Perchance To Dream – A TaBS Special
Sep 8th, 2013 by 'holic
I could have done without knowing that my guest writer today was seven when we signed Alan Ball, for I remember being on that ‘must go’ football special to Nottingham to see his debut. I am however grateful to the whippersnapper that is takeabowson for another of his special guest posts. Enjoy.
Well, judging from the joy that has enveloped (most of) the fanbase since Mezut Ozil put his name on the dotted line, our “marquee” signing was certainly worth waiting for. The signing of Ozil is however but the latest of a line of signings designed to signal not just to the fanbase but to our competitors at large that The Arsenal are back. They perhaps had mixed success but they all carried that wow factor, and such was both their strategic and symbolic importance, they all have the capacity to take us back in time to when their signings were announced.
My first was Alan Ball. I’ll confess at the outset though, that this one passed me by a bit. Not so much wow as “meh” to use the modern parlance. I was approaching 7 and a quarter, and though I was a veteran of over a year’s worth of games, the intricacies of Ball’s pass and move game were largely lost on me. I was of course aware that he was a World Cup winner at a time when the England side enjoyed rather more nationwide prestige, but ultimately he was rather like one of those board games I received at Christmas as a child, potentially interesting but largely unfathomable. I thought he was good for no other reason than my father told me he was good. I do remember asking for a pair of white boots in an early attempt at solidarity with our new signing, but my request was politely though firmly declined on the rather spurious ground that I was not yet a World Cup winner. I suspect to this day that the real reason why I was not allowed to emulate my new hero was that Clarke’s didn’t sell white boots, but whatever the truth, the die was cast. Bally was not really for me and I would stay loyal to my heroes who had won the Double the year before. Who needs boring old Monopoly when you’ve already got Subbuteo? Who needs Alan Ball when you’ve already got Ray Kennedy?
Fast forward 5 and a half years and we were on holiday enjoying the many and varied delights of Hayling Island, when the back pages trumpeted the arrival of one Malcolm Macdonald, “Supermac”. It was an arrival befitting of the man, an outlandish story of private jets, secret and drunken meetings at the stately home of Denis Hill-Wood to outfox Tottenham, and the usual brazen proclamations of impending world domination from the man himself.
At 11, I was familiar enough with Macdonald’s searing pace and hammer-blow left peg for his signature to have me dancing in my junior speedoes. I was however uncomfortable. My father hated Macdonald. The merest mention of his name would have him harrumphing with apoplectic disdain. Two years earlier he had even cajoled me, against my better judgement, into supporting Liverpool against Newcastle in the Cup Final (a clearer case for ChildLine I find difficult to imagine) , simply because of the presence of Macdonald in the Newcastle line up.
I needn’t have worried. He emerged from behind his newspaper with the broadest of grins 🙂 “Marvellous news son, love a bit of confidence in my centre-forward. Fantastic player, reckon we’ll give the League a real go with Supermac on board”.
My father had undergone a Damascene conversion and Malcolm Macdonald had not even had to play a game to convince him. Such is football. In the event we only had 2 seasons of Supermac before he succumbed to Bandylegitus, but he infused the Club with a swagger at a time when the Club badly needed it, and helped usher in the Brady era with his goals and his brio.
To 1983 now, and I was on the cusp between school and University, whilst Highbury had once again settled down to a period of soporific indifference following the departures of Brady and Stapleton. Even the new Jumbotron screens and the fancy hooped socks had failed to dislodge the prevailing sense of decline.
Enter stage left Charlie Nicholas, a man possessed of a high wattage charisma, a street-wise intelligence, and a seemingly boundless capacity for goals. He was footballer as fashionista and the teenage Arsenal fans of my generation loved him for it. He gave Arsenal back what we had lost … glamour. Earring in? Done. Long hair at the back? Done. Goals? Hmm.
Charlie never hit the heights that we had all anticipated, but the North Bank never lost faith, and though he took far fewer games by the scruff of the neck than his talent warranted, his Arsenal career was punctuated by moments of brilliance, often against Tottenham. For those derby goals alone, Charlie deserved his moment in the brilliant Wembley sun as he scored the goals that secured our first trophy in 8 seasons. 4 months later, I saw Charlie’s last game, a dismal defeat at QPR. We knew that he would no longer be indulged, and we (probably) knew that the future was brighter without him, but even so, it was only the hardest of North Bank hearts that didn’t allow themselves one final backwards glance as the Bonnie Prince disappeared back to Scotland.
Off to 1995 now and a quick look at the TV before disappearing off for a law lecture. And there he was, miraculously holding up an Arsenal shirt. Dennis Bergkamp. What? Come again. “We’ve got Dennis Bergkamp!” Wow wow wow wow wow! We had grown used to the intelligent forward play of Alan Smith, but this was something else entirely. This was footballing intelligence dressed up in a little black dress and designer heels. This was the Rachel Riley of centre-forwards, the thinking fan’s crumpet.
At the time, the Club cried out for invention, for creativity, for genius. When Dennis appeared, our collective daydreams of glory knew no bounds, but few of those dreams will have matched the very real magic of what followed over the next decade. Joined by a Manager who had the imagination and intelligence to know how to release the genie bottle, Bergkamp, along with other masterful technicians – Henry, Vieira and Pires – prompted Arsenal to produce a brand of football which would have made my childhood eyes pop, and which ultimately redefined the Club. The pending statue of Dennis will immortalise his role in that transformation.
And so to the present day. Such was the ferocity of the Tollington celebrations in the wake of the victory over Tottenham, that when news first broke that Ozil to Arsenal was all but confirmed, I barely knew who I was , let alone where I was or what I was doing. Perhaps in time it will come back to me. Whatever, the Club needed it, Arsene needed it, and we needed it. Who knows how it will all turn out? For now, that all lies in the future. It is enough, for the moment, to remember where you were the day Mesut Ozil signed for the Arsenal. He is that good.
Salut.
279 Responses to “Perchance To Dream – A TaBS Special”
1st?
aha! 😀 nice post tabs:) and I will surely remember where I was when we signed German magician!:)
Hi Tabs. Love this post, particularly the reminder of exactly what I too felt about the wonderful Charlie. Here’s to the excitement of Mesut :-).
Nice. Mr 10%
Fifth – no trophy this post!
Fine memoir, Tabs. Most enjoyable, mate.
You are wasted as a Daily Fail pin-up.
Hi Poppet (if you’re still here!) 😛
It was nice to meet you in the Tollie before the NLD 🙂
Great post tabs, but this line – ” This was the Rachel Riley of centre-forwards” made it for me, top class mate 😀
Very nice TABS. You have hit all the right notes of hope, nostalgia and realism. I remember all of them, all too well. None really did much for us in the long run, Denis excepted.
Ball did more harm than good to the team, certainly.
Let’s hope Ozil is more Denis that Charlie.
Great post Tabs! Fuckin’ excellent to borrow a well known phrase.
Hello. Very nice to meet you too, and what a fabulous result to beat that lot … :-).
Great stuff tabs hope ozil can bring in some new silverware and fans that’s what Charlie done for me.
Excellent piece, I can’t wait for Ozil to pull on the shirt, the Interlull can’t end soon enough for me.
Excellent Tabs sir, excellent.
It is enough, for the moment, to remember where you were the day Mesut Ozil signed for the Arsenal.
I was here in my bar, here in the bar. 🙂
Got me wanting to grow my mullet again, TaBS 😉
@ 11, It always is 😉
Fantastic stuff, I can see a .com red blazer coming your way for that one!- really enjoyable that mate.
Great stuff tabs!
@15: Forget mullets holic, you should grow your moustache like a real Arsenal Gentleman 😀
I’ve been fighting a cold (and boredom) so I keep clicking on NewNow by reflex. Lots of stories coming out of the Bernabeu attempting to sully our new number 11’s name. They really are a piece of work across there, aren’t they?
These Özil stories have fully convinced me of Real Madrid’s Cuntery.
Whatever they may be, they’re clearly real mad 😉
*gets coat and red arsenal pullover and walks out the door
I only remember seeing Alan Ball once or twice at Highbury, tender age and all that.
My endearing memories of Macdonald are that of my mates and I sporting those wrist sweat band thingys, I even think I had a pair with Supermac printed on them, and chewing heartly on gum, just to emulate him.
