Gunners Allrounders Thrill And Grind Out Much-Needed Win
Aug 27th, 2016 by 'holic
Arsene Wenger opted to start Santi Cazorla alongside Granit Xhaka and recalled Mesut Ozil for the visit to Vicarage Road. It was a bold statement of intent. Clearly we were setting up to attack with more purpose and pace than we have seen in the opening fixtures.
After a quiet start Arsenal were given an eighth minute penalty when Amrabat smashed his elbow into the head of Alexis and Cazorla drilled the spot-kick down the middle to give Arsenal the lead.
Watford 0-1 Arsenal
Prodl went into the referee’s notebook for a late challenge on Theo Walcott on sixteen minutes. The Watford defence dealt with Cazorla’s floated free-kick. Midway through the half Walcott was denied at the far post by the legs of Gomes following some excellent approach play by Alexis and Cazorla. That finally sparked a response from Watford although it was Laurent Koscielny who was the first to test the reflexes of Petr Cech with a sliced clearance.
Ten minutes before the break Alexis and Ozil combined superbly down the left flank and the Chilean found the busy legs of Gomes. Four minutes later the same player would not be denied, applying the finish to a flowing counter attack and Walcott’s excellent first time cross.
Watford 0-2 Arsenal
Two almost became three when Xhaka’s inch-perfect pass into the path of Walcott resulted in a shot that Gomes finally managed to save with his hands. Again the reprieve was temporary. Alexis found a yard of space and chipped the ball onto the head of Ozil who scored a rare headed goal from point blank range. It was no more than the Gunners deserved for a simply mesmeric first-half performance.
Watford 0-3 Arsenal
Watford introduced their new signing from Juventus, Pereyra, in place of Guedioura at the start of the second-half. It had little effect on the tide of blue and fluorescent yellow, and Walcott hit another low ball across the face of the goal which evaded all. Bellerin repeated the feat minutes later and somehow Alexis failed to get the touch under a heavy looking challenge.
Janmaat, who arrived from Newcastle, came on in place of Kabasele, and against the run of play the hosts pulled one back when Pereyra blasted a rebound wide of Cech. It was the first time the defence had looked to be in snooze mode.
Watford 1-3 Arsenal
Deeney earned a yellow card for leaving his foot in on Nacho Monreal as the Spanish left-back cleared. Referee Kevin Friend then had to issue a warning to the Hornets new manager, Walter Mazzarri, for his behaviour on the touchline.
Now reduced to counter-attacking the Gunners still posed a threat with their pace. Both Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got free but put attempted chips over the crossbar. After Cech had pulled off a smart double save, and in an effort to wrestle back control, Arsene sent on Mohamed Elneny and Jack Wilshere on for Oxlade-Chamberlain and the tiring Ozil.
Still Watford fought to reduce the arrears and Ighalo went close with a spectacular overhead effort. Shortly afterwards Monreal, in the wars throughout, hobbled off to be replaced by Kieran Gibbs. Amrabat incurred the wrath of the referee who showed the yellow card to him as he was replaced by Success, the sub-editors dream!
Cech had to be alert twice more and did enough to thwart Pereyra and Ighalo. As dominant as the Gunners had been before the break, so now were Watford in the second-half. Behrami might have done better than pull a drive wide of Cech’s right hand post after he too had gone into Mr Friend’s book for a foul on Walcott.
As the clock ticked down Arsenal broke and Alexis chipped tamely into the hands of Gomes having ignored a positive run by Walcott to his right. That preceded yet another yellow card for the hosts, for Holebas. It seemed anything but a six card contest for them. There was ironic applause from the home fans when Jack Wilshere was shown the same yellow card for his first foul.
The Gunners successfully held out for the five added minutes to earn the first ‘holic pound of the new season. That didn’t look a great bet at half-time. Overall this was a comfortable win for the Gunners, who had to show great resilience in the face of a spirited fightback.
The infernal international break once again arrives at the wrong time for a team that must have had a considerable confidence boost from their performance.
181 Responses to “Gunners Allrounders Thrill And Grind Out Much-Needed Win”
First win?
well in, boys, and cheers to holic for the successful punt.
love me some Granit.
lest I repeat myself 😉
Good review of the game ‘Holic and congratulation on the ‘Holic pound. I think we gave them too much room on the 2nd half and thanks God it’s Watford. Good night today for all Gunners.
COYG
That was real fast, ‘H. Great review as usual.
Now to wait two whole weeks to see what Perez is all about.
Three points and the ‘Holic pound landed seems a most satisfactory day’s business.
And match report faster than an Ozil-Sanchez break…
Comfortable listen, relativley comfortable three points by sound of it.
More of these please…
I know Monreal went off injured and Gibbs had to come on in his place but was Giroud ever going to come on at all?
I’m beginning to think that Trev’s sources might have their fingers on the pulse here.
With a handy lead and a player not 100% fit, why risk it?
Nice review H. Not seen any of the game yet so will catch the highlights later.
A good win and a good 3 points. I like the idea of Santi in the more deeper role so will be interested to see how that worked out.
Benny T has the right hump with me now. In his score predictor game that he has with his classmates he was going for an Arsenal 3-1 win. He asked my opinion. I told him that I could not see us scoring 3. Taking Dad’s sound advice based on years and years of experience he then went for 2-1???? That will learn him.
