Laugh Or Cry? You Decide
Jan 30th, 2013 by 'holic
I don’t quite know where to start. I really don’t give two hoots for the neutrals who we have to keep saying must be loving watching Arsenal matches at the moment. Of course the beauty of football is that it does ensure those who fall for it’s charms discover every single emotion known to man, and then some. But in ninety minutes? I don’t mind confessing at one point I wondered if my curry-inspired indigestion wasn’t something more sinister.
Let’s start with the glorious positives. We did contribute to a proper toe-to-toe slugfest of a game, and looked to have crawled off the ropes to snatch a sensational victory. Olivier Giroud is coming very close to looking the complete centre-forward. Menacing in the air and a fine touch on the deck, he also put in a shift chasing lost causes and keeping Reina on his toes. The header that got us back in it tonight was the least he deserved, and but for a vital touch from Agger he would have won the game with a near post tap in.
Theo Walcott may have scored the equaliser, but he will doubtless acknowledge the part played by Giroud with the perfect set-up. That moment proved to be the culmination of an astonishing performance to rescue something from the position that the back five had put us in. I didn’t realise the Chuckle Brothers family had become so extended. As much as there were plus points to take from the evening we cannot ignore the shambolic defending that gave Liverpool a two goal start, and almost gifted them the last laugh into the bargain.
We have to give Liverpool some credit for the pressure they created with their early pressing. I thought their first-half performance was the most ambitious and impressive they have given at the Grove. Suarez may be a despicable individual, but as we saw tonight he can also be a wonderful footballer. However even he will be smiling inwardly tonight at his good fortune for the early opener. From the moment Bacary Sagna did his impression of a new born foal the Arsenal defence produced a collective series of errors that defied belief.
In the second-half a near identical farce unfolded on our left flank, by which time the only defender not to have completely messed up, Kieran Gibbs, had succumbed to yet another injury. The dreaded ‘three weeks out’ prognosis will have done little to calm those who feast on the many shortcomings of his replacement. I kind of feel sorry for Andre Santos now. Called on so seldom he has no sort of form or fitness to help him when he is thrust into the spotlight, very clearly an increasingly round peg in a square hole.
After the whistle there came news that Norwich and Reading had ensured our neighbours had not got further ahead of us. Of course if your glass is half-empty that can also be quite rightly interpreted as us missing an opportunity to close the gap on them. How many more chances will we get? Once again a nervous and tetchy closing few months lie in wait. Here come more of those aforementioned emotions.
I obviously don’t know what is in store for the next twenty-four hours and I don’t intend to provoke that debate here. We all know what the various forums and social media sites will be like tomorrow. Fortunately I have a busy day to distract me, and with that in mind I should consider winding down with a fine malt. Don’t forget to pop back in tomorrow (Thursday) evening for the second part of BtM’s guest post, unless of course I have instead to review a raft of super quality deadline day signings. Yeah right…
G’night for now, ‘holics.
304 Responses to “Laugh Or Cry? You Decide”
Not crying.
But serially frustrated.
Drinks for everyone in the bar!
oh
Great report, Holic – as always.
So what to say from the perspective of this Swede then?
On the one hand, I am pleased that every player (yes, even Santos even though he was pretty crap as usual) at least tried their best.
Coming back from 2-0 down to earn a point was well done.
But on the other, this was a game we should have won by a handsome margin. The defending for both goals was… well, I struggle to find words for it. Vermaelen, how about not kicking the air next time? Sagna, how about not sitting down on your arse? Mertesacker, how about going into the challenge instead of just sticking out a leg towards nowhere in particular? Ramsey almost saved the situation and the bounce off Santos was unfortunate, but it should never have got that far. Even Szczesny was pretty crap today, which really hurts to say because I am a huge fan of his.
Do we need to strenghten? Of course we do. Any team that isn’t running away with the title needs to. Does Arsene understand this? Of course he does. Why haven’t we strenghtened? Well I don’t fucking know. All I know is that for every point we drop, I want to climb ever higher up on that barricade and wave the colours. Giving up is not for me. But that does not preclude me from asking questions, I would very much like to know why certain decisions are made.
Ah, fuck it. I am a bit drunk now and I have to be off to bed so no time to do any substantial back-drinking either. The world will not end if we miss out on CL qualification for next season, but emotions are running rather high at the moment so if I keep going I’ll probably say something I’ll feel embarrassed about tomorrow so I better pack it in right now π
One who will steady the back four instead of messing about with backheels and trying to beat players inside his own box, and we’d improve defensively.
Then we can think about the rest of the defence.
very clearly an increasingly round peg in a square hole. On top of that he has the positional sense of a horse in a Tesco suppliers abattoir.
That made me chuckle π
I am with Zico. Especially if he is buying.
The ‘keeper is young, learning, and will have nights like tonight. It is called gaining experience.
I wish I could say the same about a couple of the older players just in front of him.
Sadly tonight was definitely 2 points dropped.
The second bit had to go Chippy. It was out, then in, then out again. I fucked up thinking it was acceptable in a blog like this. π
I’ll accept the drink but decline further comment of the game. Must have written at least a novel about my opinions at the back end of the previous blog. Back drink if anyone is interested. It’s kind of spread out over ten posts or so…
Sleep tight, and cheers for your opinions Steve. Always nice to have to have someone you have to try to put your feelings into words for. Absolutely respect your opinion and agree more than I care to admit at times, even if I won’t admit it!
Wenger. Please use your subs in games we are trying to win with players that had a hard time breathing left alone running during the last 15 minutes of the game. You dont dare thats the problem. The gutless spineless Mertesecker jumped up in the air with his ass facing Suarez when he scored the first after Sagna forgot his studs and blind and as a bat Vermelen miss kicked ball number 50 this season. This guy cant be captain not even on my pubteam. Gibbs finally got injured once again. A young men in a an old mens body. Santos is a living testament that Wenger dont needs to spend any of the 80 millions he has available. Wenger waits as long as possible to strengthen our team that has won one league game this year. You are so blind to your own faults it hurts Arsene.
Now Santos getting abused on Twitter. I swear, sometimes, this world is too much to bear.
We should have won that game.
Bloody comedy defending.
Jonas
Lay off Gibbs FFS. That was pathetic
Another loose against the inferiior club, how many moore before we get rid of the clowna nd the other clown
Norris. Gibbs has to be the most injury prone young player in the nation. He is still one of the better defenders we have on our team but that is not much to bragg about
With all due respect Jonas, that gutless spineless Mertesacker has been our best defender by some distance this season.
Show a bit of common please.
Trolls be trollin’.
Quick, someone start a run of puns.
JonaJ is spelled the same backward
This is the sign
Holic,
Haha it had me in stitches π Don’t know how you do it mate but the reports are always bang on the money, Me id be throwing my toys out the pram then the laptop out the window – Beer for all please squire I’m of to bed !!
Technically Holic, One’s glass is never half empty π And we do have talented, young reinforcements waiting in the wings. Just itchin to get a chance. Your call Arsene. And if I was at one of our games, and someone booed any of our players…well let’s just say they’d be really sorry π
What makes Man Utd 21 points (and counting) better than us?
Well summed up ‘holic.
I stand by my original opinion that I thought we put in a decent shift, there was abso0lutly nothing wrong with our forward play,some of our passing and interchange play was vintage Arsenal and how about those counters? We almost scored twice from corners….. Their corners.
I like Giroud a good, strong, honest CF, he has to stay in the team, with a good run under his belt he’ll only get better. Theo is also getting close to the player he thinks he is, it’s great to watch. His pace is electric and he is starting to couple it with some decent decision making and finishing. Long may it continue. The downside of this is that AW will probably think the same so bringing in a striker will probably not be in his thinking.
Jack was amazing,what a player he could be, he ghosts past players like they’re not there. Ramsey tried hard and Santi contributed.
As for the back five, well, how can we possibly defend them (boom boom) after a performance like that? The individual errors are costing us big time and now one of the better ones is gone into the Bermuda Triangle that is the “3 week lay off”. I’m not going to waste my time getting angry at his replacement, I don’t see the point. It’s been painfully obvious that he is not good enough for quite a while and he doesn’t pick himself does he? I didn’t very much like the reception he got when he entered the fray, I understand it though.
It’s no mean feat to come back fromtwo goals down with less then half an hour on the clock and we shoud be delighted that we did, BUT the way we gave away the goals make this feel more like two points lost then a point saved.
So what that the Chavs and the Spuds drew. Everton won didn’t they, so we lost points on a rival for fourth however we try to dice it.
Still, more of the same qua effort, more time on the training game kicking out the defencive problems, get Tim’s Nan in for left back and maybe we can still turn things around.
Good write up Holic – very fair. Good post also from Lars.
I see we have a few members of the brains trust in tonight, positively creaming themselves at the opportunity to bitch and moan and slag off the players.
If you honestly think the keeper is our biggest problem then I can only conclude you started watching the Arsenal this week.
Our defending is beyond a joke; and Santos is not a square peg in a round hole he is a player who should not be anywhere near consideration for any Premier League team-he makes Armand Traore look like Paulo Maldini by comparison.Whether anyone believes that AKB it is absolutely impossible to see what it is that he see’s in a left-back who has no positional sense,can’t tackle,has no speed and who looks to be carrying too much weight.That said both Sagna and Vermaelen look to be pale shadows of last season and although Mertesacker has an understanding of defensive requirement,his body is often found wanting-he was never the answer and never will be!
If our revered Manager believes that this shower is impossible to improve upon then I suggest he hands over a proportion of his Β£7m salary to someone else who has a better idea of how to find better players and what this actually means!!!