I remember, like it was yesterday, although 24hours ago can be pretty foggy ;), the day that Charlie made his debut, Highbury was packed, the game itself was largely uneventful, but the moans from a few of the familiar faces I’d been standing with for a number of years at the side of the Clockend, mostly being – “where were you lot last year” is the thing that stuck in my mind. Come to think of it, that was one of the last times I stood in that area, making the graduation to full time North Banker that very season.
My first real “big transfer” memory had happened just a few years before, sandwiched inbetween the Mac and Nick purchases, It was the summer of 1980 and it had been sixteen months since Brian Clough had smashed the British transfer record and sent football in to the realms of crazy by forking out a million quid on Trevor Francis, but now it was our turn, we were about to join the big boys by splashing seven figures on a “star player”, a young lad who had done the bizz at QPR, an exciting talent by the name of Clive Allen.
I remember being really excited, as it was seen as a major coup, an attacking player that would excite and help us forget about the pain of losing Brady (NOTHING could take away that pain) every day, or so it seemed, there was photos and stoties about our new accusitition, there was ofcourse extra focus, him being the first milllion plus teenager, the rags couldn’t get enough of him, but all of a sudden he was gone without having even played??? (3 preseason games apart)
My younger self asked what the fuck happened?
He was swapped, with our back up keeper Paul Barron to Crystal Palace, for Kenny Sansom, booooooooooo, that’s not what we needed, that’s not what we wanted, we wanted a golden boy, a permed hair goldscoring demi god, not a flipping full back, we already had Rice and Nelson, I was utterly disgusted. I already had a scrapbook and posters on the wall, how could they do this to me? I was distraught.
Luckily it didn’t take long for me to come around, as Kenny Sansom proved to be one of the best full backs of his generation and Paul Barron, touted as a possible replacement for the great Pat Jennings, helped Palace to relegation. The only thing I remember about Allen the next season was that he scored a great goal that was disallowed, ha ha. Unfortunatly the whole experience had left him bitter and eventualy his hatred for Arsenal overwhelmed him and he completed his journey to the darkside by signing for the swampdwellers where he was schooled in the fine arts of cuntdom and how to cry like a bitch about handshakes.
Still, ’til this day remains one of the wierdest transfers ever.
Media whoring – another reason to wish the interlull to come to an end…..
Hah, only kidding mate – a welcome diversion. Great stuff. 8)
Mezut? 😉
Nice work Tabs.
I also remember fondly Charlie Nick’s penchant for scoring against the Spuds. One occasion particularly stands out for me.
Back in 1983 I had a cousin who made a few first team appearances for the Spuds (ouch). They were hosting the Arse for an 11.00am kick-off on Boxing Day 1983 and my cousin invited me to watch the game from the Spurs players/family section. Well, why not I thought.
Charlie had arrived in the Summer and had not really set the world on fire initially but, as you say, was immediately popular for a flamboyance not much seen around our team for a while.
When he put us 1-0 up after about 25 minutes I instinctively jumped up to celebrate – to some very strange looks from everybody seated around me. Oops! Spuds levelled soon after so 1-1 at half time and people seemed to have forgotten the stranger in their midst.
Early in the second half and Charlie ran on to a through ball and sublimely lobbed Clemence (who was a decent keeper) for a special second. I was up again and dancing and punching the air without a second thought until the adjacent natives, all still seated, again got a little restless and suggested that I maybe should be seated. ha ha ha.
However, feeling a bit sorry for my cousin next to me I tried to tone it down a bit for the rest of the game which we won eventually 4-2. Cue a hearty rendition of Jingle Bells etc.
Although Charlie never shined as often as we may have liked, I will always remember him for that particular Christmas present..
And thanks to you for reminding me.
UTA.
Great stuff, Tabs.
That’s some memory for an 11year old. I can barely remember what happened last season !
Just one concern.
That Wolfie character never lies far from the surface, does he ?
Only Wolfie could describe Dennis Bergkamp as the Rachel Riley of centre forwards, in a little black dress and designer heels – although I have to say I know what you mean.
And Supermac ? Isn’t that what you wear over your Speedoes ? 😉
Nice perspective on the Mesut signing. Thanks TABS.
Very enjoyable drinks they were that day, in this fine establishment.
Poppet,
Was waiting for a chance to say “Hi” that wouldn’t get lost in the TDD madness. Good to meet you before the NLD – come back soon, those other nutters need someone who can give them a drinking lesson. 😉
You know it Trev. I am officially a lightweight 😉
Ah, the Interdull – just to be different – is well and truly here and the good news is, it’s almost a month until the next one starts.
Does anyone other than Röy Hödgsön, Sepptic Blatter and Chelsea fans really give the faintest first tummy rumblings of a shit about these tedious interruptions to the real stuff.
The tone is well and truly set in the bar.
H2H is leading extra darts practice for his team, who are slowly perforating mocked up dart boards on posters of Bale and Redknapp.
Zico is sitting in one corner leafing through the latest additions to his collection, and mentally totting up how many pairs of shoes he had to compensate Roxette with for his latest jaunt to TNHOF.
And The Guvnor, by his own admission, is sitting in the other corner, thinking euphemistically about “regrowing his mullet”.
I leave you with that uncomfortable thought. 😉
Well done, TaBS.
BMBD
Hi Trev. It was very nice to meet you too. I will definitely come down later in the season, a couple of times. Ha ha re. the drinking pace, however my sprint drinking wouldn’t cut it all day – I don’t know how you all do it :-).
I will have to try lager and double lime to see if I can up the rate 😉
http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/becali-confirms-arsenal-transfer-close
– Ciprian Marica’s agent has revealed that his client is close to agreeing a deal to join Arsenal
…..Who?
Yes, Tabs did make the point that I had probably had a pint of lime … :-).
That just makes it all the more remarkable, Poppet 😉
Hahahaha ;-).
Cheers all, thank you very much for your very kind words.
Too many hehs to mention.
Poppet @3 – Haha, me too, worshipped Charlie. Used to watch games in those days just willing him to turn it on and score. Lovely fella too, he used to live in my neck of the woods and used to turn up in one of the local pubs head to toe in leather. He was always friendly and chatty with us oiks.
Bob @9 – Great to see you here Sir. Love your work over at Yogi’s place.
H2H @21 – Great memories mate. I suspect that we will never know the full truth behind Kenny Sansom’s transfer, whatever Terry Neill tells us to the contrary. As you say, it was certainly one of the weirdest.
Dr Z @22 🙂
Noosa @24 – Great stuff mate. I remember that game well. Good old Raphael Meade chipped in with a double too. I was in the Park Lane directly in line with Charlie when he did his familiar knees up Mother Brown celebration when he banged the second home. Needless to say we were going berserk. Something for you mate …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgHH8Elh1Ss
Trev @25 – Haha, Mac and Speedoes? De Rigeur mate, de rigeur. 🙂
And as for the memory, I think you need to drink more mate. Aide memoire innit 😉
Right, I’m off to the Barbers with ‘Holic. We might even squeeze in a couple of double lime Lagers if we’re lucky 😉
Heh Trev.
That’s actually not that far from the truth.
Friday evening during the full international programme I had the TV on and switched through various games, I personaly wanted to watch Arsenal’s feeder country Germany, one guy on the bar was half interested in the Oranje game, but in the end it ended up on the England game, untill HT when if got a bit busier, including members of my dart team who came in to practice for next weeks opener, so we switched to watch the second half of Estland v NL. Pretty entertaining, for me anyway, as the Dutch lead by some bloke who plays for the Mancs, put in one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen, only managing to scrape a draw thanks to the gift of an extra time penaalty rewarded for….. well I’m still not really sure.
Anyways, with the beer in full flow, as we were watching the highlights of the other games, Spain and Wales both made an appearance and the talk switched inevitatably to the Bale transfer. A pretty touchy subject amongst Dutch tax payers, I can tell you. Not one can understand how a team with so much debt that is funded by a bank that is being kept afloat by cash being pumped in from the Eurozone (ie NL and Germany) be allowed to make such a purchase, and how in all things holy is Bale ever worth that amount. They are even more surprised that Real let Özil go, madness they called it.
To sum up, a good few drinkypoo’s, RvP looking 2nd rate, an ex Spud the subject of ire and kudos to the gooners for getting one of the best players on the planet.