So, champions elect it is then? World domination just round the corner? Signings? Who needs new signings???
???
More good news for Arsenal fans.
Arsene Wenger confirms that Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and Deportivo striker Lucas Perez have completed their moves to Arsenal.
The pair have cost a total north of £50m. Perez will be in north London very soon, Mustafi will arrive after Germany duty in the forthcoming international break.
————–
😀 😀 😀
Fair summary Goonerholic!
Two goal winning margin – never in doubt. 3 – 1, par for the course with this side under Arsene Wenger, and in a match such as that.
Back Up The Arse!
AFCOF!
Had a bit of rain in Swindon H???? Or are the locals just scared of the Gas???
Worry over now BB! 😉
“We have bought two players Mustafi and Perez. They will integrate into the team now and we will help them join squad. We had to work very hard to get signings done. We have not got any plans for anyone else now.”
———
That’s that then.. time to get on with it!
Can’t wait for the next match.
YES!
get in!
Speaking of Giroud, I never really thought about it until Trev shed a light on his previous drink. Giroud indeed our most prone to injury and fittest player, and he played all 38 games last season. It’s almost 7 weeks after Euros and considering he is our only one striker and he still does not play until now…could it be because?
Hmm….
nice job lads…
*Not prone to injury, I meant
I can watch Xhaka all day long, superb player.
Xhaka can!
Holding isn’t shabby by any means either. The squad looks in good Nick and a whole new meaning has been given to ‘competition for places’.
My only grouse is using Ox out on the left. He doesn’t give Monreal enough cover and looks to go central too much.
The Gas got a proper drenching Steve 🙂
Thanks Holic for a much needed match report (for me) and a Successful Holic pound for you. Good portents.
Nice report, nicer result! Congratulations on the ‘Holic pound.
Where are thesevquotes @10 & 14 coming from? I haven’t seen any post-match interviews, but there’s nothing on .con.
COYG
What’s that about a feel of factor 🙂 Amazing what a bit of posivitty brings 🙂
Oh and fuck Walsall cost me nigh on a 5 star resort for 14 days 🙁
Much improved display . Alexis and Ozil shone in the first half with some delightful interplay.The midfield controlled proceedings with Granit outstanding and my MOTM.
The Watford changes at half time steadied their ship and they came back into the game. Their goal was the result of panic at the back with poor clearances, this roused their fans and gave them added energy. We did have the odd breakaway but poor decisions meant we did not have a shot on target in the second half!
We held out thanks to missed chances and Cech in great form with Kos and Holding earning their bread. Nacho had a difficult afternoon and went off injured late in the game.
We must hope everyone returns from the internationals in one piece and those of our squad who are obviously not 100% fit are not overplayed by their managers.
Xhaka my man of the match. Alexis and Ozil excellent in first half. Theo with a very spirited display, committed and always on and with excellent runs on the outside as well as in the channels. Ox’s fitness remains a worry. He ran out of gas early in second half offering no support to Monreal.
Mazzarri is a canny manager and he will give a lot of team trouble with his tactical astuteness using the players he brought in.
we’s got one
https://youtu.be/JSgG1_iqybM
@23Panglossdroid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEEag7EIa24
😀
Cheers H! Top result and the ‘holic pound bangs in as well? Fuckin’ excellent!
Very good win and the joy doubled with Arsene confirming the two signings.
The midfield and wing positions have serious competition now and there will be some very good players not even making the bench on matchdays. Wenger likes to play his best combinations without rotating too much but now that he has such a healthy squad – he will have to rotate otherwise there might be a few grumpy albeit very good quality players in the squad. Also past injuries to regular squad members after entering the fabled ‘red zone’ should prompt him to rotate more. That would also keep us unpredictable for the opposition as well as keep everyone happy in the squad and fighting for a place which would only augur well. It is after a long time that we have a squad where it is difficult to pin down our best possible starting eleven and also the first time in many seasons that the squad offers three or four combinations to counter differ types of opposition.
PS: A win, a couple of signings – the mood has suddenly become positive and voila the argumentative doomers have disappeared into their rathole! Long may that continue.
Thanks Esso 🙂
Excellent report Guvna.
Pleased to see our first win and the first successful Holic punt of the season. Delighted for both the team and yourself.
A good performance all round though the Ox was trying too hard to shed last season’s funk, ran out of juice and ideas and failed to help out Nacho. I hope his injury is just a flesh wound. Even Feo pulled his weight.
Holding is impressive, has a nice touch, courage, passing range and good instincts.
Xhaka looks like an excellent addition and a step up for our midfield. What a great passing range. I thought he faded a bit in the second half so needs to build up his stamina.
All in all, an excellent way to start the season now the holidays have finished. Looking forward to seeing what Perez and Mustafi bring to the party.
Nice to see the boss with that twinkle in his eye again too.
Theo played well.
That kit is utter shit though and I hope we never see it again.
BB@29, thanks for the link. It seems pretty conclusive, and Wenger certainly states that we’ve signed Perez and Mustafi.
Worryingly, however, from the Arsenal website:
It seems from the above quote that there are still some Is to be dotted and/or some Ts to be crossed.
