Midfield Trio Has Gooners Singing In The Rain
Aug 24th, 2013 by 'holic
What a difference a week makes. Arsenal swapped jeers for cheers with a very impressive performance in dreadful conditions at Craven Cottage. The key to it all was a midfield masterclass from Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, and Tomas Rosicky. By the time the latter gave way to Jack Wilshere with twenty minutes left we were three goals to the good, points secured.
Control of the game was secured almost from the first kick, and just ten minutes in Theo Walcott was freed by a divine Rosicky flick only to be denied by Stockdale in the Fulham goal. The reprieve for the hosts was only temporary. Ramsey’s drive from outside the box was turned into an assist by Olivier Giroud, reacting quickest to his own (less than intentional!) interception. The big Frenchman has started with three goals in three games, and whoever comes in to join him in the coming week faces a battle to displace a man so obviously in form.
The goal prompted a response and Wojciech Szczesny had to be at his best to deny both Taraabt and Duff with a smart double save. Fulham continued to press forward only for Arsenal to threaten at will on the break. A second goal looked likely and arrived from the hammer that is Lukas Podolski’s left boot after Theo had been denied once again by Stockdale.
Much of the talk at the half concerned yet another erratic performance from the man in the middle. Howard Webb carded Aaron Ramsey for sliding in late, and in isolation one could not complain. The leniency he then showed to Berbatov and Riise for more sinister challenges was baffling to many.
Szczesny was called upon again to deny Taraabt, a one man attacking force for the hosts. It was something of a surprise when he was hooked by our old friend Martin Jol just after the hour. Arsenal’s response to his departure was to score a breakaway goal of breathtaking quality. From the moment Giroud killed a lofted ball and freed Cazorla via Walcott on the left Fulham were chasing shadows. The Spaniard cut the ball back into the path of Podolski. That hammer drilled the ball just inside the far post.
In the wake of the victory Arsene was quick to pour cold water on reports linking Poldi with a move.
“Everybody in the squad loves Lukas and I want to keep him.”
Here here, boss. I hope that was genuine because losing anybody from this squad right now could not be justified. To let Podolski go would be madness. He may not be a regular starter by the time the reinforcements have hopefully arrived this week, but would any of the established title chasers have a more prolific goalscorer to call upon when required. That would give the squad more strength in depth provided of course that there are new arrivals imminent.
Back to the Cottage, and the boss took advantage of a three goal cushion to start resting legs with a big week ahead. Rosicky’s departure was followed by that of Giroud, and as the famed handbrake was being gently applied we leaked a consolation strike to Darren Bent. With ten minutes remaining Poldi got his standing ovation as Yaya Sanogo got another taste of Premiership football. The final whistle gave the magnificent, if soaked, travelling Gooners a chance to once again applaud the players.
Job done then. The fine win doesn’t hide the fact that is mentioned online seemingly every passing minute. With such a fine nucleus it would be bordering on the criminal not to add depth and quality to this squad with the money Ivan has assured us is available to spend. Arsenal allowed the early pre-season positivity around the club to evaporate. This small band of brothers has regenerated much good feeling in recent days. Please Arsenal, don’t miss this opportunity to put us back in a great position to challenge for the big prizes.
256 Responses to “Midfield Trio Has Gooners Singing In The Rain”
First!?
Great game suffice to say NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!
Holic apologies about my out bursts in the previous post!
I guessed that Holic, and you BLOODY CUT ME OFF AGAIN !!!! 😉
As this fell under the chevrons in the last drinks….
Very satisfying win today. First points on the boards and encouraging performance against a tricky side (sort of a good QPR much better managed). Well called on the score, NorCal. A shame we couldn’t keep a clean sheet, if only to turn the goal difference positive. But some top saves from Woj. Defence looked composed for a makeshift back four, though I suspect they have been playing a lot in that formation in training. With his experience and heading ability, Sagna isn’t a half way bad centre half. Ramsey was outstanding again — a reminder, though, that it can take a season or more for young players who are out injured for a long time to catch up to where they should be. We should be prepared for Jack to have the sort of inconsistent season that Ramsey did last term, and not to be firing on all cylinders until 2014-15. Santi’s control was a delight and Giroud’s first touch has come on by leaps and bounds. But they are not going to be able to keep that up through four competitions, so more squad depth is essential plus a couple of top, top, quality additions. We need to sign a top flight proven striker, say a 28-year-old German international with 111 caps and 46 international goals and more than 100 goals in 275 league appearances. Oh, we already have one…
A fine report ‘H, – can you actually see when I’m about to submit something ? 😉
And good point Ned re the German Hammerman.
Top stuff ‘H.
Europa place? 8)
Away fans were aces. A glass raised to them.
Come on Arsene. We are in your sweet spot for additions. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. One new toy each day would really please so many.
norcal I want so see a mass unveiling Friday ahead of scum. After a convincing win midweek, of course. that would be some momentum going into Saturday, I’d say.
“…Please Arsenal, don’t miss this opportunity to put us back in a great position to challenge for the big prizes.”
Well said maestro. I really enjoyed watching that performance from the comfort of my dry living room. Magnificence again from the TTF.
It would be negligence in the extreme if we don’t add to this impressive core by next weekend.
In the meantime, roll-on Tuesday.
What a wonderful start to the bank holiday weekend! Almost two many good performances to mention. I thought Santi just shaded Rambo for MOTM but great work from Sags, Mert, Jenks, Giroud (how many flick ons did he win?), Poldi of course (how good was that first goal?) and Theo. Chez didn’t put a foot or a glove wrong all afternoon and made three worldies at important times. Be interesting to see what team we put out on Tuesday – start with first team and switch if comfortable or start with Gids, Gnarbry, Eisfeld and bring big guns on if necessary? Probably the former for me. Anyway, all relaxed with a large G&T and will enjoy Villa v Scousers and also first MOTD of the season for me tonight.
Going up?
I forgot to mention, our improvised CentreBac was imperious to watch.
Epic player 🙂
watching a bit of Liverpool villa, like watching paint dry. ugh.
Very accurate report Holic. I was one of the rather wet away supporters and this was a job well done. Every player did their job but I’d like to pick two people out for special mention who don’t always get praise. As several on here know I dig into OG from time to time but he worked his socks off today competing in pretty hellish conditions and occupying the Fulham back four well. And his finish was neat if the build up involuntary. The other particular plaudit goes to the Corporal who was first class today. He gets forward regularly to good effect and no one ever got behind him although he might be disappointed that he didn’t pick up Bent when the ball screwed across from the right. This boy is yeoman stock and is going to be a very good right back indeed. Good job for Bacary that he’s a very good centre back now.
This is probably not the time to say I think Wenger is really struggling to sign anyone but the next week should make things clearer.
I feel much better than I did last Saturday
Good stuff, Guv.
Always on point ‘Holic. You know even leaving the goals aside, the amount of work Poldi puts in in pressing not only on his wing but on the left as well and his tireless defensive work actually makes him one of my favourite players in a team (or perhaps more accurately a nucleus of a team) that is full of very good footballers WITH wonderful attitudes. I couldn’t help noticing that that starting team today had Arteta, Kos and Jack missing.
Couldn’t say it better: “Please Arsenal, don’t miss this opportunity to put us back in a great position to challenge for the big prizes.”
Sagna is a better CB than Ashley Williams, yea I said it!
…on the right as well even…
T’was a class act to watch the lads calmly but quickly rumple the cottage linen. Can’t ask for more.
Nice one Guv’nor.
Just back home after a day of domesticity, visit to mother-in-law and enforced distance from sports news. I was able to catch a couple of minutes of the 5Live commentary, at which point we were three up, so I passed quite a relaxed afternoon.
Good to see the drinkers at this bar beginning to pull together in the same direction. Long may it last.
COYG
Sagna was solid and a calm presence at the back..He had
The donkey berbtov in his pocket all day long
Number 23 in honour of Sol – a young SC as a third choice CB would be welcome.