Mertesecker is the softest centerback we have had since Igor the great Stepanov player here. He does not win header at 6Β΄6. He is usually 6 inch taller then anybody in the box and has still managed only one goal. He has no pace and he has no heart or balls. Jordan Henderson who is as skilfull as a tree went past him like 7 year old boy and in the first goal you should look at what he does when Suarez shoots the ball and think back maybe what Tony Adams or Keown or Campbell would have done in his shoes. We need four 2 new centerback,left back,goalie and stopper in the middle of the park
Played ‘h – tough call.
In other news – some papers reporting that God’s second coming to The Arse is imminentish; apparently he’s replacing the great Chippy. (We may yet get even better going forward, going forward. Won’t mention the d at the mo word though.)
Up The Arse!
Teamwork, Belief, Will to win, Strategy, Game Plan, Decision making, Squad depth, Better Players, And I hate the Cnut but a Top Manager!
Very hard game to assess as at 2-0 we would have bitten anyone’s hand off if offered a draw but when you equalise with that long to go you hope you can win. The first goal will be etched in our nightmares forever. Whether Bouldy isn’t given licence to organise the defence or even if he is the plain fact is we are so badly organised,lack someone to break up attacks in front of the Back four and seem to have no- pen organising at the back.
Two bits of news tonight are that Wenger is apparently attempting to sign a defender tomorrow. Maybe he needed MBiwa who went to Newcastle. On a really optimistic note there is a story in the Guardian that Dennis Bergkamp may return to run our youth set up. Now that would be a positive thing! Dennis ( unless he is able to fly) can’t progress much further as the team flies from Luton to Norwich nowadays but what an influence to have around the club.
Oops – “won’t mention the d word at the mo though.” (Blimey that last sentence in me last post was all over the place – a bit like an Arsenal defence – doh!)
Arsenal’s defending is so pitiful. Wenger has had years to sort it out. If it hasn’t improved in all his years, I don’t see it happening anytime soon. His best line of defence is to simply to out-score the opposition. i would say 90% of Arsenal goals conceded this season have either been soft or errors. Nothing spectacular. How can a defence of experienced internationals be so bad.
Sad thing is that even when Arsenal do win I’m rarely happy because I still see basic defending errors that always leave me feeling numb and ill. And deep down the reality of knowing that we will never win anything with such poor defending.
Not looking forward to Bayern Munich π
Good evening, all.
Very well balanced post, Guv, thank you very much.
Dr Z, Thanks for the drink, kind sir.
Lars, nice observations and thanks for not allowing emotions get in the way of your fine judgement.
I see the trolls are out in full force, thanks too for not disappointing you sily w*nkers!
From the last set of drinks,
I’m with, Homer, Nurse Abb, Toby and OxonGooner.
Goodnight, all.
Where are you when
Where are you when
When are you when we play well?
Loving some of this stuff. Even when Arsenal win, you’re rarely happy? Brilliant. Yeah – I fucking hate it when we win too, bollocks isn’t it.
one last point. no use blaming Santos for his short comings. Wenger purchased him, and decided to pay him handsomely, knowing full well that Gibbs had never played more than 10 games without picking up an injury. Wenger really should have bought a decent backup of ‘top quality’
I wonder if he asked Beckham for a signed shirt π
Oh Cent, thank god you’re here! π Now did someone mention Paulo Maldini π And Andrew, I’m so looking forward to Bayern. π Like it or not fellas, we’re still in the fight π
Evening Nurse…whether your glass is half empty or half full, it still takes the same amount of Guinness to fill it up.
Ollie G filled my glass up some months ago…he is going to be a fine player and the boy Theo is also doing the biz.
Like you I detest booing of our players…..Santos may be pretty crap at the moment but he is our player. The pity was he had some form last season before he was injured playing in Athens against Olympiakos and that seems to have deserted him. If he stays in the team, we can only hope he regains it.
Spot on Holic.
Just back in from The Emirates.
I actually also feel sorry for Santos. He did some decent work going forwards for someone who has barely played. He started wrong side of Henderson on Liverpool’s second and at least tried to get back at him. But five defenders failed to get back at him – not just Santos – Vermaelen threw himself along the ground and completely missed the ball.
Szczesny, unfortunately, decided to treat us to his rather excellent impersonation of Our Pal Al tonight, and could easily have cost us another two goals.
The real issue with the defence though, is the positioning of the whole unit which is constantly pulled out of place by the lack of a proper defensive midfielder.
Which leads to a comment re ‘cdoyles’ drink in the previous set.
I don’t agree that we don’t play with a proper DM because it doesn’t belong in our system and is called a ‘pivote’ role – a link between defence and attack. I think that is just finding a justification for a serious shortcoming.
A DM does not have to be a destroyer. He simply needs to have a defensive instinct, to sense danger and snuff it out, to track runners and fill spaces that opposition attackers can run into.
And he has to be content to do it without a constant need to bomb forward into attack, leaving his territory deserted.
We don’t play with a proper DM because we haven’t got one.
The shambles that is our back four is now partly the result of not having any such defensive midfielder, and partly the loss of confidence that results from the continuing shambles.
I believe that’s what you call a vicious circle.
On the balance of play, we should have won that game comfortably tonight.
With the panic stations that constantly break out in our back five, we could easily have lost it 2-4.
Zico – “our defence is like the Keystone Cops meet The Marx Brothers”.
Nah, sorry. They were funny.
H2H knows.
No show again for most of the first half β¦ and not enough bar about ten minutes in the second. Once again we had more than twice their attempts on goal for the same result. Frustrating.
They also had the run of the ball when it mattered β¦ their second for example, it just had to run clear for the tap-in didn’t it! If the same had happened for Giroud we could have had four. Not to criticise le garcon though β¦ five goals in three games is it now? Thatβs Villa-esque and then some. We also saw the good and bad of Walcott. One thunderous goal and a couple of pathetic pokes when it would have been easier to slide to Giroud for a tap-in.
Points dropped by Totteringham and Chelski eased the pain a bit β how come we can never win when the gap is there to be narrowed? β¦ urghhh β but Everton donβt oblige us. Please SOMEone buy Fellaini and Baines before tomorrow! Very nice if it were us, but that would be Everton committing 4th place suicide!
I thought Santos played with enthusiasm, and no catastrophes to lay at his door … but why not Koscielny for Gibbs, with he or TV to LB?
Oskar
Hey U Play, Nice drink. Andre wasn’t puffing tonite, at least. Still believe he has goals in him. You know what I find quite intriguing is that earlier in the season we had a whole big discussion on our youngsters in the reserves. Everyone, including the barman, had their say π The general consensus was that it was unfortunate that most of them would never get their chance to be promoted π Well now is the perfect opportunity to address that ! π
Top stuff from the front Trev, ta.
Andrew, i believe Gibbs played 14 consecutive leagues games towards the end of last season but hey, never let the facts get in the way of a good moan.
Someone said above that Wenger’s tactics of defending is to outscore our opponents, well, sorry to break it to you but United top the league today because that’s exactly what they have been doing this season.
H2H,
“Jack was amazing, what a player he could be”.
Sorry mate, but wrong.
What a player he IS. Fan. Tas. Tic.
Abb,
I have already said I actually feel sorry for Santos.
He is not a 4-3-3 style full back. If anything he is a wing back. That is not his fault.
I don’t know the reason for his lack of fitness but, trust me, it has gone.
He did not play the full 90 minutes tonight, but 10 minutes from the end he was absolutely gasping for breath. It looked a huge effort just to run.
It all happened, just like that, right in front of me.
I don’t want the fella to fail – I loved him last season. But he is not fit and he is going to get terribly exposed. And we will pay for it.
Abb, if Santos is hounded out of the team by the crowd, then one of the “yoofs” may get their chance. Unfortunately the most likely replacements are either injured or coming back from injury.
Excellent report Trev….you’ve hit the spot as far as this team needs a proper defensive minded midfielder…someone with whom it is their natural game and assists the defence as a matter of course Putting more attack minded players in that position however well they play, they miss they extra element that can make the difference.
Right bed time calls…wishing you night birds a good evening.
Cheers AL.
Oxon,
Apology not required but accepted anyway.
Ovaltine on the bar. To the single malt fans disgust. π
Trev, You were there. Valid critique. I don’t want to fret over the possibility of him collapsing on the field ( a real worry I had the other day, watching him).
Our young keeper loves to do the talking. Everytime he talks “big” at the interviews before the important games….he flopps it between the sticks the folloving day. Do that bloody talking in the goal Mr. Szchezsny!
Top shelf to Trev. On the money sir.
We have no defensive midfielder. Haven’t had for 5 years. It works fine when we are attacking. When we’re defending we’re all at sea.
Gilberto – Where art thou?
That’s a Proper Uncle Charlie of a question @21.
If you want to know the answer – The View From Auchterchoochty Part 2 is a must read.
I will, sadly, be unable to read it at the time of issue. Thursday night is Highland Dancing night. The kilt, appropriate lack of tackle attire, a very beautiful, willing partner – and at the end of the night – on a certain promise. Try it – might raise you from the depths. π
Thursday night is shopping night for me, sorry.
Oskar
Just arrived home form the Grove. It was a funny old night. Itβs obviously been highlighted by many but yet again, further errors at the back. At times aI sit in total astonishment at some of the stuff we witness. The Liverpool first started with a Sagna slip. This is followed by a Tommy V air shot and the a cute little back heel sets up Suarez. We then pressed and pressed and I thought we were unlucky not to at least pull one back.
Second half started in the same fashion. Then, just as we really start to press somehow we allow the Messiesque Jordon Henderson to weave his magic and dance around our entire defence to score the second. Well he is so prolific it had to happen.