I shall wait until an official, unqualified, announcement on arsenal.com – if only because that means I can celebrate a good win today and then celebrate a couple of transfers in a day or two.
COYG
(With luck, I may have been able to wow cba with some splendid effects above. Shame I couldn’t think of an excuse to use italics as well.)
Cynic,
I’m thinking Kanu against Sheffield United fire flys – The kit was as shocking on them as it is in us – On the plus point looks better in the cold light of day, just seen the highlights Alexis ball for Ozil was as good as it gets – Sublime !
Congrats on the pound, Holic.
And now what we’ve all been waiting for …….. two weeks of scintillating, engrossing international football.
Desi Gooner
The Doomers have not disappeared down their rat hole,they are just lurking in the shadows waiting to burst into the sunlight and say i told you so,next time the boys slip up.
Make no mistake,they are really annoyed at this result,as they were building up a big head of steam.
Interestingly,$300 mil Maureen and Man Ure, huffed and puffed their way to a scrambled injury time winner at little old newly promoted Hull City today.
As to the our game,
I think today we found out AW’s preferred option at the base of midfield,and Elneny and Coq are the back ups.
No surprise we dropped off a bit in the 2nd half,as we went at full speed in the first 45.
Could have had 5 or 6 we were that dominant.
Holding again acquitted himself very well alongside Kos.
Still don’t believe Wally or the Ox will be in the starting 11,once everyone is fit.
Let’s not get carried away,as it was only Watford,but a good positive note on which to go into the Intl break.
Southampton at home when we return,then a trip to Paris to play PSG in the CL.,while Man Ure and Chelsea fans contemplate life in the Europa league.
What’s not to like.
Thanks Trev. It multiplied again later. 🙂
One of the good days.
That was more like the Arsenal we love. Just a p pity we had to drop 5 points behind our main rivals before kicking into gear.
A game of two halves certainly, but in some ways the second was a good as the first insofar as our defence held well enough against a concerted effort by lively hornets with nothing to lose after being down 0-3 at HT.
Others have noted the garish kit (I haven’t seen flouro socks since the ’60s) and I hope we never play in it again. Why can’t we wear our first strip when colours clash? They looked more like us in our second strip, which confused my ageing eyes no end.
Delighted to see Alexis enjoying himself contrary to comments in the last drinks. Also Özilla scoring. Apparently AW has said he wants 10-15 goals from him this season, and about time too, lack of goals has always been one of my major criticisms of the otherwise excellent fußballer. And Theo surviving a number of assaults without obvious injury was also as encouraging as his general play has been. It’s like he’s finally felt threatened enough to come out of his shell.
The next few days will be interesting, maybe even exciting if speculation of an Ollie upgrade proves omniscient. Can’t imagine who it could be though. Why would Lewandowski leave BM? Hasn’t Griezmann already rejected AW according to reports from their meeting at the Euros? Is Messi really falling out with Barca over tax issues? Benzema? Bale? Can’t think of anyone else who’d be an upgrade who hasn’t already moved recently.
Chris @41,
It doesn’t matter what kit one wears mate (hell, I’d even wear Stade Français’ Rugby Union Club kit if need be) but if I had this solid fella in my side pinging balls around and up front to me, I’m going to be smiling like the Cheshire Cat just like Alexis and Ozil were today. Granit Xhaka! Take A Bow Son!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HKuLFVtG35k
For ‘flouro’ in #41 please read ‘fluoro’. Fluorescent socks were indeed the fashion in the early ’60s (or was it the late ’50s?) in either lime green or pink. Googling seems to suggest they belonged to the ’70s or ’80s, but I’m quite certain I never wore them in my 30s or 40s! Or indeed in my teens for more than a week.
Cynic @35: There would have been no colour clash if we’d played in red and white against Watford.
There are few Premier League rules about a club’s choice of kit for any particular game. They boil down to Rule M22:
Subject to Rules M.21 [teams must wear one of their three registered strips] and M.23 [a minor exception to Rule M.21], when playing in League Matches the Players of each participating Club shall wear Strip which is of a sufficient contrast that Match Officials, spectators and television viewers will be able to distinguish clearly between the two teams. In selecting the choice of Strip the following order of precedence shall apply unless authorised by the Board:
. M.22.1. 1st priority: the outfield players of the Home Club who shall wear their home Strip;
. M.22.2. 2nd priority: the outfield players of the Visiting Club;
. M.22.3. 3rd priority: the Home Club goalkeeper; and
. M.22.4. 4th priority: the Visiting Club goalkeeper.
The visiting club has to tell the home club 10 days before the game which strip it has chosen to wear. If the home club thinks the strips are too close, it can ask the League to adjudicate and on match day the referee can order a change if not satisfied.
My guess is that there is a requirement in our shirt sponsorship deal to wear the 3rd strip in a given number of games.
And, for the record, the official registered colour of those socks is “bright yellow”.
Chris I agree completely with you regarding Theo. He indeed does seem to have come out of his shell and I have enjoyed his ‘brave new world’ avatar in all three games. Yes he missed a couple of chances but he is a player who can get into hot scoring streak if he gets a good run in the side and gets going. Xhaka from the deep and Ozil at number 10 position means there will be no shortage of killer passes for him to run into. I have to admit that I personally thought his Arsenal career was petering out to a tame end last season but signs in the opening three games have been very promising. There is an endorsement of the same from the manager on the official site today.