Cent @18 – too right.
LuPo knows.
Very fine report Holic and points well made in the final para.
A large Ardbeg on the bar for you.
Let it be known that I am drunk.
Let it be known that we won.
Get a few good players in and we’re good to go.
Yeah whatever, back to the sodding beer… 🙂
Having now knurd my way through the previous post, I saw TW’s @ 278 and agreed with every word. I began to doubt first TW’s sanity, and then my own, but was pleased to see that normal service was resumed shortly afterwards.
I think it’s my turn to buy you one TW – it’s on the bar. I hope all the newbies are around to take one off me too.
I forgot to mention earlier the gist of the couple of minutes of R5L commentary that I caught, which was that although Fulham had given Arsenal a hard time once or twice recently, Arsenal should expect to tear them a new one every time we went to Craven Cottage. I have to love the Beeb. It’s a little like this bar, it frustrates the very hell out of me from time to time, but below the surface I know damn well that it’s the best available. A little like our own beloved AFC, I guess.
COYG
Brilliant win!!! Cant ask for more of the players, who must be knackered already!
AW has said no new players before Tuesday, so here’s hoping/praying/close to having a Sean Connery that all the deals are done and dusted and simply await out confirmed CL proper qualification.
But Ive heard that one before.
Up the Arse!
Another Great Post ‘Holic 🙂
Just finished backdrinking, a far better way to catch up with the match nearly Minute-by-Minute that Sky Sports Football Score Centre on the Blackberry 😛
Looking forward to catching us on MOTD for the 1st time this season (couldn’t be asked to watch last week’s) then watching the Extended Highlights on .com after 😀
Spot on holic. A few cazorlaesque signings and we will be contenders
Oh yeah, while I was on the till at work waiting for my supervisor to come & assist me with a customer ‘s transaction, said customer showed me a bit of the Fulham match (around 4 mins) that he was streaming to his Smartphone via BT Wi-Fi or something. He may have been a Fulham fan (mentioned Hammersmith in an earlier conversation) but it was a nice gesture regardless 🙂
Ardbeg.
Yum…
If Ollie looks in Bordeaux are currently one up at home to Bastia. It’s almost half-time. I will keep checking in but I have a very poor quality silent stream.
3 lovely points that get us of and running – Weve Struggled at the cottage a bit in the last few years so was nice to see a commanding performance, Now to buy them sparkly new players and all will be well with the world again 🙂
back fron game.away support great.something about football in the rain .it creates a better atmosphere
It’s an age thing, mate. 🙂
37 @ Holic @ 34
Hahaha 🙂
Just read a statement from Benzema’s agent saying that there is no chance at all that he will be joining Arsenal.
Make of that what you will.
If I may copy in my latest chopped off effort as it took a while to condense the thoughts.
First though – Well played Ttg and the rest of the travelling Gooners.
——————————————————
What was particularly pleasing about today’s performance, and a little surprising considering that we played on Wednesday night, was the urgency and consistency of our pressing.
This has happened before at the beginning of a season (the 6 – 0 win away at Everton a particular example), only to resort to dropping off again after three or four very impressive performances.
Just keep it going this season please lads – it is a far more effective form of defence for our squad, and gets us into attacking positions much more quickly than our sometimes laboured possession plays.
Good to see a lot more determination to get men in the area when we attacked today, too.
A really good team performance today with no weak links.
Have to marvel at The Jenks though who rediscovers his level incredibly quickly whenever he’s called into the team.
Amazing progression for a lad who played non league football for Eastleigh, and 7 games for Charlton, if memory serves, before moving to The Arsenal.
————————————————-
That pressing game obviously takes a hell of a lot of energy and is hard to keep up, which maybe another reason why young players are a good option for AFC.
By the time players have become “big names” they’re probably too old to run like that for 90 minutes every week.
Another reason why extra numbers are so necessary – rotation becomes essential to a consistent pressing game.
More information than strictly neccessary, or desired baff@37
So what value do we put on the Iker Casillas rumour then?
Good points Trev @41 – worth seeing again.
I can recommend a Urologist, PG
Zip, Cynic.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfers-karim-benzema-not-2217216
So much for everyone wanting to come???? Unless it is all just paper bollocks as usual.
Nice write up Holic. An excellent 3 points which should do wonders for confidence. Finish Tuesday off nice and early and let’s hit the panic sales button.
😀
Steve T @ 40
I was thinking about this earlier, and I’ve a feeling we aren’t actually going to buy another forward.
We’ve all become preoccupied with the position, and it’s clear that it’s the area where the club were looking to make a splash, but I think that if push comes to shove Arsene could buy a left winger and live with Giroud, Sanogo and Podolski as his centre forward options. I don’t think that would be a disastrous approach to take either – there’s a bit of me that would like to see what Giroud can do in his second season given plentiful game time.
So – my finger in the air prediction: I think he’ll sign Di Maria, Cabaye, Flamini and maybe one other player (either a keeper or defensive cover). If you think about it, that basically replaced the players we’ve lost this summer who actually got some first team football last term; Gerv, Coq, Djorou.
I think the pursuit of a big name striker will probably wait until next summer, when other options are available. It wouldn’t stun me if we were going to spend this week chasing one or both of Rooney or Suarez, but it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where we end up with neither.
The above is a total guess and I am in no way ITK. I can’t imagine us spending nothing, I can’t imagine us spending a fortune and this feels like the pragmatic middle ground – spend a few bob (circa. £25m net spend for the summer), nudge the team on a little. Evolution, not revolution. Very Arsenal.
Interested to see how the next 8 days play out.
Good call N7……my thinking was moving in that direction too.
Bath@44, it’s all very well saying you can recommend a urologist, but it’s not helping me you know, or the Guv.
Would the £25 million include the £10.5 million profit we are currently running this window ?
And Cheers, bath.
Trev @50
The £25m would factor in a gross spend of about £40-45m, and then a total guess on my part that we’ve made about £15-20m this window if you factor in the wages we’ve saved on players like denilson and Santos who were no longer part of the squad in any meaningful way.
The above would leave us with a marginally larger squad than last season, a superior squad, a reduced wage bill and probably some cash left over to go again in January/next year.
Cabaye is another on of those that arsenal are his second choice. He would rather play at PSG.
I don’t want to detract from the good result today but I am far from confident that we will get the additions we need. That bench looked very very thin to me. As Holic said, just as well they weren’t playing on a school night.
N7, and there lies the age old problem. Our transfer targets are replacements, not additions. Until that changes I struggle to see how we will ever make real progress.
Step 1 – shed the dead wood and salary leeches – – check
Step 2 – add defensive and MF cover – – this week
Step 3 – top, top striker – – Jan/June 2014
Steve T – replacements, but upgrades. It won’t win us a title, but it would be a step in the right direction.
Well as I have said numerous times before I will not be holding my breath and will await for official announcements. There have been far too many down grades in the last few years for my liking. We are now very much playing catch up. Sadly I still think we are some considerable way short. I just find it all incredibly frustrating and sad. It should never have got to this in the first place.
Looks like I’m the only one who still has serious hopes of us landing a ‘worldie’ in this window.
@ Cent
You never know. I think Di Maria would be the worldy in the above scenario. Cracking player.
I still haven’t completely given up on a worldie either. I just don’t want/don’t see us getting any of the names we’ve been linked with.
So where’s the worldie coming from?
I still have a funny feeling we could end up with Rooney, but we’d really have to push for it. Not sure we will though (know we won’t in other words)
God too much vodka and keep on coming LOVE YOU| LOT!
N7, I’m talking someone/people above Di Maria’s class, he will be a great signing though.
Cynic, I share your feeling on Rooney too. I think it’s between the Chavs and us, if Manure grant him his wish to move, the Chavs have got Willian so I doubt they will still be in for another forward.
why the heck would we loan Podolski?
N7 CB Di Maria I do like none of this bollocks and no disrespect Gibbs!
Sorry just touched on the news and Podolski to Shalke is fucking crazy!