The Arsenal fight back began. To counter act the massive defensive negative I did think there were several positives going forward. Giroud may not be blessed with great pace. But his work rate is fantastic. He is not afraid to battle and fight and thoroughly deserved his goal. The way Theo took his goal was also worth celebrating. The crowd that had generally been good all night were now in full voice. Sadly the defensive cocks meant that it was only one point gained instead of all three.
One point I would like to make. With 5 minutes to go another Arsenal break resulted in a corner. All I could see was Jamie Carragher shouting at players. Pointing out mistakes, telling players exactly what he though. Organising for the corner and generally running the whole show. That for me is something that is a big void that we have to fill. The communication at times between the back 4 is just non existent. We lack leaders at times when they are really needed.
All in all a very frustrating night indeed. The 3 points were there for the taking and our ineptitude saw us drop 2.
Thatβs it for me. I have been up for nearly 18 hours now and like Shane Warne and Hugh Grant before him I have to he up early in the morning. I will sit and wait for the normal deadline day bollocks and then read the second part of the BTM epic. Be warned my kilted friend, if it is controversial you are getting both barrels. I am just about in the right frame of mind for a good old fashioned dust up.
Onwards and upwards.
Definitely two points dropped against an inept team from Merseyside. Horrific defending. Laugh or cry? How do you do the latter. Never tried that. Is it any good for anything?
Apologies holic, Where are my manners? Top report old chap.
I invariably enjoy your reports “live from the stadium” Steve. Excellent stuff.
Both barrels, eh? Don’t tell Wolfie – you’ll have him salivating. π
Oskar,
Don’t make a Dog’ breakfast of your evening. Record the post and watch it on tape. You know it makes sense.
If you don’t, Steve T’s heavy artillery won’t rattle your chain, make you bark, howl and raise your hind leg for relief π
Barrels of 6X needed tonight after that….. Wolfie can get his own.
How much we missed Arteta. He would have offered some protection and help the back four retain its shape.
Ok, Remember Santi about to take the corner, as he positioned the ball, the ref moved it. Then as soon as the ref turned his back, Santi moved the ball back to where he wanted it? Smile worthy π Nite everyone π
Yeah, he’s young and learning but I’d rather he was doing it somewhere else and he can come back when he is ready. His is the one position in the team that is under no threat at all and it shows.
Meanwhile, Wenger is apparently going to panic and try to get a left back tomorrow because Gibbs is out, when he’s had months to realise Santos is not up to it and plan for a purchase. This a few days after mocking January shopping as…. panic buying.
I heard the other day scezney stating that our defence our not to blame.
they are directly to blame and make amateur mistakes every time their is any pressure.
sczezney is starting to show that he chokes under pressure and 90% of the time makes poor judgement as was shown tonight on numerous occasions.
our defence is an absolute shambles and I feel sorry for the forwards and midfield who keep providing the opportunities for us to win.
i have always supported wenger but i am now sadly not a believer anymore. too many of the same mistakes with no solutions or improvements.
Bah. I hate to get upset with a draw, but once again we literally shot ourselves….. In the head!
Always playing the difficult ball and always trying to play the ball out from the back caught us ( yet again) with our pants down. Sometimes just clearing the ball so that you can reset and get in position is better than trying a dramatic ball.
Another sputter stutter in what has become a frustrating season.
Bring on the storcs. I’m sure they will play for yet another tie.
Fair report ‘holic.
Disappointing result but once again the potential for greatness is certainly there for all to see!
Toby @432 in the previous drinks pretty much hits the nail on the head and I’m pretty encouraged by this side.
Gibbs is a big loss for 3 weeks with Bayern Munich on the horizon and I can now foresee ArsenΓ© signing a wing back along with David Villa & DiamΓ© on TDD.
Top 3, OG12 & TW14 30+ goals, and one trophy!
Victoria Concordia Crescit. COYBG!
Trev @32,
Agree with most of what you say from the field; not about the Keystone Cops and Marx Brothers though. π
BtM @49,
Heh π
We have been changing players, trying to get results, for 8 years. Why not thinking about changing the manager ? If not now, then we have to make a deadline now. 10 years without trophy? 12, …20 years? For those who are In Arsene We Trust,,, they have to answer this question soon or later.
If DB10 is really coming back, it is really good news !!! I would like him to replace Wenger.
That God we still have the “super super quality” of Santos.
“Thank”, Obviously.
Jack was friggin’ awesome ,bythe way.
Say what, BtM (#59)?? Can you translate when the scotch has worn off please, I can’t make head or tail…
Btw, I’m not actually a dog so raising my leg might alarm anyone in the vicinity. Oskar is my dog, a Schnauzer, I borrow the moniker to conceal my true identity. ‘Oskar’ means ‘the magnificent one’ in Schnauzer … so he tells me anyway.
Absolutely sweltering here in NZ, in the high 20Cs for ages now. I thought you’d like to know that. π
Oskar
Still 17 pence in the old a/c — lets splash the cash and invest in an OAP left back, or perhaps a foetus with potential.
Yes Oskar fine indeed here in Auckland — another dip in the pool for me. Was in Sydney last week — a stinking 46C!
BTM’s unyielding optimism a lesson to us all — can you buy it? – is it labelled “Laphroig”?
Zico β βour defence is like the Keystone Cops meet The Marx Brothersβ.
Nah, sorry. They were funny.
Heh, true Trev.
Thanks for the report Steve T. It was a very frustrating game in front of the telly too.
Good point about Carragher too. BFG (sometimes hailed as our organiser at the back) seems to be struggling a bit at the moment too.
And as ‘holic pointed out, shame about that Agger touch (there were many people too ready to slag off Giroud for that miss).
And morning all.
@SteveT: So, you’ll be letting BtM have both barrels will you? I hope you keep some for me, or am I the second choice target if he’s not controversial? π
Thanks for the Ovaltine, Trev. I hope you’ll understand if I leave it on the bar for a few hours.
My entire knowledge of last night’s game comes from gniknird, so i’m disappointed that we didn’t win, but pleased that we didn’t lose.
I’m happy to think all our remaining matches (bar ManU) are winnable. I don’t believe we WILL win them all, but there is only one match left that I think we’re more likely to lose than win.
COYG
We were fine going forward and did n’t look too bad when pressing high up the pitch. Something just goes spectacularly wrong every time the opposition cross into our half in possession of the football.
Its like the klaxons sound – ‘Red Alert! Red Alert!’ and the whole fucking place goes into a mass panic. Normally solid, dependable individuals turn into clowns, others disappear all together and those that are left just stand there, mouthing – ‘what the fuck!’.
We’ve got to sort it out, although I have no idea how. We’re very unlikely to go through games with 100% possession, which at the moment would seem to be the only way to avoid conceeding crap goals every time.
Hello Esso. Quite true. It’s baffling.
Morning all,Laugh or cry?i found myself laughing watching at times last night it’s almost as if u know its going to happen,car crash defending.one or two of them need to be dropped for a couple of games,if you play that badly for any team you get benched,positives were jack and girou,excellent again.
Re: our defensive woes, I think a big step in the right direction would be to play a proper, specialised, defensive midfielder.
I get that not many of the top clubs use a player of this type these days, but they can afford not to because their defences can hack the pressure. Ours, seemingly, cannot. If pressed they go to bits.
Either that or at least play a double pivot, as per the Swansea game, and let Jack push up.
I should add that I thought Ramsey did well last night.
The above wouldn’t nec solve the hideous individual errors we saw last night, but given that those were committed by virtually the entire back five I think that’s an issue that only extra training, a severe bollocking and a reminder to fucking concentrate are likely to resolve. I hope to never again see defending from our lads like that which lead to their first goal. Utterly inexplicable stuff.
I coach basketball. All championsships teams in any ball team sports have one thing in common. Good solid defense. Offense sells tickets but defense wins games and championship. Good defense also starts offense and fast breaks. Wenger when are you going to wake up to this matter.Look at all the championship teams in England in the past.The all had good goalkeepers and very good centerbacks. Where are yours ?
You are one of the highest paid manager in the buisness. If you cant find top class defeneders and goalkeepers then resign no later then today. You have fear written all over your face when we play and that is probably what is making our poor defense even more nervous.
Have we bought anyone yet?
Snir, help me out here.
π
Why don’t we get George Graham in for two days a week to sort out the defence? I can think of worse people.
Steve T…seriously….are you on the lash at this time of the morning
I think even Snir will struggle with any news today. π
A solid DM aka Manu Petit style (but injury free) will suit me.
…will commence at 7pm UK time.
Thank you.
Ever noticed how the Arsenal team became schizophrenic ever since I appeared on the drinks’ scene?
I blame Andy Goram. The other one.
Jesus wept, just watched the highlights. Positives first.
We scored from a set piece! Peachy delivery into the danger area and an unstoppable header from the HFB. Plus a tasty layoff to Theo, looks like he can score from almost anywhere at the mo.
However. F*ck me the defending was comedy, Henderson literally took on the entire defence and came up smiling. The perennial problem of defending like partially sighted people suffering from labyrinthitis just doesn’t go away – if anything, our defending gets funnier every single season!
By the way, that’s the second time this season Vermaelen has taken a wild, panicky hack at the ball and kicked air (the other one was the Scum Utd game 2 minutes in). Are they taught not to learn from their mistakes or something?
Never ever underestimate the power of the Snir. He was born for days like this. In fact they should re name it Snir Deadline Day.
Come on Snir my old mate. Rise and shine. Get the kettle on.
π
I don’t understand the red bar on Online Box Office these days.
In the past, you’d have it about 20 minutes before normal sale time.
There, I didn’t have it 2 minutes ago, and now I have it, but it’s the sort of length/delay that will probably STILL lead to a 20 minutes wait.
Really hope I get to Silver next season, unless I bite the bullet and go for the ST, but I’m still not convinced it’s a great deal for someone who will practically only attend weekend games.