The manager will have selection headaches once Iwobi is fit assuming that Alexis will come back to his wide position. For the other wing he will have to choose from Theo, Iwobi, Ox or Gnabry. At the moment Theo seems to have the manager’s backing. Another good thing is that Theo seems to have spent the summer analysing and working on his game. I hope that his famous consistent patch is a long one this season and that he continues to work equally hard throughout the season – not letting complacency get the better of him. That would ensure myself and a lot of other drinkers here eating giant bits of humble pie and raising a drink to Chris who has championed Theo for a wide right position tirelessly.
What is this place coming to ?!
I can’t find anything to disagree with Chris about @41 ……. ?
One small point desi @46 though –
I hope we will see Theo running ‘onto’ many killer passes and not ‘into’ them ?
Sorry, couldn’t resist it – and it made up for having to agree with Chris ! ?
Trev thanks for pointing that out…:-D And your observation about having to agree with Chris is bang on!!
Holic
Great post! Massive hangover £150 in the bank Thank you maestro!
Re the kit issue my grandson would like this one pronto but will have to wait for Christmas. If we had twenty kits he’d be happy. I think the commercial manager used a focus group of seven year olds!
Great win, nice to see the positivity returning. If only we’d known the season started two weeks ago
trev 47
???
.
and pan G 36
sweet holy fuck
what is this sorcery ?
*puts torch wielding villagers on high alert*
congratulations arthur ?
CBA
You are the man 🙂
the mighty ‘holic
proper gooner
and as it turns out
cash cow
moooooooooooooooooooooo
cheers arthur
?
If Mustafi is given Flamini’s now vacant No 20 shirt (well, a clean, new one, obviously) and Lucas Perez gets the No 9 shirt vacated by Lukas Podolski a couple of years back, will that provide any clues as to whether or not the secret wonder striker is going to materialise. And when AW says there will be no more arrivals this window, is that a just a bluff? Trev, I think we should be told.
I liked the look of Xhaka a lot yesterday. More than a touch of Gilberto Silva about him: so quietly efficient about everything he does you barely notice him, until he unleashes one of those fabulous long passes.
57
+1
howdy ned
was reported
from the loving bosom
of my family
that normal roaring and shouting
was of an upbeat nature this time
due
in no small part to young Granulated Sugar
a fuckin brilliant buy
Heh! @Granulated Sugar,
And Heh! @cba in general !
Except when he’s not trying to be funny ….
Of course ! ?
Ned,
I already dropped the biggest possible hint – but it is a feeling, not a proper source. ?
It merely requires the putting of two and two together – and you know better than most what that adds up to. ?
due
in no small part to young Granulated Sugar
Strange nickname for Rob Holding.
60
4
.
61
ooooooohhhhhh get yooooooooo
italic boy
.
there’s a new sans serif in town
yer only man !
none better
sure if it isn’t himself
Marshall pan G !
Odd to see a golf tournament simply called The Barclays.
Especially for anyone who has read The Kenneth Williams Diaries.
cba@58: 🙂
Trev@60: two twos?
Thanks cba; just got to keep one step ahead of the villagers.
Those flaming torches will do the trick, Pangloss…
http://www.talkingbaws.com/2016/08/video-garth-crooks-reaction-to-mesut-ozils-goal-v-watford-is-hilarious/
The only striker deal that seems feasible if Trev’s hunch is to come to fruition,is for Ollie plus a wedge of cash,to go back to France and join Lyon,in exchange for Lacazette.
As for the post from Chris @41,
Laughable that having pilloried Ozil ad nauseam for various deficiencies,he is now apparently an ” otherwise excellent footballer ” apart from a lack of goals.
Since when has his job been to score goals. ??
He is a provider,and it is not his fault that those on the end of his wonderful array of passes,are more often than not,totally incompetent in putting those chances in the back of the net.
As for Wally,don’t get me started,a 10 year con job of a career at the Arse,a serial underachiever championed resolutely by Chris despite all the evidence to the contrary.
And now apparently he is born again after a couple of games,having woken up to the fact you have to play for 90 mins not 30. !!
So to sum up,Ozil constantly moaned about,Wally championed from the rooftops.
Shakes head,wonders what they are smoking in the land of the long white cloud.
Well if Wenger, who you hero worship, thinks Ozil lacks goals then who are we mere mortals to argue?
Cynic
Of course Wenger wants him to score more goals,he wants all his outfielders to chip in and contribute on the scoresheet.
If Ozil happens to score more regularly,i and presumably AW will be happy with that.
But his main function is to create for others,scoring a few along the way is a bonus.
But just as you cannot wait to get rid of him,and want us to get a new man who i assume you hope will win lot’s of shiny trophies for us,i am more than happy to enjoy watching the boys play during the season,going through the good times and the disappointments as each week goes by.
Of course it would be nice to win Trophies regularly,but for me,it is not the end of the world if we don’t.
At the end of the day we both support the Club in our different ways,and want it to be successful,we just don’t agree on how to go about it.