N7- I think you are spot on. The issue is the range of options we have upfront and the potential scope for improvement. Giroud is going to get better and his good scoring start to the season will help this process. Today was a foul English winter afternoon ( at lunchtime in August!)and caked for a traditional striker’s fully committed performance and against a very slow defence he carried out the role to perfection. Theo is another option who hasn’t got the temperament or physique to do the closing down but is great and running in behind a slow,tired defence keeping a high line. Today’s Poldi could do a great job through the centre today and Sanogo is one for the future. Looking at who we could get I don’t know Id bother other than try ( almost certainly in vain) to sign Defoe who is a great finisher.
I suspect Cabaye is on his way but feel he gives us very little we haven’t got already and we may go for an experienced winger. Not sure Di Maria is what we want and I think we may see any big bucks spent,spent here. Flaming and a defender who can cover across if necessary to full back fill the bill.
The one issue I think is unresolved is the marquee signing. There is so much cash sloshing around and IG must feel a prat for what he said so I think we might see a possible splurge on a big player we don’t necessarily need which is where the Casillas rumour might come in. It goes totally against the grain for Wenger but that is an intuition I have.
Saw the game today with a Fulham fan and he was very impressed with our display today
Evening all.
I still hold hope that a few very good players come in.
I believe I read that cabaye prefers Arsenal over PSG, for what it’s worth. I am also now convinced that Arsene has decided he does not want a big bruising DM but wants to play with a double pivot that can shuttle positions and retain possession. Look at how our back 2 midfielders are constantly trading positions. Who is our B2B and who is our DM? Both play up and back. In that, I see cabaye more likely than a Fellaini type.
I do think that Rooney is on our list but it just depends if Moyes would sell him. If we don’t get a good CB then a RB would be what I would look for. I love Jenks but we need another fullback if Sagna is our cover for CB.
Finally a true winger may really help us until Ox comes back. Someone that can beat his man a deliver to Beefcake in the middle.
I have hope. Now it’s up to you AW not to crush it AGAIN.
It’s now getting close to nap time. 430 came early this morning!
If Di Maria is wanted by United, he will go there. And if they’re paying £30m+ for him, I wonder if the Rooney situation would get resolved.. but I doubt we have the balls for it and I am not sure he’d want to come. A United fan I know reckons Rooney is after a five year deal at £300k a week to stay at United. Mental.
Surely NOT!
As H2H said Lemondowski will be keen if not he can fuck right off!!!!
I have heard few stories about hm small head on a tough stick that is all…………………………………
Arsene please sign him on a club level he TOP DRAW!
Ttg, looks like we have a similar list and thoughts.
http://m.imgur.com/DzlTbkZ
Love this
Ttg, you make very good points but I don’t think Arsene sees Theo and Poldi as long-term back-up to Giroud, they can both do a job in the middle but they will both be in-effective there against 90percent of EPL teams, they don’t have the physique, as you observed, to give us an outlet when under siege, a good example of how Giroud does it is his control and lay-off that led to our 3rd goal, if you watch the game again you will notice that for the 5 or so minutes Poldi played upfront when Giroud was subbed off we had no outlet and anytime we made a clearance the Fulham defence automatically had the ball and we were under attack again, I believe that was part of the reasons Arsene introduced Sanogo(he has more of a physical presence that Theo and Poldi) and it immediately rubbed off on us because we started keeping possession again.
Giving the MoTM award to the Ford Anglia Ramsey instead of the Porsche Cazorla is a joke.
EDIT. Should I leave this idiot’s facile ramblings up here tonight? Let everybody see what a halfwit troll really comes out with? Come on Moose, show us your best shot as a keyboard warrior…
Nice link, Norcal.
What happened to the defensive solidity oft quoted by Wenger, Jenkinson fell asleep for Bent’s goal.
Cent @ 72
Good spot – I thought the same thing. Not convinced by Podolski as centre forward, but Arsene has suggested previously that he has the attributes to play there.
TTG/Norcal
Sounds like we’re thinking along similar lines. I wonder if we might yet benefit from Mourinho’s very public attempts to unsettle Rooney. Surely makes it nigh on impossible for Utd to sell to them.
I am also still not convinced that the Suarez situation is resolved. If it were, to Liverpool’s satisfaction, I think Rodgers would be crowing about it. Instead, he put the issue back on the media agenda by suggesting further bids are expected – I believe in some quarters this has been interpreted as a “come and get him” plea; presumably to Madrid.
All still to play for.
Has Suarez played one minute for LFC this season?
Great win.
I’ve only seen the goals and at this moment can barely see the keyboard.
Best to hit the hay and catch up tomorrow. (hic).
Cent
You are right about Poldi. I remember with a degree of anguish his performance against QPR at the end if the season when he replaced the suspended OG. He works hard from a wing base but is ineffective centrally. He is probably our best finisher as he showed today. I was interested to see the gangling Sanogo who looked very raw to me and probably needs lots of game time to develop and mature.
I was also fascinated to see Zelalem on the bench today. He is a real talent but bringing some of the next generation through like him, Gnabry, Eisfeld and Akpom may require us to bring in some seasoned pros along the lines of Arteta and BFG to help their development.
I’m seeing a lot of assumptions on Twitter and blogs that the reason our away form is better than at home is because of the crowd. I think that’s bollocks personally, It may be because I sit in the North Bank but i think the support has been outstanding for several seasons now and actually rather louder than in the “Highbury Library” days. I’ve been going for 40+ years so think I’m entitled to make the comparison. So rather than dig out our own supporters, how about the tactical differences to playing at home and away. At home we have to deal with packed defenses who, top 6 apart, have come for a draw. We often get caught on the counter. Away, and Fener and Fulham are good examples, we are the counterattacking team. So – whilst our away support are superb, and while I don’t go to every away game I go to a few each season – lets get our thinking caps on about the balance of tactics at home and give the Ems crowd a break.
That’s odd – I’m sure someone mentioned Rooney and the word ‘worldie’ in the same sentence …….. ?
“Everybody in the squad loves Lukas and I WANT TO KEEP HIM” that sounds to me like Arsene re-assuring him that he is in his plans, MAYBE Poldi has talked to Arsene about moving if he can’t be guaranteed playing time(World cup year and all that), now IF Poldi feels he’s not guaranteed playing time even with Gervinho’s transfer and The Ox injured then he must know about plans to bring in people who could be a threat to his position. Just my thoughts.
Hear hear, Countryman.
The away support have also probably had their spirits lifted by being able to get a hot dog for less than £5.00 😉
I think we will make a bid for Rooney. Considering that United want to sell him because he is unsatisfied and not willing to work with Moyes or whatever are his reasons, but they will never sell to Chelsea, nor abroad because there is no interest for him at this time. Am I the only one who thinks that Rooney doesn’t quite like to be in the same team with RVP.
We might, just might, jump on that ship. We have the money, he could be part of the English core, Arsene rates him, he will be that big signing we need. Makes sense for me, only if he wants to come.
Speaking of making sense, it could have been perfect if we could had sign Tevez for the price Juve paid. He is a not role model and I don’t like his behavior off the pitch but what a cracking player he is, he could have been that missing link we needed all this years. Remember two years ago, when he returned from Argentina to the City side that were 10 points behind United and bring them a title.
Missed chance there if you ask me.
Trev, heh! He might seem a bit past it but I think Arsene can get three ‘Worldie’ years out of him.
Cheers Ttg.
Lurky, I like your theory on Rooney.
Sun linking us with a bid for Tim Krul.
Was thinking earlier what good business we did on the inbound last summer.
The prices we paid for the HFB, Santi and Poldi look beyond cut price when you see the prices being quoted now.
The Sun saying bids are: £10m Krul, £17m Cabaye, £22m Di Maria.
Still think if we’re going to spend big on a keeper it should be Begovic.
Fuckin hell. Talking to myself.