Let’s play a game today.
We all agree we need to sign a new left back, right?
Well, let’s see (for the sake of experiment) if we can think of one who would be (a) available to sign today, (b) willing to come, (c) vaguely within our price range (let’s set a frankly generous Β£15m cap), and (d) good enough to play for Arsenal (accepting that “better than Santos” should not be the only benchmark).
Leighton Baines, for example, fails categories (a), probably (b) and most likely (c).
Genuinely interested to see if anyone can think of a viable candidate. I can’t, although obviously I don’t have a scouting network at my disposal (I rely largely on Snir for that).
Obviously the above doesn’t excuse our inactivity in the market, but I guess it provides some insight into why January might be a terrible time to do your shopping. We should have fixed these glaring problems back in the summer.
A man walks into a bar..
Snir Deadline Day is a biannual festival, taking place on the 31st of January and 31st of August each year.
It is customary for parttakers to not eat while it is happening. Drinks, on the other hand, have to be consumed in immoderate quantities.
Harry Redknapp opening the window of his Range Rover is a traditional sighting indicating that the feast has well and truly started.
Fake alert at 88 : it’s ‘Dicky’ Law these days π
His name is Richard if ur going to be anal about it π
I’m Andy Goram.
heh
heh was at 91 but could apply to 92 too π
Don’t be minding the mother ollie she gets tetchy on snir DD π
N7
A left back you say? Gael Clichy? Ashley Cole? Oh, that’s right. We developed them and then sold them……
Serious question. Why not offer 20 million for Baines? If we are that needy of a left back then why not?
Steve T @ 96
I agree that this is a problem of our own making. What I’m querying is our ability to resolve it this month.
Re: Baines – I’d love us to offer Β£20m for him. But I don’t think it would work. Why not? Three reasons:
(i) Baines apparently turned down a move to Man Utd in the summer and is in no hurry to leave;
(ii) Moyes fights tooth and nail to keep his best players. The only reason we got Arteta is that the player was willing to force his way out; and
(iii) Why would Everton sell? They’re above us in the table, they already appear to have some money to spend this month and Baines is one of their two best players. They may sell him for a big fee in the summer, but if he goes now then that’s their hopes of a top four finish absolutely shot down in flames.
I’d love it to happen, but I just don’t see it, even if we went for it all guns blazing.
Which is not to say that we SHOULDN’T go for it all guns blazing.
Just that this is a tough month to do business and there aren’t an abundance of sensible looking options in some of the areas we badly need to strengthen.
If we’re going to ask how we got into this mess in the first place I’d query whether it was really wise to pass on Verthongen back in August. He can play left back and would have left us a step further away from ever seeing Jonah Squillaci in an Arsenal shirt again. Obviously he’s damaged goods now.
I’ve heard too many times that Baines doesn’t want to move South. Don’t know how true that is.
Certainly worth a cheeky bid. And by ‘cheeky’, I mean substantial.
Boom
*Pulls shirt over head*
*Makes cheeky bid for Baines*
*Distracts Arsene while Bouldy takes a couple of hours with the defence*
*Is handsome and French*
Have to admit I’m a bit confused with your very 97 following your 87, it felt like it had a touch of the Goramitis. π
And well in at 100 (I haven’t lost my touch).
What’s that Ollie? You’d like to know why I don’t think we could sign Leighton Baines today?
Glad you asked. Well, there are three main reasons…
Great assist, by the way. Lovely, whipped free kick.
91 His ma prefers Richard but his wife prefers Dick. π
Well in N7 Gooner with Ollie the “assistmeister” on top form.
We have had 30 days to negotiate purchases and have a decent amount of cash in the bank, but we also have the “best squad ever” and “2 players for every position”. On the other hand “we will be very active in the transfer market”. Tumbleweed…………..
N7. For me it is all about ambition. How much ambition do we have as a club?
I will leave others to answer the above.
Trev @ 36 & 43:
Fabulous contributions Sir in relation to the absence of a proper DCM and the fitness of Mr Santos.
Mind if I canvas your opinion on someone else though, as someone who not only attended the game but as a sports physio as well:
Is it just me, or has Sagna noticeably lost pace ? Obviously, I only manage to view most games on TV, which never gives you the “whole picture” but it was something that really struck home with me last night. That pace that he once had to get down the line and also to re-cuperate position would seem to be gone from where I sat? I’d be curious and grateful to know your thoughts on that?
‘We have shown great quality and spirit’ Wengers post match words!
How incredible the man still thinks we have that especially at the back!
Anyway HAVE WE SIGNED ANYBODY YET? π
Sadly not yet π
As sheepishly mentioned on here before, some of my family are season ticket holders at QPR.
Their situation today is the mirror-image of ours. They are watching a clueless, eager-to-please owner hand an open chequebook to a bent, twitching spendaholic, with the result that they are about to commit to paying Christopher Samba (Christopher Samba!) 100k a week for 4 years.
They’re not idiots. They know full well where this is headed: Portsmouth all over again, except with a harder crash and burn. And they know that no one is going to feel any sympathy, because the club will have brought it on themselves.
As I watch them desperately praying that no further deadline day signings materialise (and particularly not David Bentley), I cannot help but think that somewhere between their clubs approach and my club’s approach there must be a happy medium.
When did football become so fucking irrational?
Steve T @ 107
I totally agree.
If it were down to me we’d have made a huge bid for Fellaini this month. Partly because I think he’d take us up a level. Partly because ti would tell the world we mean business again, and lift the support, the players and the club in general.
SKY saying AW in Spain trying to complete a deal for Villa. Apparently it has 4 bedrooms, its own private pool and parking for 3 cars. Close to all local amenities.
Just saying like.
π
N7
It’s been heading that way for quite some time now, and probably started around the time Abramovich got his filthy mitts on the bus stop in Fulham. I swear things felt a bit more ‘normal’ (I use the word advisedly) before then, but I can’t remember too well.
Since then, sugardaddyism has become rife in the modern game and the indiscriminate ejaculation of cash in every direction for small gains is soiling almost everyone.
I’m sure this has also pumped up player power, as middling-to-good players who get noticed by these premature buyers with bottomless pockets can force their way out of almost any contractual corner.
Meanwhile, the sheep (read: most of the football world) happily follow suit and contribute to the madness. Look at Milan, splurging Β£20m for Balotelli who, despite his obvious talent, is known to be a pain in the arse trouble maker and a liability when his blood’s up. It’s f*cking insane, one of these days football will eat itself.
heh.
Anyway, I don’t know about ‘ambition’ or not, but the always relevant question is the old Steve T classic: ‘Are we the best we can be?’.
At the moment, it’s hard to not think the answer is negative.
PS N7 – “a bent, twitching spendaholic” hahaha – elegantly and hilariously put! Respect.
Working from home today and a re-run of the game is on the telly at the moment. A few observations I have made from watching the second half again is that we fucking hammered Liverpool. Such a shame we gave away those stupid goals.
I also think that we are so annoyingly close to be a really good team. If we look at our last 6-7 or so games we have actually been quite good in attack. The problem is of course the defending which, as Arsene may have put it, is maybe a little bit the Keystone Cops. The Podolski-Giroud-Walcott trio is starting to gel and to be honest, if at this point I was offered the choice of having Cunt van Cuntie back or getting a really good defensive midfielder I’d take the midfielder any day of the week and twice on Sundays. We create chances and we score goals (we’ve only been shut out once since early December and that was with ten men for 80 minutes against Man City) but as we all can see we concede too much.
Other notes from the game: Gerrard could very well have walked for his lunge at Mertesacker. He had both feet well off the ground. I also thought, while watching the game yesterday, that Suarez played well for them but now that I see the replay he was, apart from one or two passes, actually quite shit. Yes, he did score a goal but his contribution to that goal was quite fortuitous. And David Brentan Rogers still looks and acts like a charicature of a football manager. I don’t give much for his tactics either, any manager can tell their team to roll it around in their own half and then occasionally hoof it long on the counter.
Oh well, back to work it is… drinks on the bar for everyone.
Also very accurate, Camberwell π
http://www.francefootball.fr/#!/news/2013/01/31/133351_kombouare-limoge.html
Sacked when top of the league in France, sack when 2nd in Saudi Arabia.
I think he should try relegation fodders.
Heh@113 π
Great report ‘H. How you manage to capture such a schizophrenic performance so perfectly so quickly after the event has me wondering whether it is you who is in fact this Bar’s Andy Goram.
Last night was just so Arsenal. We’ve all seen it a million times before. Comedy defending, tick. Hesitant, and at times dreadful goalkeeping, tick. A midfield taking no responsibility for defensive duties, tick. A second half performance that was played at a quicker and more urgent pace and bore no real relation to the first half, tick. Some breathtaking interchanges going forward, tick. Character to drag themselves off the floor and get back in the game, tick. Failure to finish off opponents when they’re on the ropes, tick. A great game of football, tick. Points dropped, tick.
The Good – Jack was absolutely outstanding, but that’s almost a given these days. Thought Theo was terrific last night for pretty much the whole game, rather than in just his usual bursts. Had the beating of Johnson for fun, scored a great goal and was unlucky with at least 3 other fine efforts. Giroud was excellent, second half especially, and there’s something about his goal celebrations (the intensity?) that has me laughing out loud. Podolski was always involved, just wish he’d use that sledgehammer of a shot a bit more often.
The Bad – Haven’t back-drunk yet, but I’m guessing it’s all already been said. The keeper’s two fine saves at the start and end of the game bookended an otherwise very poor performance from him. Risky, nervous, and at times downright stupid. He’ll learn … hopefully. The Big German’s performance marked a nadir in his performance levels which has been on the slide since his poor performance in the Cup in Wales. Looks like he needs a rest. His recent troubles are accentuated by the fact that he and the Captain fail to convince as a pair. Never have done. The lack of communication between the two is stark. Santi looked off the pace for much of the game, and exquisite footballer though he is, very little came off for him last night.