Sounds like a horny bunch just got that much hornier.
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-shkodran-mustafi-says-mesut-ozil-convinced-him-to-make-horny-gunners-move-a3331516.html
No keeping us under wraps now.
Here was me nearly blushing from desi and Trev’s comments, and then Clive comes along and it’s back down to earth! Thanks guys, such is the mark of this bar, that we can hold divergent views without undue rancour and still recognise the validity of others’ opinions. You manage a quality establishment, ‘holic sir.
But Clive, I haven’t “pilloried Özil ad nauseam”. In fact I have maintained throughout that he is one of the true quality players in the club. My earlier criticisms related mainly to his attitude, poor scoring returns for an attacking midfielder, and saving his ‘A’ game for internationals – and most of my criticisms have long since gone by the board in favour of generally positive comments. But I still think he doesn’t score often enough, and apparently AW agrees … http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10554871/arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-wants-more-goals-from-mesut-ozil
…but at least we can agree that winning trophies isn’t the be-all and end-all of supporting our club, right Clive?
Good response Chris
Standing your ground as always,just like the All Blacks. !!
But worth pointing out that i had read the comments from Arsene on the website, before i wrote my response to your post @ 41.
And a big fat YES at 73.
F*** the All Blacks, Clive. The endless fawning over their every action on and off the pitch is easily the most irritating thing about living in NZ for someone with zero interest in rugby (so little interest that I thought they were a Maori team before I moved here). After learning they were in fact the NZ national team I have taken to annoying people by always calling them ‘New Zealand’ and never using the AB monicker. It’s something their opponents should do as a way of diminishing the mystique which surrounds them.
Saying they want someone to score more goals is strange in itself. I mean, when would you ever want someone to score fewer goals? Everyone should want to score more.
Any deal to bring another striker in should not involve selling Ollie G. I think that would be a mistake.
But hey, what do I know??
Clive @68,
Thank you so much !
In an air of general positivity I did indeed say I could find nothing to disagree with in Chris’ comment. I took his comments on Theo to mean he has finally decided to put in some effort. We have seen that on the very rare occasion before – usually as contract negotiations have come to the crunch – only to revert to the Theo we have come to know and try to love immediately afterwards.
I have to say though, I am with you 100% in your assessments of Theo and the wonderful Mesut Özil.
I can’t agree with Chris’ criticism of Mesut’s attitude (@72). In the stadium you will spot Özil back in his own area, available for the ball out, and then sprinting upfield to support and generate the next attack and scoring chance. The guy actually runs non-stop, which you can honestly only see inside the stadium as, with the best will in the world, the TV cameras cannot follow his every move while they concentrate on the ball.
Anyway, it was lovely while it lasted, Chris, but Clive seems to have brought my post victory hazy eyes back into sharper focus. ?
Hi Steve,
Hope all’s well with you and yours, mate.
Morning Trev.
All good thanks. Hope all good with you and yours. I hope the young Mrs Trev is now in good health.
Are you there next Saturday?
No, not next Saturday.
I abstained in protest at the lack of transfer activity !
Seemed to do the trick too ! ????
I’m there the weekend after ……
Clive @70
Exactly my feelings.And those of most supporters of football clubs from the premier league down to your local pub team.
The problem starts when you are too constantly successful for too many years and if you don`t win every year you fall of the pedestal.Even if that means going one rung down the ladder and treading water for awhile before the clubs which had the beat gravity app fall back to their natural level.
I believe this is happening because of the new tv money has leveled out the playing field so those with a money advantage are not so far ahead of the others.
When I left England Terry Neill was still in charge and we used to cheer when they announced the attendance because we had nothing else to cheer unless the police sergent major dropped his twirly stick.
Sorry for mixing metaphors and not using the word ‘entitlement ‘
United got lucky and city arent as convincing as Peter Drury wants to convince, so it is been Chelsea who has looked to set the early tempo so far. Conte’s men have won games that they would draw last season and that is a good sign. A tougher test awaits all of them and I hope each one cancels the other out.
Talking of us. Watford should know you do not give time and space to an Arsenal team, albeit an arsenal team still not completely in tune. Alexis, Xhaka, and Ozil were terrific but Holding and Kos for me stand out in a game that had them having to do very little. When they have very little to do, even a small mistake can be detrimental. They have been excellent so far. Mustafi needs to be on his game from day one to remove Holding.
The International break is total nonsense. We just finished euros a month back, already we have friendlies and qualifiers. Who really cares.
Perez could be our eduardo minus the leg break please. Looks a player, works hard and will be a team man from the signs. Just need him to score in those damn drawn games we suffer in every season.
Middlesbrough have agreed a season-long loan deal for Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, Sky sources understand.
😀
BB@83, that’s good. The fella needs regular games to learn his trade and he’s clearly dropped down the pecking order at the Arsenal.
@bathgooner
I hope he makes the grade after the loan spell.
Btw.. is Jenkinson back with us or is he still on loan?
Will be watching to see how Mustafi fares during the break.
🙂
Regarding the legends game next Saturday I’ve just read this on Twitter. Anyone know if it’s true?
