Arsenal Are Back, Again
Jul 19th, 2014 by 'holic
3pm Saturday. A small but enthusiastic crowd gathers in Hertfordshire to witness the seasonal bow of the Arsenal squad, albeit with significant absentees in this World Cup summer. Arsenal are back, again, and hopefully to prepare for a season in which we build on the FA Cup triumph of a couple of months ago.
Most will have seen the match at Boreham Wood live, or on Arsenal Player, or will be catching up on the highlights. In a nutshell we fielded a side of young hopefuls surrounding a core of Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson, Nacho Monreal, and Aaron Ramsey in a goal-less first half. Gedion Zelalem caught the eye with his ability to play defence-splitting passes as he did at this stage of last season.
There is a danger of reading too much into just one half of what is basically a step up from a training match. Zelalem remains an unpolished diamond and by the end of August our already impressive midfield options may have been strengthened further. The other side of the ‘too early to judge’ coin is the performance of Yaya Sanogo, slated on some tweets I saw. I don’t mind him missing chances against non-league opposition in the warm July sun. The fact he was in position so often is more encouraging.
After the break a fresh eleven built around Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Flamini, Abou Diaby, and Tomas Rosicky took the game to tiring opponents and eventually delivered the victory to send the largely Arsenal supporting crowd home happy. Diaby and the impressive Chuba Akpom both drew excellent saves from Russell in the Wood goal before Rosicky took on the mantle of master passer to set up Kris Olsson for a neat dinked finish over the goalkeeper midway through the half.
The winning margin was doubled in the closing minutes when Benik Afobe was bundled over in the six yard box and the same player netted comfortably from the spot.
In the aftermath Arsene Wenger signed autographs for the supporters and chatted with the assembled journalists. The inevitable topic of transfers came up.
“Sometimes players that you want are available very late. You refer maybe to the Ozil case but at the same period last year he was not available, and became available very late. We’ll do the deals when it’s possible.”
Of course we are in a much better position than this time last year with Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, and this week Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle, added to the squad. These are quality signings that send out a strong message, but with improved commercial deals and an extra three percent of revenue from the supporters pockets in the bank clearly there is no reason why further quality additions won’t be made. An exciting few weeks lie ahead.
Meanwhile an exciting few days lie ahead of me in South Devon. I mention it only because last year internet connectivity in that particular part of the south west was something of a hit and miss affair. It may be a quiet week in advance of next weekend’s fixture in New York, by which time we may have yet more new signings confirmed.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
312 Responses to “Arsenal Are Back, Again”
Bang………………………………
#FreeADM
Will have the third drink then.
Trophy position
Evening Holic,
have a good break. Hope the shoulder is progressing well.
I am celebrating my Ruby Wedding anniversary with my current wife and have agreed to pay less attention to football this weekend but with two keen grandsons to educate I was asked whether 2-0 against Boreham Wood wasn’t an underwhelming result. Having not seen the game it’s hard to say but I would expect Sanogo to start scoring soon against opposition at that level.
I guess you have to start the season somewhere.
Enjoy your pre-season break, ‘Holic, and never you mind about your internet connectivity. We can play nicely among ourselves 😉
Congratulations, ttg. 40 years of marriage is no mean feat. A glass of something bubbly on the bar for you and the current missus.
Happy anniversary with the current 😉 wife Ttg 🙂
Cheers for that Holic!
Interesting article on Santi. Radars are annoyingly small, but still very interesting stats:
http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/06/is-santi-cazorla-a-central-midfielder/
This is VERY cool:
http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/07/is-sami-khedira-arsenals-answer-at-defensive-mid/
Last one, this is just wonderful:
http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/07/gifolution-alexis-sanchez-from-udinese-to-barcelona-to-arsenal/
BIG Ivan knows.
Hmmm, awaiting moderation… I’ll repost this anyway because it is soooo cool. Check out the variation on Alexis’ stats and just how immense he was last season, entering his prime:
http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/07/gifolution-alexis-sanchez-from-udinese-to-barcelona-to-arsenal/
A test match in the balance and you come on here prattling about football…..? 😉
Ttg, congratulations on your Anniversary,
– and a thought as you celebrate a momentous occasion.
As a couple gets into bed, the husband starts to touch and kiss his wife.
She turns over and says, “I’m sorry, honey. I’ve got a gynecologist appointment tomorrow, and I want to stay fresh.”
The husband sadly turns over. A few minutes later, he rolls back over and taps his wife. “Do you have a dentist appointment, too?” 😉
Trev, oh trev, that was a good one, really good.
Congrats ttg on your Anniversary.
Nice summary, Holic.
I hope the shoulder is loosening up enough for you to anticipate raising a glass or two of Devon’s finest in your right hand.
Many congratulations on the Ruby Anniversary TTG. A glass of fine vintage port awaiting you on the bar, sir. Slainte.
Very good one trev.
First preseason match summary.Thank goodness.
My two bobs worth.
Zelalem – has always looked very good and now just looks first team material all the way. Boreham wood or not, the kid looks the same every time he plays no matter the opposition, sheer class.
Sanogo also looks like what he is. Very average and not good enough for the new 2014 and beyond arsenal.
Arsene is very loyal, maybe the most loyal manager ever, but with sanogo, just not a good enough player.
Diaby has been given more opportunities to get better and well done to arsene for his loyalties there, and I hope for both of them it pays off.
Arsene has always believed in him, so maybe we are not getting a new DM at all, cause we have diaby.
@ 13
Am I right in thinking that the wife replied that she only had a gynocologist appointment?
Ttg – Happy Anniversary!
Just arrived home from the Seattle Sounders – Spuds friendly. Wow, I drank a lot today!
3-3 draw only because Sol-dildo is a diving cu**. The Spuds are shite. How did they avoid relegation last season? Because they can win penalties (2 against the Sounders – the Sol-dildo dive and a hand ball in the box. How is it a handball when the defender is turned with his back to the ball?). Did I mention the Spuds are shite? The Sounders totally outplayed them. The Spuds have crap defenders, no midfield, and Roberto “Broad-Side-of-a-Barn” Sol-dildo.
Spuds are shite!
Shite…
Crap…
Shite…
Time for another drink…
Btw, congrats to Xander Bailey for being a Sounder:
http://www.soundersfc.com/post/2014/07/16/sounders-fc-signs-bailey
Well done, ECG – Love the Sounders…hate the scum.
Well done, TTG – You undoubtedly married a saint.
Aussie, not sure why the broadside against Sanogo. If you think back to the Cup triumph this year, a strong argument can be made that Sanogo’s appearance in the final set the stage for our victory. It freed Giroud from the suffocating manmarking that he had endured the entire game, and it was Sanogo’s run that started the move that lead to Welsh Jesus’s goal.
Sanogo offers pace and size that will trouble many an opposition backline. The goals will come.
I also like Sporting KC, btw ecg. I have yet to declare allegiance between the two.
@20 Also worth noting that young Mr. Bailey is a fellow Gooner. Though I’m afraid to mention it, as since he didn’t score on his lone shot on goal, some fans of a particular persuasion may decide to toss him in the rubbish bin along with Sanogo 😉
Thanks, Lonestar! Have to give credit to KC for putting together a winning team in the backwaters of US futbol (no disrespect to the fine citizens of Kansas) and on a limited budget.
I’m on the fence with Sanogo. I think there is potential but he needs to be playing on a consistent basis to mature. A loan would be good for him imho. Also, I am a big fan of Akpom and would like to see him get a chance on the first team, which he probably won’t get with Sanogo around.
cdoyle – did not know he is a Gooner! Maybe he is just another Henry and needs a few first team matches under his belt before he hits the back of the net.
Lonestar – I make those comments about sanogo purely based on the squad we should be able to have in 2014 and beyond.
In the past 10 years when money was tight and arsene had less choices, sure sanogo would suffice.
But in this current squad with young Campbell, Sanchez, poldi, theo, ox , Gnabry and OG, who IMHO could all play striker if needed, I wouldn’t play him in front of any of those, so why not let him go out now rather than drag him on for years for little benefit to arsenal or him.
Gnabry and Campbell will run rings around him.
I originally thought he was more of a baby giraffe, still learning, but after yesterday against a very low level opposition, he looked more like a fully grown giraffe with minimal room to improve as he doesn’t have the raw skills as all the others above do…
Congratulations Ttg, a rare success in these times! For myself I will be celebrating my golden wedding shortly or, more accurately, the divorce that happened five years after! It is a curious fact that I always get married on the 21st of September … not a lot of people know that. Certainly not my second strife, who would probably have postponed the wedding if she’d known. Or cancelled it altogether. In truth I didn’t even realise it myself until it was too late.
Öskar
The spuds defence was hilarious against the Sounders, they have much to look forward to this year. The Championship most likely!
Öskar
Happy anniversary ThunderT and best regards to the current wife. Makes me wonder if she is still wired, actually.
Sorry. 😉
Lurky – to answer your question regarding Rosicky, I think he actually might be! Its unbelievable how in shape he keeps himself.
Btw, how come that there is no third kit on Arsenal Direct, or anywhere else for that matter? My better half fancies ladies kit in that colours with Santi on its back and who am I to deny her that?
No Puma store in Prague carries them either, even that they have home and away on display and for sale.
Rumour:
We bid for William Carvalho… which means that Vermy is probably going to MU 🙁
Happy anniversary, ttg.
“Yes, everyone knows that Arsenal had the first
option to sign me,….
“They decided not to take this option and therefore
it wasn’t meant to be. I wish them well in the
future.” – Francesc Fabregas.
“I think he really wanted to come to us. As you know Arsenal had an option where they could interfere but I
think he was not open to that. He was very much in our direction. It was an easy job for me.” – Jose Mourningho.
Take your pick.
BB, Carvalho is a defensive midfielder, one of the best if not the best prospect in that position in the world. He has the stature and defensive qualities but I am not sure we are going to cover Vermaelen’s loss with him.
I thought that the price tag of 40m Sporting had on him would turn Arsene’s head in other direction, but if we can afford the player of that quality for 25m or so, that could be the real deal. We could have our Nemanja Matic.
From the last post:
A question to those who have better knowledge than me: Would it be possible (make any sense) to transform Jenks into a CB? He could learn from the very best right now for sure, but does he have what it takes?
Lurky,
Thanks for clarifying on Carvalho, I thought i read somewhere that he was really versatile and can play in CB as well. Methinks Arsene is getting players that can play multiple positions so that he does not really need that big a squad for quality players. Sanchez for example can play up front or on the wings.
I take your point and since i do not follow most of these targets, thanks for letting me know about the quality of these players.
😀
BB, the pleasure is mine.
On the versatility of Carvalho, I think that most of the DM’s can cover at CB position if needed, take Song, Mascherano, Yaya Toure, Carrick, Xavi Garcia, Javi Martinez for example.
I think that you have a point, that Arsene is looking for a versatile DM, but not sure what kind of versatility he wants.
For example, Khedira and Shneiderlin are both more box to box with more offensive qualities then a real DM’s.
On other hand, if the reports are true we are/were after Martinez, Carvalho who are more defensive minded players.
What is similar to all of them is that they are all quality ball passers with great vision and anticipation.
Datsyuk, my opinion is that Jenks is not suited for a CB role as he doesn’t read the game that well, at least at the moment, and is too error prone. He can recover mistakes on the flanks because of his speed, but mistake in front of the goal is almost incorrigible.
I am not sure that his passing is on the level required for a CB, where your passing percentage needs to be 95%+.
I also think that his greatest qualities as speed, quality cross and most importantly the great engine will be unused at the CB position.
Agree with that, Lurky,
his other weakness is his heading ability which for a lad of his height is currently pretty poor.
As we don’t have a huge amount of height spread around the team, the central defenders at least need to be good headers.
I really hope he can make it eventually at right back as you’re unlikely to find anyone more committed to the club. It would be lovely to see a fan claim a place in the team, but he is going to have to work really hard to fight off the challenge of Bellerin, who looks a very good footballer.