I’ve had worse Fridays. 🙂
I can certainly vouch for the fact that your lager and double lime was truly extraordinary Poppet 🙂
Great stuff, Tabs! Can someone please explain Supermac’s odd transfer fee? And why was a third of a million not rounded properly to an odd number rather than rounded UP to an ultimately incongruous 333,333.34?
I get the distinct impression that my drink of choice is not going to catch on in this rather more sophisticated bar – fair enough ;-).
BB @ 33
Aparently he’s just ended a contract with Schalke. Must admit he never registered on my rader.
Here’s more info courtesy of Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciprian_Marica
Pint of Lager and double lime?
I was thinking of ordering one, but it sounds absolutly vile.
Better make it two pints just in case. 😉
I’ll have you know that it’s delicious H2H … :-).
bstrum – Cheers. No idea as to the answer to your question, but suspect that Newcasle badly needed the extra penny 😉
Poppet – Haha 🙂
😆
Can we get back to the real football pls
re: H2H@38, I believe the Bankia Group, when looking for a bailout in late 2011, tried to offer Real Madrid players as collateral. Between the Spanish banks’ unquestioning funding of Real Madrid and Barcelona and the Spanish government’s overt bailing out of Madrid through buying their training grounds for an exorbitant amount, it’s puzzling why Spanish practices regarding Real Madrid and Barcelona were not excoriated during the ECB bailout of their banks. It wasn’t too long ago that Barcelona couldn’t even pay their players’ salaries (and even had to curtail their use of photocopiers) before Catalan banks bailed them out. But maybe the fact that Real Madrid were forced to sell us Özil is suggesting the first hints of a new reality…
ha ha ha Tabs re: extra penny – considering we only got two years out of him, we wuz robbed!
bstrum – Haha 🙂
The Spanish question is, as you outline, hugely baffling. I remember reading somewhere that Madrid were also massively backed by the Spanish Royal Family. No idea if that’s true or not, but it might provide half an explanation for their continuing profligacy.
I recall hearing, on some quiz programme a year or two back, the question “What is taken to the FA Cup final every year but never used”. The answer was “The losing teams’ ribbons”. They explictly awarded no points for “Malcolm MacDonald”.
Good one tabs. Does this mean that the Guvnor’s history post (as advertised yesterday) won’t be seeing the light of day for a while?
What SAG said @47
Great post tabs, and some very fine fashionista metaphors! You are clearly the Anna Wintour of the Arsenal bloggiverse 😉
Tuesday or Wednesday, P. Depending on whether or not there is any real issue to discuss.
Evening good man s, I didn’t see you sneak in there 😉
Pangloss – Sometime this week I believe.
Snowy – Haha, thank you. Anna and I enjoy a fierce rivalry 🙂
Wednesday then, Guv.
🙂
bstrum.
Spain is a financial black hole that, if sanctions are not made, will suck the whole of the Eurozone into oblivion.
Real Madrid trotting out their new €100million signing, a player by all accounts they didn’t really need and gauging fan reaction don’t really want, also anouncing that they’d be paying the 23 year old around £300,000 a week while 50% of the country’s population who around his age are unemployed is a modern day Marie Antoinette “Let them eat cake.” moment.
To use another analogy, the whole of Spanish football is a house of cards built on a razor’s edge next to a wind tunnel. It’s more a question of when rather then if it’s all about to come tumbling down. Here’s a few links you may find interesting (I’ll spread them over two posts as not to incur the wrath of the ‘holic filter);
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/mar/21/eu-debt-spain-football-clubs
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/how-tax-break-gives-real-madrid-and-barcelona-an-unfair-edge-8749146.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/exclusive-real-madrid-and-barcelona-face-removal-of-privileges-8749147.html
Great stuff tabs, brought back some happy memories.
Some context here for later this season when we lose a game and the knives come out for the manager again.
How could we afford a £42.5m player (a full £12.5m over Utd’s transfer rec
Great stuff tabs, brought back some happy memories.
Some context here for later this season when we lose a game and the knives come out for the manager again.
How could we afford a £42.5m player (a full £12.5m over Utd’s transfer record)? Arsene Wenger.
How did we persuade Ozil to sign with us? http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/08/mesut-ozil-arsene-wenger-convinced-me-arsenal
H2H, bstrum,
I’ve no idea why, but I do remember when Real Madrid were threatened with expulsion by UEFA from the Champions League if they didn’t resolve their debt issues, that they raised the money by selling their inner city training ground to the local authority, or government, or both.
The price was a seemingly hefty £168,000,000.
Must have had a lot of ground.
I remember that Trev.
They sold it to the local authorities for an inflated price, who subsuequently rented it back to them for a pittance.
Tabs.
Sadly I was more than seven but remember when we signed Bally incredibly well. It was a rapid transfer just before Christmas.
I also treasure the moments when SuperMac, Charlie and Dennis were announced. When Dennis was announced I was at Harvard Business School on a course and the only sports news I got came through USA Today. I have to say when they described us as Arsenal London I was wary but at least it wasn’t Arsenal Manchester. Could I rely on what was about the most exciting bit of news I had heard for ages? I phoned my Dad as soon as I could and was delighted to find him as thrilled as me. Then we signed Platty!
Apart from these my most exciting signing was a free-Sol Campbell of course! What a day that was. One that the LWCs will never forget or forgive.
Thanks for a very enjoyable recap. Let’s hope we have many more golden moments coming our way
Great links @ 57 & 58, H2H.
About time the EC did their duty and abolished that Spanish cartel.
@57 – Cheers for the links H2H. I will give ’em a whirl this evening.
@60 – Thanks N7, and bang on re the context for the first reverse. Cheers for the link. And there was me thinking it was Pedro who was primarily responsible for the transfer. 😉
@63 – Cheers Ttg.
I wanted to include Sol’s transfer but couldn’t find a way of working it into the piece.
I was driving to Court. My client was following me in her car directly behind me. Just as I was turning into the Court car park, it came over the radio that Sol was a gooner.
I still wonder to this day whether my client still thinks that all solicitors signal their arrival at Court with repeated blasts on their car horn!
Breaking News:
“Woman Follows Horny Solicitor to Court in Her Car”.
And it cost her, I bet …… 😉
Heh
Heh @ tabs
Put it this way; Le Grove and Piers Morgan are responsible for the Ozil transfer to the exact same extent that a pair of spoiled five year olds are responsible for Christmas.
An insult to five year olds everywhere. 😉
Trev – Haha 🙂
N7 – Heh, perfectly put 🙂
H2H – An insult to spoilt five year olds everywhere 😉
Indeed Mr P Edant. 🙂
🙂
Nice read TaBs. Enjoy your day all. InterBull can go do one.
So, as a few folks in the bar like a bit of music, and it is the middle weekend of an interminable Interlull, here’s a link to Peter Kay on brilliant form – and some of the lyrics he can hear in some well known choons.
It’s not football, but it’s a laugh – and there isn’t any football …………
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cylsLhQaPFw
Gets funnier the longer it runs 🙂
In tears here Trev, that was brilliant 🙂
🙂
tabs, thanks for the entertaining and funny story. you and your speedos!
hotter than dragon’s breath here in north central california, even on the coast. but fence must be built!
Nice article, tabs, some top memories in there. And terrific company you place Özil in, let’s hope he lives up to it.
I was just a bit worried when you mentioned Rachel Riley … never heard of her on this side of the world and thought you might have meant Raven Riley till Googling put me straight!
Öskar
Bravo, Tabs, another fine piece of writing.
This is the kind of editorial I rely on to give me a real sense of history. I mean, I’ve read the official Arsenal pictorial history (that massive hardback tome) but it will never put it the way you have.
My red-and-white supporting days only go back to about 2000, which means I missed a good 15 years of the stuff. Not a bad thing I think, because if I’d looked for a team to support at primary school I would have inevitably ended up going for the Scousers or Scum Utd (not having anyone in my family to give me some guidance – none of them like the beautiful game).
*shudders as if someone has walked over his grave, crosses himself and looks imploringly up to heaven*
It’s fair to say the advent of Ozil is the biggest signing since I became a gooner. Exciting times ahead and all we have to do is get this pesky football which noone gives a flying fcuk about, out of the way!
