to duck down so quickly I spelled “the” as “to”!
Seeing as everyone else seems to be headed out I might as well do the same. Have to get out and have a photograph taken for my driving licence renewal. Now where did Wolfie put that box of mak… eeeh, I mean where did I put my hair gel?
Self-assisting, LArs? YOU of all people?
There’s only one way I could have excused you: if you had posted as Lars Goram. 😀
Only when the century looms do you establish a man’s true character.
Load his card up 😉
sad he left…
Tabs,
thanks for your response and words. And yes I agree completely that he hasn’t “done himself justice”. But I do believe we could have managed him better or at least asked the right questions at the recruitment process. As Clockendrider rightfully says “all the talent in the world is no good without application”.
So this is what I find hard to reconcile: How does that logic apply to Theo? The boy has been here for six years and is only moderately more interested in doing the hard work. At least Arshavin had talent that could change games at the highest levels. What does Theo have? For me, the only difference between how Theo has been treated in contrast to Arshavin is down to age and valuation.
For me though, the single biggest problem I have with this is that I find it un-fucking-believeable that we do this 2 days before the NLD, without buying any replacement in January, when we have a real battle for a CL place to make in the run in.
It stinks. And the only reason I can fathom that the club would do this, was if it saw the opportunity to make a better buck. Thats what I think has happened. I think we’ve not only got some money up front for loaning him now, but we’ve more than likely agreed a pre-contract sale of him for a higher price during the summer. High up and low down, irrespective of the way the game goes tomorrow – getting rid of AA at this time stinks and makes no football sense whatsoever.
With your kind permission Holic, may I reference Arseblogger’s piece this morning. His assessment acutely hits all the right notes as far as Im concerned.
Absolutely Joe.
That was a very good read this morning. Time to turn the guns outward though.
Two days playing that lot up the road has nothing to do with anything, just happens to be when the Russian transfer window closes (why are they allowed to have a different one is another matter).
Don’t think that plan was even in the air in January hence no replacement.
Or: AOC wasn’t involved before January so is a de facto replacement, even if the replacement happened before the player leaving.
I’m still surprised that this happened now, but not dismayed at it.
And indeed Holic: in true Arsène style, we’re not here to talk about the players who won’t be able to play tomorrow 😉
Not wishing to trivialise some excellent work Joe, and Tabs, but in terms of a replacement for Arshavin, is there any sign of Abu returning to the squad for the North London Diaby ?
Or maybe Jack is not too far off – he will be like-a-new-signing after all.
I wonder if the club will allow me to use a like-a-new-season-ticket next year ?
Like a new Season Ticket, heh Trev!
Cheers Ollie, see you tomorrow.
Yep, whatever tha game turns out to be, there should be a good crowd ! 🙂
And that just reminds me to pack Snir’s programme, phew!
Heh Trev, only if you accept the “like-a-not-so-big-as-last-year” increase.
What, you’re not Club Level? You can afford to be on full pints then 😉
Incidentally, who or what is this Diaby thing that you speak of?
So err – that’s Sleepy, (Un)Happy, Greedy and Clichy gone – hey ho, hey ho – we’s got a BIG game to win!!!
CoMonUREDS!
http://youtu.be/0lX6rGITrJQ
You about tomorrow, AL?
AL @126 – and Nurse Wolfie is currently away feeling Grumpy 😉
zico –
Abu Diaby ? He used to be like-a-midfield-player, but now just owns Man Citeh.
Tragic case, and no sleight intended on AD.
heh Trev.
Tragic indeed. Even Laurent Blanc keeps saying he would hope to be able to select him.
makes you wonder whether the unpleasant surprises ever irioned themselves out?
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/692841-arsenals-arshavin-dumps-agent-and-declares-ill-represent-myself
Sadly T/Ollie can’t do it – have a good’un squire
Trev, fine post@53 and Clichy could easily have been cast as Dopey but thought references might go over some heads
I’ll get me pick
Who’s Sleepy?
And the North London Diaby – good work – if only he was about
Next time then, AL.
Perhaps the ultimate ‘holics vs arsebloggers confrontation that is going to be the Villa game?
Will do me best to put some hard yards in ‘tween now and then Ollie – mind with your moonlighting ways are not your loyalties split??? Or should that be shared???
Well, there we go…. Another piece of deplorable transfer business…
Sure he was fat, he was lazy, but oh boy did he have something special in him? Is it not better to have someone in the side who can add a creative flair off the bench than no one at all?
I’m also a bit alarmed, in retrospect, that aw signed a player with such application issues in the first place.
Fuck me, how did some of you cunts keep yourselves in a state of constant misery before the invention of the internet?
Anybody else see the love child of Julian Clary and Martina Navratilova on Sky at lunchtime.
One does wonder, Master Goram.
And no. Because I don’t have Sky.
Joe @116 – Another excellent post Joe . Don’t disagree at all . Blogs’ piece was a superb analysis of the little Russian’s time at the Club .
Did I read that you were over for the game ? Be great to be able to buy you a pint in The Tollie if you get the chance to pop in .