Thanks Cent, I just have a feeling that Arsene is going to surprise us pleasantly this week *. We deserve it and most importantly, he deserves it. We just need to avoid any mistakes and finish the job with Fener first.
*giving Dortmund whatever they ask for Gundogan and Reus will do it in my book.
Poor Pardew isn’t going to sleep tonight – another player getting his head turned.
Pardew said today: “we’ve got big clubs unsettling our players”.
Suggests there might just be something in the Krul thing.
N7, I think we missed it with Mignolet. But, I agree, of those available now Begovic is the obvious choice.
Good keeper – can’t see it myself. Another Shay Given / Sebastian Frey epic methinks.
Just seen on Twitter rumours of doubts over Begovic’s mental strength.
Sounds an Arsenal keeper all over. What are we waiting for?
Mark Hughes to sell us a player? That’ll be a first.
I think a keeper is a must, but please not Krul.
Chips ball towards penalty spot.
I think Charlie Wyett’s goalkeeping coach contacts may stop talking to him.
Banggggggggggggg
Goallllllllllll
Well in Pip. Tabs’d it Steve.
Check out Alan??????
If i said i had my bat aloft and just kissed my helmet, would that be wrong?
Heh,,,,,strategic approach there, mate 🙂
Still confident that come the morning…..
You just have to time these runs.
Bath. It’s not just all about the width.
😀
Wouldn’t have expected anything else, Pip 😉
I thought it was all about the depth!
F*cking hell! Where did all these drinks come from?
Well in, Pip!
Nice assist, Bath.
Lurky, I think he will surprise us too, I’m not convinced it will be those two you mentioned though.
N7, I really doubt we will get another ‘keeper, especially with Fabianski seemingly staying put, Cabaye and Di maria look very much possible to me.
BTW, what’s your Twitter handle?
Krull, Cabaye and Di Maria would be very very disappointing. If you are after a keeper to push your first teamer, Krul is not the answer to that. If you want a top quality defensive midfielder, Cabaye is the opposite of that, and Di Maria… well at the price quoted Madrid will chuckle. They supposedly value him at £30m+
In so many ways Pip, but hey, those who can, can.
Holic. Lets get shot of Alan and settle this once and for all.
If Krul and Cabaye are really targets you would have to ask why they were not brought in 10 weeks ago???? Unless of course it is media shite of plan H from our perspective????
Cynic,
As I said above, we aren’t looking for a DM. We are looking for midfielders that can slot in at all 3 midfield positions. Is that going to backfire? Possibly but I don’t think we want a DM, otherwise we would have signed a M’Villa, Wanamaya, Capoue or Fellaini by now. They were all available and we passed on them all. Cabaye fits into the mold of a Ramsey, Arteta or Wilshere. Good skill and most importantly a possession type player.
That’s my thoughts at least.
If we just want a jobbing midfielder, then don’t spend £15m+ on Cabaye, sign up Flamini and use the money elsewhere
I think you are correct NorCal – MA8 was a creative MFer before we needed him to change his role.
Cent, those two from Dortmund are not the ones I think we’ll get, that’s why they are The surprise.
Like I said, as the things stand, I would put my money firmly on Rooney.
and then there is Mata?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-line-up-juan-mata-2218348?
It’s like the week before Christmas and Hamley’s has sold out of Buzz Lightyears.
Heh, but there’s still Harrods’ basement to visit.
Yeah, ummmmm well…
Ok then.
The pints I have had tonight have knocked me for six, so if you want some insightful and really well thought-through stuff, well… then look elsewhere 🙂
If you look at the average position of our 3 central midfielders this year they are almost on top of one another, each tracking forward and back, leaving the flanks for the fullbacks and wingers exclusively. The only difference is that when Santi plays on the wing he also drifts inside.
I think AW has moved away from a true DM and wants all three CM to be good technical players. The problem arises in that usually means smaller players and thus we give up size. Diaby was the only one that has height and good (>90%) passing skills. What will be our undoing with this is when we get pressed high up the pitch and pushed off the ball thus losing it in dangerous areas. Ramsey has improved in this area and Arteta was generally good too but Santi and Jack still get pushed off the ball, or in Jacks case, hacked off the ball.
Cheers
Fair enough, Lurky.
Good stuff, Lars.
Good points, Norcal.
NorCal – maybe he thinks Cabaye has the strength to handle that challenge.
Drink loads of water and chew some sugar lumps Lars. 🙂
Lars. Are you suggesting that anyone would actually notice the difference?????
I agree Bath. I don’t think Cabaye, Rooney, di Maria and Sakho would be a bad window. But we are sure leaving it late. 😉
NorCal: I think you are onto something as it relates to the DM position. It makes perfect sense. I think Arsene sees the big, physical, ball winning DM as antiquated. This is why he seems to like Gundogan et al.
I think Begovic would be a better signing than the injury prone, time wasting Krul.
I would certainly favour a mega bucks raid on Dortmund.
As much as I like Mata I really don’t see anything in that I must say. Looks a bit of lazy journalism to me.
Geoff Boycott’s mum would be a better signing than Krul
Dortmund are not going to sell anyone. They know that they are probably playing for second in the league but they won’t want to lose any players at this point. Damn them. They made a choice to keep Lemondoski for the last year of his contract just to keep competitive. That is a 35M pound loss just to stay within touching distance of Bayern for one year. I don’t think they feel like they need to sell anyone.
Nor will their players feel the need to leave either – playing for ECL Finalists and still competitive in Bundesleague and ECL. No sense in leaving. Pity Goetze didn’t see it that way.
Royston Drenthe has ended up in the Championship with Reading. Real Madrid to the Mad Stad.
Dortmund may decide to do business if it stops Lewandoski heading to Bayern. Especially if 40 million is put on the table???? Lets be honest, if we can offer that for Suarez then surely that amount is worth a punt on Lewandoski????????
Heh@129!
(and on that note, I am orf to bed!)
He wouldn’t come. He did an interview earlier this week explaining why he had rejected moves to Chelsea and United and Real Madrid. He wants to stay in Germany because he thinks it will the best place to play for the next five years.
In fairness he is probably right.
We are struggling. I still think we made one massive fuck up not getting the Higuain deal over the line. That is one that we should have pushed the boat out for, paid the extra if necessary and got it sorted. Apart from getting a top quality striker in early it would also have sent the right message out to others. At the moment I still think we look weak and vulnerable.
Cannonball, ignore the troll, he will be back under his rock by morning.
Pls if anyone is re-watching/re-watches the game I’d like to know the Arsenal player who attempted to make contact with the ball when Gibbs flashed a shot across Fulham’s six-yard box, I think it was in the 1st half, not sure though. Thanks in advance.
Looks like Flamini is going to have to trim some of that pasta off before he’s ready for our midfield again –
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/giant-haystacks-1981/Memory/43fc786f-fc89-415f-9152-a00b0145276c
So i said 3-0.
Close!! But. No cigar.
Love me some Poldi. Yeah yeah Poldi baby!!!
OG will do 25. Poldi will do 20. Feo better get his act together … But Feo is the man. He will do 20 plus.
Oh yes – sagna: high grade titanium. No doubt.
Were gonna win some shit this year …. YEAH!!!!!
Ha ha ha Trev @144 – you should’ve seen him BEFORE he started working out Chez Wenger…
@144: Haha! He knows how to wear some mean fur though 🙂
And it looks like he can plug the holes in midfield and defence without moving so that’s a plus!
Fair’s fair, Trev (drink #5) it was me calling for greater use of our 28yo German with 111 international caps in #31 in previous drinks.
Well it happened today and he proved us right.
BUT, would you believe it, I transferred him out of my fantasy team earlier in the week following the rumours of his possible exit! Bugga.
Oskar
Great win, but I wish I could be more sanguine regarding our transfer aspirations. Once bitten and all that.
I think the gaffer thinks we might be able to make the January window in a competitive league position. I don’t agree, but alls I can do is enjoy the wins.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Na Na Na nananana, nananana Giroud!