Tabs – nice post. In 1983 my musical career had started to take off and to be honest I stopped going to the Arsenal. I seem to dimly remember that we were still in the dark age of muddy piches(though Highbury was always like a billiard table), Brian Moore commentary (what a guy!) and, for us at least, much on- field tedium. Rose coloured specs aside, I do remember how threatening Highbury could be, even to Arsenal fans. My least favourite team at that time were Leeds United – I for one hope they never make it back into the big time.Their fans are amongst the most brutal knuckledraggers around.
Your post puts into perspective the recent so- called travails of our club. Back in the day we regularlly went many years between silverware, and star signings were the exception rather than the norm.I’ll admit that leading up to mega signing of Ozil I thought that Arsene looked tired and lacklustre and I wondered if he was nearing the end of his tenure. It has to happen one day. MO’s signing has changed that for me – he has restored the one thing all football fans crave – hope.
The die is cast for us all – it’s Arsenal or nothing.Blind loyalty is fine and dandy, and laudable to a degree,but hope breaths new life into us all. Turns out it was as simple as “spending some fucking money” after all!
Tabs.
U de Man. 🙂
Other than ‘holic. I mean. 🙂
Delightful read, Tabs. Lesson from Bergkamp’s signing, unlike the others, is that it was followed by more of world class players. Hope the same gets said of Ozil’s.
One more world class player, coming up! First Özil, now Beckham? I reckon we’re all set for the Prem! 😉
http://www.premiershiptalk.com/2013/09/08/beckham-signs-arsenal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PremiershipTalk+%28Premiership+Talk%29
morning
I still don’t remember all those world class players who followed Bergkamp. Isn’t that a myth? There was Platt and Bergkamp at the same time, but then?
Some then relatively unknown French players. They turned out to be world class later :). OK, and maybe Overmars.
Though maybe I have a memory failure.
We went through much effort to reduce our wage bill by getting rid of the dead wood from the team. Now why would we take a step backwards and put Marica on our books? A 27-28 year old guy who has scored just 5 goals in 2 seasons for Schalke (in his ‘prime’ years).
He’s a free agent for a good reason, and would represent nothing but a panic buy. Don’t be tempted, Arsene.
Morning all.
Ollie@86, bang on!
Morning all. Fantastic link @74 Trev.
Along with Holic I was also at Alan Ball’s debut. My two hazy memories of the day are AB shooting over the bar from about 6 yards and Ian Moore picking the ball up on the edge of their box and waltzing the length of the pitch before scoring. Can anyone who was at the game confirm this or are they simply the drink fuelled reminiscences of a 60 something.
there can never be enough videos of now our very own German fishgod…if you have odd 25 mins or so to watch, most recommended.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ghJx_fxz8k
Fantastic read Tabs – nice one.
@74 Trev – HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA! Brilliant.
Top o’ the morning to ya.
I agree with Ollie, none of what followed (DB) could really be described as world class, many would be labbled that later, but not at their time of signing.
We’ve never really had a signing like Özil in our lifetimes, but when you really think about it no club in the PL has. He’s the most expensive purchase ever, a player who came from one of the worlds biggest teams and he left them at the top of his game with his best years still ahead of him.
I think the best word to describe his signing would be – unique.
Not so sure about that H2H,
After all, Tottnum signed Adebayor after he’d been at Real Madrid. 😆 😆
Morning All
Lovely piece Tabs, it brought back memories of seeing my first “star signing” at Highbury, the golden boy from Newcastle, George Eastham.
His arrival also coincided with his High Court case which gave the players freedom of movement, which was a monumental decision at the time.
Sadly his arrival didn’t give us the kind of success we were hoping for, in part due to mud pie pitches and defenders, who in the present climate, wouldn’t last 45mins without a red card. It was a hard life for ball playing inside forwards in 1960 and there weren’t many about.
Let’s hope Ozil lives up to all the hype, Sunderland and Stoke are quite an introduction to the PL! If he gives me “Dennis moments” I will be a very happy Gooner.
As always COYRs
Heh Trev.
Well I’ve certainly never experienced a signing like Özil in *my* lifetime 😉
heh young Padawind
A cyst
Shoots on goal!
Wheels away in celebration, puts on rubber glove to high-five Ollie 😉
I watched a video showing all of Ozil’s assists at Real Madrid. It looked more like a Ronaldo appreciation video. I can’t see Giroud and co sticking them all in the net like that!
Why not Toolsy? Especially Theo developed in to quite a finisher last season. Given service Özil is probably going to provide, I can see him banging them in like there was no tomorrow.
As for Giroud, the variety of his successfull finishes in pre-season and current season gives me no reason to be worried that he is not able to finish moves.
The finish against LWCs was especially tasty, but when you consider it, he scored screamer from edge of the box, header, tap in, opportunistic flick where he has shown great composure after ball bounced in his path (Fulham) etc.
My main worry regarding HFB is if he is going to stay fit long enough, not if he is going to score goals, since so far he has shown that he is.
Afternoon all,
Apologies to a couple of you. Someone wanted me to share their email details and I can’t remember which of you it was.
Save me going through days worth of posts and drop me a line to gooner(at)goonerholic(dot)com and I’ll do it for you this evening.
If I don’t get distracted again 😉
Spot on Öllie @ 86. If I recall correctly, DB10 (MHWOWF) made it a condition of his signing that we also signed a top class MFer to supply his ammo and hence Platty was signed soon after. There was no subsequent, “we are signing players of a different level” philosophy to follow.
However no-one could argue that DB10 (MHWOWF) did not raise our game and make the subsequent uplift in talent more inclined to sign for us.
What followed, of course, was the Arsene Wenger revolution and the arrival of a generation of French talent who were either just establishing themselves like RP7 (GBHCS) or had been misused after their first ‘big move’ like PV4 (WTFAYSAT?) and TH14 (CHWYRS).
Delia @95 – I too loved those “DB10 (MHWOWF) moments”.
Real have been reporting that over and above the clips on Youtube, Mesut had been giving Miss Venezuela regular “DB1O (MHWOWF) moments” as well so there’s a pretty good chance we’ll get a few at the Grove too. 😀
Creative nom de plume there bath sir 🙂
The full extent of my creativity mate.
Apparently Özil shirts are outselling Bale shirts 5:1.
Afternoon all,
Thanks again for the kind ones.
H2H @57 – Cheers for those links on the Spanish situation. Unbelievable stuff. In the same ball park, though not on the same scale, is this little beauty that was doing the rounds on twitter yesterday…
https://twitter.com/joeshmo1977/status/376767846837403648/photo/1
Nice of the neighbours to remind us of their utter cuntery every now and then eh.
Scruz @77 – hotter than a dragons breath here – Don’t knock it mate, cold and wet here.
Oscar @78 – Haha, I’m afraid I had to google Raven Riley. Safe to say that I didn’t mean her, though a quick (very quick!) glance at her credentials indicates that her aptitude for penetration was right up there with Mr Bergkamp’s 😉
Porco @79 – A close shave indeed! 🙂
Impressive Failage/ Delia – Lovely memories. George Eastham was obviously before my time, but he was a particular favourite of the old man’s. I remember him being really pleased for him when George scored in the League Cup Final for Stoke to help them win the League Cup after he’d left us. He was pleased that Stoke won a trophy!! How times change.
8Ball – Haha 🙂
Well in Wind!
Brilliant song, fantastic band and a great article about England’s 1990 World Cup song “World in Motion”.
http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/9/8/this-aint-a-football-song?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Good link there tabs @ 110.
As clear a demonstration of the difference in class between the two organisations.
Always were and always will be a bunch of scheissters.
Indeed Bath.
Liking the new name! 🙂
I wonder what the turnover from Ozil shirt sales is so far? How much of the £42.5m have we recouped through his shirt sales alone? Would be interesting to find out or estimate.
Ollie – This bloke any good? Bit of a strange story…
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/florian-marange-disgusted-treatment-new-2261585?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Thanks TaBS 🙂
I’m buying an Özil 11 shirt, already got Wilshere 10 on the Home Shirt so the Away Shirt it will be! But not right now, at £66 to boot! I’ll get it towards the end of the season when the Shirt will be cheaper, after all, I’m only a student… 😛
WEll in Wind.
No tabs, not very good.
Weird story all right.
Thanks Ollie, that was one ‘dirty’ assist mate 😉
Good luck in Spain, Yossi.
Tabs @115,
He didn’t know he wasn’t in the squad ?