The Ugly – I won’t call Santos any names today for fear of offending SteveT’s sensibilities π . Just this once mind. When I saw him coming on, my heart plummeted to ground so fast, I’m sure it made a noise. I’ve seen some ropey players in my time at Highbury- Blockley, Matthews, Ceasar, Carter, Stepanovs to name just a few – and I’ve supported ’em all. They gave their best. I’m really struggling, however, to remember another footballer who is as ill-fitted for purpose as Santos. His lack of fitness is laid bare for all to see every time he steps on the pitch. God knows what Arsene sees in him, because for the life of me I can’t see it. God help us now that Gibbs is injured. Santos will cost us, of that I have no doubt. He did his best to chuck it all away in the last minute last night. We got away with it, as we did at Brighton. Only a matter of time before we don’t.
So then, a game that we should have won and might have lost, ends in a draw, a draw which we cannot really begrudge the visitors.
It’s all just so Arsenal. And it’s all so fucking tiring.
Ps – Forgot to mention. How the fuck did StevieeeeeeeeefuckingG stay on the pitch after that assault on Mertesacker? Cunt.
*Off for a backdrink and to await Snir’s arrival*
Joe @ 108
I’m no phsyician but it looks very like that to me.
Either he is not fully-fit or the impact of two leg breaks in a year has done for him.
Whether he was on the wane anyway before his second leg break (remember how Ibrahimacunt walted passed him in Italy?) is a point that could be argued.
His biggest problem is that as 99% of his attempts at crossing results in us losing possession, then we are immediately in disarray and at risk of a counter-attack.
And that is before you take into accounts his falling-over sickness from last night. π
I seem to be having trouble posting. Anyone else experiencing this?
Fair post, tabs, although last minute brainfade and obvious unfitness aside (admittedly, that’s, fittingly (heh) , a sizeable aside), Santos wasn’t so dreadful yesterday, I mean, less worse than against Santos.
Although to be specific, I was just baffled that Liverpool didn’t try to attack that side much. Having said, that, they hardly had the ball in the second half so didn’t have much of an opportunity to teach our left-side of defence.
Worried about Gibbs’ brittleness, just as he was hitting top form consistently π
CG – that’s a great summary of how we got in this mess.
Seriously: Chris Samba on 100k a week. Chris Samba!
A lot of us baulked at the idea of Theo earning that and he’s 23 years old, marketable and scoring goals for fun.
A quick round up of transfer speculation at lunch time:
A couple of dubious sources have us loaning Jenks to Stoke. I’m sure it’s bollocks, but I have to say that if that one comes to pass I will be swiftly departing the sunny side of the street, crossing the road, and taking up permanent resident on the dark side, where I will spend my time kicking puppies in the face and shouting abuse at passing cars. I love Jenks: I would rather have him humanely destroyed than send him to that den of filth and iniquity.
Elsewhere, Sportsmole (who they?) are running a great little story about Giroud’s sadness at having to give up skiing (which I bet he was great at, like everything else).
I have to say that I love the HFB. He’s been a real beacon this season and we got him for a fraction of a Samba, which is the unit of measurement I’m going to use for football from here on in. I believe Edinson Cavani is available for somewhere just under 2 Sambas, which sounds an absolute bargain.
Great post Tabs btw – totally sums the game up.
Sagna Koscielny and Giroud in France squad for next week’s friendly.
No Diaby this time, he can have a rest.
Of course I wish I could ‘naturally’ add Capoue to the list π
Aha – think the site didn’t like the link to the OG skiing story. Posting works now.
Cheers Steve T. – great stuff from the front and the heart, as per.
Nice one tabs – schizophrenic is most certainly what we are right now.
And if anyone missed this mighty offering from Gunnerblog yesterdee (and even if you didn’t) it’s well worth a look – on this most sacred and significant of St. Snir days…
http://youtu.be/h_f1N51Gv9c
True story. After reading the drinks, I found myself looking for the ‘Favorite’ button to click ! Oh Twitter, what have you done to me π
*waltzed*
*account*
Mr tabs @ 121
I think you will find all of that summarised in drink # 1 π
Heh, have just seen a retweet from Piers Morgan
‘So I can’t criticise Santos, @arseblog, but you can demand all our players get eaten by a velociraptor? Don’t be such a ridiculous hypocrite’.
Is he really that stupid?
@ Ollie
‘blogs response is even better:
“VELOCIRAPTORS AREN’T REAL”.
Love it.
Breaking news. Both Gibbs and Diaby have just been seen arriving at the ground for a medical????
Just saying like.
π
Ollie 132 ….even more so.
Dr Z to be fair to Tabs, when you are a surreptitious hack for the Daily Phail, you have a reputation to maintain π
Oh yes Ollie, he most certainly is. Agree with him about gun control, but that’s about it.
Ollie 132 ….even more so.
Dr Z to be fair to Tabs, when you are a surreptitious hack for the Daily Phail, you have a reputation (job) to maintain π
Whoops..sorry for double posting.
Ollie – cheers
ST – seriously?
That would make them “not dissimilar from players joining who have never played for the club before”, or in plain Arsenespeak, Like A New Signing!
Ha! N7 133, didn’t see the reply (the retweet was from 13h ago it seems), but that was exactly my reaction to the Morgan tweet π
Lars, H2H, Trev, SteveT , Esso, N7 – Usual great work fellas.
Hehs @Chippy, KowChinBaz and Dick Law’s ma π
N7@87 – Your game mate, I’m glad that you set the bar higher than “better than Santos”, otherwise I think my answer would have been “just about anyone under the age of 32”.
N7 (again) @111 – Superb post. QPR are an accident waiting to happen, and it’s all so bleeding obvious. ‘Arry in the midst of it all, who’d have thunk it.
As for the booing of Santos, I don’t agree with it as I have said many times on here, and would never do it myself. It’s all so counter-productive, it ain’t gonna make him play any better is it. Do I feel sorry for him? Not in the slightest. He has brought it all on himself. He is not untalented, we saw glimpses of it last season. He is abusing his own talent, and that is never worthy of sympathy.
Toodle-pip, tally ho and a buzz, buzz buzz.
Tabs and Lars,
Thank heavens you noticed it too, I thought I was the only one, at the time I posted this;
341Holloway2Holland
Gerard you scally cunt.
It go no reaction so I thought maybe I’d saw it wrong, but it looked real bad to me.
==
Trev, great report from the frontline and I bow to your superior knowledge when refering to LJW.
==
N7, the goings on at QPR simply beggar belief.
==
Joe, even Stevie Wonder can see that Sagna’s pace has gone.
==
Piers Morgan is living proof that Dinosaur DNA still walks among us, him being a direct descendant of the biggest twats to walk the earth, the Vaginasaurusrex.
Ollie@124 – Fair point Ollster, but I don’t think your setting the bar too high there! It’s not his talent I’m having a go at. Completely a fitness issue for me. As you say, gutted about Gibbs.
N7 and AL – Thanks for the kind ones fellas. That Gunnerblog song just gets better and better AL.
N7 – Massive heh at the idea that transfers should now be measured in “Sambas” π
Dr Z @121 Haha, indeed! π
Ups@135 – Quite right π
Agree with the prognosis given by Dr Z and Joe re Sagna.
Massive fucking heh at Blogs schooling that bellsniff Morgan.
Where the fuck is Snir?
From last night.
The Good…….. Ollie G, LJW, Theo and Rambo with the exception of his back heel to suarez.
The Bad…….. Anyone who had in their brief that they had defensive duties.
The Ugly……… Tabs.
Just saying.
π
Haha, fuck off handsome! π
145 probably 20 posters on here thinking how have I upset Tabs π
Dear All,
A sense of perspective please. While our defending left an awful lot to be desired, Suarez goal was a deflection which Scsz had covered and Hendersons goal was a freak double bounce off two of our defenders which could have gone anywhere but landed at his feet.
Ollie,
Speak to me on Saturday about a season ticket.
The chap next to me is seriously considering not going next season ‘cos he can’t afford it at the moment. He doesn’t want to lose the ticket though, and does want to go to some games.
I would also love to use it sometimes for my daughter, so there may well be an arrangement to agree on there.
I have the ticket for you on Saturday too.
Gateshead-born striker Danny Graham has got his dream move back to the north-east. Sunderland have completed the signing of the striker from Swansea for Β£5m. He’s a Newcastle fan
So a Newcastle fan signs for Sunderland. Define ‘dream’, please….
Ups π
The problems with Santos, as it is morefold, is not only that he is positionaly inept and not that good, things that can be worked on – if willing, he is overweight and clearly unfit which is nowadays completly unexceptable for an extreamly highly paid “athlete”.
Couple that with the shirt swaping debacle with the new designated Public Enemy Number One at HALF FRIGGIN’ TIME of a game in which Skunky had just scored against us, in full view of the cameras and TTF, then really he should of been shipped out for the good of everyone.
Football fans are a fickle bunch, I’ve experienced a rollar coaster of opinions about Feo, just this season ranging from I hope he stays to He’s not that great to we need him to stay to Meh if he goes to wow he’s improving. But Theo, for all his faults is fit for task. ‘
Fans will always need a scapegoat and I’m afraid that no matter what he does in the future, Santos, has crossed the point of no return, to get back into the fans hearts. The, have a great game you guys and cuddly maverick days are gone, vanished like pies from Sam Allydice’s dinner trough. Too many straws have broken the camels back and he now the ship of the desert lays in traction while his missus and kids pray by his bedside that maybe he’ll one day be able to walk again. It’s too late, even if’s injected with a large dose of Paulo Maldini super serum I still don’t see him being accepted by the Arsenal faithful, sad but true I’m afraid.