He’s a sexy bitch I tells ya…
BMBD
POacher’s finish.
You Ropey League a bit less ropey this week than last in my case. Go Table Pingers!
Great stuff ‘holic! Hear, hear!
Our first 11 and squad are genuinely not far off from now being the perfect blend of experienced senior quality and experienced youthful quality now that all the chaff and guff have been ditched! Our attacking and defensive cohesion away from the Grove are the best in Europe! Unbeaten away from home since the Spuds last term and victorious in our last 8 outings away from the Ems!
4 quality signings before the 2nd Sept, aligned with sensible squad rotation in all competitions to keep all happy, and we have the makings of a highly successful season! In Arsene we trust! COYBG!
Cheers ‘holic.
Ramsey was outstanding yesterday I though. Great to see Poldi score and Giroud keep it up. Also Sagna is one hell of a defender.
Great 3 points.
Pangloss @ 28:
Drink accepted graciously and returned forthwith!
I am not nuts, well not really, just nuts about The Arsenal. I am well aware that I can be passionate (overly so?!) frustrated (overly so?!) and even joyous (overly so?!) but nothing, I repeat, NOTHING will EVER make me think twice about who to support or why I do so.
Not the greatest fan we’ve ever had, but I like to think that I am far from the worst.
Steve T and I have a genuine love for the club and that is why it hurts when the obvious to “us” doesn’t appear to be obvious to all.
All that said, I think (and these “crazy thoughts” are coming from a VERY reliable source) that the next 10 days may well see a HUGE change in EVERYTHING we think about AW, IG et al.
Vamos a ver!!! 😉
Countryman 100 @ 80:
100% agree with you there. I was part of TTF for a very long time and got really and truly sick and tired of hearing about how the support away from home was better than at home. And we are talking about the days before, during and after the Highbury Library” too.
No doubt, our away support is, if not the best, one of the best in the country, but our home support certainly has a fair bit of “go” in it too.
Problem for me has been spending too many seasons feeling like we weren’t going to actually win anything anyway, so why bother singing so loud. Not saying that I portook (I know that isn’t a word ‘Holic, but it fecking well should be!) in said semi-silence, but I understand how it can happen. If the club isn’t doing all it could/should to build a winning team, why should we cheer it like it actually might be capable of bringing home a trophy.
Complicated stuff and topics of conversation for those far more qualified than I to involve themselves in!
For now, let’s just keep getting behind the boys and hope that the hat still has a little magic left in it!
boilk
Top top day out, good game and great company.
Was totally lucky to get a seat under the roof though, I hope poor snowy didn’t freeze do death on the way home.
Monsoon (a lot easier to bear when you win though)
Fine write up, Holic. Almost as good as being there but definitely not quite. Super Gunners. Crisis? I don’t think so. Should be three out of three but for that ludicrous penalty and Kos sending off vs Villa.
Nice easy intro for Sanogo. Hope to see Gnabry, Zelalem and maybe Frimpong in the flesh on Tuesday night.
In case anyone hadn’t noticed home ‘atmosphere’ is an issue for every club these days.
All seater stadia, loud music and pa systems drowning any chance of getting the singing going early, Make up of the ‘audience’ and a change in expectation of fan behaviour.
Generally only the away supporters are allowed to stand because the stewards don’t have the sanction of depriving them of future home tickets. Also being in the minority encourages louder vocal support to make up for that imbalance.
Anyway, good morning 🙂
Morning ‘Holic 🙂
I had planned to be at the Fenerbahce on Tuesday if my working hours next week were favourable (finish at 7pm 🙂 ), but I’ve been underpaid -_- Very typical, I think I’ll have to settle for a swift walk up the road to the Tollie instead.
Ahh, there’s our great Stadium in my eyeview on the way to work 🙂 One of the ‘perks’ of the job 😉
If any of the matchday regulars knows of a cheap spare for Tuesday or sees one floating about on Twitter, do let us know 🙂
Will probably be too late to get one assigned to my Membership Card, will have to check when I get home.
Work time, later for now Holics.
Cheers ‘holic. Great post, great result.
Nice to see the balance shifting to the ever so slightly more positive. More evidence yesterday that a hard working footballing triumvirate of any of Arteta, Ramsay, Wilshire, Rosicky, Carzola, Oxelaide Chamberlain and who knows Cabaye would be a match for any side in Europe. If we get Cabaye I see no reason for further central midfield re-enforcements.
Agree with N7 that Sanga actually could be quite special at Centre Half. How about Sanga and Coz together? No lack of pace there. And Sanga has a big spring so height no issue. Flammini would be a very sensible move as a squad player. TV back and we have all the cover we need although that big bloke at PSG still looks like a big plus.
As for up front – let’s see. If RM keep Benzema then Suarez will not be going there. Any price a deadline day deal? Otherwise I say stick Arsene. There is nothing that looks like ‘special special quality’ that is going to be available as far as I can see. Hold your cards until the next round.
Yeehaaaa!!! I have to admit to being worried about Fulham as they never seem pushovers but what a fantastic result.
The quick counter-attacking football was something I haven’t seen this team do for a long time. Yeh sure, you can say Fulham’s setup allowed us to do that but I’m sure we haven’t counter attacked like that for a few years whether we were given the space by the opposing team or not.
I may of course be wrong on that.
Theo looks constantly dangerous, he could give any left back bad dreams at the mo. Poldi – utter, utter lunacy if he goes anywhere this season. The HFB, what can I say? Looks a proper handful for any defence right now…
Could we get away with just a defender and a midfielder in the last minute buys???
Hold your cards until next round…hmm. When the next round arrives, I’m sure there’ll be good reason to bank his fire then as well.
In life as in poker, sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate.
BMBD
Lonestar, pls what’s the meaning of BMBD?
That is an unpleasant surprise: I left home hurriedly to catch my flight after watching the game. Now wanted to see the highlights on Arsenal Player but apparently ‘The Video is not authorized for your location (US)’ , that is the message I get from my hotel room. I have a fully paid red level online membership and have never had this problem before in the last few seasons. I can watch the CL highlights, can watch the press conferences, can watch highlights and games in PL from last season.
Do any of you other stateside gooners face this problem?
Dr F, you’re not alone, the info from the club is that people outside Europe can only watch it from midnight(UK time) today.
Cent@164 – It stands for “Barcelona must be destroyed”. I think Lonestar provided a description sometime last season, but it might have been the one before as far as I remember.
I tried a poncey Latin translation of ‘Manchester United must be destroyed’ to show where my priorities lay for a while last year, but a) got bored with having to explain it and b) got fed up with typing it at the end of posts.
Pangloss.
Maybe the solution is to try a Latin translation of Tottenham Hotspur must be destroyed. Or an ancient Greek translation of Fenerbace must be destroyed. Other ideas are of course welcome. 🙂
Yeehaa, wee won.
Thoughtful, balanced stuff ‘h – ta.
BMBD = barca must be destroyed
Lonestar has a soft spot for the Catalons.
Yeah, I don’t know why the highlights are being held longer, part of the new TV contract?
Heh @ Pangloss. Cheers all.
8ball – a Greek translation of Fenerbahce must be destroyed, provocative stuff there. Isn’t it a bit late to start talking about Totnum must be destroyed? Surely it was done years ago and has been repeated regularly ever since?
(Crosses fingers and mutters incantations to ward off the evil eye for next weekend.)
lolling at City
Cynic, stop. Don’t jinx it.
Oooo, a third, sorry Cynic, go ahead. C’mon you bluebirds
Shit and poo. Jinxed it.
Somebody tell City to spend some fucking money!!!
SPEND! SPEND!! SPEND!!!
heh I see Man City just lost
Well beaten.
see the Spuds chimp has passed on his diving skills before he left
Me @ 153:
“Complicated stuff and topics of conversation for those far more qualified than I to involve themselves in!”
…or we could just leave it to ‘Holic! 😉
Talking to yourself now, TW? I’m gong to have to stop buying you the good stuff.