Bet that Marange bloke feels a bit of a lemon now. 😉
What a donut !
Silly tart. 😉
Back to work …..
Trev 🙂
Nice link @110 tabs.
The early 90’s are a pretty blurry time for me, however I knew absolutly nothing about that song, must admit I enjoyed the article a lot more then the tune itself.
Unless someone sends their private jet to collect me, it looks like I’ll be missing the Norwich game. Partly because Eurostar have a weird gap midday when there’s no train for 2 hours.
Sorry Ollie, mines in the shop for repairs that weekend.
The early 90s are a pretty blurry time for me….
Me too.
And the 80s. And the late 70s.
I forget the rest. 8)
in case anyone’s missed it, so far the best compilation of özil’s artistry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ghJx_fxz8k&feature=player_embedded
a couple of things i noticed. if we had someone who missed sitters as often as CR7 does in this video (and even benzema!) he’d be lynched by the mob. also, while mesut does tend to go down easily when it’s to his advantage, he also stays on his feet in the most remarkable of ways after being (unsuccessfully) tackled. i’m hoping that prevents his legs from breaking under the sunderstokian onslaught of the coming fortnight.
we signed mesutfuckingÖZIL.
Trev@120, Tabs: which reminds me. Wasn’t Joan Bakewell the original thinking man’s crumpet?
scruz,
thats exactly same video I linked and I very much share your sentiments regarding Mesut, I can’t wait to see him play for us and if he creates half of the chances he did for his Madrid companions, we are going to smash goals in in really really scary manner.
Aye she was Ned, but I thought Joan might be lost on our younger readers. 😉
Actually, Joan’s a bit old even for me, and was gonna go for Joanna Lumley but in the end I thought Ms Riley was the safer bet.
Here is one more link for the Spain’s corrupt football collection:
http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatbusiness/2013/04/09/a-red-card-for-spains-debt-ridden-soccer-clubs/
cheers, eandy. i knew i’d seen a link somewhere, but i read that damn early this morning and forgot about it. sorry, credit to you.
he’s certainly not a fish out of water on arsenal. him and santi playing onesey-twosey with each other, leading to a midfield run? yummy.
Old enough to be in black and white, Tabs:
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/4/2/1270226231559/Bakewell-interviews-Harol-001.jpg
ned, kind of like tottenham’s last title?
Mmmm… Joan Bakewell… unfortunately she wasn’t a tart.
sounds like you’re speaking from experience there, failage 🙂
Nice link Ned @132.
Like I said, a house of cards waiting to colapse. If just one of the clubs get taken to task then that really could single the end of the whole league. It’s gross negligence that it has been left to fester for so long, no other “business'” would be allowed to get away with it, why the fuck should they?
Heh @Imp 134
Blimey Ned, Joanie looks pretty hot there.
Caption to go with the pic …
“HOW big did you say it was Sir!?” 😉
Scruz/Eandy – Looking forward to watching that vid of Mesut.
By the way, I would recommend heartily the documentary currently on Arsenal Player on Nutty Winterburn. Very very good, different class to the usual guff that Player puts out.
http://www.arsenal.com/legends
Imp @134 🙂
being a ‘merican i don’t know joan blakewell from a crumpet, but here’s a lovely article about old ‘pretzle legs’ from the daily fail:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1243639/I-Pinters-OTHER-woman-Joan-Bakewell-describes-got-Lady-Antonia-Fraser.html
honestly, failage? sure she wasn’t a tart?
Thinking men don’t have ‘crumpet’ 😉
looking at her, ‘holic, and this may be your point, but i cease to be a thinking man…niiiiice bikini, joanie 😉
Ned, Tabs, Imp,
Just feast your mince pies on Joan who was, indeed, not a tart – bit of a fruit cake though, don’t Genoa. 😉
That’s why I said “thinking fan’s crumpet” ‘H 😉
And Trev’s off! 🙂
My mate actually drowned in a bowl of cake mix – – – he got pulled under by a very strong currant. 😉
I demand a punning competition – we could get Mark Battenberg to referee it. 😉
Haha 🙂
I shall tell Mark, “as referee Yule Log all the entries …..”
*applauds Trev*
Yeah, but all the bribes were worth it. How many vacations has it financed so far?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24023651
Utterly bonkers decision, 8ball.
England’s bid failed ‘cos the stadia are already built. Therefore, there are no building contracts to be handed out and, therefore, no juicy backhanders.
Everyone on the planet with the exception of FIFA knew instantly that Qatar in summer was a practicle impossibility. Stunning that they can now say that they possibly made a mistake.
Fifa may have made a “mistake” in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, according to president Sepp Blatter.
Yeah, they could of got twice as much in bribe money. 😉
Hello All
Does anyone know what percentage of shirt sales the club receives and what the sponsor’s or player’s share is? Just out of curiosity after just reading that Özil is outselling Bale 5 to 1. Our summer transfer is getting better by the day.
What’s new pussycat?
Whoa whoa whoa ÖZIL
What’s new pussycat?
Whoa whoa whoa ÖZIL
(just a thought)
Öskar
I thought of Tabs ‘ predilection for Rachel Riley when Missus TTG forced me to watch Strictly on Saturday. I certainly hope she stays in longer than Vanessa Feltz. Sadly I understand the comely wench is a keen Manure fan .
Strictly?
There is a Bondage reality show on tv now?
Whatever next?
where’d ya think oscar got his new song, ‘holic?
New song, scruz? Tom(cat) Jones had a hit with it when he was still a kitten…
Öskar
Scruz@138 – I stand corrected! It appears the splendid lady went like a train. She will hencforth be known as Lady Bakewell -Tart.
Disgusted, Auckland.
Although without the cherry
How about this song for our new midfielder?
To the tune of Domino Dancing by Pet Shop Boys:
Özil, Özil,
Plays for Arsenal,
Özil, Özil,
Shits on the Hotspürs…
It’s a work in progress lol
Really interesting articles, H2H @ 57 & 58 – it’s astonishing that the EC Competition Group with a Spaniard in charge has been allowed to sit on this for years while Spain is getting bailed out by the rest of (North) Europe. And I suppose we can’t have much hope of FFP being properly enforced on the big hitters by UEFA or of any actions by the FFF Michel Platini (other than perhaps the banning of Swiss giants F.C. Sion and sundry Turkish clubs, a few touchline bans and some large fines for Arsene Wenger, the appointment of a fifth auditor to stand outside the men’s toilet near the cashier’s office, and the awarding of UEFA’s Badge of Honour to FIFA Head Referee Massimo Busacca for services rendered to UEFA above and beyond the call of duty). Speaking of the FFF, doesn’t some of the dubious refereeing in UEFA games seem a little suspect specifically because they tend to follow Platini’s own predilections?
I’m staying in the hotel on Thursday night where Arsenal billet their signings who have yet to find a home. If Mesut isn’t out on the pull I’ll give him a little pep talk and some lurve from the Holics.
Speaking of Mesut, where do you holics think he will play against Sunderland? My bet is that he will start on the bench and will sub TR7 around 70th minute:P
Yeah I think the same Eandy 🙂
Morning H and Holics.
Interesting Danish analysis (total bullshit of course but hilarious) suggesting that TGSTEL needs to change his name not his number to transform his fortunes on the pitch.
http://gossip.ladyarse.com/arsenal/2013/09/10/numerologist-says-bendtner-needs-name-change-not-number/?
Maybe he should change it to Clunt Arrogant?
Eandy, I reckon you are correct. Earliest appearance at 75 mins unless forced on earlier.
Morning all.
‘holic @155
Strictly?
There is a Bondage reality show on tv now?
Whatever next?
I tuned into The Discovery Channel last week to check out it’s new show – “Top Hooker”.
Crappy show about stupid dudes catching fish… DIS-A-POINT-ED!!
====
bstrum @161.
Maybe he’s just really good at predictions.
I may be in the minority here, but I believe the Sunderland game would be the perfect time for our new player’s debut in the PL.
Sunderland are in disarray at the moment, Di Canio does not seem like a man with any kind of coherant plan and their selection looks more like a collection of players rather then anything resembling a team.
Besides, aren’t the Czech Republic playing again tonight? Will Rosicky be up for, what may be, his third game in eight days?
I say release the Ö.
H2H,
yeah you are correct, Czech Republic are playing in Italy, but similary Germany are playing Faroe Islands, so I dont know.