Heh Ollie.
Most people from there make it their life ‘s goal to get out…
Yet he wants to go back, what a plank. π
The good, the bad and the ugly?
Wasn’t that Man Citeh’s forward line?
(Aguero, Baloteli and Tevez)
haha Steve T @ 144.
Thanks also and to Trev, I’ll see you on Saturday.
Multiple Hehs H2H π
Jug of Bloody Mary’s on the Bar. Help yourself to a straw! π
I prospectively feel for Gervinho. If he carries on the ACN the way he’s started, most general football people will acknowledge that there is a very good player there.
He’ll come back here, and I suspect a lot of fans who won’t have followed any of the ACN (not saying the level there is great, it isn’t, but still) and will not even start considering his problem may not be skills….
Late tuppences from the front line….
Their first went-in. I shouted, I cursed. I knew it wouldn’t end that way.
We failed to convert some ‘sitters’ in the first half. I started to think this just wasn’t going to be our night.
Gibbs went off injured, replaced by Santos. I wondered how Arsene would defend (heh) his inactivity in the TW for the rest of the season. I felt sure that the muted boos were aimed more at Arsene than Andre.
I fumed at Sagna’s apparent ‘couldn’t give a cr*p’ attitude towards his employers.
Half-time arrived. The only joy in the footballing world was the news of the HT score at Norwich. It had come to this.
Their second went in. Along with my temporary neighbours for the night, I sat with head buried in hands.
I fumed some more at our braided Frenchman’s continued disinterest (that’s how it looked from Block 131).
Giroud nutted one in from a set piece. I SAT and clapped politely. I have NEVER reacted to a home goal like that before. I felt dirty and ashamed for being such a MisOG.
Theo belted in an absolute beauty of a team goal. I made up for my Sagna-like supporter’s performance for the first with the usual mental shouting and screaming with joy.
I thought that we might then go on to finish them off, I was wrong. The rub of the green was just not with us. The ref was a bit of a c*nt (again).
Final conclusions: 2 points dropped (again) to an inferior side (again). Luis Suarez is a nasty piece of work but a wonderful footballer – we all gasped at that sublime first-half cross-field ball belted casually with the outside of his boot to Sturridge who should’ve converted. LJW, Ramsey, Giroud & Theo all played for the shirt. EVERYTHING moving forwards was played through either Jack and/or Aaron. The defending of our team is worthy of a public enquiry.
Other than that, ‘Holic & Blogs have encapsulated pretty much everything for me π
Thanks to all for the kind words.
Only had time for a quick skim of the drinks and have to work again now.
Back for a proper read tonight.
Meanwhile,
Tabs, Arsenal schizophrenic ? I’m in two minds myself. π
Steve T, calling anyone ‘ugly’ ? Beggars belief ! π
Joe, the quickest answer to your Sagna question is that you have it about dead right.
In the recent rush of games he has looked to be struggling while sprinting. I haven’t studied his action but he generally seems laboured.
Two four month spells out is bound to have an effect in probably the most demanding position in a modern side. That’s why I find it so strange that he hasn’t been rotated since the latest comeback.
I don’t know if it is all down to tiredness but his crossing at the end of a run seems even worse than usual, which could be down to postural weakness.
Bang on TS.
Right, work.
Neil@147: I agree that both goals had an element of misfortune to them, but it should never have got to that point. Both goals sprang mainly from some amazingly inept defending.
tabs, we saw the same game as usual.
N7, QPR as the antithesis of what we are is a great example and they will crash and burn quite spectacularly in not too long and to find Harry Redknapp at the heart of it is not surprising at all. Such a shame Tottenham saw sense and sacked him before he had time to destroy them completely…
Lars @ #117
Very interesting.
We don’t agree on Suarez but your point re: our front three is spot on.
BTW, I’d have the Dutchman back in a heartbeat. Purple Conk knows that as long as he’s scoring more than his own keystone cops let in, and they consistently do both, he’s gonna win the league.
Football is ever so simple.
A returned drink on the bar for you.
TS: that outside of the foot pass was one of the few things he did well that I referred to, and as I said I thought he played well when I saw the game last night but on the replay I saw how he misplaced passes, simply ran in a straight line with the ball into touch and just generally fell over at the slightest touch.
And cheers for the drink, I needed that before diving head-first back into some more work π
Cheers Lars. Great response. I have only the memories in my head from The West Upper to go by. Something else about him: he defends and is prepared to sit very deep – even as far back as his back 4.
H2H,
Maybe Stevie Wonder might come to that conclusion but there are others who don’t. For example, Tim Stillman, (who is someone I rate quite highly), contends that Sagna has been more exposed because Theo hasn’t been doing his defensive work on the wing and that Sagna remains one of the best right backs in the world. Which is why I asked the question.
Zico,
Your input on Sagna would seem to indicate that I’m not loosing my marbles entirely. Although, given that I had been making some case for “the defence” so far this season, last nights calamity, amongst others, is quickly diluting that argument.
If Keown had to chase down that shot by Suarez last night – the first part of his anatomy on the ball would have been his teeth..!
Tabs,
Nice write up earlier. Lucid as ever and spot on as usual..!
Lars,
On the Sagna front – I was somewhat alarmed because the last time I saw a player deteriorate in pace so quickly like that was Gilberto. The prospect of Sagna/Santos facing Ribery/Robben is not something I look forward to. I’m tempted to suggest that Arsene will have to play Vermy at left back, but the last time we said that on this blog was when we played Manu and Santos started !
Joe, I enjoy LD’s musings on Arseblog too, sometimes I agree with him, sometimes I don’t.
In the case of Sagna, I will concede that due to Theo’s tendencies to drift towards the box the flank has been left a little more exposed then it should, but Theo has always been prone to drift yet the problem was negated by Sagna’s positional awareness and pace, the latter has gone leaving him chasing shadows.
TS mentions in his report from the frontline (cheers for that) that it looked as Sagna couldn’t be arsed, I must admit, I didn’t see that, but the view from the tv is never as complete as the view from the stands, so it’s a worrying turn of events if true. I thouht he played his best game against the Spammers last week, but other appearances since his return have been worrying to say the least. I think he needs a rest or at least to be rotated a little more, we’ve got Jenks to help him, so why not? We are forever hearing about the fabled red zone so why are we pushing a player that cleary has issues to play more then he should? It’s truly baffling.
I like Sagna, he’s always given 100% and has been one of our most consistant performers over the last few years. He’s a fighter, I mean how strong do you have to be to come back from two broken legs? That’s real mental strength. But it has visably taken a lot out of him and his trademark burst of pace is gone. Maybe to still maintain a high level of defending he shouldn’t come so high up the field anymore and concentrate solely on his own half. It’s not as if we’ll really miss his crossing ability. π
Not sure about Sagna’s disinterest, TS.
Only a few minutes after his slip-up for the first goal, he barged wholeheartedly into a Scouse player to won a header in midfield, as to make up for it and I thought ‘That’s the spirit!’
I do feel he’s lost a lot of pace though, worryingly.
I fear we’re losing TS to a darker side (polite applause? WTF?!?). Something must be done about HT Ltd…. π
And let’s not forget that if he is a decent footballer, Suarez remains a diving, racist, cheating cunt.
Independently of that, I think Lars assessed his performance on the day correctly, although I admit that I did notice his ‘defending’ once or twice too, as alluded by TS, but then I noticed Theo’s too.
Speaking of Feo, credit where credit’s due, he seems to be full of confidence, and there were some amazing sprints from him, not to mention the splendid finish.
Is he getting consistent? I’m warming to him again, especially now that the contract is signed (enough with the silly goal celebration though, please)…. he’s carried on with his form. Despite what some cynics predicted.
Feo good, Santos shit, I know a fella called Jordan whose world has just collapsed π
‘Twitter is over capacity’, heh. Is it because of TDD or is it just a local thing related to Beckham?
We need a goalkeeper, he has got worse this season, he thinks he is an out field player, he is a risk taker that doesn’t command the box, he might be young but surely we are too big to Wait to see if he’s good enough!
Our defence was shambolic! AW keep pushing for a new striker (Villa, etc) but clearly that is our least concern. We need to overhaul our defence. Schooboy errors week in week out, when is it going to end? Obviously AW does not have a solution to this dilemma neither does Steve Bould. Can’t any of the Arsenal hierarchy see this long standing issue and do something about it. I am sure Arsene Wenger knows that this is a big issue but he is not the guy to solve it. I think we may just have missed the 4th spot this season!
Trev π
Cheers Lars.
Joe – thanks for the kind ones. And re Sagna, I think your comparison with Gilberto one is a good one. When it goes, it goes, and it goes quickly. I love Sagna, a true warrior, and probably our most consistent performer since the move to the Emirates. I refuse to believe he’s disinterested, though I will admit his performance at Southampton had me wondering.
I’ll go along with Tim Stillman’s theory to an extent. I do think Theo’s lack of defensive nous affects the right back, and both Jenks and Sagna have been caught dwelling on the ball after turning inside, because there has been no out ball up the line, (in Jenks case, leading to a goal at home to Swansea). That however does not account for Sagna’s loss of pace, and his inability to get up and down the line like he used to all day long, previously his greatest asset.
Pretty much agree with H2H. It’s baffling why there hasn’t been more rotation with Jenks.
As for Verm at LB, not ideal, but surely better than the alternative. Arsene must agree … mustn’t he? π
Twatter down here too Ollie.
where is Snir when you need him heh:)
Ollie Twitter is down here too.
Eandy, The Snir show starts by 7: Pm.