Agree very much with Trev and Lurky on Jenkinson! He should be given a chance ashe bleeds Arsenal! If we do get in more RBs then he should be sent on loan to a top tier team.
My two cents.
Anyone want to hazard a guess on who our backup goalie will be? As that is the only position thus far that Arsene has said he will definitely fill.
Trev, like you, I want Jenks to succeed at Arsenal maybe more then any other player wearing our jersey at the moment, he is so passionate and likable.
However, the reality is that both Debuchy and Bellerin are better players and as the things stands I don’t see Jenks anywhere near the first 11 next year, even in the Cup games. It is not impossible for things to change, though.
Jenks needs to strengthen, improve his heading ability, his reading of the game, his decision making. I am not sure he could do these things in Arsenal this year, so maybe a loan would help.
Interesting thing is that we are in the market for one more RB if the reports are correct, so loaning out Jenks for one season seems like an interesting solution.
I’ve no idea, but I wouldn’t be holding my breath that it will be any of the hereto suggested internationals we’ve seen in the World Cup.
Personally, I doubt any of them would come to a club knowing that they are not going to be first choice, thus risking their international status.
Unless, of course, they are going to be first choice ………… ?
Oh, my @43 was to BB @41.
Got to be quick round here !
BB, I would welcome Keylor Navas, but it looks like Ospina will be the one and he is a decent GK.
To be honest I thought that Ospina will be Arsenal player long ago and in my opinion the reason for the hold up is maybe potential availability of Casillas.
Not sure if that could be the right move for us, because the Spaniard would want to be number 1 GK and I don’t think he is that suited to PL style of play with crosses and high balls. On other side he could have some commercial impact, so it will be maybe the Board and not Arsene’s decision.
Lurky, good reply to Datsyuk on why the Corporal isn’t a prospective CB. But is there a DM in him? He has the necessary speed and engine, the heading becomes less important, but can his reading of the game, so critical in that position, be improved sufficiently?
So, here is something idle away a few hours. As we speculate over who our deputy glove butler to Sir Woj might be, I have had the monks at Castle Ned turn their attention to creating a list of the 10 best goal keepers at present, based on last season’s performances, World Cup games where appropriate, and a general sense of the proverbial super quality in front of the onion bag.
1. Neuer – Bayern Munich
2. Buffon – Juventus
3. Sirigu – PSG
4. Akinfeev – CSKA
5. ter Stegen – Barcelona
6. De Sanctis – Roma
7. Szczesny – Arsenal
8. Handanovic – Inter Milan
9. Ospina – Nice
10. Howard – Everton
In no particular order, except alphabetical, these comprise the next 10:
Bergovic – Stoke
Cech – Chelsea
Enyeama – Lille
Hart – Manchester City
Courtois – Atletico Madrid (Chelsea)
Lopez – Real Madrid
Mannone – Sunderland
Navas – Levante
Reina – Napoli
Subasic – Monaco
No room for these 10 and other no doubt fine exponents of the art:
Abbiati – AC Milan
Bravo – Barcelona
Castillas – Real Madrid
Cillessen – Ajax
De Gea – Manchester United
Leno – Levenkusen
Lloris – Tottenham Hotspur
Lodygin – Zenit St. Petersberg
M’Bolhi – CSKA Sophia
Ochoa – Ajaccio
Any pickings in there for us?
Here’s a part of a nice interview from Henry :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYOy8qkYWFE
There’s more parts in youtube if interested.
NBN, not sure Jenks can be deployed at DM too, mainly because of his passing, but because of his inability to hold on the ball for more then one second.
Modern DM needs to be either strong to protect the ball with his strength or solid technically to pull out from pressure. Jenks isn’t any of these two types. Add to that the fact that he is so one footed and usually panics when pressured, he has not a good DM abilities, imho.
Blimey ! I hope poor old Jenks isn’t reading all this today.
You’d think the poor bloke can hardly stand up !
Oh no, that was Senderos …… 😉
Ttg,
when you and Mrs Ttg get back from the dentist, here’s something nice for you – despite the dodgy looking characters singing it ! 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmUG1ffgKFw
😉
Seems you might have to hit the little ‘refresh’ thingy in the bottom left corner – sometimes ??
NBN,
That’s quite a comprehensive lists of goalies!
I just wonder, are we in for a backup goalie to Szczesny or are we looking to find some competition for that No.1 spot?!
The answer to that question could mean a very different choice for us indeed.
My two cents is that if we are looking for a backup.. Casillas, he’s used to the bench, ouch!
Or as competition for Szczesny then Ospina would be a good bet!
Said on that previous thread, but all the keepers we have been linked with in the 23 to 26 range. All would be taking a (big) step up coming to AFC. I doubt any of them would see Schez as unbeatable in a competition for the jersey, his reputation isn’t as well established outside the fan base generally. Would make sense to bring in someone on the up, but not feeling entitled, all the links so far match that. (Casillas the odd one out, but tht reeks of pure bin-bags.)
Trev, just like he has weaknesses Jenks has many qualities and I listed some them before: perfect crossing, great athletic engine, solid speed, never gives up, he is rarely tired and works his socks off every game.
I am sure that if Jenks reads all this today he would agree with many of listed weaknesses and strengths as he is a very humble and likable boy who works very hard to improve.
afternoon all ‘n’ ‘hol
it’s a big howdy from me
.
i love being
out of the big shitty
and
back in niceness
.
wee birds
regularly
come in my house
they creep in under the front door
.
this mornings
was a robin
never happened before
just fuckin brilliant
i was over the moon
she however screamed
and
punched my ear
.
a wee robin 🙂
though
worth it
.
howdy ‘holics
have a goodun
.
may a happy wee robin
visit upon you
.
chirpy kind
not
dutch kind
.
cheerio
nice people
Many thanks all for your kind wishes. I’ve managed to be faithful to the same woman for forty years. The wife would be astonished if she knew her.
No in all seriousness much appreciated especially the musical interlude from the Boss kindly supplied by Trev. I heard a rumour tyat the Khedira deal was on again- any more news on this. Anyway they’ll be no bragging from the Boreham Wood boys after we saw them off. Gooners rule Hertfordshire.
Oddly I am off to the dentist tomorrow but there is no link to the suggestions made early.
Chin up, Jenx, you proper gooner, you.
You’re the man.
So Khedira is back o again…. 😀
BB: That list should cover the top 30 keepers in the world, or at least the top 30 from the set that my monks could get numbers for. Given that Sir Woj is said to thrive on competition, a keeper who could push him for the No 1 jersey would be the preferred choice. But here is the dilemma. If the numbers don’t lie and Szczesny is one of the top 10 in the world, then anyone good enough to give him serious competition would have to be at least, say, top 15. If they are that good, they would expect to be automatic first choice between the sticks, and probably wouldn’t join us without a strong indication that they would be.
Oooooooh this Carvalho kid sounds uber sexy. Me want him NOW.
#FreeCarvalho
Here goes, I reckon BIG Ivan gets us Carvalho and ADM.
You heard it here first.
Forward
Ned,
A big hand for the monks – and even bigger hands, hopefully, for our new keeper, whoever he turns out to be.
Nice one, cba.
It’s always a special pleasure to have ‘your own’ robin following you around the garden. Next door’s bloody cat had mine for dinner in the spring.
I really missed the little fella – unlike the big Dutch fella. 😉
Your welcome ttg,
Here’s one more for you –
A husband and wife were golfing when suddenly the wife asked,
“Honey, if I died would you get married again?”
The husband said, “No sweetie.”
The woman said, “I’m sure you would.”
So the man said, “Okay, I would”
So the woman asked, “Would you live with her in our house ?”
And the man replied, “Almost certainly, yes.”
Then the woman asked, “Would you let her sleep in our bed?”
And the man replied, “Ya, I guess so.”
Then the wife asked, “Would you let her use my golf clubs?”
And the husband replied, “No, she’s left handed.”
😉
NBN,
My thoughts are similar on that as well, which would explain why we haven’t got Ospina yet, maybe he doesn’t want to come, that leaves Casillas… but would he leave one bench to join another?
More questions.. no answers…
Wait I see …Khedira… or is that Balotelli??!… No..!!!!
Brilliant Trev @64, even better than your previous effort. 🙂
Top o’ the evenin’ to you cba. 🙂
Ludovine Sagna definitely makes sure her ‘assets’ get media coverage doesn’t she? Maybe we should get her as a defensive center back, there will be no goals getting around those obstacles!
Mega horny for Ospina. A great signing. Pwopa nawty tear up for the keepers jersey now, just what we need.
BIG Ivan does it again.
Forward
Disrespecting that City bitch’s bits, Peter? As well you should, of course. The era of Ludovine admiration must be well and properly over, unfortunately. 🙁
bt8: Well they are the biggest article on the Daily Fail page, rising well above transfer news, even van Gaal’s strangely shaped head shaped thing!
Maureen’s up to his usual tricks again, as the season starts up, putting down Le Boss, but making sure he is on a par with LVG. What an absolute plonk! Do wish Wenger would never feed the troll.
Hahahaha. No words.
One word.
Troll.
Village idiot alert.
Alls I can say is….more power to you, Bacs. More power to ya.
WDHKOFWOFK,
I saw you referring to Arsenal fans as you, and the club as they.
so you are a sad lonely little man who is really worried about Arsenal in the mix against your team.
frightened already.
Oh dear, the doors of the asylum have been left ajar. Can the inmates please return to their cells?
I see the troglodyte remembers my erstwhile benediction. Rest assured my comical little friend, the fun times are just beginning for Barca. Tapas, anyone?
I’m sure I know one newcomer who is always peckish under pressure. 😛
#freeludivine
Come on gents, go easy, it’s clearly a secret admirer.
@ 83 etc.: You plagiarist – please do have something original to say! You even stole my paraphrasing of the great CLR James (who in turn had paraphrased Kipling) … without even so much as a nod of acceptance. 🙂
Barca would of course continue to do fine, bankrolled by the collective delusions of the Catalans and their mostly miserable lives under the ‘Spanish’ rule. They need those football wins much more than anyone else. Even if to achieve that they need to steal others’ money, just like you steal others’ bon mots. 🙂
Whereas we would continue to redefine the ‘cool’ in World Football. Progressive in thought and actions, and masters of our own destiny. Not some misery wallowing retrograde culture chauvinists.
The troll can’t find the entrance to his hole. Oy vey!.
a. Barca does steal others’ money. Including its own people. While unemployment rate in Catalonia increases to 22% (http://www.catalannewsagency.com/business/item/unemployment-rate-in-catalonia-increases-from-21-9-to-22-1-in-the-first-quarter-of-2014) and ordinary Catalonians cannot get loans to start up their own business the club continues to live with massive debt, and along with Real Madrid continues to fuck up the Spanish football system so miserably that other clubs can just barely survive. Also, how about paying back those debts to Arsenal football club from the last few deals? Hope you have enjoyed the services of Alex Song. 🙂
b. Progressive doesn’t mean winning some tin pots each year by spending a vast sum that you haven’t earned. Progressive means having the foresight, vision, and the courage to be true pioneers. What Arsenal has pulled off in the post-emirates era is a masterclass in how to take a leap into the future, of tomorrow and beyond, by its own merits. Watch this space.
c. Arsene is the most clear-eyed, lucid and visionary of the current club football managers. While the simpletons like you might have been confused by the nuanced utterances of this polymath & polyglot genius , most Arsenal supporters knew and understood him very well. We will see the next time any big club tries to build a new stadium to move forward.
🙂
As I said, we are talking about a football club here, a proper football club. Not some maudlin extension to a narrow-minded regional chauvinism. 🙂
Why are you guys replying this Troll?
SAG@89 : Wise advice, and heeded. 🙂
Good Dr. – despite your words being wasted on an imbecilic visitor, that’s good stuff @88. Cheers
Barcelona? Desperate times for our poor Catalan retirement home. Song is about to get some games, Hleb is talking up a comeback and they are so desperate to crack the Madrid two’s dominance they traded all their principles an DNA for that bitey racist. Worst of all messi ain’t messi anymore and Dr Furntes has packed up his magic fuet and gone to hide from the federales. The tax man’a beating down the door. It goes on and on and the trophies are in the past. Does GolTV show the bundesliga, that’s the main thing?