Also Rosicky plays like he was 25 and not 32 in recent games, in match against Armenia he was everywhere on the pitch (sadly, his teammates are nowhere near his level so thats why our national team is where it is but thats different story).
So I suppose Arsene might let TR7 and Özil share similar-ish portion of the gametime, maybe subbing Tomas earlier than around usual 70th minute mark.
Eandy,
I don’t care where or when he plays as long as Dan Smith isn’t on the pitch.
Trev,
dont even mention such possibility, that is thing I fear the most. However, I suppose he will fare like Santi, he is just too quick and too technical for those cunts to catch him.
H2H – “release the Ö”
Has given me an idea.
We could create an Ö-zone in the bar which we would then gradually make narrower and narrower.
When it is eventually so thin that a hole appears in it, we could fire Niklas Bendtner right through it and into outer space. 😉
Heh Trev.
The Greatest Striker That Ever Launched.
:D:D massive heh @172 and 173
Rumours filtering through that TR7 is carrying a knock from match against Armenia but will play against Italy…hmm..so we really might release the Ö right from the start..
H2H, more like The Laziest Striker That Ever Lunched.
Have our signings played for us yet? Trained for us yet even?
Maybe our medical team can issue an opinion. If a 32 yeard old, hypotehetically has been out injured for seven years of his career, does that technically mean he is a 25 year old? 😉
176 Bath.
That was Arshavin.
8Ball.
That would make Diaby about 2 years old.
H2H. He could have quite a career ahead of him then. 🙂
H2H@168: I wouldn’t pay too much attention to Sunderland being in disarray or not. We’ve stepped on that mine a few too many times in recent years, like Norwich away last season (their first win of the season), Blackburn away two years ago (hardly a goal scored so far but put four past us and won 4-3) and so on. If anything I’d say being under the kosh is likely to fire Sunderland up even more because against us.
Still, I’d say playing Özil now is as good a time as any. Yes, he won’t have had much time to integrate with the team but he’ll have to make his first game at any point anyway so why not get in there straight away?
“…against us they’ll have nothing to lose”. Don’t really know why I stopped writing mid-sentence there!
I realise that they are “famous last words” Lars (reguarding Sunderland) but i was just emphasising that it would be best to get Özil up and running as soon as possible.
Santi, on Özil’s arrival, at his latest interviw with Marca:
“I am very happy. He is a spectacular footballer. Let’s enjoy him and that we’re lucky enough to learn at his side.”
On whether Ozil can help Arsenal win the league, the Spaniard says “We will see. He is a very important player and will fit well with the way we play. Hopefully we can fight with the big teams in the Premier League.”
If the little fella had the ego of – someone like – Ronaldo, I believe many would see what I’ve already seen: he is the best player in the world. 🙂
H2H, then we are in total agreement it seems.
179 H2H, good point, maybe then TMDSIATEDAASAFTRFC…….
The Most Deluded, Self-Important Arsehole That Ever Donned an Arsenal Shirt Apart From The Rat Faced Chav
We agree. 🙂
TMDSIATEDAASAFTRFC
Bloody ‘ell Bath, you’ve turned him into an east European. 😉
I think Ozil may start. No point in paying £42 million and keeping him on the bench. The key is where he will play. I think he will be used as a number 10 in the hole as he is for Germany. If TR7 ,who I think is a superb player , is suffering from a knock, experience tells me that if he plays tonight he may struggle at the weekend. It’s interesting that England use Wilshere in a similar role and he adapts very well to it. But LJW might not start on Saturday if we play Flamini and Ramsey . An embarrassment of riches!
I think we will start with Flamini, Rambo and Rosicky, Ozil will only start if Rosicky is not 100% fit.
“An embarrassment of riches” indeed Ttg, and thats exactly what we need to have – real depth and not just 11 good players with a bunch of fillers to improvise in case of injuries. It works both ways – Jack is going to have to take his time and not put unrealistic demands on his body given his injuries.
Tabs,
A great read and thanks for taking the time and effort to craft such a piece! I really enjoyed the context and timeline even if some of those players you mention were just a little before my time. (but, ahem, such is the price you pay for being young and vibrant..!) 🙂
I think the Ozil signing marks a new departure in the clubs history, because in the past, we never had such a wonderful platform like this to grow into what I believe will happen and see us become a European Superclub. The stadium, commercial deals, manager and existing base leave us in a very strong place. Secondly, I feel in the past few years we were trying to play to a formation which was originally set up for Cesc and last year saw us revert to a more defensive way of playing. Ozil is better than Cesc imo because he provides a higher level of creativity with better pace.
Most importantly, I’ve a feeling that the first clause in Ozil’s contract is a right to walk away if we don’t qualify for the CL. I expect the purse strings to opened again in January for a Striker. Little point in putting bald tyres on a Ferrari (and that’s not to be read as any slight towards Giroud, but we just don’t have enough striking options even if we now have enhanced creativity).
This is arguably Wengers last contract with the club. Its all about winning the CL for him I think, as it’s the only trophy to have alluded him. I think Zico mentioned the point earlier about the importance of value. Ozil is worth every cent and possibly more considering how it will now open up markets in Germany. What young German wouldn’t want to play with Ozil? What Striker in world football wouldn’t want to the likes of Caz, Ozil or Jack supplying them? Such an important signing, potentially the most important ever..!
Erzil is in my team to start on Saturday. And to make the Daily Fail writers’ dinners hard to swallow. 🙂
I think you are all being a bit hard on the big Dane.He might be an Arrogant Rather Self Highly Overrated Lamentable Egotist (ARSEHOLE)
but whenever he pulled on an Arsenal shirt he never gave less than his level best in any position Arsène cared to play him.Also you must bear in mind he was also in direct competition with Adebayor to be the biggest arsehole in the striking department.
As goes for his chance against Barcelona http://vimeo.com/45525786.
Obviously it was crucially important but what striker will have a 100 % success rate in those situations.His good work tends to get forgotten because of that miss.O K he has not done himself any favours since the last time he pulled on the Red and White ,but be prepared to judge him not on past merits http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y_LEd94Osk or by newspaper headlines and obstructive wage demands but by the next performance he gives for by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.
tabs@137, great legends video. fabulous look in to that era, and I never knew he wasn’t capped. thanks for pointing it out.
can’t wait for dennis’s.
Lays on a beautiful pass before retinring for the night to the land of internet non-connectivity….
*Giroudesque flick over the defense..*
I understand all the aggro that Bendtner attracts, but remember this?
http://youtu.be/4JmNc5ysXOk
All we need is one good hypnotist 8)
He’s definitely a value signing, Joe.
I never thought I’d see a signing of this magnitude under Kroenke’s watch. To be fair to you, you said it was coming all summer.
bang!
Posicion de la honra
czechs leading 1:0 in italy 😀
new aston villas striker Libor Kozak scoring after fast counter instigated by our very own TR 😛
Now that we have all these German players maybe we should get this physic in to keep them healthy.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/08/germany-physio-world-cup
He tore a muscle in his left leg as he ran onto the pitch to tend to an injured Germany player, and then fell over and broke his finger.
But the story says nothing about any inability to keep the players healthy. 😉
Balotelli burning two sitters in one minute. If Giroud missed chances like this, Arsenal twittersphere would implode lol
And picks up a yellow too. Very bad day at the office, for him (so far) 😉
Would you like some nitrous oxide to go with your lasagna, sir?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/09/kyle-walker-sorry-nitrous-oxide
hahaha I knew abb would be watching, Pirlo playing and all, good evening 🙂
Hi Eandy, holics 🙂
Well Pirlo really is something else, wow, good save by Cech
TR off?
TR7 subbed early, due to the knock he was carrying…now I presume his start against Sunderland is highly unlikely.
Well in Eändy 🙂
LJW not looking anywherenear 100% in the Ingerland game either.
Release the Ö
Should have been 2-0
I may be the only one, but I think Aquilani is 3xs the player that Montolivo is.
Neither are within a county mile of Andrea Pirlo, mind.
Our, our man MO for that matter!
TR reportedly having “muscle problem” hopefully nothing serious.
Super Mario! 2-1 🙂
and thats a game over for Czechs.
another World Cup without our national team, oh well heh
Ukraine v England is poo.
Ozil and Per as is Germany 2 up.