Trev @128 – Nurse Wolfie is not grumpy . He is a little known dwarf known as Campy ! 😉
Anyway , time to turn the guns up the Seven Sisters Rd …
BEHIND THE SHITHOLE EPISODE 1
Harry Redknapp (HR) is sat in his office for a summit meeting with his assistant Joe Jordan (JR) , his 2nd assistant Kevin Bond (KB) , his 3rd Assistant Les Ferdinand (LF) , his fourth assistant Tim Sherwood (TS) , and his chief hand-shaker Clive Allen (CUNT) .
HR : We’re all cunts aren’t we ?
JR KB ) : Yes Gaffer .
LF TS )
CUNT : No gaffer .
HR : That answer is why you’re a cunt , cunt .
CUNT : Yes Gaffer .
THE END .
Andy Goram @138 – Garth Crooks ?? 😉
SUGAR , I want more SUGAR .
In other news
silly
wee
dwarf
gag
goes
over
man’s
head
http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/sp/p3/20120214/13/1597126866.jpg
Right, I’m off.
See some of you tomorrow!
Re: NBN @73: Minnesota to Siberia? Surely only a minor demotion? 🙂
1. Harry Redknapp is the manager with the most defeats in the Premier League.
2. Harry Redknapp has won 1 major trophy in 29 years of management.
3. Arsenal have won 474 MORE matches than Sp*rs in top-flight football! The equivalent of 12.5 seasons!
4. Arsenal have won the title twice at White Hart Lane, Spurs have only won the title twice in their entire history.
5. 50 years, 10 months, 7 days, 16 hours, 10 minutes, 55 seconds and counting since Spuds last won the league.
Incoming !!!!!! Mind the Gap .
Forever in our Shadow .
A young lad asks his mum where his new spurs shirt is. Mum says ‘i washed it and its drying on the line.’ the lad rushes to the window to see his top lying in the mud… He says ‘mum why is my spurs shirt on the floor?’ His mum looks out and shouts, ‘the thieving gits… they’ve took me pegs!!’
Forever in our Shadow .
tabs@146: great stats.
Bt8b@145: only a matter of degrees.
@141: Tabs, heh 🙂
To all those chameleons who have suddenly grown a new fondness for the little Russian and blaming this departure all on AW, you are forgetting that Andrei himself desperately needs and wants first team action before what would most likely be his last major tournament captaining Russia, a role he evidently loves and enjoys and is much closer to his heart than any Arsenal success. Could it be that he requested the transfer?
About Arshavin’s time in Arsenal, Wenger has always rated him highly, praised him publicly — sometimes more than he deserved in the last year and so — and presented him with enough opportunity to find his form back after the perma-funk he was in following Russia’s WC qualifier failure.
I always loved Arshavin. Looking up at his overall record in Zenit days his Arsenal numbers are not too dissimilar in terms of goals and assists. So he may have not been as much of a failure as he has been accused of. The physicality and grind of English football was always going to be an issue for him and he had failed to raise his fitness. I would have loved to have him on the bench as a potential game changer but such side parts are evidently not up to his taste. Wish him all the best.
I remember his first goal for us. Was against Blackburn, a tricky piece of penalty box magic following which he ran all the way to the bench to celebrate the goal with Arsene.
Why do people take an instant dislike to Spurs fans?
Saves time.
Hey Holic, Just checked my mail, Ms. P has made my day! Please tell her I say hello and just take it easy. Would like to dedicate Chris DeBurgh’s beautiful ballad,’Lady in Red’ to her.
Sad news for some but potentially an item of interest to our Scottish section, Goodwillie moves north of the border:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17157977
8 ball read again 😉
Evening All
Like Trev @ #53….
….”I’m looking forward to meeting some true, great Gooners on Sunday again, and having a laugh before we go and”….
….er….play the LWCs.
Sorry, no longer able to call the game. It all depends which Arsenal turns up.
Either way, I’ll be shouting and screaming myself hoarse because they are c*unts, they will always be c*unts, they were born c*nts, they live as c*nts and when their time is up ,they will die c*nts.
Thanks Dennis the StoreyDad was a Gooner (RIP).
PS: Very sad to be seeing Arshavin go. I really appreciated his genius. His l-o-n-g dip in form was a source of huge frustration to this Gooner.
I cannot understand why he is moving now (as opposed to the summer). That seems like another bad footballing decision to me.
Good luck little man. I hope you find your mojo again at Zenit.
tabs @ #146 – FIOS indeed!
AL @ #143 – That lifted the mood a bit, cheers!
Paul Robinson – dear oh dear. And to think of the slagging that Scottish goalkeepers got for years…..
Trev @ 53 “Do we have £100 million, or £50 million, or £10 million, or nothing ?”
If we had all three of those big numbers added together it would still be the same as having your final figure. It won’t get spent.
Anyway, we’re going to win tomorrow because Alan McInally said this lunchtime that, “Spurs CAN NOT lose to THIS Arsenal team”.
Thank you nurse 😉
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tabs,
Thanks for the kind offer. I can assure you, there would be nothing I would enjoy more than sucking a few pints in the Tollie with good company on match day. Unfortunately I’m not over. Usually I get over 4-5 times a year and when I do the Pins is my normal watering hole.
But the next time I’m over I would be more than happy to drop into the Tollie and buy you a pint should the timing suit. You might be surprised to know that we share more than common POV’s on the football, but professions as well! 2 young kids and a new practice has kept me away from London this year but I hope to be making arrangements pretty shortly so I should be in touch soon. Enjoy the game tomorrow and a toast to the right result!