“Henry and Bergkamp apparently not coming. Henry obviously has a new job this weekend with Belgium. Gutted about Dennis.
4:26 AM – 29 Aug 2016”
BB@85: Jenks is back with us. Still recovering from the knee surgery and we had taken that opportunity to fix some problems with both his shoulders. I think still a couple of months at least before he is back in training. Should probably see him and need him once the games start to pile up in the winter.
Thanks Docfaust!
😀
What ever happened to Yaya Sanogo?
He decided on a career change – went off to try to become a footballer ?
Good for him.
ssy@89 Didn’t he get an ice-pick that made his ears burn?
That was another Yaya.
Wilshere to leave Arsenal on loan. Supposedly.
Cynic
That would do him a world of good. He could come back rejuvenated like the last time out at Bolton.
Question is if he does go is it to a mid table club in England or to a top European side?
For obvious reasons he can’t play for any of our direct rivals (top six) so where does he get quality training and game time for a loan to actually work?
Pre-poach.
Trev @77
Good riposte.
Trust you had an enjoyable Bank Holiday with the family.
I think we are in for very enjoyable/exciting season at the Arse.
It may not culminate with the Title,but i do think the squad in general is much stronger/more depth.
I suspect,unless AW pulls 4 rabbits out of 6 hats in the next 48 hrs,that our squad is settled.
I also think he knows what at least 9 of his starting eleven are going to be on a regular basis barring injury.
The only contentious spots for me,are up front and down the right.
If we are playing with speed of thought and with pace,and a high pressing game,i just don’t see how Ollie G fits into that framework.
That is why the new boy intrigues me so much.
The nearest comparison i can come up with is Eduardo,who led the line brilliantly in his pomp,before injury so cruelly struck him down.
I won’t forget in a hurry the sublime hat trick he scored in the demolition job at Goodison back in the day.
Perhaps Ned could find it on You Tube and post it in the bar,to remind everyone how good he really was.
If the new boy cuts the mustard,we could see an evolution in the front third this season.
Washed up @ 81
Good to see you back in the bar,crying shame that so many of the old regulars have departed the scene for one reason or another.
Poached eggs on toast can be delightful. Two of them, preferably.
Did anyone watch that Joe Wicks twat on Channel Four earlier?
No.
For Clive @98: https://youtu.be/uyNbE1gn6nI
Off topic: The same media and folks clamoring for spending mighty $s, aren’t they also inadvertently saying the English players are no good? How many top foreigners does it take to make an English club considered good? And when the National Team succumbs, why isn’t the issue of spending on foreign players being brought up enough? Better yet, how many Top 4 clubs had English players propositioned as club-worthy? Is this an admittance of absent quality, or for exotic quantity?
The NBA and MLB have nitpicked only the best of the very best from foreign nations, no? Why can’t the EPL insist on such criteria too to bring out the best of English talent? (Pls don’t use money as a simple answer if you care to discourse)
Just curious.. Good 3pts this weekend. Ka-Boom!
Re: Dr. Faustus: Fab link of Eduardo goals. What. A. Talent.
If Lucas is anywhere near that level I will be one happy camper.
Okay, one more time…
I haven’t ‘pilloried Ozil ad nauseam’, Clive, nor did I ‘criticise his attitude in #72’, Trev. In #72 I referenced having done so in the past (like 2 years ago), since when I have been generally positive about him.
Following are ALL my references to Özil in the past 55 rounds:
Delighted to see Alexis enjoying himself contrary to comments in the last drinks. Also Özilla scoring. http://goonerholic.com/2016/08/gunners-allrounders-thrill-and-grind-out-much-needed-win/#comments
Game changed markedly when Özilla and Jack came on. We almost looked good. http://goonerholic.com/2016/08/inevitably-the-match-neither-side-could-afford-to-lose-ends-in-a-stalemate/#comment-613041
I believe we’d be better off with several midfielders capable of scoring 8-10 goals a season than a dedicated striker who scores 25. In fact I believe we already have them in Rambo, Theo, Santi, Özilla, Alexis, Danny… http://goonerholic.com/2016/07/gunners-head-stateside-without-the-magnificent-seven/#comment-611780
I would put Ozil and Sanchez in a drawer with Paddy and Bob, excellent players all but a level below that top drawer where God and Titi belong. http://goonerholic.com/2016/08/gunners-devour-spicy-mexicans/#comment-612040
Had it (the pass) been hit harder (as Özilla would have played the same ball) it would have split the defence leaving Theo to run on to it one on one with the keeper http://goonerholic.com/2016/07/guest-post-dr-faustus-on-arsenals-win-against-mls-all-stars/#comment-611867
I could also point to the last full Prem season Theo played injury free when he contributed to 24 goals (14 goals, 10 assists) which is only one less than Özil has achieved for us in a single season. http://goonerholic.com/2016/07/and-then-there-were-four/#comment-611018
What we need are midfielders who contribute their share of goals. Özil, Rambo, Santi, Jack etc etc all have their qualities, but scoring doesn’t feature high enough. http://goonerholic.com/2016/07/mixed-emotions-for-rambo-as-wales-march-on/#comment-610968
Seven mentions in 55 rounds, and not a pillory among them.
bt8@104: Thanks. I guess time will tell but like with all late bloomers we can be sure of full dedication, commitment and a sense of responsibility from him. He will appreciate this opportunity and I think with the quality of balls he is going to receive will be a genuine threat.