I am getting very frustrated with a lot of people I have spoken to today. Firstly they believe that if there isn’t gossip about signings nothing is happening. As we are the most secretive of clubs that is a silly position to take . Secondly there is too much euphoria after two wins against average teams just as there was too much despondency after one game last week where the refereeing skewed the outcome . We live in a world of instant judgement and opinions and some of it is puerile.
I thought we had a lot of our rhythm back yesterday and it will be important to try to maintain our momentum with a positive performance on Tuesday night . If Wenger can add some quality signings before the NLD we will go into it in good shape. No news might make the natives a bit restless
Drinks on the bar Norcal, Pangloss, and 8ball for the explanations.
I probably should give Farca a break, but I fear I am a vengeful soul.
What a great scalp for Cardiff…and a warning for us when we travel there this year. Too bad Swansea couldn’t get out of their own way against the scum.
Ashley Williams sure looked like poo to me. I don’t understand our linkage with him. Michu didn’t look much better either. But what do I know?
BMBD
Lonestar: I thought the same thing when I saw Ashley Williams today. 12 million pounds for that rubbish? No thank you. I’d rather they use that money to extend Sagna’s contract as he’s at least 5 times better than that trash.
80Countryman100
With all due respect sir, against Villa there were grown people who were abusing the manager as if he had killed their mothers. Walking out with 25 minutes to play. And you could see in their faces that they werent ok in the head. I dont know if its the alcohol or if they have fallen victims of media and trolls taunting them, but there is a wrong atmosphere at the ground. We make our players feel as if theyre playing with their backs on the wall. Some fans make every game a trial for the manager. As if he is in court and has to answer for crimes committed. Not right. Im also at the north bank but a bit to the side block 96 and i had three or four idiots in close proximity shouting ‘spend some fucking money’ from minute 1. Makes me feel very uncomfortable..the wrong look or words and its a fight ready to happen. That cant be right.
Ian Holloway’s job is supposedly under threat after two matches. I’m not surprised really. All he wants to sign is strikers, and the latest on his radar is Bendtner.
Mad impish bastard.
Ian Holloway’s teams don’t have problems sticking goals in. Its keeping them out. When he managed Blackpool in the Premiership they had the seventh best goals-for record in the league (scored as many as the neighbours in fact). But they had the worst goals against tally and second worst goal difference.
Cannonball @187 agreed. Well said.
There are some very irascible people in the ground who really should find something else to do because they clearly don’t enjoy following Arsenal. Maybe they could kill two birds and book a therapist for match day
Perhaps they have been so naturally successful throughout their lives and careers and won every game of whatever kind they’ve ever played that they cannot understand that football is a game in which shit happens and the other team is actually trying to win as well, that football clubs have to be run in such a way that they do not go bankrupt when they take the financial risk of building a new stadium in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
They might do well to remember that everyone at Arsenal is trying their best to win things, that the team need support on the field (and don’t need ‘fans’ who leave when there are still 20 minutes to go) that the manager is trying to put together a team of champions and has been betrayed by several young men in whom he placed great hopes and that supporters are supposed to ‘support the team’, i.e. help not hinder.
Rant over.
Cannonball and Bath, well said, both of you.
Well the bad atmosphere in the ground is entirely down to the press, who have brainwashed the fans according to the manager. It’s nothing to do with eight years of losing, asset stripping the team and making healthy profits on sales in just about every transfer window, it’s the fault of John Cross and co.
Feel the same way as Cannonball @187 does. I fear that although Narcissism in High-Functioning Individuals can go undiagnosed for years because it is often tolerated and dismissed as big egos, Narcissism in Low-Functioning Individuals is becoming more and more evident amongst football supporters. We can all moan and whine about our teams (actually, I moan and whine more about the referees), but the vitriol towards Arsene Wenger and Arsenal is reaching pathological levels. Pathological Narcissism results in megalomaniac delusions of grandeur making one believe that one is entitled to special treatment that is wholly disproportionate to one’s station or accomplishments. While a ticket holder certainly can hope and wish for a better team, that doesn’t mean that should the manager (or chief negotiator-in-Law) fail to deliver for whatever reasons, the manager’s face should be smashed in. After all, nobody held a gun to anybody’s head to buy a ticket, and after years of not being able to compete with Chelski and Man City financially, it’s not like anybody was not amply warned that the team wouldn’t be as deep as theirs. As for that idiot Gazidis bragging about how many wads of cash he had stuffed in his underwear, caveat emptor and all that. It’s not like one doesn’t have the option to support a club whose third string team probably cost more than Cardiff had spent in its entire history. Anyway, I have to say that I hugely appreciate Goonerholic’s site precisely because almost overwhelmingly the criticisms are intelligent and reasonable. And as for the praise, well, some of the eloquence to be found in ‘holic’s blog and in the drinks is sometimes quite extraordinary.
Cynic, 192, I knew I didn’t have to wait too long for someone to take those quotes out of context or interpret it the way you just did.
Cent’Berry@194, I think the actual quote was as follows:
“The media in general has brainwashed a little bit the Emirates…maybe rightly so, I don’t know…But being responsible in life means doing things in life you think are right, and not to react to things people say. If you do what these people do, you lift your fist up one minute, and a half second later, you pull your fist down, and then a half second later you lift your fist up and then pull your fist back down. I think these people do this repeatedly and very often, but I don’t know.”
Bstrum, I read the article, this is the full quotes:
“Look, we lost one game since the beginning of March,” Wenger said. “That’s why it was a shock. But we won in the Champions League at Bayern Munich. We won at Fenerbahce. It is just like that at the moment. The media in general has brainwashed a little bit the Emirates [stadium]. Maybe rightly so, I don’t know, because we haven’t won trophies for years [so] everything is negative. But we have to live with that and focus on playing well.
“But being responsible in life means doing things in life you think are right, and not to react to things people say. If you listen always to what people say you go in five minutes one way and then, 10 minutes later, you go the other way. When you have responsibility you have to just focus on making the right decisions and if they are not right you say: ‘Sorry, I’m wrong.’ When we lose a game, I’m wrong. This is not a personal trip. This is about doing things well for the club I love and I am happy we are back on track.”
Nice post @193, Bstrum.
Pre-assist
Assist…goodnight all.
Ping.
BMBD
Thanks for the assist ‘Cent.
Unfortunately, after watching the scum today, I must admit in all honesty that AVB has brought in a couple of talented horses. Capoue, Dembele, and Lloris all would look better in red.
I think this weekend’s fixture, unfortunately, could all come down to referee decisions. The scum have some capable weapons…so do we. I favor our back four to theirs, but I think the advantage is marginal (one hiccup with Bacs or Kos and we would be in deep shite.
5-2 sounds about right to me…
G’nite all.
BMBD
Ponged it.
Were all being so nice to cynic. Does my heart good.
He tries. Really tries to spread vitriol. Seems not to work tho n
I mean, ya dont pick on the weakest kid at the playground right?
Glad to be in on the ping pong game. Still singing in the rain up here in the steaming north woods. That is, I wish it were raining to cool things off.
Interesting that after just two games there are only four teams who haven’t dropped points already, and one of those is yet to play their second game. Meanwhile we have leapt from 17th to 8th, just like that! Top 4 after next weekend?
Oskar
You leave Cynic alone, Homer, he brings an almost (dare I say it) Homeric level of jaded negativity to our bar, without which we gooners would have even less to laugh about when results don’t go our way.
I think he’d make an excellent cricket umpire…
Oskar
Really disagree with blogs today when he says that it’s irrelevant what happened last season (ie our having gone unbeaten since early March) when it comes to the negative reaction to a defeat.
By that logic, why the booing and calls for the manager’s head? We’ve only lost one game? Would we have wanted him sacked after a single defeat it we’d won the title? Should any club that loses its opening game boo the players and call for the manager’s head.
What blogs is effectively saying (and I say this as someone who has generally agreed with him over the last decade) is that it’s irrelevant what happened last season, apart from the bad stuff. And that’s a shitty yardstick by which to measure a club and manager.