Anyway, back to studying the revelatory aspects of BIG Ivan’s master plan. I won’t be backing us for the champions league this year, I think that comes next season. A domestic treble or double this time certainly worth some paper money though.
Forward
A good and rounded commentary of Saturday’s game seen in the same way as I did.
I am a little disappointed that quite a few of our academy players have not made that natural progression to the senior team in more recent times. Like with many other hopefuls in the past, I liked what I saw from our youngsters in a pre-season friendly.
I figured out that I may be able to bring my son to games under my membership. With that being the case, he will hopefully see the likes of Ozil kick a ball. I shall be on the phone to our helpful customer services staff this morning.
Of course the stand outs for me were Bellerin, Ollson and Akpom. Saying that, it now seems like it’s a good time again to be a gooner (be a giver).
Transfer Speculation:
By now, many of you may be aware of Wengers comments after Saturday’s game published on A.com.
When asked specifically about Sami Khedira, the boss stated:
“I can’t give you any names because you are never sure that you can do what you want. We are still out there to strengthen our squad.”
When asked specifically about a keeper, the boss stated:
“I will bring in a goalkeeper for sure.”
When asked about Vermaelen, the boss stated:
“I cannot guarantee that [he will stay at the club] but should he go, I will bring another centre back in for sure.”
To me, that means we will see a new keeper and centreback if Vermaelen goes. As I said, I would rather he worked out the remainder of his contract. My cousin reckons that, if he wants to go we should release him (cash in), as staying could affect his performances. To me, playing as a backup must have the same effect surely. In other words, I cannot see him playing any worse. But that’s just my opinion.
However today, quotes have surfaced from Wenger stating:
“Up front we don’t need any more. We need a goalkeeper for sure and after that it depends on how our midfielders get through without injuries until the start of the season.”
Although I have not come across that statement from Wenger myself and according to many, if it is backed by blogs that makes it official. That is not to say it will not pop up officially somewhere. Overall, reading between the lines, it seems as though we have not met all of our targets this summer, however have still concluded some serious business. I am sure there are still a couple of deals still being negotiated too. But following a lot of the transfer stories and talking to supporters from other clubs, we are not alone.
Saying that, the boss’s main focus now and so it should be, is getting this upcoming campaign under way without too many distractions. I still feel that we do actually need another out and out centre forward and it would be good if we could bring in another big name either upfront or as a DM. Transfer rumours are now becoming a trickier to decipher at this stage of the window, but if we do end up with anybody else, I hope they are worthwhile.
By the way, I understand Kalou wants to return to the premiere league. Ahem!
Saying that, it’s new york next weekend and then it’s the big annual event.
UTA COYR and all of the rest!!
Morning El,
It would be good to be able to decode the remainder of Big Ivan’s master plan this summer. We still have 6 weeks to go, and I am not just talking about when the kids return to school.
runs down the wing, cuts in does a couple of step overs and then smacks the ball into the danger area…
BOOM!
😀
Get in!! 🙂
Goonertown,
Yes, I’ll have to agree that it would ease my mind somewhat if we get another striker. Although it’s probably allright as we have Theo coming back and unless we have him or any other of our forwards planning another long hiatus, I can see that we are already almost at peak in that department. (Provided Sanogo improves, which is what Arsene probably wants and another striker would really limit his playing time even in the cups!)
Am more concerned about our defensive positions! Centre back and defensive midfielder is a must! Especially if Vermaelen leaves.
Of course, am assuming we have Ospina or Casillas already in the bag :D!
Morning GT and BB.
Not going to get too caught up in those AW quotes here. Basic transfer season filler. Either a denial, because that’s what we always do, an attempt to lessen prices by showing a lack of interest, or a real ploy?
If we end up with a GK, RB, Sanchez we have swapped out Flappy, Sagna, NB52k. Our squad is no deeper, but has another world class attacker we didn’t have before… Is that a good summer? Does it match up with the clubs we are chasing?
Tough to imagine we are not looking at more deals, just as Le Boss and BIG Ivan have suggested in the last fortnight in forthright fashion.
Arseblogs lists of players – such a Reg the Manager – looked okay, but numbers of names isn’t the only issue, we need quality. Just my opinion, but Sonogo is a prospect, a fine one, but nowhere near ready to shoulder a significant burden if Giroud gets injured. Arteta isn’t good enough to be the fulcrum of a title winning side anymore, we all know the results last season where we got battered and why we are being linked all over Europe to some legs in the holding role.
BIG Ivan is no fool. No point getting riled up by Le Boss’s late appearing quotes. (Source?) Will wait until the window shuts, but we run the risk of last seasons collapses repeating if we sit tight imo.
Nothing in the last 5/6 years we have seen at Arsenal suggests that a player coming back from a serious injury keeping them out 9 months should be expected to resume pre-injury form straight away. Theo is immense, but just as likely he takes a season to get back to where he was – he’ll start this one late – as steps straight in scoring goals. Sanchez is the only pace in our attack and Giroud our only frontman, unless Theo recovers from knee reconstruction surgery and plays as if he has never been away… Behind that we have up and comers, all of whom could just as easily be loaned out this year: Sonogo, Campbell, Gnarby.
Arsene KNOWS.
Forward
Morning El and BB.
I am in no way wound up by the quotes made by the manager. Yes, they are typical season filler type of statements. Sometimes I do not have the luxury to completely express myself through posts, but the beauty of forums is that the majority of the times, posts complete an all rounded opinion of what everybody thinks.
I guess my point this morning was that, ideally should I say, another out and out CF, Sanogo out on loan and a midfield general would address the remainder of the issues within our talented squad IMO. Otherwise, the boss knows better than I do.
Onwards and upwards!
The article in Le Equipe this links too is interesting:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/lequipe-confirm-khedira-likely-to-join-arsenal-ask-if-wenger-has-changed-transfer-policy/?
With the help of googletranslate it says, “we are fucking loaded and AW intends to use it.”
Pleasing.
105 – well said GT. We await the unveiling of the “Super quality.” 🙂
Fumigated.
Morning all. Virtually out of touch here. One lounge in the hotel with wifi. No mobile signal.
It’s bliss 😉
Morning Holic,
I have been relying upon my personal hotspot at one of my properties for the last two weeks.
Had to do the same in hastings last week.
Can be a pain sometimes! 😉
Chaps,
I don’t buy the we haven’t got any pace upfront argument. We have as part of our three playing behind the striker- Gnabry, Walcott, Campbell and the Ox. In that three we could have Sanchez or he could play upfront on his own. That gives us ultra pace. Even if the slower Giroud plays we should get several players running beyond him like Ramsey, Ozil and Rosicky.
I think Wenger thinks we have enough forward options. This constitutes a big call on Sanogo and suggests Campbell will stay with us and be in the 18 most weeks.
Ornstein of the BBC says in his Twitter feed that we have abandoned Khedira but are still chasing a DM. Sounds like Bender or Carvalho to me
Okay am being told parents can and could accompany junior gunners which seems logical.
I will wait and see!
TTG – Yes, things are sounding fairly Carvalhoish at the moment.
One of my Chavski mates told me Maureen has ruled out any more purchases.
So that just leaves Sami to stay or makeweight for Rodriguez an option barring our interest.
Khedira seems to be a soap opera with to many sub plots. James Rodriguez to Madrid for 81 incredulous million dollars, are they insane???. Now they are saying they may offer Khedira as make shift and money to get Rodriguez from Monaco. This may rumble on for we also know Alonso to Napoli may still happen what with the love affair between Alonso and benitez. With Kroos, Illaramendi, Isco and Modric, where on earth will madrid still have place for Rodriguez??? This is plain one one-upmanship. You buy Suarez we buy Rodriguez.
All this may mean the likes of Khedira, Isco and Di Maria will leave madrid yet they could be used in any of the potential deals madrid want to conclude. So if Monaco say we want Khedira, i think Madrid will send him there and the player may not complain much for his wages will be peanuts to them.
William Carvallho could be a cracker jacker signing especially knowing the fact that both the manchester clubs wanted him desperately.
Ospina to be announced today hopefully means 3 of the 5 requirements are done.
DM and hopefully a striker and we are ready to rumble. Remy for me still makes a lot of sense, if only we dont dilly dally to much on his wages.
Vinay
Don’t think a striker is on the menu for Arsene if you believe his quote on Saturday
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Lurky & Trev.
Like you and many others I really hope Jenks will make it. As a Gooner you just got to love that man. I thought he played pretty good at the start of last season and that he only needs a string of games to get totally comfortable. As Sagna got replaced by Debuchy and Bellerin is pushing up I think he’s now somewhere between the both of them and I’m not sure if that will help him in his development.
Time will tell.
Wow. Chavs have 15 players returning from loan this summer, via transfermarkt.com
That includes: Courtois, Zouma (12mil signing), Piazon, Romeu, Marin, Baby Hazard, Lukaku.
Since Maureen returned, that have bought: Costa, Cesc, Felipe, Willian, Matic, Schurrle, Salah, Van Ginkel, Zouma listed above, and some more young loan bait.
People howl when you compare what we do to those around us, but in that time we bought Ozil, Sanchez, Flamini, Debuchy.
Be amazed if Arsene’s “nah, we won’t sign anyone else” stance is anything other than a bargaining ploy.
We are talking up Sonogo, Gnarby, The Panther as the answer to our crummy 64 goals last season? Please. Look at the rest of the top 4, or the serious contenders in Europe, Madrid, Barca, Bayern – the clubs who we can now match in acquiring players – Sonogo getting big boys game time for any of them to learn on the job?
Forward
Question – why do those above want a nice kid like jenks to fill a spot in our first team when he clearly is just an average player who did an average job when we did not have much choice or cash to buy much different.
FFS – are we a football club or a nursery for nice young lads.
Yes jenks is a gooner and yes he is a nice young kid, but he is part of an era of some of the worst player purchasing in our clubs history.
It is like the sanogo debate, he was purchased when we had little choice.
That is now on the verge of changing or at least should be on the verge of changing if our club does indeed want to be our best and show clear intent to win.
A “rumour currently doing the rounds of north London drinking establishments”
http://www.brandish.tv/2014/07/21/reus-arsenals-next-target.html?
For the love of Dennis, let it be true BIG Ivan.
Forward
111 – another one we should be looking to send out on loan, and maybe we are. Top 10 clubs in Europe don’t let raw, so-so prospects learn in the first team – that is for the truly special kids. By any conceivable measure, we are one of Europe’s top 10 clubs. We should start acting like it now we can 🙂
Forward
howdy from yesterday bt8
.
and
.
howdy all
.
oh
and
yer not wrong trev
wee robins are
picture postcard
.
i have hundreds of housemartins
fly and divebomb over the back yard
if the wee cunts are collectively spooked
a good suit can be shit in seconds
.
anyhoo
.
howdy ‘hol
hope yer arm’s behavin’
Shit el puno- if some on here had their way they would have jenks as captain just because he is a good bloke.
It’s like it is a crime in here to actually want to beat the best in Europe by acting as the best in Europe and buying the best in Europe.
some on here still can’t decide if sanogo might be a better option than Campbell who just played against the best in he world…. And stood out
Seriously incredible….. Where else would jenks even get a game in any other top european club as a right back…
It’s like wilshire, young English lad (who is not so young anymore), it would be unthinkable to lots of arsenal regulars on here to even think about moving him out of arsenal because , he is jack wilshire and he is an arsenal junior.
But has he really come on, no he hasn’t, Has he improved, not really, has he delivered no…
Aussie
By your standards Ramsey would have been pushed out the door 18 months ago!