We are apparently after a 22 year old Paraguyan striker who has been rising rapidly in the Argentinian league. Getting relatively unknown (in Europe) young strikers from Latin America and let them flourish at Arsenal is something we could have started to look into earlier…
What are the odds we’ll end up with Daniel Sturridge … Danny Welbeck Mk2?
The Tuscan hills feel a long way from the transfer deadline but I don’t expect much other than Jack leaving on loan, the first real cutting of his ties with us. I personally don’t expect we will ever see him in Arsenal red again ( or any of the other kits!) because we have a superb midfield, real variety and more robust individuals fitness wise . I suspect we will see Jack struggling with injuries for the rest of his career and somewhere like West Ham awaits him. It could just spark a renaissance of someone who at his best is superbly talented but is so rarely in the condition to give his best. I don’t expect much in the way of incomings. We have a very well- balanced squad with the new arrivals and some of the young tyros like Jeff and Bielik who will surely figure in the Forest game. After an agonising wait, we face the post window season in good shape . The key to our prospects will be how quickly and effectively Perez settles down and what sort of quality he exhibits. Very happy with Xhaka, Elneny and Mustafi ( from seeing him elsewhere) and young Holding is a find. We will see if Mr.Wigglesworth our talent- finder has earned his corn , although the fact that Steve Walsh at Everton wanted to buy Perez suggests he is the sort of below the radar signing that Leicester have made so well recently. Kudos to Arsene but why can’t we do it ready for the start of the season? We might have five points more !
Dr.F
We’ve been well below par in South American recruitment and I wonder if Almiron could get a work permit if Asano can’t? He only made his debut for Paraguay in the Copa America. Let’s hope our second Paraguayan is an upgrade on Fabian Caballero?
@101 – imagine a hybrid of Russell Brand and Jamie Oliver, only squeakier voiced and even more Mockney, with the annoyance factor cranked up way beyond 11, add even more twattish catchphrases “NAWTEEEEE!” “LEEAAAAAAAN!” and you’ll be half way to understanding.
Wilshere has to stay in England if he’s to prove himself, IMO. If he takes a slower paced option abroad, we won’t learn anything about his ability to sustain his physical condition throughout an English season, which is what we need to know because the ability is there.
But if he can’t stay fit… But where do you send him? A mid table side like Stoke?
He has young kids so I guess the Prem is a preferable option for him. Maybe Palace or West Ham
Palace probably. West Ham might be deemed “competition” although they might be in for a struggle this year. They’ve looked pretty dismal so far this season.
What, no pillories, Chris ?
I recommend goose feather and down.
Very comfortable ???
Doc F @ 102
Many thnks for the attachment showing Eduardo’s goals for the Arse.
Without the broken leg,he would have had a great career at the Club.
Chris @ 105
Never mind Ozil, we need to talk about Wally.
You’re going a bit ‘Rafa’ there Chris@105. You need a bit less water in your HP18yo.
Thanks for the Eduardo link Dr F @98. Truly an emotional experience watching that, especially the pre-brutalisation goals.
I remember thinking we had found our long awaited ‘fox-in-the-box’ when he started with us. After the fracture-dislocation he had sadly and understandably lost his edge. That injury certainly had a major impact on Arsene’s PL trophy count.
Let’s hope Lucas Perez Martinez is another of Arsene’s brilliant rabbits from a hat.
Fuck rabbits, give us a lion.
Bit big for a hat though, I grant you.
Sky Sport News Germany are reporting that Bayern Munich are keen on a deal for Arsenal’s 21-year-old German international Serge Gnabry.
————-
Hands off you bl@#dy wieners! Bunch of sauerkrauts!
😀
Say… when’s the announcement of our new signings??
Jesus, has Wenger been watching old Clint Eastwood movies or something ? I’m nearly liking this tough new motha facka. Mind the trap door lads.
It’s happening …..
I feel it in me waters.
Read your own post BB ……..
Sorry, folks – I seem to have gone all Goonertown. ?
The Paraguayan is 22 yrs old and one for the future.
Also a good decoy ………
No more presents this window Trev.
Arsene has closed his wallet!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160828/lucas-perez-signs-for-the-club
Done!
😀
…now when’s the other chap coming in..?
😀
West Ham failed with a bid of over £40million for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette this summer, the French club’s president has said.
——
Crazy prices.. but it also shows that there are many clubs now willing and able to splash the (exorbitant amounts of) cash for a decent chance to compete for a top four position.
Risky strategy.. let’s see how it all concludes in the next few seasons..!
in light of recent tax developments
regrets upgrading squad to iCows
speculate to amoomulate
my feckin arse
iMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
twoooooo can make shite puns
trev now fuckin come on de fuckin fuck
114 is not worthy of yer genius
are ye ok ?
are bigger doctors picking on you ?
*hastily cobbles threatening letter to the lancet*
Dear Lancet ,
Yo mama !
Knock me down with a feather,Trevor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiulgP9kR7c
Gnabry to WBremen… but is it a loan or a sale??
….