For what it’s worth, I think the reaction to the Villa result was way over the top (even if I understand it) I think certain bloggers were dragged into the maelstrom of negativity by their constituents and I think they probably now recognise, in private at least, that they went a little too far a little too early.
Kudos to the proprietor of this particular blog for keeping his head when all about him were losing theirs. Gave us a measured, sensible view, clearly highlighting our problems, but stopping short of “we’re fucked and heads must roll” after a single game of the season.
N7
I think the run we had at the end of the season and the City pre- season win had built expectation but at the same time there was massive fan resentment over the lack of inwards transfer activity. Around me against Villa the world was a wonderful place for twenty minutes and by the end of the game Wenger needed to be strung up. But football has always been like this the trouble is now that as Bloggs says there is so much media to fill people keep recycling and expanding their positions.
I think last season’s run showed me that we have the nucleus of a good team and a reliable defence but we all know that the squad needs strengthening in a number of positions simply because it is not adequate numerically for a whole season.
We hope and pray that there is a plan in place. A successful week will enable us to go into the NLD looking like a club with a strategy. Sadly the swampies look very much like that so let’s hope we can address the key issues proactively not on the basis of grabbing numbers for the sake of it at the end of the window
TTG
Agreed. I could totally understand the frustration after the Villa game, hell – I felt some of it myself. But the idea that each new season has to be assessed totally in isolation (as blogs appears to suggest) is palpable nonsense.
The bad stuff that has happened over the last 8 years is clearly held against the manager and players. That being the case, you can’t simply wave away the observation that we’ve lost one competitive game since early March. It’s all context, and it’s all relevant.
I think there are good reasons for the fans to feel uneasy, but I also think that (of late) most of them have to do with what’s going on off the field. I have very little problem with our on-field efforts in recent months. It’s an important distinction to keep in mind, because it might help everyone reflect that the players’ recent efforts deserve a bit of recognition – they’re the ones who leave the field to a chorus of boos, but it’s not like they can force the club to spend.
I should add that none of the above will be an excuse if the clubs fails to strengthen in the next week. But I do think blogs might have done better to put his hands up and cop to a little bit of overreaction last week.
I feel compelled to own to a certain respect for Cynic. He adopts a completely consistent approach to all news, good or bad. Furthermore, he not only appears to understand exactly his contribution is to this fine establishment, he has the good sense and decency to announce it with his moniker.
At least a couple of regular drinkers here who rarely miss an opportunity to contribute their little bit to the pool of negativity show a lack of understanding of thier actions that would not be amusing in a toddler. If only they could find it within themselves to follow Cynic’s lead with regard to consistency and good sense.
A drink for Cynic please, barman – to remain on the bar until just before his return, at which point you may consume it yourself before you greet him with a nonchalant whistle while washing and wiping up the glass.
COYG
N7 above – I completely agree with your observations regarding lack of consistency amongst Arsenal bloggers.
I also agree with TTG’s remarks about the strength of the team’s nucleus and the need to strengthen.
I would like, however, to disagree about the possesion, by the LWCs, of a strategy. What they have demonstrated during the transfer window, is the possession of a plan. That plan has been to spend the money that they were likely to make from the sale of Gareth Bale’s contract, and they have implimented that plan very successfully. Several things have yet to be determined, notably a) whether their execution of the plan was well done and will be successful; and b) whether they have longer term plans in place so that, as a whole, they can be said to have a strategy.
If fans are angry you can only blame events on the field and lack of action off it. Sorry if that little fact annoys people on here, but you can blame refs, the press, the pitch, the ball, the wind, the rain or anything else.
No serious “top” club anywhere else in the world would put up with eight years without winning anything and be preparing to give the same manager another contract. To some, sticking with Wenger is a virtue and I would actually agree IF he was also making the best of the resources given to him and there was light at the end of the tunnel.
And yeah, I can see improvement in this team which only adds to the frustration at having a manager who has still ended up with a significantly weaker squad than last season, despite everyone (even him) saying all those years of selling and making profits are over because we have huge money to spend.
They really do bring it on themselves, Gazidis and Wenger. If you go around telling everybody you mean business and you’re going to do this and that, fucking do it. And if you don’t, and you lose tamely at home to a team that was lucky to escape relegation last year, don’t be shocked if people are pissed off in the aftermath and vent a bit.
To say the press is making people unhappy is a joke. Eight barren years and the loss of so many good players is entirely to blame. Why is the fan base split? Why are their physical altercations and a stinking atmosphere at home games?
One reason sits on the bench. One in the directors box.
there not their
The LWCs may have a plan, or even a strategy, but only Liverpool have a Project.
If only Brendan Rodgers could somehow be coerced into talking about it a little more.
Cynic
How much weaker is the first team squad than this time last year?
Off the top of my head we’ve lost Gervinho, Coquelin, Miquel and Santos and gained Sanogo, Zelalem, Flamini (by the sounds of it) and Monreal.
A little weaker, perhaps, but not massively so. We have more injuries than we did a year ago, certainly – no question of that. And perhaps he should spend to fill some of those gaps.
Not disagreeing with you, just thinking out loud. None of the above is to say that he doesn’t need to spend this week.
Fenerbache will be missing Mehmet Topal, Emre Belözoglu & Joseph Yobo from the return leg at Arsenal. The trio are injured.
I would like if we could approach tomorrow’s game with seriousness. I am sure that Arsene will, not so sure about the players. We need to avoid being stupid and let an early goal bring nervousness in our display. Staying determined and focused is all I want, the job isn’t done yet.
If we go through I am satisfied with this summer so far. I always said that qualifying for the CL is all that matters till September.
Well… you cannot say Sanogo is a gain as he’s played a few minutes for the first team where he’s barely touched the ball, Zelalem the same.
I don’t want to hear anything about how great they are going to be, because we’ve been hearing it for years and it is very very rare for any of them to do anything for Arsenal other than lighten the bank balance by drawing a salary.
We’ll see what they do, but can you seriously say Sanogo IS an upgrade on Gervinho? No. Not until he proves it.
We are in a shit state squad wise and if you’re really going to argue that point, don’t bother trying to with me. Take it some of the more informed bloggers, like Arseblogger or even try to persuade Holic that this squad is as strong, or stronger, and I doubt you would get any agreement.
Anyway, it’s too nice a day for this so I wish you all a good Bank Holiday and all that. Gardening to do. 🙁
Cynic, what part of “not disagreeing with you” and “none of the above is to say that he doesn’t need to spend this week” made you think N7 was arguing that you are wrong? 🙂
Pangloss
I can see your point and you make it well and I don’t want to get hung up on semantics but to me Spurs have a strategy of incremental improvement- ie sustain a continuous programme of improving the squad by getting better players in to replace existing incumbents. To facilitate this they have developed a structure that seems to have allowed them to buy and sell very efficiently with Baldini as the technical director. This seems a much better working model than ours where there is an element of dysfunction.
Where Spurs have escaped censure quite unjustifiably while we are pilloried for it is that their strategy is dependent on them being a selling club. Carrack,Berbatov, Modric and Bale have all been sold for top dollar to finance a wider range of acquisitions. We have had to do the same given our financing burden fir the new stadium whilst their pain is to come. It will be interesting to see if their strategy survives the building of heir new Adium,whenever that is!
But you are quite right to point out hat w don’t know if he acquisitions are any good yet. It looks like they have bought wisely but it is a bit too soon to tell.
Cynic
As I say, not nec disagreeing, just asking the question.
The squad feels a fair bit weaker to me, but when I look through what’s actually been lost and gained the gap isn’t quite so big. I agree that Sanogo, little more than a prospect right now, is unlikely to be as good a player as Gervinho, an established international.
I suppose my point is that he probably only needs to add one or two players this week for the squad to be, arguably, a little stronger than it was last August. Which would mean we’d be headed in the right direction, albeit in baby steps rather than giant leaps.