Datsyuk – I don’t remember wilshire having his leg snapped in half and I guess it depends if you were happy waiting 9 +years for your last trophy…
If that is the comparison you were trying to make, then yes wilshire is miles behind ramsey considering what aaron has overcome.
aussie
.
sometimes in life
people need given a fool’s pardon
sometimes people
need beaten to a fine powder
.
the people “in here”
usually discern well
.
Beautifully expressed, cba.
A drink of your choice awaits you on the bar.
Virtually,
of course
🙂
Marco Reus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that will be epic, an incredible dream come true, not happening, cannot see that at all. Barca wanted him and so does Bayern now apparently. I just cannot see where we can play him as well but then he is good we could probably play him as a striker and he may succeed.
I still think we wont buy a striker, or it just might be ballotelli.
DM please, thats the number one priority, nothing else matters now.
Happy hols, Hols! 😉
Aussie,
I think you’ll find that ‘those of us above’ want Jenks to improve enough to become a first team player – not to give him a place now just because he is a good bloke.
To turn the question round – why would any Arsenal fan not want another Arsenal fan to make it into the first team.
If he isn’t good enough then he shouldn’t and he won’t.
Then you really bemuse me with the next bit –
“some on here still can’t decide if sanogo might be a better option than Campbell who just played against the best in he world…. And stood out”
To be honest, I like what I’ve seen of him – seems to have a decent touch and is capable of scoring and picking an opportunity.
But did he really stand out against the best in the world ??
He was also purchased ‘when we had little choice’, and while I agree he looks a whole lot better than Sanogo, he still has a lot to prove.
And you ask “where else would Jenks get a game?”
Based on last season’s teams I would venture Man Utd and Liverpool. I don’t think he’s quite as bad as you say.
And where the Donald Duck did Reus suddenly come from ?
Oh, the drinking establishments of North London. Right. 😉
If it’s true, I’ll jump higher than any of you – and I won’t even use the good leg. 😉
Mind you, given Arsenal’s habit of buying ‘car based’ players, it might be true. We have, after all, already had –
David Bentley
Thierry Henry Ford
Nelson Vauxhall Vivas
A Lexus Sanchez
Marco Rolls Reus – speculation
Any more I’ve missed ? 😉
Trev@124 – Wee Georgie Armstrong-Siddley?
On this basis, we’ll be announcing Lars Fender-Bender any moment.
BIG Ivan playing a very shrood game. Madrid need money. (We already mugged el skinto Barca:) FFP kicking City and PSG in the nuts. This is what we have been waiting years for. No second rate wage stealers like Remy for us this year, only “super quality.”
I still fully expect we sign another top, top quality attacker and a beastly midfielder. No rush to do it either. Smooth, slow and easy BIG I.
Forward
#FreeReus
#LiberateCarvalho
Well in El – I second that emotion!
Thank god for the return of the surrealists.
El Puno @ 127 — In other words, welcome you all football fans to a brave new world!
Where responsible behavior is rewarded. And foresight. 🙂
Me am a liking what me am a reading very much!
Excellent EL Puno! I fully expect to read about the latest acquisitions from you.
Last minute deals are almost always the best for us… Ozil for instance!
😀
Joesos @ 129:
I dreamt of Messieurs Soupault, Breton and Aragon last night. They were talking about attending a football match between Arsenal and the combined forces of Barca & Madrid, and how they will taunt the rhinoceros’s horns out of Bunuel, Dali and Miro after Arsenal beats the mighty spaniards 1900-0.
joeos
.
how many surrealists
does it take
to change a lightbulb?
.
😉
.
(the answer isn’t)
The spuds fail to land greazy man hahahahahahahaha!
:lo:
&
🙂
Hang on let me do that again
The spuds fail to land greazy man hahahahahahahaha!
😆
&
🙂
and it’s a big howdy panG
.
cheers fella
.
Blimey, Pangloss @125,
Did that come with horses ? 😉
Goonertown — saw Python’s last — last ever! never to be repeated! ever again! 🙂 — performance live simulcast yesterday. Quite fantastic the way they made fun of their fame and fame of some of their own sketches. And so many of the old jokes hold so well still.
A particular highpoint involved Stephen Hawking running Brian Cox — busy explaining the scientific inaccuracies in the Galaxy song — down with his wheelchair. Both were in the live audience.
Galaxy song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buqtdpuZxvk
Yes Dr F. Exactly. Arsene saw it coming a decade before anyone else and we are better prepared than anyone else. Let the good times roll 🙂
howdy goonertown
how are you today?
well, i hope
.
‘holic’s bar
is a thing of wonder
.
i fuckin’ love it
.
🙂
Aussie — Jenks is a very fine young footballer. Actually you will be hard pressed to find a better second choice RB in PL in last season’s form. Go ahead, name one. Second choice.
He has a few areas to improve — aerial abilities, positioning, and maybe better passing — and those are highlighted all the more because of our very high standards. An Arsenal RB really needs to be one of the best.
But every time he was put on the pitch — how easily we forget the very reliable job he did when Sagna was out for such a long time after the double leg breaks — he didn’t look out of place, and going forward almost as threatening as any of the top RBs in the league.
He is 22, in 2-3 years time if he maintains his fitness and continues to grow at this rate would be an excellent RB. You are not going to find a better second choice RB at this time.
It is all the more exciting that Bellerin looks already a better prospect that Jenks in terms of technique and composure. The physical attributes of Jenks are much superior and we should be glad that in a few years we will have two such exciting players for the RB position.
If Jenks is let go in favor of Manquillo then we will know it is only because Arsene is convinced that Manquillo is quite the talent to deserve such a risky promotion. However I quite don’t see us going into the PL-CL campaign with only one RB with experience of either.
We may have lost Khedira and Schneiderlin ….. so who else have we targeted for that position??!!
Mumbles* mumbles* crosses fingers*..!
Trev@137, I was gutted I couldn’t work in a Hispano-Suiza reference. Gutted.
cba, isn’t Fish?
Trev: Don’t forget Eddie Carr, a little used striker from the 1930s or Joe Mini Cooper and Jack Aston Martin, who both played a few games for the old Woolwich Arsenal back in the day. What of Mark Austin Heeley and Stan Morgan? Or Brian Sunbeam Talbot? And our Andy Ducat(i) motorbike must have had a Ray Swallow sidecar.
+1 for Brian Sunbeam Talbot
145
half a dozen 🙂
I would say that there are half a dozen clubs in the Premiership where the Corporal is good enough now to be first-choice right back. None of them in the top half of the table, though. With the experience gained from regular games he could get there.
bla
.
what’s that?
.
amos?
.
wha
.
AMOS MILBURN!!!!!!!!!!
.
one scotch
one bourbon
one beer
.
don’t mind if i do
.
🙂
The love for the Corporal is far from sentimentally based. A couple of seasons ago Sagna was lucky to reclaim his place in the side as Jenks played wonderfully well especially at Manchester Citeh.
I agree with Dr. F he is a very good deputy RB.
For those who choose to hope that Arsene will surprise us they are forgetting his frugality. It’s his default setting and he will always stick rather than twist in the transfer market particularly the high end.
There is no chance of a striker coming in after Campbell and Suarez. He is talking up Akpom now.
We will get Ospina, possibly another RB androbably a DM although this is not nailed on. For those expecting Reus, dream on. We will replace Vermaelen if he goes but that is about it. Remember canny leopards don’t change their spots that much
Whilst many would want another striker, i would suggest that it is just that, a want and not a need!
What we need is a DM and a CB if Vermaelen leaves!
…and of course A goalie, which is Ospina as many have opined!
Why do people forget Wilshere’s loan to Bolton, that made him toughen up to the man he is now. If we feel a player has potential but not yet fully ready to play for the first team, i am sure there will be teams who would want an Arsenal player to play for them albeit loan.
I am among those who does not rate jenko highly. I truly believe he is a good player but in a modern day football where full backs play a pivotal role, he does come across as someone who may not make the final cut at the highest level. I would be happy to be proven wrong for he is one amongst us, a boy hood fan living his dreams but then harsh reality is, at the moment not good enough.
So send him on a loan deal,he comes back improved, we have a ready right back. till then he needs to wait.
I dont know if anyone believes this but i also feel we need a left back. Monreal was caught out way to often in the big games and Gibbs with that injury record is to much of a risk to take for an entire season.
For those raining down on Jenks, he’s clearly the best of this lot :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ0bR0Y6ZXE
😀
Interesting debate on Crpl. Jenks.
Sagna, sadly, has left. No secret here I was a big fan of his. More than once I gave Jenks a hard time on this blog. No one will accuse me, I think, of being a sentimental old fool on that score.
That said, Jenks has bags of potential. Great crosser, gets up and down the pitch well. Possitionally improving. Agree with those above, that he’d be a regular starter at most Prem clubs. He is still a bit green and with another season and regular playing time will start the evolution into a beast. Lets face it though: Arsenal had been blessed with Sagna for quite a few years, one of the top right backs in the world, so the expectation for his understudy is massive. That Jenks is merely a 7 out of 10, whereas Sagna was a 9.5, makes Jenks seem very poor indeed. But, as someone else said above, how many better are there at that spot in the league now? Not very many I’d think.
I recall AW recently saying that Jenkinson and Debuchy will fight for RB. Cannot see Jenks being sold, nor do I think should he. Ttg nailed it – AW will not spend just for that sake of it, new transfer funds or not.
Yep … “Possitionally.” That is not even a word.
Until now!!
homer
if needs mustifcate
words can be
originulated
willy nilly
Anyone managed to decipher the seething mess that is the Arsenal website and know what the deal is with watching this New York Henrys match on Saturday please?
147.
Fish or Giraffes?
The KING: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxc1JMNjYfM
#UnleashTheKing
More potential money for the kitty:
Arsenal Extends Media Rights and Content Distribution Contract
http://worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=37165
BB: Gedouttahere. For one thing, it’s “cwaffee”. And Flamini should have a Jurzee accent. Know what I am sayin’?
http://www.wikihow.com/Talk-Like-a-New-Yorker
NBN,
Nu Yalk! Nu Yalk!
😀
Post of the day @ 118.
signed
One person on here.
I have only have a couple minutes on my lunch break, but I’ve got a couple pennies to drop into the “more signings up top” discussion. Those hoping Arsenal will suddenly morph into City/Chelsea-type spenders will be disappointed. (And frankly, they may need to reevaluate their footballing allegiances and why they support Arsenal in the first place.)
I really think Sanchez is it. We’re done. One of Wenger’s characteristic traits has always been his willingness to give youngsters a real chance to prove themselves at the highest level, and the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, RvP, Theo, Wilshere, Ramsey, et al are the proof in the pudding. Bringing in a Reus or a Griezemann, as exciting as it would be, would without a doubt stifle the development of the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Serge Gnabry. Bringing in another striker would similarly steal minutes away from Sanogo/Campbell/Akpom (whichever don’t go out on loan). That’s ain’t Wenger’s style, nor, if you ask me, should it be. I think all of those mentioned, with the possible exception of Campbell, have at least the potential to be regulars in an excellent Arsenal team.
Thus I would frankly be disappointed if we DID bring in another attacking player. Chelsea we ain’t, and I don’t think we have to ascribe to their model (of prioritizing big-money signings over youth development) to compete with them. If you think so, then I think you’re missing a pretty big plot point.
@111 and 115
Ah another classic strawman argument from down under :-
1. Fabricate a mood.
2. State it as fact.
3. Criticise it.
Absolutely nobody, as far as I have seen, has asked that Jenks “be captain” or anything approaching it. In fact, I haven’t seen anyone suggest that Jenks should “fill a spot in our first team”. The need to replace Sagna has, on the contrary, been pretty much universally accepted by all, not least by AW who has, lo and behold, gone out and bought another right back.
All that has been suggested is that the kid has always given his all in an Arsenal shirt, has never let anybody down, and that one day it would be great to see him make the position his own, given his obvious feeling for the Club. Whether that aim is now best served by another season on the bench or a year out on loan is open to debate. Don’t let the facts get in the way of your utterly spurious ‘argument’ though eh.