Ha, School’s just finished π
Is Arsene not going to sign anyone on this #TDD even after telling us fans to trust him that he ” will be busy in this transfer window” am shocked at this man’s sturbonness
David Ornstein (BBC) Journalist says we’re in for a Left Back and still pushing for Villa.
Please God be true…
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/aneka-returns-to-crewe-alexandra-on-loan
Not on a par with Robert Senderos, but still. Aneka? A cross between Aneke and Anelka. Arsenal DNA Lab open for business. Now.
I heard we were after a guy called Bong.
Excellent addition to the CMC and natural replacement for pipes.
David Ornstein once said at an AGM that he had confirmation RvCunt had signed a contract extension.
I’ll never tire of mentioning this. I never ever trust a journalist on transfer news.
heh H2H π
Ollie – in the absence of Snir I either quote Ornstein or just make shit up myself!
Last nights draw won’t matter in the race for 4th if we don’t find a solution at left back.
I will agree with some above that their 2 goals got some “lucky” bounces, but those bounces are occurring every game. Any ball with pace thru our box and we are scrambling everywhere. Ramsey actually tackled the ball away from Henderson but Mert and Santos contrived a fine assist.
Szczceny had a couple good saves but also had a horrible game as a whole.
We need a defensive player with poise and confidence. Some o e that can organize and attack a header. On corners it is OG that plays our best defense…….um he’s our striker. Can no one else attack the ball?
We really should have won last night. We were a better team and the Poo were on the ropes but somehow we cocked it up again.
Haha, good job, Wasp! :p
Gibbs out for 3 weeks.
Santos out for Burger King.
Just saying.
Aaahhh well,
Arsenal are like a fine wine, leave it alone for 45 mins or a half to breath, then chat between friends say 11 friends for 15 mins then drink and enjoy what you have just waited 45 mins for !
I just cant explain our first half performances over the last 5 games it just doesnt make sense. What is going on during the pre match team talk.
AW : Ok lads you know I dont give a monkeys about the first half, its how you finish the game that counts.
SB: Also lads, sorry to butt in boss, we both dont give a rats arse about defending either.
Aw: Are we clear ! rats arse and monkeys !
Team: Yes boss !
The 2nd half was joy to behold, some of the play was outstanding. Giroud,Pol and Feo are really starting to gel and my god its starting to look good.
If we could only start the 1st half as if it was the 2nd half, if only !
I am not going to discuss the defending or point fingers at certain players as it was just totally unexceptable all round. i think our luck held thou as Chelski and Spuds only drew as well so damage limitation was held up.
Come on lads lets give both halfs ago please, pretty please with a cherry on top. I will be your best friend.
Gooner for life or until watching them gives me a stroke and then not even remember who I support.
Rumour’s that a guy called Nacho is on the way.
Either that or someone is getting Santos a snack for his cheese dip.
Nacho and Bong!?
Is this TTD or a frat party?
Or TDD even
Nacho Monreal is quality, more defensive minded than Gibbs, but exactly what we need.
Nice work, imho.
We need more of the same tonight.
I’ll believe it when I see it on . com
This guy?!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crQLbdVKCJ0
Nacho Libre?
I’m pretty sure he is in worse shape than Santos. But he may have been able to wrestle Henderson to the ground before he scored.
http://brainfartfilms.blogspot.com/2011/08/nacho-libre.html?m=1
BBC confirm Nacho Monreal set to join Arsenal for Β£8million, just a medical to do now.
Just realized that he is cup tied, so Verm at LB against Ze Bavarians.
N7,
You beat me to it!
Cheers
Times a ticking. That was one need, now how about 2 more.
Capoue? Villa?
Quick one-two with Nacho, keeps on running towards the goal….
We’re signing someone!
We’re signing someone!
We’re signing someone!
And it might even mean Santos never ever ever plays for us again.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Hearing very good reports, but sod the football, his name alone will keep me happy for months.
Come on Snir, I know you’re busy, but we need your dossier. The full low down, the whole caboodle.
Nacho to score with a chip?
Let’s make it happen.
Well in tabs
Mr. Receptacle
Ha! Great minds. Nachoooooo.
And a goal as well! π π
Dives head first into a giant vat of Guacemole and comes up chanting “Nacho, Nacho, Nacho!!!!”
Nice chip Nacho
Well in tabs.
Very happy if this is true. I’ve watched him a few times in La Liga and he looks decent to me.
Most importantly – it’s addressing an area of the pitch where we’re desperately short.
I’m probably on my todd with this one, but I’m happier to be signing a left back than I would have been with David Villa.
That said, he’s cup tied, so he can’t play against Bayern.
Cheers H2H, lurky.
N7, I agree.
The whole Villa link does not excite me. (that much)
Sid Lowe on Nacho: “Tidy, well-positioned, decent on ball, steady full back. I like him.”
Santos on Nacho: “Delicious, with or without guacamole.”
Tabs @200 & Various,
Heh π
N7 @208,
Heh π
Nacho, very decent signing that will be! Another Santi-esque bargain and another full Spanish international! Sweet as a nut! π
1 – 2 more please before the night’s through!
Heh@ N7! Lol! Nice one
Cheers N7, and completely agree with you and H2H on Villa. Thought I was on my own on that one!
Thanks Dan.
“Arsenal are getting a Spain international at the peak of his career. It makes sense. Arsenal fans will enjoy him.” – Some Bell on Sky Sports.
Ok Aw, I hope that’s Nacho only signing. Bring me a big beefy midfielder. I want the whole enchilada!!
The word on the street is that talks between Malaga and Arsenal regarding Nacho Monreal took place earlier in the week, before Gibbs’ injury.
So, looks like Santos is really off to Fenerbahce.
Great name. Even if they can’t spell MontrΓ©al in that country π
Surely it’s Snir time soon (30 minutes?), how is it possible that we’ve been linked to someone and he’s not there yet?
I like some would have liked Villa but only at a good price. He is a good player but now older and had a significant injury. We all know what that means in an Arsenal Kit.
To clarify: I like Villa as a player.
I just don’t think that when I look at our current squad another striker should be top of the list.
I know there’s all this “what if Giroud gets injured” stuff, but surely we’d just play Poldi in there? Or even Theo – he’s not top class in that position but it’s hardly sticking Arshavin up top.
For me, the priorities should be as follows: some size in midfield (preferably a defensive midfielder), left back, goalkeeper, David Villa type player.
Come on Arsene – tick off the whole lot this evening.
Btw – I refer you to post 87.
Arsene wins.
Brek Shea to Stoke, wasn’t that the guy who trained with us about a year ago and by his own admission was waaaay out of his depth? (not exactly in those words, but that was the core of it)
I have no idea who this Nacho dude is, but there does seem to be an awful lot of smoke for there not to be a fire under it. And as tabs says (well in for the goal, by the way!), his name alone must be worth at least Β£15m!
And apparently Hazard gets no further suspension for kicking the ballboy.
@ Lars
What a bunch of wiley devils the FA are. Whack that bit of news out at 5pm on TDD.
Just in after another long day in a long week. I’ve heard no news and haven’t knurd. I pray there’s some good news, or at least good cheer.
Keep the faith.
COYG
Prediction: at some point in the next 5 hours you will read another human being demand that Arsene resign if he fails to seal the deal for a left back that half the support hadn’t heard of until lunch time today.
Transfer deadline day definitely needs a drinking game. On so many levels.
So, according to Sky we have been working on the Monreal deal for months and had already agreed a deal for him to join after this season and he has been learning English in preparation for the move, and that the move now is being made earlier.
In other words: ITKs know fuck all…
Delighted that Nacho Monreal appears to be joining us. Nachos go very well with al sorts of alcohol.On the face of it Β£8 million for a 26 year old Spanish international is very good business . You don’t get into the Spanish team easily I thought and then I thought Santos is a Brazilian international….! Looks like the portly one is off to Turkey where presumably his driving licence may be valid.If he needs a lift to the airport I’m on it.
My one reservation is signing Monreal will kill Gibbs……..-that last bit was a joke. We need all the good defenders we can get
I now await news that we have secured Jovetic and Capoue. That was a joke as well.
The word is that we are pushing for more signings. CB and GK.
Lars,
If, as sky claim, we had been working on the Monreal deal for months, then the fact that we’ve waited until now just highlights our failure to move Santos on in this window at least.
Or of course, it could mean that we have been “working so hard on bringing in super super players” that by sheer coincidence, within 24 hours after our regular left back pulls his thigh muscle and is out for anything between 3 weeks – 3 months, that we have managed to do a deal for a spanish international from a cash strapped spanish club…!
Just a shame we left it too late to move for Chris Samba.
What an almighty “fuck you” that would have been to all of us for telling him to spend some money.
I am back from the supermarket.
Didn’t buy any player, and settled for crisps instead of Nachos.
Hope I’m right on time for THE SNIR SHOW!
Joe, not sure I follow your logic there. If we had already agreed a deal for Monreal and are just trying to move the deal forward then I can’t see what that has to do with Santos. We don’t have to move him on to sign a left-back because he can also be used in attacking positions.
Heh@226 π
Off for dart night.
Have fun with St Snir’s day.
N7 – You mean you’re not playing a drinking game? It’s the only way to get through it. Well, that and some heroin for when White turns up.
Is Snir in the building yet? I reckon he should get the full dramatic build up that White gets.
Suspect this is all Chinese whispers.
I suspect the story is really that Arsene has been out all afternoon looking for his young players in Nandos…
Evening all! Could Santos do alright as back up for Gunnersaurus?
If we bring in Villa and Nacho, I’ll be a happier camper. Some bubble wrap for Diaby and I think we might pull third place this year.
Puff puff pass.
Great news regarding mr. Nacho if its true, even though he will not be able to play against Bayern, I am surprisingly calm before that fixture. We are in position where we have nothing to lose against Bavarians, since they are considered big favourites (and honestly, considering their recent form and performances, rightly so).