Enjoying the gardening – I’m painting fences myself.
TTG,
Thank you for your kind words, please have a drink with me.
What difference do you see between Spurs’ perceived strategy and our own? I don’t see any
We previously had a strategy of recruiting good prospects and growing them into excellent players who we would either sell on at a profit or integrate into our squad to improve it. This didn’t bear fruit, either because it is inherently flawed, or because we were peculiarly unlucky with the attitude of some of thoise good prospects, or because the prospects that we recruited weren’t quite as good as we thought/hoped they were. As far as I can tell, we have now adopted a strategy of buying in more talent than previously.
We are having more difficulty getting in better players because ours were better than Spurs’ to begin with. We have also had to cope with several players forcing their way out over the past couple of summers.
A further difficulty we are currently encounterng is that we want to bring in players who will perform well in the Champions’ League and such players are loth to commit themselves to a club that is not certain to play in the group stages. Last summer was the only one for several years when we have qualified without the need for a preliminary tie in late August. It was also the first time for several years that we have been able to bring in talent before late August.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a good perfomance by the team on the pitch tomorrow night, followed by good perfromances from the teams off the pitch from then until 23:00 next Monday.
With you 100% there Pangloss @222.
AW Presser responses:
“I don’t know
I can’t tell you that
Look, I cannot give you names because it would be unfair to the players who play for other clubs.
The most important thing in our jobs is what happens on the field.
I have no fixed date because the delays do not depend on us.
I believe that most important is to focus on the quality of the players we have.
If I want to add something, it has to be special.
I still am optimistic and I hope I will not disappoint you.”
Pangloss, knows @222.
Any signings yet ? Well I didn’t think so. Can someone let me know when this clowns make a signing
Afternoon all,
Pick of the above looks like ttg @220, Pangloss @222 and N7 @209 – all onli imho, of course.
Quite a bit of sympathy for Cynic’s views too, until the ‘getting rid of Wenger’ bit.
The nasty atmosphere at The Emirates is, I believe, directed almost wholly at the club’s management – not at the players, with one or two notable exceptions who have shown a lack of desire and application on the pitch.
Whilst I am mystified at the lack of timely transfer activity, I am prepared to wait until the end of the window to see what transpires, and whether we were indeed waiting on ‘top top top’ quality players to commit.
I do, also, keep coming up short of ‘blaming it all on Wenger’ mostly because the man has shown such loyalty to Arsenal in the face of offers from Madrid, Bayern etc. Whatever his shortcomings may be, the man on the touchline does not look to me like he doesn’t care. I find it impossible to decide whether or not he has been refusing to spend available funds.
The particularly nasty atmosphere at the end of the Villa game was, I think, down to a couple of factors.
Firstly, the keyboard warriors are now taking their new found ‘bravery’ and exceptional levels of aggression and vitriol into the stadium. Booing your own team is a stupid and counter productive thing to do, and the ‘targets’ don’t even know at whom precisely it is directed.
Second, Mr Gazidis has created this particular summer’s anger, which happens to end up on Arsene Wenger’s head, with his stupid outburst about our spending power, and how imminently we were all about to be so excited.
For those who have stopped counting, that was 11 weeks and 48 hours ago.
Well, stilldonttrustwenger, that is a really valuable contribution to the debate but just like MC Hammer I have only one thing to say to you:
Stop! Grammar time!
It looks like Poofters FC are in with quite an aggressive bid:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23841998
Good stuff, Trev.
What Cent said.
It is surely irrelevant whether we are a little stronger or weaker than last term. last terms team finished fourth. To win ANYTHING, is it not mind numbingly obvious that we will have to be considerably STONGER this time around, especially as teams that finished above us either have strenghtened, or will strengthen.Not to mention those other teams that finished close to,but below us.
The whole point of the frustration is not that we dont have a good chance of competing for fourth, but that we cannot,at time of writing, possibly be considered as title contenders.
Lets hope, with 8 balls attitude he never has a gay son or daughter ( the chances are one in ten). I am not gay,but am nevertheless insulted by “Poofters FC”
The Hurricanes are currently 4th in the Happy Train You Ropey League! Highest Team in the League without any ‘prohibited’ players… 8) Obviously, that means that the game that has just kicked off has no influence on my team, as it should be, shame I can’t say the same for the teams around me 😛
Sadly true Wind@233. We purists run our own private competition.
Its a tough path to follow Pangloss @ 234, but one worth traveling 🙂
Too true Wind@235. Virtue is its own reward.
I’d like to point out to any interested readers that Wind and I are available for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. Please get in touch via our agents Sue’em Grabbit and Run (Theatrical).
I thangk yew
Evening all. Some interesting stuff above I must say. For those prepared to wait until the end of the window I would suggest that with a week to go there is little choice in the matter now.
I am still of the view that the current state of the club is our own making. I have been saying for years now that we have suffered a lack of investment and mismanagement. No I’m not going to get into another debate. I firmly believe that for several years now we have had money to spend if we had so chosen to do so. For whatever reason we elected not to. In the last two seasons we have scraped into the top 4 on the last game of the season. We have gone out of cup competitions early and exited the Champions League with a whimper. Our current standing has been in decline for years now. We have seen several top, high profile players leave early and the fact is that as a club our stock has diminished. We are not as an attractive proposition to top players as we once were. Couple that with the increase in money at other clubs and you start to get a picture of why we have not completed the business that we so desperately need to compete.
I have no idea what the next week will bring, I can only sit and hope. But I genuinely fear for our future if the right moves are not made.
Wind, are you sure you checked out The Cents FC.
Same old, same old
Maureen with his boring brand of football…
United with the Chosen One instead of the Purple Nose, with referees on their side as usual.
Like watching a boring porn with so many cunts out there.
-. +?
Pangloss @ 237, heh!
Cent @ 239/241, I have checked them out, and I see Mignolet in Goal, Lucas in Right Midfield, and Aguero in the Left Wing Position, as Captain no less! And let us not forget Cech on the Bench… 8)
So we have Mugsmashers (x2), Blue Manc & Chav violations, what say you in response Cent?
Wind@ 242, does any of them qualify for the all damning status of ‘Cunt’?
Cent @ 242, I don’t make the ‘rules’ my friend, I just try to make everyone else adhere to them 🙂
But to answer your question, Cech qualifies with plenty to spare. He’s talked enough shit about Arsenal, not as much as Evra, but enough regardless.
Fair enough mate, Cech is leaving the team Asap, he hasn’t won me any points mind.
I noticed 😉
Is that the best the league has to offer??? Manure and Chavski are shit. That was 94mins of championship football.
Good result for us.
If Benitez was doing what Maureen was doing tonight the Chavski fans would throw chairs on him.
Rooney was the best player on the pitch by far. He could be such a great addition to our team.
Speaking of which, I wouldn’t mind if we try our luck with Mata or Kagawa. Great players both of them, would fit our style perfectly.
Lurky
I would crawl over broken glass to get Mata in an Arsenal shirt. He was one of the best players in the country last season. Too much of a footballer for Mourinho, evidently – probably doesn’t shine his boots well enough or something.
Lots of unhappy looking Madrid players tonight, by the way. Suspect one or two may leave this week.
Sadly I suspect that neither Manure nor Chav$ki are stupid enough to sell us a single quality player.
N7 @250 – why unhappy?
Are we the ‘mystery’ club in for Bale ?
Seems we are now only going to add ‘special’ players. Are they better or worse than ‘top top top’ quality ?
How should we know ?
My head hurts. 😉
Manure Trev – they are offering Levy what he wants. Well beaten path too.
Trev in 3-2-1
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Trev and Bath, PSG maybe?
It would be very stupid of Levy, but maybe he is prolonging the sale of Bale because he wants him in the squad for the NLD. Just a thought.
N7, I would crawl over broken glass with Mata on my back just to get him in an Arsenal shirt. But as we all know Maureen will never sell to Arsene, so, little hope there.