Your contention that Jenkinson was part of ‘an era of some of the worst player purchasing in our Club’s history’ betrays both a blindness to the qualities of those currently in the shirt, and a striking lack of knowledge as to our history in that regard. I’m guessing your knowledge doesn’t extend very far back? Have a read up on our history. You might find it enlightening. You might even stop embarrassing yourself with such twaddle.
The Campbell/Sanogo debate is an interesting one. Most reasoned observers would probably conclude that it is far too early for definitive judgements in respect of either player, and that one decent game against Uraguay and 4 very average ones thereafter is not enough to make the kind of bone-headed conclusions in which you specialise. That you have, and castigate those that haven’t, really does come as no surprise.
As for the Ramsey/Wilshere comparison, have you forgotten that Wilshere was actually out of Football for a considerably longer period than Aaron? Datsyuk’s point was therefore entirely valid. Were you writing Ramsey off in his first 18 months back? No need to answer that.
I shall look forward to your answer to Faustus’ challenge to name some better reserve right backs. I won’t hold my breath though. We are of course still waiting to hear about all ‘the deadwood’ that we are apparently ‘slow in clearing’. I expect a similar silence.
164 – why did we bother to build a new stadium and fight through almost a decade of debt depression for it?
Kid makes Elvis look stiff hipped:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elA_5OwjoDA
#ChubaTheKING
Hear hear Goonsterham.
Vinay, if we were to buy a left-back, I’d be happy to get Wolfburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez. He wouldn’t be cheap, but is probably the best young full-back in the world right now (and, yes, that means better than Shaw).
“Bringing in another striker would similarly steal minutes away from Sanogo/Campbell/Akpom”
Let’s be serious, you are talking about 3 players whose PL starts you can count on one hand. We are 7th favourite for the European Cup. 4th favourite for the Prem and defending cup holders. These are our very realistic aims. Loan the kids out if we want them to get minutes. Wilshere did it, Gibbs to, Ramsey even had a brief loan.
You aren’t trading away the future by having proven class in the present. By that same logic we might as well have not signed Sanchez and sell Giroud, more minutes for the fledglings. If anything, having a successful, established team with winning pedigree to break in to will only help the yoof. (Certainly helped Cesc.)
That reads like a blind desire to defend something that isn’t under attack. You can bring through kids and play attacking football, Arsene style, and still compete in the modern game. You are confusing the means with the end though if you want to reject a serious shot at trophies, the big ones, for higher ideals. There needs to be both.
As for reevaluating football allegiances, that is something you can stick up your arse. Wanting Arsenal to do the best they can within their means and without jeopardising the future of the club is a perfectly legitimate aim. It’s part of why they bother to keep score. You are welcome to your niche obsession with the raw youths, but don’t go about making out your a better fan than anyone else because of it.
UTA
Paraphrasing, but “I’d be disappointed if we signed Reus because Sonogo would lose minutes,” is as ludicrous as anything you will find anywhere. It’s obviously garbage to.
If you disagree, please go find anyone, anywhere, who was upset when we signed Sanchez, Liverpool, Chavski, Shitty, Sussex Mancs, and spuds aside. It can involve Sonogo or not, we can keep the criteria loose to give it a chance. Ta.
El Puno @166. Of course, being able to compete financially with the biggest teams in Europe, and thus being able to bring in the likes of Özil and Sanchez, is a prerequisite to competing for the highest honors, and I’m thrilled that Arsenal are once again shopping from the highest shelf. But just because we can doesn’t mean that big-money transfers are our primary modus operandi now. It’s a question balance, of financial prudence and fair-mindedness.
I think the Ox and Gnabry are ready to contribute to Arsenal’s first team, albeit mostly behind the likes of Theo, Sanchez and Cazorla in the pecking order. Are you really saying we should bring in a Reus or a Griezemann and thus effectually stymie their development? We’d watch them stagnate for a year or two and then ship them along. Is that what you want?
All this talk of Who’s in – Who’s out, it’s the cause of all my shaking
That’s something I can do without
O Doktor Doktor, what’s in my shirt?
FWWM
For all the speculation about Campbell, he doesn’t seem to have been given a squad number yet, though Coquelin, I see, has been allocated No. 34.
172 – Nicely set up straw man. However, please create a more plausible one to discuss.
Absolutely no reason why, say, signing Reus who is absolutely world class would end the Arsenal career of Gnarby or the Ox. (Set aside the fact that Reus would play as a forward and the other two appear to be more midfielders, but I guess it suits your argument more to avoid Sonogo and The Panther, who I rate more than most on here, but anyway.)
A starting forward line of Reus, Sanchez, Theo would be immense. If anyone had to give way to accommodate that it certainly wouldn’t be either of our two brightest young things. Given that Rosicky, Arteta, and Flamini are all entering the final year of their contracts, it is easy to see where the space in the squad comes from though.
Forward
El Puno, it’s a question of striking the right balance between transfers and youth development, and that’s always going to be a subjective thing. I make no claim to have definitive answers, just opinions. Indeed, part of the reason Cesc, RvP, Nasri, Ramsey et al got some much playing time as youngsters was because they came along during the years when we couldn’t afford to compete financially with the big boys. And I agree with you that Sanogo and Campbell probably aren’t ready to play a significant role in our team this year (though with Sanchez, Giroud, Walcott, and Podolski all able to play up front, I very much doubt we’ll be adding any more strikers this summer). But the Ox and Gnabry are ready, and I think it would be wasteful and unfair to them to bring in a big star to play out wide.
As for footballing allegiances, you’re right that it’s possible to love the club but disagree with me on how it should conduct its business. That was presumptuous of me. Though in my defense, if you really were advocating a whole-hog appropriation of the City/Chelsea transfer model, that would be cause for concern.
176 – fair play mate. I’ve said all along that in an ideal world, for me, we would add a right-back, holding player, a winger and a striker. I don’t think 4 outfield additions is unreasonable, especially as we lost two from the squad on expired contracts this summer. I do think that there should be a balance, but that the few players we add should absolutely ball-achingly godly wonderful. Just like Sanchez. I’m still hoping we add 2 more outfield players, for a wet dream summer.
BIG Ivan will reveal all. Bow down before BIG Ivan.
Forward
Nice one, Tabs,
I kept mine a bit shorter due to lack of time, but well said.
The leaping to ends of spectrums (spectra is also acceptable 😉 ) in some arguments is quite amazing.
There can be no middle ground – no greys or half tones – you must agree with the loudest shouter or admit to being an idiot, an AKB, or just not giving a shit – probably about anything.
All players are either dream additions or absolute shit.
Some proper nonsense of the highest order up there today, along with a couple of top answers from Dr Faustus to whoever that Barca troll was that sneaked in this morning.
NBN – respect @145, sir. Some extra vehicular excellence. 😉
Whether bringing in a Reus (or whoever) would stymie the contribution/development of Ox/Gnabry is ultimately a decision for others to make, others who are privy to the tactical blueprints for this season. From where I sit though, it seems like it would have to. So agree to disagree on that one.
Cheers Trev, and couldn’t agree more.
ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
:s
Evening, bath,
Swimming 25 lengths, 300 various kicks now, leading up stairs (can’t go down properly yet) and looking good for Aug 16th.
Will you be there, sir ?
Sometimes I think I’m running mad because I seem to be seeing and understanding things other people appear to be totally blind to and then a post like that of TaBS @165 comes along and reassures me I’m still a bit sane. Cheers, mate.
You swam 25 lengths in your evening bath?
Big bath.
Not really, considering some people thought I had lakes in the garden ! 😉
Good stuff @182, Trev. And top marks to Goonsterham Lincoln above, not easy to keep your head and stay within the confines of civilised debate manners in a situation, especially online, where/when the other party keeps berating your opinion at every turn.
Cheers, Cent.
Hope things aren’t too difficult where you are.
Things are a bit better here now, mate, though I’ve concluded plans to move back down East, where there have been no serious acts of violence, closer to the rest of my family members.
Things are a bit better here now, mate, though I’ve concluded plans to move back down south, where there have been no serious acts of violence, closer to the rest of my family members.
Dear Lord Of the Lakes
Don’t think i am fooled by your slipping the word ‘ local ‘ in front of lakes the other day.
That was just a cunning ploy [ typical of the breed ] to disguise the fact that you are Landed Gentry.
Your newest cunning ploy to casually suggest that you are
‘ swimming 25 laps ‘, fails to mention that those laps were swum in your Heated 50 metre indoor swimming pool complex,complete with Sauna and private Gym.
You also forgot to mention you were out ‘ Riding with the Hounds ‘ on your Estate last Sunday morning,or that you popped over to Paris in your private jet,for a spot of lunch with friends that very same afternoon.!!
cheers
The [ You can’t fool me.!! ] Sweeper
PS, Such a shame Guff & Waffle’s 6 month Round the World Cruise has been delayed.!!
Hi everybody,
Holic, Sanogo’s not afraid to shoot. Something very appealing about his gangly style 😉
Enjoing your trip pics. Lovely coastline, really.
Trev @ 178 — Thanks.
Thankfully — and here I am amazed and impressed by ‘Holic’s editing abilities even in vacation — most patrons in the bar didn’t get to read the troll’s vile last post attacking Arsene directly. One of the worst I had read here.
About more transfer targets, I think (just my opinion, I could be wrong) that before the PL and CL qualifiers start we will definitely sign the GK (unthinkable to start CL qualifier with Martinez on the bench), a CB (Per would not be ready by then, TV5 is half-crocked and halfway out, Kos would be just returning from break) and if Arsene gets his target then maybe the DM.
After the CL qualifiers have been navigated successfully I think there would be one last push from the club to get another top level established forward , someone Arsene has already identified and targeted, and if we don’t get him we will go again in Jan or next season (by which time Poldi might be leaving as well).
But before that we would definitely get a DM, and I suspect it maybe someone that is not on our immediate radar now.
Ttg, Congratulations. Think you are both blessed to have each other. xx
Mr Sincefiftyfour,
Damn you, Sir, for exposing my true personal circumstances, which is going to serve only to make future communication with the general hoi polloi here that much more difficult.
As to my breeding, I must admit most people have referred to me,throughout my life, as a lucky breeder indeed. But I have always paid heed to my father’s advice to ” never forget where you come from”, which he used to bid me repeatedly as we strolled around the back garden – or North Herts, as the neighbours refer to it.
I did not forget, but deliberately chose to omit the fact that I had been out “Riding with the Hounds” as you put it. A little work is required there to achieve the correct pronunciation which is “Raydin’ to Hinds”.
You simply will not fit in otherwise, old chap, if you take up the invitation to visit which is extended herewith.
You should really try to make it up one weekend. You would thoroughly enjoy the company, I’m sure, of my good chums, Lord Elpus and his admittedly rather bossy wife, Lady Lawdown.
We could, indeed, take the jet over to Paris for lunch. The “jambes de grenouille” are quite excellent and, I understand, look very much like your own.
After the flight you can decide for yourself whether we, in fact, landed gentry or not. I’ve just had the runway relaid, so it should be smooth enough.
That’s all for now, old boy.
Time to hit the four poster.
Clive and Trev, Being a bit cheeky here, but I’m really having a guilty pleasure with your back and forth 🙂
Centy, sent you a DM 😉
@194: “The “jambes de grenouille” are quite excellent and, I understand, look very much like your own.” Ha ha ha ha! Phew… ha ha ha!
“After the flight you can decide for yourself whether we, in fact, landed gentry or not. I’ve just had the runway relaid, so it should be smooth enough.” — Not bad either.
Lays it on a plate so beautifully with a Zelalemesque through ball that not even a Spud could miss.
*waves at 8ball’s ball*
.
howdy
.
🙂
#how many are there?