Konoplyanka. What a player. Have Arsenal all over him.
Macedonia 1 Caledonia 2.
Superb performance – 3 great goals.
Off the bottom!!!! 🙂
(Steady Wolfie)
Ukraine v England is poo
The smell is all over europe.
Fruit salad creators 1 Fruit salad dodgers 2
Heh. Scotland wins at international football. Almost as likely as Kevin Webster being innocent. 8)
Kolar off, Czech’s down to ten. Trying to keep a strait face, here.
Man that England match was dull.
Dull is a compliment Wind.
It was utter dross. England have their point, but that’s the only positive they can take out of that. Sadto say that our lads didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory either, why Hodgson left either of them on for so long is beyond me.
Very disappointing seeing Feo left on limping around the place. Must have been half an hour or so after his injury?
bath – are you kidding me?
Roy Hodgson, what on earth?
international football screws us EVERY time.
Sounds like TR7, Feo and possibly LJW have knocks.
No news on others yet.
And Zelalem, too. Out for 8 weeks 🙁 Bright side, Italy and Scotland won 🙂 Did you know, Scottish cuisine, is based on a dare. Ha ha. 🙂 Nitey, nite peeps.
“I had a wonderful time at the national team. Now I am looking forward to London.”
Özil the Gooner.
Zico,
He was only on £26,000 a week in your video. He’s been useless ever since they put his money up.
International football seems to be a graveyard for Arsenal players. Always getting injured, and for what.
A shocking match in Kiev tonight – would have been a disgrace in League 1. “World class Steven Gerrard, the master of the 50 yard hoof, ignoring his midfield partner, LJW, to lump the ball upfield, leaving Jack to run around closing people down as it was headed or hoofed back again.
Admittedly, Jack looked way off his best, but he was often losing the ball going on runs and dribbles trying to find a man in a position he could pass to.
So more injuries incurred in another pointless exercise. And before anyone reminds me that we are now top of our qualifying group, there are therapists who can deal with delusional states if anyone thinks that team is going to even begin to challenge for honours in Brazil.
Another boring, infuriating interruption to a season that is barely yet underway.
International football – do one !
Diaby, Chamberlain, Arteta, Zelalem, Podolski, Vermaelen, and possibly Walcott and Wilshere, all injured.
It’s September the effing 10th. This is supposed to be a March injury list.
Admittedly, Jack looked way off his best
Anyone else got the slight fear that he might turn out to be a bit rubbish, after all the hype early on?
I know, injuries etc but he looks very very slow and too easy to get the ball off. And I don’t mean tonight because I never watched it, but in general.
Just a thought.
It doesn’t matter what the month is, Diaby will always be on the injury list.
Cynic
I know where you are coming from but a fully fit Jack looks a special player. I worry that he was overplayed as a youngster and this has really taken its toll on him. Remember the player that was so good against Swansea in the FA Cup last year. That is the one we want back but I think we will have to nurse him back to fitness before he will get back to anywhere near that level.
Ozil,Ramsey and Cazorla together with Flamini at Sunderland I suspect We may also need Gnabry to start
Cynic.
I too, in the not so distant past, have questioned the hype around LJW, I never went as far to say he was rubbish, but I had my doubts, but I was told by fellow ‘hollics who go to games that he does a lot of the unsung work that you don’t always see on camera and he does it well, so that is good enough for me.
At this moment, I wouldn’t put him down as a guarenteed starter, he still looks off the pace. He hasn’t quite got his match rhythm back and if you couple that with the fact that he had an iffy belly over the weekend of the NLD, then for Hodgeson to not only start him, but play him for so long, in two internationals in the space of five days is madness.
I mean what kinda idiot starts with a midfierld of Wilshere, Gerrard and Lampard and sets his team out to play so negativetly? It was embarrassing and excrutiating to watch. There was no plan, no creativity, no movement. They looked like a bunch of guys that had met up in the parking lot two minutes before kick off, amaturistic at best.
Now that the stupid interlul is over let’s hope common sense prevails and Jack is eased gently, instead of pushed headfirst, back into the team. A few cameos from the bench wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for him at this moment in time.
I’m glad he played him if he lacks match fitness. It’s the only way he will get fit – by playing. But yeah, he needs to sit on the bench on Saturday.
Brief entry.
I think Jack’s problem is exactly the same problem Ramsey suffered from last season, patience will be key.
watching NZ All whites more entertaining tha watching England. If thats not the most damning indictments of a team, I dont know what is. Can we get back to the real thing please?
I feel that Jack needs time and some advice on how to adjust his playing style. At the moment he holds on to the ball for just a little bit too long. I think he’ll improve by playing with/against the players we presently have at the club. At the moment he is a little overhyped but with careful managing he’ll go onto greatness in the future.
In other news, we may really be getting a backup striker. Probably for free too. You know how Arsene loves to pop some tags! 😉
Hopefully it’s just a short deal though, his career stats are uninspiring…
http://gunnersphere.com/2013/09/view-from-the-sphere/becali-confirms-arsenal-deal-is-close
The All Whites were All Wong, Failage, all wubbish, imo.
Öskar
Cent knows@243.
CöR, hasn’t he been “close” for several weeks by now? That could just as well be his agent trying to drum up some interest for the player from other clubs.
(And besides, I’m not sure we can add any players to the squad even if they are not contracted by other clubs as that would mean adding to the list of 25 players that has to be registered by the end of the transfer window and as far as I know that can not be done. May be wrong on that one, though.)
Dead right Cent,
Easy to forget that he has been injured for most of two years. The other players around him in the England team don’t suit his style at all though. Ball retention to most of them means hang on to it for 5 seconds and then hoof it 50 yards.
Hey Lars, not too sure myself. I think adjusted lists can be resubmitted but not sure. Only 21 names were submitted by us to the Premier League so maybe we have leeway?
As for the “closeness” of the deal, who knows eh?
Morning All
Trev @ #237: Of our listed first-team strikers on Pravda only the HFB, Park (heh!), Ryo and Gnabry are not reported as being injured. Theo is yet to be confirmed as crocked, of course.
On the bright side, both Ryo and Gnabry should now get plenty of opportunities to prove themselves as PL ‘ballers until The Ox, Poldi & co. are ready to play again.
Who says we lack squad depth? 😉
Re Jack, I’m sorry but I’m firmly in the camp that says he’s a very decent player, far better than most that play for the national team. He has had a significant break due to injury, is routinely clogged and targeted by teams for the very good reason that he’s quality, and is still a youngster with huge potential.
According to the media experts he has now gone from being better than most of the Brazilian team to not being worthy to be Carrick’s under-study (or better still boot-claener) and so not good enough for the English team. Apparently he is simply not good enough after a game where the tactics and team were, as Trev noted, stupendously average.
Cent, Lars, Trev know.
Cynic
Jack will come good. He has too much innate skill and drive to not make it.
Tim Stillman made some interesting observations about him on The Twitter last night including the fact that he is overly left footed.
More TLCoaching from Arsene & Bould and patience are probably the keys to his success now.
This “story” about Marica is a rehash of a story that is six weeks old. That quote from his agent is identical to the one he used then. I doubt the story for this reason and I doubt it because we have given in our list of players to the League. There may be some complicated rule I have missed but I think our roster is set until January
Looks like ttg has it nailed re: Marica. We have what we hold until the next infernal TW.
tabs
Like you Supermac was my first real Arse heart-throb. Unlike you, my dad was a great fan of ol’ bandy-legs even before he arrived at The HoF (Mk I).
Ozil every bit as important as God. No idea if he’ll enjoy anything like the success that he did but one thing’s for sure…. we’re back.
UTA!
Morning.
I don’t believe that stoty for a second, however, it is in Arsene’s favourite price range………. I kid, I kid.
Not 100% sure what the rule is, but as we didn’t submit a complete roster then it wouldn’t seem ridiculous that a player could be added. The transfer window is closed, but you still have freedom of movement for players not under contract, so again, logic dictates that you should be able to add them to your squad, if it is less then the agreed upon 25 man strong.
Anyone questioning Wilshere’s ability clearly suffers from memory loss.
Which midfielder was raved about the last time Barcelona came to town?
Clue, he wasn’t Spanish.
Totally agree that he is suffering from time out injured and he needs to be handled correctly. Given our midfield options that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.