I have a feeling that we are going to give it a real go, at least at home. Poldi will show them what they missed on during his spell with them giving us good advantage for away game. So strenghtening for league, which is far more imperative for us in coming months, is perfectly okay in my books.
Snir is in the building!!
Ok so Monreal has passed his medical according to reports in Spain.
Was supposed to join in the summer but will join today with Santos going back to Turkey.
David Villa still on the cards.
As for Monreal – a very good player.
I like our two options at LB.
N7, I agree that LB cover should be priority. And signing an established LB from Malaga will do the squad some good. But I cannot help thinking that we need another striker. Here’s why.
Giroud, Poldi and Theo are probably what we consider as forwards. You can throw Gervinho in this mix or not, your choice. Now seeing that our first choice eleven utilises Poldi on the left, Theo on the right and Giroud upfront, this leaves us with no strikers on the bench. And in my opinion, we need a hungry striker to come off the bench and kill off games like last night, when defences are tiring and opportunities will be at a premium.
Imagine being in a CL or FA cup tie, with Giroud, Poldi and Theo all starting, and we need a goal with 15 minutes remaining. We cannot bring any striker on in this position, and this is quite worrying. That AW made no other sub last night when we were desperately searching for 3 points was quite telling. We can throw in Gervinho or even Akpom into the fray, but that’s not saying much. Gervinho’s best position is as a winger anyways, not a false nine I reckon.
So yeah, Villa would be a dream, but I doubt it’s anything more but. I hope Nacho is real, too, and not just some made up bag of chips from Spain.
Snir! Snir! Snir!
Crisp header from Nacho ….. π
Derrick – that’s a very good shout and an angle I’d not considered.
That said, I’d still rather have a reserve keeper if it means I don’t have to watch any more cruyff turns on our goal line.
Evening All
Does anyone know whether Monreal can play CB as well as LB? Our current defensive calamities are a joke too far,what is Bouldy paid for. Last night’s comical capers had us all shaking our heads in disbelief .
Any class addition to our back 4 is welcome but discipline and hard work on the art of defending would also not go amiss .
Sorry, didn’t get to the Tollie as had intended. I encountered two old friends on the train, who whisked me off to The Duchess of Kent. Too much beer was drunk and I only just got to my seat as we kicked-off.
I wonder what Stoke will make of the Comedy Club on Saturday!
As always COYRs
i’m nacho sure that’s really snir. no #freedavidvilla hashtag.
Sagna past it ?
Dorito to come in at right back.
Nacho and Dorito – this is what happens when AW dips into the kitty. π
if we really do get nacho, even if he’s not libre, here’s the basis of his new song for the grove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO43p2Wqc08
New CB, Irish lad called Taytos, will fit somewhere between Dorito and Nacho. π
Snir is back
Snir is back
Hello, Hello. π
Delia, Nacho is only a LB.
As for CB, we are after another player.
Villa deal is off.
trev, didn’t we have a line on that cb from newcastle…what was his name…pringle? our back line would keep us in the chips!
Nacho Monreal has passed his medical at Arsenal, the fee is around Β£8.5million and a Β£50,000 per-week contract
Singing of nacho only papers over the crackers
It’s past 2am and I need to sleep, but David Villa is still on the cards! Heh, this will be a torturous night, one way or another.
We need a Villa,
And him a home up the Arse!
@AnnieEaves: Marca now say Monreal deal not done yet. And they say Malaga want β¬13m. Dum dum duuuuuuummmmm.
Apt, KCB!
And yay, Snir is in da house!
Ha, Snir! Not surprised at 251, everyone was talking as if it were a done deal but it’s not on .con.
I fully expected a glitch somewhere during the evening.
Dooooooooooooooomed!
We’re after Bilbao’s Amorebieta. He’s a CB.
This is one difficult bag of chips to break open…
Villa has a vicious jazz spot, wonder if can play congas as well…
@GoLamAFC: Here is the interview as
Graham Hunter on Arsenal target Nacho Monreal & says it would be a great signing for Arsenal! http://t.co/So0DQUBY
Sorry to say it, but if it’s true, Santos to Turkey may be the best bit of business we’ve done in ages.
Trev. Just think of all their crisp passing. I take it you mean Tony Dorito, the ex Leeds and Chavs player.
Snir. Welcome to Snir Deadline Day.
@GoonerTalk: Doesn’t look like A.Santos will be leaving #afc today. FenerbahΓ§e have opted to sign left-back Reto Ziegler on loan instead (Kudos @matilua)
I can hear him now ruling the left side of D, ‘Nacho lane, m*thaf*ckas!’ ‘Nacho lane, Rooney you mule!’
Snir@260… did you come here just to ruin the party?
SNIR IS IN THE BUILDING AND HE’S SAYING THE VILLA DEAL IS STILL ON.
I THINK I MIGHT PASS OUT WITH THE EXCITEME
When someone said Turkey to Santos do you think he has misinterpreted that somewhat? Or is it on account of the roasting he got last night?
Sorry to damp down the euphoria/nonsense* (delete as appropriate) but how the hell do we suddenly start recruiting half of La Liga with 3 hours 10 minutes left to go ?
Scruz, KowChinBaz. π
Steve T π
Trev, I heard Wenger’s whispers about Messi are true… Shhhh….
SSN say we agreed with Malaga.
Β£8.5m
Nachos is being air shipped from Spain to London to be opened fresh at midnight, subject to passing a ‘medical’, where he will be reintroduced with ‘Cheesezny’.
Nothing like Nachos and Cheese to tighten up our defensive line.
@FOXSoccer: RUMOR: We’re being told that Arsenal are making a shock move. Stay tuned while we suss this one out.
@FOXSoccer: Folks, it does not involve a certain goalkeeper making the rounds. We’re hearing talk of another defender.
derrick, clearly he doesn’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool or bubblewrap…more like freezer bags or dry ice.
Snir is here !
We are definitely signing someone.
THIS IS SO BLOODY EXCITING.
If this Nacho deal turns out to be an extra bag of snacks for Santos, I’ll be very very cross.
Arseblog Tom says estimated outlay on Samba is Β£36m.
Scandalous if true.
@leylahamed: Monreal is a consistent all-round performer, quite good on the ball (which is quite important for AFC) and great defensively.
santos is humming to himself thinking “nachos, nachos and flan, i want to eat some nachos and flan…”
Snir, we expect more than quotes of what Sky Sports News are broadcasting.
We want exclusives, man. Big ones !!! π
Found this funny.
@BenSmithBBC: WBA say they have NOT given Peter Odemwingie permission to speak with QPR. He is currently at Loftus Road.
soccrernet is saying Β£12m fee and Β£100k/w wages, for samba. yikes!
Harry must have emptied Rosie’s savings account. π
Trev – let me bed in.. Just got back from school !!!:)
So we’ve signed a Canadian?! Eh?!
Heh Trev, doesn’t that explain it all. We are either buying this Nacho bloke, or Santos is just off buying a bag of snack. Santos and Nachos, does have a good ring to it…
Phil Jagielka anyone?
great quote from twitchy on soccernet: βThere are a lot at this club who earn far too much money for their ability. Far, far too much. I donβt really want to see the owners have their pants taken down like they have in the past. There are a lot of agents who have made money out of them. You shouldnβt be paying huge wages when you have a stadium that holds 18,000 people.”
ya think?
Bed in, Snir ?!?!
There’s only 2 hours 56 minutes left ! π
he just needs time to get his guinness poured, trev.
Bollocks.
Spurs getting closer to Damiao.
@Pitacodogringo: Tottenham’s Leandro DamiΓ£o deal falls through. Internacional director Marcelo Medeiros said Spurs offer (believed to be Β£20m) was not enough
10 mil euros = 8.5 mil pounds for Nacho ( left footed, blue eyed blond with back/knee worries). Sky now reports this is Arsenal’s only bit of business.
This is hilarious.
@tancredipalmeri: DEFINITELY NOT FULHAM DAY! Kasami won’t go to on loan to Pescara because internet went off at hotel where italian FA was receiving contracts
Jermaine Jenus at Loftus Rd:
“Yeah they’re not really in that bad a position – obviously they’re bottom of the league”
Does Yap Yap still get a percentage of the profit from players he brought to the spuds???????
How have the Inland Revenue not got hold of this Crook????
Calm yourselves, and read BtM Part 2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
@bbcsport_david: Arsenal set to complete Monreal deal. Fee around β¬10m agreed, now for personal terms & medical. #Afc target for some time #bbctransfernews
How much do I love this forum! OK I’m a bit of a lurker but it’s the only place to get REAL news and educated opinions from REAL Arsenal fans. Oh dear, I’m not sure Real and Arsenal really go together? I live in Turkey and I say to Santos: Hosgeldiniz and welcome back! I hope he enjoyed his stadium tour but thank the Allah he might be out of The Grove before he does more damage to the Arse and himself. I will be kind to him if he comes back to Fenerbahce (my Turkish team virtue of the neighbours who’ve become Arsenal fans :-)) though I only really care about THE ARSENAL!
Gracias, Snir.
There is confusion as to whether The Snir Show has relocated to the new channel.
Also I’m hearing the King of Puns Title is being disputed by Steve T. Can he snatch it from Trev?
Whistle has blown, but PIK still puts a long cross over to Steve T… whose lurking?
Ollie? Snir?
Nods on
Well in, N7. Now off to the BTM parade…
Goooooooooal!
*celebrates wildly*
*suddenly notices the stadium is empty*
Goal invalidated: Snir is in the new post, people!
Switch to the other ‘holicchannel now!
DUBIOS GOAL COMITEE SAYS……
NO