#there’s only one two ton
#one two ton
Sent brother in law and his prairie lady back home down the plains after a lovely visit. Hope their air conditioning was going strong in the wagon. Heat wave in these here parts could just about kill a fella. The female folk of course are built of stronger stuff. 🙂
Trev and CWGS54 apologies for interrupting your landed gentry rhapsodizing. 😉
Waves back at cba with a big smile just having realized goal #220 was a beaut as they say in these here parts. 🙂
200 shoulda been. But maybe the big 220 will come home too?
a goal from the future?
oooohhhh !!!!!!!
spooky
Thanks Cent. And all the best with your proposed move. Stay safe
As one who has been hoping AW would sign Marco Reus for at least the past couple of seasons I can only repeat that he is truly world class, and as near a thing to the second coming of Dennis as you’re likely to find.
And I agree with EP Maravilla that a front line of Reus and Sanchez playing either side of Theo (or OG) would be awesome. Who needs another striker with that kind of fire-power available? Not to mention Rambo coming from deep.
If I’m a bit disappointed today it’s because Mats Hummels is being linked to Manure, and for the paltry fee of £16m! That is criminally cheap and we should be in for it.
Öskar
Relaying the runway, Trev? Not still using fixed wings, surely? I find my chopper so much quicker for short hauls, and I can land it anywhere.
Öskar
Trev, appreciate your appreciation @178.
But only lakes in your grounds? Not fjords or lagoons? I hope this doesn’t mean the family seat has fallen on hard times?
Looks like Andre Santos got off lightly when he was with us.
From the Daily Fail, Andre Santos attacked by Flamengo fans as former Arsenal defender becomes target after heavy defeat against Internacional
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2699716/Andre-Santos-attacked-Flamengo-fans-ex-Arsenal-man-target-defeat-Internacional.html
cba@118 – agree people in here discern well, never suggested otherwise, just don’t rate jenks cause of arsenal DNA.
when was his last showstopper match that got you so excited we just must keep him forever?
trev@122 – jenks is simply not a WC right back, so how can he fill in to the level we expect with our injury record. you are welcome to like sanogo but why wait 3 or 4 years to see if he makes it or not.
yes Campbell did standout in the WC. very much so, so not sure which match of his you missed.
DRF@141 – as with trev, why do we need to wait 2-3 years for a reserve right back. that is what a development squad is for. you even suggest Bellerin is already better.
so we agree. no place for jenks other than emotional attachment.
are we a global football club trying to be our best or a nursery
Vinay @151 – agree Nacho is also average at best and just not good enough for arsenal 2014 and beyond.
part of the unthinkable deadwood for the sunnysiders.
TABS@165 – list of unthinkable arsenal deadwood for you.
suggest you sit down for this mate. it may rock your sunnyside arsenal world.
monreal was suggested by Vinay@152 so add him with Wilshire, jenks, djorou, coquelain and sanogo.
yes jenks has given his all and what does that have to do with keeping an average player on our roster. the deadwood i have mentioned are simply not good enough in arsenal 2014 and beyond. why is that so unpalatable to you and so unacceptable to you.
you just cant seem to fathom the concept that arsene has made some decisions during tough times and we have money now and we may even buy a full squad with two class players in every position.
why does that scare you so much.
BTW, no need to bother with any future childish snide comments or personal attacks. I’m just having a say like many others on here, you don’t need to agree.
Oooooh, Phil Jones for Verm rumour from the bin-bag rag. That ugly hound not really got the boat for a team as pretty as ours though. Still, they never happen, but tough not to get excited about a filthy player swap deal. Some real transfer kink for BIG Ivan to get muddy in there.
Forward
Aussie – The term “deadwood” has been used, consistently, on this site for the past couple of years to describe players who were bought young in the hope and belief that they would develop but who proved not only unable to meet their potential, but unwilling to make the effort. Applying it to he players you list above will strike many as simply appropriate.
You are, of course, more than free to express your opinion, but please make sure that you do so in a way that cannot be misunderstood.
COYG
Jack Wilshere will be an Arsenal legend. It would be lunacy for AW to give up on him imo.
Back to important matters, Super Mario still doing the rounds… Interesting stuff. Think DrF has called it right, we will sit and wait for an attacker. Unless something becomes available, we will hold on to see that we don’t spunk our load before the market really kicks in to gear.
Forward
From Arseblog:
“Perhaps the difference between having a squad which can win the title and one that can’t is making those difficult decisions…if a significant upgrade became available we should go for it and worry about people’s feelings afterwards.”
Tis true.
DF @ 138 sounded truly amazing. I must see if I can catch that somewhere!
If any of you get a chance, see if you can catch Piers Morgan’s interview with Arsenal Fans TV.
He actually makes a lot of sense.
cba @ 140
Holding well at the moment mate. I had to take a short leave of absence from the bar in the evening yesterday for that very same reason.
It was flying before I left. 🙂
El – regarding the Nu Yalk match, there’s always a sneaky pre-season game which the Arse Player doesn’t show. It looks as though this game may have caught the short straw.
Apparently it will be shown at 10pm UK time.
There may be a dodgy stream somewhere on myp2p or something of that nature.
El – In the Metro this morning they were saying that our Sami deal is still ‘likely’ to go ahead.
I think I may keep my ears and eyes open on this one.
GT 217 – cheers for the info. Would be nice to find an authentic live feed. From what is up at the moment, it seems to suggest that Arse.tv won’t even have the full 90 minutes on demand though :/
BIG Ivan continues to make his moves. Eyes and ears open.
Forward
@ 219 – Indeed! 😉
Another day, another raft of “Ospina to be announced TODAY” and “done deal” stories. Eeek. Something quite ballsy about these outlets that keep saying x/y/z will happen today, day after day. Good luck to them. Only for the criminally stupid.
BIG Ivan has his own agenda.
Forward
The source of the Sami ‘likely’ to join Arsenal is L’Equipe.
They claim Sami has rejected a move to Monaco and with the boss not ruling out a move for Sami, this looks like a deal which is very much still in the balance.
The world cup players are due back in 14 days, so expect more dragging of this story until then.
Otherwise it’s onwards and upwards!
It’s worth noting that now Madrid have signings of Kroos and Rodriguez, L’equipe claim that we are likely to see departures from their camp during this window.
Nice and slow Big Ivan! Nice and slow mate! 😉
Trev @ 182, good to hear of the progress.
However I am truly surprised that a man of your class has to work so hard to regain fitness. Why don’t you get one of your flunkies to walk around for you and if your presence really is necessary, the butler could have the footmen carry your sedan chair. 🙂
I shall be there on Aug 16th. Can’t wait.
Andre Santos deserves better. There. I said it. Brave soul.
No matter how many verbal sticks and stones were thrown at Santos while he was in an Arsenal shirt, at least we didn’t treat him like those disgraceful Flamengo fans who kicked and punched him on the way to the bus. But I cannot advocate throwing even verbal sticks and stones at any player in the Arsenal shirt because it disrespects the manager, the other players and the other fans who are trying to the the best job they can.
Disrespects the other fans who are trying to focusi on the game they are watching.
Sorry I just want to amend what I said slightly. The finalists are back in 14 days. Everyone else is back next week. Also RM is ‘likely’ to lower their asking price in order to recoup some cash.
All hail Santos!!
Best of the accents. Kieran Gibbs on “Hey, how you doin’?”
Flamini not so good but he has that French disadvantage of course. A for effort though. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ0bR0Y6ZXE&list=UUpryVRk_VDudG8SHXgWcG0w
I’m getting bored and frustrated with the frenetic transfer gobbledegook that is reaching fever pitch now. I think every Arsenal fan knows pretty much where we need to buy and build but I am happy to leave the development of players in the very capable hands of Wenger who is an expert in this area. Probably the best developmental manager in world football. To contrast him with Harry Redknapp at the weekend was instructive. Old Harry who has bankrupted several clubs is happy to pay ridiculous wages for a half – crocked 35 year old who will be lucky to play twenty games.
But don’t get your hopes up about a striker. If Wenger says we don’t need one that’s it. End of story and a nod towards our likely formation this season. I think Akpom may make the bench this season several times.
From Arseblog today:
“Obviously the manager’s transfer stuff had people chatting yesterday about the decision not to sign another forward, but I do wonder if there might be a surprise or two before this season begins.
For a start, Arsene says there’s still stuff going on:
I’m very happy with what I could do until now. It’s not over – there’s still a long way to go. We are still out there to strengthen our squad.
Secondly, it’s very hard to be definitive about certain players and positions. For example, Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell are two young players who could, all going well, step up and make an impact in the season ahead. At the same time, it wouldn’t be a shock if one, or both, of them was loaned out. Would that then make room for a more established signing at the top end of the pitch?
The boss was keen to play up his options in midfield, yet at the same time there was definitely something going on with Sami Khedira, which suggests he’s not averse to adding a player there should the right one become available without looking for wages which aren’t necessarily commensurate with his injury record.”
You just never know, aye?
@ Aussie
Your principle gripe this summer is that Arsene Wenger hasn’t yet moved on Nacho Monreal, Carl Jenkinson and Jack Wilshere (please, for the love of god, note correct spelling)?
Truly, we are living in a gilded age.
By the way, the term “sunnysiders” is soooo summer 2013. It’s 2014 now, we have Ozil, Sanchez and silverware. Even Le Grove writes happy blog posts. There is no “sunny side”: frankly, there’s no need for one, there are Gooners catching tans everywhere you look.
Time to move on from the tiresome name-calling and “AKBvs WOB” nonsense.
COYG
Jack Wilshere is not dead wood, he needs to play for his spot and earn it but he is class and he is our pride.
Under no circumstances will we sell him or let him go. He is too much of a pride for us.He just needs to relax and understand that his game needs to be simple, he does not need to go past 3 players and play a killer pass, he does not need to thread 40 yard balls from the defense to reach Giroud, he needs to look up and pass, he has got so much ability that he can do it better than a lot more.
Still believe we need a striker, Costa of Donetsk is the latest name touted though i believe it was Bernard who we were more interested in.
If TV5 does want to go and to united itself, then we should say cash plus Hernandez, now thats a deal.
N7 – agree with childish name calling and a bit of respect for differing opinions. Suggest you check in with Mr Tabs first on that score as above.
No gripes at all here, just mentioned in earlier drinks it would be good to complete the squad by moving out those who may not make the big time at arsenal 2014 and beyond, by clearing some deadwood.
If we can get better with our puma money, why not.
Now maybe the best time to strike, while others like Liverpool and UTD are shite.
Why wait 2 or 3 years for youngsters to maybe make the grade given our current financial power.
No more no less N7.
Enjoy the tan….
Aussie,
If you want to criticise my posts, fine, but you could at least respond to something I’ve actually written.
Cheers.
This article says that Messi considered joining us before his contract was renewed two months ago:
http://vozpopuli.com/deportes/45850-messi-le-pidio-a-cesc-que-sondeara-su-fichaje-por-el-arsenal-antes-de-firmar-su-adecuacion-contractual
@ Aussie
Cheers – I agree that we should rise above the name calling wherever possible.
Regarding the rest, I must have got the wrong end of the stick – I thought you were griping. It was your comment cited below which provoked the discussion in the bar and lead me to my conclusion, but maybe I misinterpreted, apologies if so.
Here’s to tans all round, a happy summer for one and all. There will be plenty of time this season to pick over the negative after defeats and such like.
For now, we are the FA Cup holders, we are signing quality players and spending money (and the summer ain’t over yet), Spurs are well and truly in our shadow where they belong and Man Utd don’t have any European football and have appointed a coach who looks like Butthead.
I think that’s worthy of a few high fives and a general spirit of positive bonhomie.
COYG
“The clear out of dead wood less than complete
No defensive midfielder on board
No right back replacement
Not seeing as many long winded posts with
“told ya all I knew”
or “arsene is a legend and loves the club” posts
Or how the “non believers” of the arsenal fan base owe arsene some big apology for buying a single good player in Sanchez.
Some on here talk as if they believe that arsene did the job for free during the lean years and gave up his bonuses during The same period
He does get paid $8.5 mil plus bonuses p/a to scout and buy a decent top shelf player every decade or so.
That is part of his job, it’s not an added value extra he is performing when he buys a good one….”
Messi?!… but where would we play him?!!
😀
Now that’s kudos!