As if we didn’t have enough injuries to young players – and a few old ones – already, Stuart ‘Football Brains Trust’ Pearce has seen fit to criticise The Ox for not wanting to play for the U21s in the summer’s meaningless pot hunt in wherever it was.
Some simple minded folk like me thought, apparently wrongly, that the purpose of the U21s was to prepare those few who might make it for the full international side, and not to risk burning themselves out and incurring stress injuries in unnecessary summer tournaments. Not forgetting, of course, the added benefit of enhancing Pearce’s rather patchy looking managerial CV.
So why would The Ox not want to play for the U21s ?
Well Stuart, a couple of things spring to mind.
Apart from a fear of being swallowed alive by possibly the biggest, shoutiest gob in football, maybe young Alex, whilst enjoying a refined football education under the tutelage of Monsieur Wenger, does not overly relish being assaulted by your own Stokeian philosophy.
Just a thought.
*Adds zico to the list of those who know* 😉
Tabs,
Had a late listen to the excellent Nutty Nigel interview on Player last night.
Thanks for the ‘heads up’ – much as I dislike that expression.
TR in interview after italy answering why he was subbed.
“I got in front of the player who fouled me, caught my shirt and my boots got stuck in the pitch. In that moment, I felt a pull in my muscle and I could not continue”
Does not sound good to be honest but hopefully just minor strain. *fingers crossed*
Afternoon All,
Joe @192 – Many thanks for the kind ones, and agree with all you say on the significance of Ozil. And as I said in the last round of drinks, kudos to you for remaining steadfast in your belief all summer that we would get the business done. Think we only got halfway there, (I think the plan, such as it was, was to add 2 superstar signings). As you say, hopefully this will be attended to in January or next summer latest.
Scruz @195 – No problem, cheers.
TS @256 – Well my first “arse heart-throb” (haha) was Ray Kennedy and then Brady, but I know what you mean. 🙂
As for the old man, braggadocio was right up there with The Great Train Robbery for Crime of the Century for some reason. He immediately changed his tune as soon as the boasting was being done on Arsenal’s behalf though 🙂
Agree with Trev. International football can “do one”. What a pile of pants last night.
As for wee Jack, he’ll come good, absolutely no worries on that score. English players of technical excellence are so thin on the ground that players like Jack, and Hoddle before him, will always be over-hyped and then treated with suspicion and lambasted when they have a bad game. Jack should never have played 2 games in 4 days. Hodgson can’t say he wasn’t told by Arsene on that score.
It was a strange summer Tabs.
We’ve tried to sign Bender, Higuain, Suarez, Rooney and Ba. For differing circumstances, we failed in each offer. And the fact that we apparently made offers for the latter two, after we signed Ozil, shows the level of ambition I feel and substantiates your thinking in us wanting to sign at least 2 top players. It also goes to prove that its not necessarily all about money. Clubs have to agree, or get replacements, or not be seen to trade with the enemy……etc.
Of all those players, Ozil would be the first choice every time I feel.
I’m just glad we didn’t go the Spurs route and sign players like Benteke or Fellaini. I know other drinkers have liked those players but by comparison to the others, with the exception of maybe Ba, they’re very much “B” type players. Nothing worse than shelling out big money for a B-type player when in the broader scheme of things a little more might get you a player of the very highest calibre! And I think thats been the big difference in this window. Wenger might have said he was only after “top class” players in the past, but this time round, he really meant what he said because now we can afford those type of players.
Aye Joe, completely agree with everything you say there.
Apparently you can add to the list of 25 if you have room in it, it seems West Ham have just signed a free agent as they have Andy Carroll out for a couple of months, an injury that I must admit I hadn’t heard about before.
A very minor comment about Jack: I think he (and to some extent Aaron) had personally suffered from Cesc’s departure as not having a role model (playing wise) to learn from on the training ground. Both of them looked up — and to some extent revered — Cesc. Both, especially Ramsey, definitely learned about tactical discipline and positional awareness from Arteta, but in terms of real incisive playmaking they may have lacked a role model. Arteta himself was tasked with remodeling his own game to be more Pirlo and less Cesc, and the effervescent creativity of Santi is something that may not be the easiest to teach as it is too intricately related with Santi’s physique and the freakish two-footed abilities.
Ozil may come in handy in that respect, especially in terms of building awareness about when to dribble, when to drag defenders and when to pass — Jack’s main weakness lies in that decision making.
Another player Jack can look up to (from a distance) in terms of playing style and learn is Totti, who can be sublime and brawny at the same time. Totti has played most of his career as a trequartista, which is what I believe Jack would eventually find his best position in (vis-a-vis the box-to-box where he seems to be more comfortable now).
And speaking of creative midfielders, TR7 is potentially out for a while. Just when everyone was hoping that finally he can play for a full season. Hopefully he is not out for too long. Had started the season so well.
Jack is going to need time — possibly a couple of seasons — to get back not just to where he was before his injury but to where he should be in his development. Ramsey’s progress shows why we have to be patient.
Good point, Dr F. Another reason to sign established top, top quality. It doesn’t only attract new players but inspires and improves the younger ones we already have. I remember reading a quote from Eisfeld saying how delighted he was to be at the same club as his boyhood idol Rosicky.
Thanks NBN.
About Ozil, I hope the team has a strategy about how best to protect him from the inevitable agricultural Stoke-ism that would welcome him in this league. I for one believe that the club should put pressure upfront on FA and other managers to ensure that Ozil remains well protected with the (albeit convoluted and somewhat self-serving) logic that Ozil is an asset for the league itself and not only just Arsenal. And on the ground each tackle to him is protested vociferously by the team.
I think one can forgive an Arsenal fan his mild paranoia about injuries to key playmakers. 🙂
Dr F @266 and 270.
Both Rambo and LJW will benefit hugely from training and playing with Özil.
And
You can just here that Neanderthal ‘Sparkie’ telling his hitmen to target Özil in the first 10 minutes of our match against the Orcs. And that’s a real insult to Neanderthals.
Fair play to the Piccolo Fascisto, I can’t see him doing likewise.
Does anyone know if Bendtner is training with the first team and is match fit to be on the bench?
“Dr F” this, and “Dr F” that.
But is he anywhere to be seen when Roxette’s on the warpath?
Is he heck.
There is only one Dr F.
Unless you want to split madam’s credit card bill…. 8)
That Dr Faustus he’d sell his soul, I’m telling ya…..
Rosicky injured?
Nver saw that coming 🙄
Made of Diaby crystal I’m afraid…..
The Marica story is an example of so much that appears on the Web. It was an agent’s attempt to boost his client and it appeared a few weeks ago. It has revived with exactly the same quote after Marica scored for Romania the other night. This smacks to me of opportunism by his agent and/ or sloppy journalism especially by the Mirror who one normally expects to be close to events at Arsenal .
I could be completely wrong and he may turn out for us on Saturday but on the basis of what has been advanced so far this is an old story. We all trawl the web for information and some sites know this and just reheat stuff others have sourced. Some like the Express sites are usually very out of date and the Sports Direct site just seems to me to fabricate anything it prints ! Often this gets picked up by other sites and when it appears four or five times in short order on the web that suggests ( quite wrongly) that there is some momentum to the story.
On a more critical note of Arsene I find it bizarre that we are so short of striking options. Sanogo has a terrible injury record( it must be something about Auxerre!) and he is very raw and Poldi as we know is out for many weeks. In any case I don’t like Poldi playing through the centre and Theo won’t be a central striker all the time he has a hole in his bum. He is just not physically strong enough. That leaves TGSTEL who may turn out to be the best temporary option we have ( amazingly) and Park Chu Yong and its ridiculous to even consider him given his history with us.
It’s negligent to be in this condition and if HFB gets a serious knock we are seriously stuffed. It’s all very well to seek top,top quality butbwhy then saddle yourself with pathetic back- up options. The solution may be to play the false number nine as Spain do. We certainly have the quality to do that.
Keeping Giroud on the park is the main concern, ttg, mos def.
Let’s get Vermaelen fit and up front. At least his shots will take out a few defenders, even if he doesn’t score a lot. 😉
I’ve seen Gnabry bang a few in from central positions. If push comes to shove …….
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I see that I’ve come late to the discussion, but I couldn’t pass an opportunity to compliment the author. Fine writing and a bit of history to(of) boot(s). Cheers!