BB – wherever he wants 🙂
Trev, did you not write @122 ?
Including a question about carl jenkinson and comments about yaya sanogo and young campbell.
If not apologies, must be someone using your Trev call sign?
Either way no criticism Trev, just a response to your post.
Speaking of the home of the prawn sandwich brigade, I note that the meeja all assume it will be back to old times at Old Toilet and that they will be sweeping all before them for the next querter-century following last season’s blip.
Interesting…
…and, to be fair, quite possible. Something else that’s also possible is that, having got a taste for player power last season, the dressing room may turn on Butthead the first time he makes himself vaguely unpopular. Remember how they refused to play from David Moose last season? I bet they do.
…or maybe the Dutch Messiah will fall out with the Welsh genius. Where would the fans, and all the Welshman’s ex-playing chums stand then?
So, yes, they may will sweep all before them, domestically, next season – remember they didn’t actually qualify for any European competitions – but maybe they won’t.
COYG
Goonertown,
No doubt! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIgPqOpMWY
😀
@Pangloss
Very true.
The same media that had them spending £200m and signing the likes of Kroos, Robben and Reus this summer. And Fabregas last summer.
For US Gooners, or Gooners in USA, or Gooners with access to US TV broadcasting etc. etc.
The NY Red Bulls match is live on ESPN 2 from 5PM EST.
I had originally hoped to attend the match, driving down from Boston for our regular NYC sojourn, but other summer stuff led to change of plan. Live on TV would do just fine.
thanks for that, faustus. I’ll be taping that then. 60 people arriving at our property to eat spit roasted pig and drink beer will make live viewing impossible.
Aussie, about Jenkinson, I had requested you to name a better second choice RB in PL based on last season’s form. I didn’t mean it as a frivolous one-upmanship , but a genuine exercise in thinking to appreciate that close attachment to our own club does make us blind to the overall landscape.
Or, for that matter, look back at the Invincible team or the 2002 double-winning team, do you remember now who was the auxiliary RB? Yes I understand that football has changed and the title winning squads tend to be deeper in quality, but even then how many of the top level squads (the very best) have two world class RBs competing with each other?
Who is Barca’s alternative to Dani Alves?
Real won the CL with a very green Carvajal in the RB role. Who was the alternative?
The kind of engine Jenks has, and the crossing abilities and speed, are tailor made for a full back role. Yes the defensive side of his game needs to improve and positioning but both come with experience on the training ground and on the pitch. You cannot build a football team where all 23 players in the squad are either child prodigies or top level acquisitions from other clubs. Jenks is progressing well enough and whenever needed he actually performs quite well.
No, he is not the ‘white Cafu’ or ‘new Sagna’ or any such thing — for that matter, even Sagna was not Sagna plying his trade in Auxerre — and he doesn’t stop shows, to quote you. But he is a very good second choice RB who has all the promises of becoming an excellent first choice RB.
Let us trust the manager who has given you two of the best RBs in PL in last decade or so.
“Hameesh” joins Madrid .
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28418131
BB @243 – Forgive me. I was still overcome with excitment and the thought of telling people: ” I TOLD YOU SO” 😆
Awesome clip by the way. Had to pop to my hideout to view it on my phone. 🙂
Goonertown,
A most enlightening clip on an amazing player by another legend indeed!
Am smacking me lips in anticipation of Sanchez’s first game and the start of the new season, and to think we may even sign a few more….
Could this be the resurgence so many of us have waited so long for?!
Times they are a-changing! …with apologies to B.Dylan.
The bison back @ Chelsea?? Wtfn??
BB – yep competing is so much fun 🙂
Fun,fun, fun
Versatile player our boy is! : http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/20140722/alexis-sanchez
I Maintain the same, Sanchez will be played as a striker as soon as he gets accustomed to the conditions. He wanted that from his udinese days and i think he will be a success. Yes the catalans will say he was not good in front of goal and he missed a lot of chances etc but then that team was built to suit a certain Messi, here it is suited to one thing only- Arsenal. Sanchez will succeed in this system because he is intelligent, for me thats his biggest trait.
Come on Alexis, time to show the world how brilliant you truly are.
Cheers Cent, you’re welcome 😉 , and glad to hear that things are improving a little in your neck of the woods.
Aussie – Thank you for your list of ‘deadwood’. Ignoring your continued usage of a vacuous and out of date term, let’s take each in turn :-
– Jenkinson – Still young, still room to improve. As said earlier, a loan deal might be the best step to see if he is capable of making the jump from reliable reserve to first-teamer. That is a legitimate debate. In the meantime, please name a better reserve right back in the country. Will he make the jump? Who knows. ‘Deadwood’? A resounding no.
– Monreal – Decent player, did well initially, but lack of a steady run in the side last season lead to indifferent form, and a couple of stinkers, notably at Southampton away. Not enough reason to write him off as ‘average at best’. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move on, though not for the reason you espouse but principally because he’s good enough to be first choice elsewhere. In the meantime, be thankful we’ve got such reliable back up. Please name a better reserve left back in the country. ‘Deadwood’? Again, a resounding no.
Wilshere – Put your clown shoes on mate. There is a legitimate debate to be had as to whether Jack will be as stellar as his introduction suggested or where, barring injuries to others, he will get sufficient game time. Whether he is ‘deadwood’ though is not worthy of any further comment. I ask again. Was Ramsey in your list of ‘deadwood’ 2 years ago?
Djourou/Coquelin – Unlikely to feature in the first team squad. Loan fees have been snaffled in the past, and are likely to be taken again if they don’t move on permanently. Players that are difficult to move on because of their wages are a fact of life at every big Club. It is also a fact that we now have far less of these type of players than most others. Either way, if all you’ve got to whine about is that these two players haven’t been permanently moved on, then you are, as N7 intimated, scraping the bottom of a very fetid barrel.
Sanogo – Raw, young, earning two bob (in footballers terms), and worth a punt. May well go out on loan, may stay as a reserve. Arsene’s call. Either way, he’ll improve and he either becomes an integral part of the squad or we’ll turn a profit. Again, clearly not deadwood.
Btw writing him off whilst at the same time lauding the similarly raw Campbell at this stage just encapsulates beautifully what Trev said @178 – that in this world of unfettered and instant internet judgment, players are reduced to either “dream additions or absolute shit”. Both extremes are of course nothing more than the bolthole of hyperbolic dimwittery.
To address your wider points :-
– Use of the word ‘sunnyside’ – Can’t really add to what N7 said @232
– I sat down. Your list did not however ‘rock my world’. Shame. I did laugh though. Does that count?
– That we now have more money following the new sponsorship deals is neither ‘unpalatable’ nor ‘unacceptable’ to me. On the contrary, it excites me that AW can now contemplate the type of signings that only 3 years ago were a pipedream. I was over the moon when we landed Sanchez, and I will be similarly excited when we land the much heralded DM, which remains imo the most important acquisition of the summer. I am however cognizant of the fact that despite our new riches the budget does not extend to acquiring ‘world class’ full backs and then paying them a gangster’s ransom to sit on the bench as your ‘deadwood’ list would seem to suggest.
– I certainly can ‘fathom the concept’ that AW has had some tough decisions to make, and have done for a number of years. I acknowledge that you have finally recognised same, (certainly a step up from calling him a ‘dinosaur’ as is your wont), and applaud the progress that you are making in this regard. Well played, but still a long way to go.
– Not ‘scared’ at all of the extra cash, and I look forward to it being spent judiciously, given that even a passing knowledge of Arsenal’s financial circumstances, improved though they are, still doesn’t extend to ‘2 world stars in every position’ as you seem to suggest. Arsene is however, as a result of astute management and housekeeping, getting pretty close though. Class DM, reserve keeper and another centre half and we’re done.
– As to your last paragraph, what can I say. There are plenty of opinions on here that I agree with, plenty that I don’t agree with but still respect as coming from an innate knowledge of the Club, and some that are simply stupid. Every now and then I can’t resist taking a pop at the stupid. Childish? Maybe. ‘Snide’? Now there I take exception. Nothing underhand or indirect about it. I named your drinks to which I was responding. I don’t see how I could have been more direct. ‘Contemptuous’ would have been a better word.
I like Jenks, he could be a big player for the club for a long time. I can’t see that sitting our bench is better than playing regularly for a year somewhere, but Arsene will know. He is and always will be, “The White Cafu.”
Forward
Ospina is almost ours but I must say, that’s a tricky one.
Wojciech is 24 years old, David almost 26. Both of them looking to be No. 1.
Ever since WS established himself as first choice, I thought he’ll be No. 1 for next 10 years. Now, I don’t know. David certainly didn’t come to warm the bench and AW must’ve made him a promise or two.
Very, very tricky one.
Now that the goalie’s settled and Vermaelen is still here.
Anxious for a DM, that’s all!
C’mon… what’s with the hold up!???!
🙂
Aussie,
I’m losing the will to live here, mate.
Yes, I wrote @122. No, it wasn’t an imposter.
However, I can find no reference to calling Jenks WC – which I am taking to mean ‘world class’. I actually said that those of us who support him in this bar are, I believe, hoping that he will improve enough to make the first team.
If you have interpreted that as me saying he is world class then that, old sport, is your problem.
Why do we support him when you clearly feel he is never going to be good enough ?
That is probably the result of turning up every week and encouraging the guy from the stands in all weathers, and whether he is on good or poor form. He cares, he always gives his best. He can do no more.
Emotional investment you might call it. I call it what being a supporter is all about.
So, to Sanogo.
Again, I didn’t say I like him or want to give him however many seasons you have imagined to improve while we can afford better.
I actually said I believe Campbell currently looks the better option but still also has plenty to prove.
This seems to have offended you for which I do not apologise.
Blimey, this is hard work.
Apologies to other drinkers for repeating all this stuff. Hopefully it will not be necessary a third time.
Seriously, Aussie, just criticise what is actually written. Ta.
It’s pretty obvious when Arsene. Evans something. There is no sly grin. I suspect he means there will be no more strikers coming in but I think he will play Sanchez as a striker.
Kinda fun article on Spanisher transfer lovers and Madrid’s insane firepower with Hames:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/22/james-rodriguez-real-madrid-masterplan
#FreeADM
Sorry bloody iPad. I of course meant means not Evans.
Good Evans. 😉
Evans is better. It means something.
Just kidding, mate. Of course Alex will play up front, although he’s old school 10.
I do remember our left back when I first supported the club was Dennis Evans. He scored an odd own goal in the fifties when at the end of a game Arsenal were winning 4-0 against Blackpool he heard a whistle , assumed the game had ended and turned the ball back to the goalie, Con Sullivan who was not looking. The referee had not blown the whistle so it ended 4-1. This just proves there were pricks in the crowd in 1955!
For those interested.
Our 3 French boys are due to report back for training on Monday 28th.
The Chilean bantamweight is also due to report sometime next week as well.
Our 3 German WC winners are not due to report back till Monday 11th August,the day after the Community Shield.
Going to be an interesting first Month.
And we could be drawn against Dnipro and be asked to play in Ukraine by UEFA . Surely they would move the game?
DRF@247 – fair and reasonable all points. certainly agree that Arsene has seen these kids come and go for many years.
IMHO it is interesting though how other academy/reserves look more polished than Carl Jenkinson (full name spelling for N7) already.
shouldn’t he be improving in leaps and bounds if he is going to make the cut ? that is what unnerves me about the young lad with Arsenal DNA.
Just wondering if he is one of those “nice guys” along with the other hard working arsenal players I have named as options for moving on “now’ rather than later. I just have the niggling feeling we remember the best plays of the young lad ‘due to his arsenal DNA”a bit like all of our amateur best golf swings.
we can all hit a 7 iron @ 160 metres straight and long with back spin on our best days, but we never seem to be able to execute our best when playing on a championship layout with big water, wind and bunkers.
the water and bunkers for youn Carl could be a real Madrid or Bayern in a CL match.
i just have concerns as I do with Yaya Sanogo, that these boys may not reach the level needed “ever” for that type of pressure.
Aussie @ 269: I do not have any problem with your highly subjective skepticism about Jenk’s potential future. You may be proven right, the optimists may be proven right. I personally do not have any concern with him covering for the RB, but that may also be that I am more of a pragmatist where the squad formations are concerned.
Arsene is often accused of sentimentalism with respect to young players , but I think above all he is a pragmatist and a winner (yes, yes, I know he hadn’t won anything in N years before last year’s FA Cup) and having promising young players brought through the club to grow and flourish is actually a very effective strategy in building a winning team, when adequately complemented by acquiring top class established and experienced talents. The ‘adequate’ in this equation is a function of finances and is a moving scale, of course.
We have trusted — willingly or not 🙂 — his judgment for the last sixteen odd years (for that matter, all of my Arsenal supporting years) and let us trust him for these final three years especially after there is an evident upswing.
Let us not miss the forest for the trees, as they say. 🙂
I think if Jenks needs replacing he would be replaced, as simple as that.
Barca prodigy to play for Stoke? At the age of 23???
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28430289
Stoke raiding La Masia now.
We of course have moved on with the times. 🙂
Barca …a selling club.
Heh!
TABS@256 – first of all, great read, from start to finish.
perhaps, as Panglosss mentioned in earlier drinks, my initial choice of word “deadwood”, seems to have a different “offensive” or “inappropriate”meaning in here that was not intended.
the term was used IMHO, for those players I felt may not make the grade considering the high level of pressure matches these guys may be required to play at this season, based on my firm belief, the squad Arsene is assembling for 2014, will be competing at the highest level on the world stage.
that is a big leap for any pro, let alone, youngsters who have a few chinks in their armour, as you have aptly described for each of the players I mention.
As an example, when I watch young Gideon or Gnabry play, they show very little, if any chinks, at such a young age, therefore based on their continuing hunger for the game, look top shelf and well above the norm or average.
my positive comments re Joel Campbell are well deserved, as he has just played on the world stage against the worlds best. that is a very high level to play in at such a young age and IMHO to stand out.
I share your sentiments on the much heralded DM. that was/is the missing key along with a World class top shelf striker.
I believe that AW has a huge, long term respect for Abou and has always wanted him to fulfil his potential and at worst, have a full season without injury, so that maybe the only reason he doesn’t dip in the much needed DM pool.
(for what it is worth, that is one arsenal player I would never class as deadwood due to his effort and persistence during injury over such a long period).
agree with N7 above, the term sunnysiders or doom and gloomers is no longer needed, but neither are lengthy, historical posts on here as submitted in previous drinks by one holic, gloating and requesting all and sundry who ever doubted AW during the past 10 seasons, should bow on the bended knees, because he has now bought 1 x world class striker. that is also an overly unnecessary extreme.
AW is a world class experienced manager and buying the best is part of his job is it not…
a good “pop” “or “dig” to stupidity is healthy for all, not just some.
I see RM have signed James. So that’s Ronaldo, James and Bale in the front line. Useful!
Meanwhile I see us linked to Nani.
Enough to make me lose the will to live too, Trev.
Öskar
Hey all, I hope you’re making the most of the summer!
Since it seems our next signing may take another few days, as fans shouldn’t we be focusing on the most important task at hand; namely, coming up with a song for Alexi Sanchez? 😀
As for Nacho and the corporal, both are in the reliable category, in my book. Okay for occasional games covering injuries, but not really the quality we need on a regular basis. Sadly, in recent time Jack hasn’t looked a lot better and has something to prove this season. I still believe he has the quality, but needs to evolve a football brain. I always thought he would be another ‘one club man’, but questions are beginning to be asked.
Öskar
Still the best part of six weeks till the transfer window shuts. Plenty of time for AW to pull a couple of lions out of the hat.
Looking forward to the Red Bulls game at the weekend, interesting to see who actually turns out for us. Just don’t pick up injuries guys!
Öskar
Homer @ 272: … and we continue our business as usual too …
http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/22/arsenal-sign-exciting-midfielder-georgios-spanoudakis-from-barcelona-4807037/
One holic’s deadwood is another’s second string. Perhaps we should leave it there, boys and girls.
DoctorFaustus, Stoke raiding Barca now????
Bojan seems a pretty good signing for them but I wonder if he can do it on a wet Tuesday in Brittania though 😉
Song for Sanchez? How about stealing the Aussie classic ‘Up there Cazaly’?:
Up there Alexis
Up for the fight
Up for the Arsenal
Up for red and white
Up there Alexis
Up with the best
Up for the gunners
And down with the rest
See the chorus section of … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3TBPgXrPLc
Öskar
DRF@270 – hallelujah!!!!!! and praise the footballing gods, AW himself and praise the Holic heavens at long last…..
finally after all these years of battling and banging on here,
you Sir, have hit the nail on the proverbial arsenal head and summarised in one paragraph, what I have been trying (very poorly obviously and apologies to all) to say, since first posting on here in this bar.
“I will replay the defining Nirvana paragraph” quoting you directly below.
“Arsene is often accused of sentimentalism with respect to young players , but I think above all he is a pragmatist and a winner (yes, yes, I know he hadn’t won anything in N years before last year’s FA Cup) and having promising young players brought through the club to grow and flourish is actually a very effective strategy in building a winning team, when adequately complemented by acquiring top class established and experienced talents.
and the two most important lines are and again I quote you…
“The ‘adequate’ in this equation is a function of finances and is a moving scale, of course”
and more important line and I quote you…
“when adequately complemented by acquiring top class established and experienced talents”
thank you DRF – you truly are a doctor….
the lack of mix between youth and hardass pros, as my favourite arsenal teams always had, has been the Bain of my holic/arsenal frustrations on here.
not the money or the individual players or even AW himself. it has been the lack of the right environment for the youth to develop with the experienced guys….
I have missed us having the experienced and hard ass professionals such as Viera and Henry and Co to guide these lads as was always the case.
when RVP and Fab4, two of my favourite arsenal players were young lads, they had a wealth of experience around them and we were always rock solid across the park as a team and we did not always win, but we never capitulated the way I have seen us capitulate over the last few years. that has been the hardest part to understand for me….
N7/DKG/Lars/Holic himself/ TTG/ CBA and TABS and all I have banged the drum with on here with, this is what I have been trying to simply get across.
again than you DRF and here’s cheers to AW at worst, having the opportunity to have the right mix of youth and seasoned (high cost) pros going forward in 2014.
(I can rest now and just copy this for trev who I have tired and tested his poor patience over the past 24 hours, and yet to respond too, but it can now just be a copy and paste of this in short….)
Trev@260 – apologies sir for the tiring interchange to get to here,
but as DRF said in paragraph 2 @270.
even tired myself out in the past 12 hours.
looking forward to just watching some arsenal football with a healthy mix of pros and youth and reserve level players…
Or maybe just the shorter version:
Up there Alexis
Up with the best
Up there for Arsenal
And down with the rest
Öskar
Nice efforts Oskar!
I will work on my version and see if I can work “Shits on Tottnum” in there somewhere 😀
Homer & Canon — Barca, never to forget (oh, do never let them forget), had once couldn’t manage to keep THIS player after one year (and what a year! ) as another club swooped in and paid off the buy-out clause . 🙂
The original phenomenon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE774yQX6uQ
Oskar@281- very fitting as Alexia does seem to be the turning point and basis of our fight back to the top again
Aussie, I don’t think I am saying anything different than most others.
Oskar, here it goes:
Alexis, Alexis
Our thunderbolt from Chile
Alexis, Alexis
You Chavs and Spuds gonna feel it
Alexis, Alexis
When he comes down hard on your house
Alexis, Alexis
You will all run away just like the scouse
Alright, here’s my effort at a Sanchez song/chant to the tune of “Wild Boys” by Duran Duran.
Sanchez, is a gooner
Sanchez, shits on Tottenham
Sanchez, hates the Scousers too
Sanchez, always scores!
SANCHEZ, SANCHEZ, SANCHEZ!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33ujfNFyetw
A bit shit but it’s a start! 🙂
I found this on the interwebs too:
He came to us from sunny Spain, Sanchez, Sanchez
He hates the scum from down the lane, Sanchez, Sanchez
He wants to come to London Town,
He turned the fucking Scousers down,
Alexi Sanchez number 17
Now you’re nearly there, CoR.
agree COR will be hard to top.
CoR: As for Bojan Krkic, Barca sold him to Roma fro £10.6 million in 2011, bought him back for £11.4 million in 2013 and have offloaded him for £4.4million to Stoke. En route, loans to AC Milan and Ajax. Fifty six goals and 27 assists in 259 senior games. Hasn’t had a game for Spain since 2008 despite playing 21 times for the U21 side. Hardly a career in the ascendancy. Stoke seems about right.
Pre-season is in full swing for a whole slew of EPL and European teams in the US via Exhibition games. Tomorrow. Wedn July 23, sees Man Ciry, Man Utd, Liverpool, Roma, AC Milan & Olympiakos all involved in games.
Sat, July 26, just the TV games alone reads;
4 PM : Man Utd v Roma
5PM : Arsenal v New York Red Bulls
6PM : Real Madrid v Inter Milan
8PM : Chicago Fire v Spurs.
A contribution to the songbook, to the tune of Men of Harlech:
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil
Theo, Giroud, bound for glory
Santi, Wilshere, Szczesny, Ramsey
Call our Arsenal men.
Ere the sun is high in London
Spuds they fear, by panic riven,
Shall like frightened sheep be driven
Far by Arsenal men.
Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil
Theo, Giroud, bound for glory
Santi, Wilshere, Szczesny, Ramsey
March our Arsenal men.
Scanning doesn’t appear to be a forte of this community… 🙁
Öskar
…or rhyming.
Öskar
@NBN: Not sure how well he will do in the Prem but I think Stoke could be an exciting team to watch next season. Of course if it doesn’t work out when they come to the Emirates we can always shout “Barca reject!” at him 😀
Dr F youve hit me at a weak spot.
THE Ronaldo. The one. The. ONlY. Il phenomeneo. (The Brazilian dynamo) is one of my all time favorite players. The real deal.
A drink ony tab, my good gooner. Both for mentioning his name and for that link.
Prost!
Boom?
That was a pretty un-sure Cannon!
Well in CoR!
😀
Hehe, it’s been a while since I found the net so I was unsure what to expect after getting in the box.
If you know what I mean, haha
Good morning
Serge Aurier told Le10Sport the following:
“True Arsenal has always attracted me, I’ve never hidden my attraction to this club that makes me dream, but it’s not just Arsenal, the city of London I really like and also the Premier League too, I’d really like to move to this league one day.
“Everyone lingered on the transfer of “Aurier to Arsenal” because it’s true, there has been an approach and a desire to make me sign Arsenal.
“But hey, it does not happen and that’s that.
“I am very happy for Mathieu Debuchy, he deserves a lot because he’s a great player, this is one of the best full-backs in the world.”
So there you have it. The rumour was a fact!
Goonertown,
We need more Messi rumours !!
😀
Seriously, when did the “Big” Ivan thing start, and why?
Good to know that the UK press is acually no worse than anyone else’s. From Le Figaro, quoted in today’s football gossip column on the Beeb’s website:
“German club Eintracht Frankfurt have ended talks with Arsenal over the transfer of Danish forward Nicklas Bendtner because of the 26-year-old’s high salary demands.”
So, one asks, why would Eintarcht Franfurt bother to talk to Arsenal about a player who is out of contract? It would seem that not all click-hungry, lazy journos ply their trade in England.
COYG
Well in COR
First brazil had kaka,
now they have Dunga !
No wonder they play like shit
305 – He has always been BIG Ivan. (Please not the capitalisation, to do the title justice.) Hope this helps.
Forward BIG Ivan. Forward.
Thank you BtM >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
He freed Ozil. Liberated Sanchez. Vanquished the “ooh wasn’t David Dean great” mugs.
There is nothing BIG Ivan cannot do.
#WhereMeReus
BB –
We certainly do!