With the logjam in the midfield, it makes sense for Wilshere to seek playing time elsewhere. Good luck and more importantly good health to him.
Some of my mates have suggested keeping the far more talented JW and cut ties with Coquelin, since there now are better alternatives at DM in Xhaka and Elneny. Problem is that Xhaka does attract red cards so you need to have more backup. Bigger spanner is that Elneny could be off for a month or more at Africa Nations Cup mid season, and even when he returns, past experience shows that players are never the same when they come back from that.
And speaking of good health: TR7 joins Sparta Prague on a two year deal. All the best to him!
Gnabry leaving sounds like a permanent deal. His contract expires at the end of the season, his father has been quoted as saying that in his (Gnabry’s) head, he has already left.
Reported fee is almost £7m
cynic , looked up that mockney
never advise me again !
If we cannot hold on to Gnabry then letting Joel go on loan — even if he wanted to — would now appear to be a decision not favoring the club. Same with letting Wilshere leave on loan though he may want to. This is Arsenal, where injuries always mess up a season, and finally when we are starting to build some squad depth allowing for both cover and rotation it feels like we are being too nice towards individual aspirations at the risk of sacrificing the collective.
After a Wednesday evening CL game where Ozil would run himself ragged how about someone else starting in number 10 in the following Saturday especially if the opposition is from the lower half of the table? Between those, Cup games, Winter fixtures etc. and sub appearances Jack would find enough opportunity to establish his fitness and demonstrate his talent.
i wonder
all on an island
long long time ago
corned beef sandwiches for goalposts
assuming we’d collectively invented corned beef
and football
a rudimentary punditry speak would’ve evolved
I advised you wisely (ie that he was a twat), cba.
NAWTEEEEEEE!
@137:
I used to wonder ideas like that
When I was four
Then I grew up.
Somewhere along the way
I read Bouvard and Pecuchet
Rolling on the grass
Realized even making fun of gas is gas.
Ad infinitum…
?
137
– punditry
+ hilarity
nope
not avvin it , cynic
me ol china
.
can’t remember italic bold nonsense
?
.
insert above as appropriate
showoffs
@122 & @123: Is that you Snir?
143
*door knob turns*
*hair-lipped eton hooray henry in waiting readies*
We have quite a lot of wide midfielders queuing up for action. The Jeff, Willock, Maitland- Niles and Nelson, who I’m led to believe is the next big thing, unless that’s the Jeff or Willock. Perez will probably also play wide ( he is our new Pires) as may Santi or Ramsey ( unfortunately) and then we have Ox and Theo. So it’s cheerio Joel and Gnabry . People won’t now be able to wind me up by calling him Gnarby. But they can still say Carzola which sounds like a cheese
The boy who probably could do with a loan is Bielik. As a man converted to CB he isn’t going to get much game time. Much of the juggling of players is based on who counts as home grown and who isn’t . But Bielik and Holding are likely to play for us in the CL final in 2021 so I hope Arsene has got things sorted for him. Mustafi mustafa chance of playing in that game too.
I don’t like the loan system it enables clubs like Palace to get ideas above their station.
We always seem to have a line of players who are going to be the next big thing, but they never play more than a handful of games.
The joke that is Frimpong has ended up playing in the back of beyond with Dench as the name on his shirt.
but have ye ever bought
a 5 pack of noodles and a Ken Livingstone biography
same day
same shop
£2
ye can’t say that !
pound each
sorry cynic
paaaaannndddd each
nawwwwty !
(i must say i feel uncomfortable with mimicking accents)
i prefer to …………….
and now mustafi is on the .con… woo hoo!
breathing a sigh of relief.
Rob was very good but with Paulista, Per Mer, Kos and Shkodran, all fit and well…
Loan him.
and serge is gone permanently to werder. and chambers to middlesbrough on season-long loan. all confirmed.
sweet merciful mother o moses scruz
ye need the tin lid screwed down on the biscuits ?
i’m 4 barbecues and a Terry Neill was not a twat
away from putting you right
and no mistake !
ssy, disagree. kos and shkodran first two, per and paulista second, and holding third (with nacho)…and since per is out for a while, holding stays, even moreso with paulista still out (him and his jury).
glad calum is going out on loan, bummed gnabry (gnarby, just for ttg) is gone…
cba, i don’t know what the hell you just wrote, but it elicited a belly laugh from me. just on the face of it.
a pint of guinness for you on the bar.
eh ?
ye saying i have a big belly
that’s as well as maybe
i don’t
(mockney accent)
nope
bit tired tonight
fuck the lotta ye
feckin shower o unreconstructed shitehawks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgX-Gugc69I
go bite the head off of one of your cows, for sport, if you’re not too tired. wash it down with the guinness.
you could be in a metal band, again 😀
now *that* is funny. how much fun, indeed 🙂
behave
.
.
*glares*
And best of luck to super Tom Rosicky as he returns to Sparta Prague …
“stand by yer beds”
he’s back
A question for seasoned Gooners: With Xhaka and Mustafi we now have two players of Albanian origin. Did we have any before?
Finally!
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160830/shkodran-mustafi-signs-for-arsenal
This is the first season in a long time, that we have reinforced the spine of the squad in one window!
A drink for the board!
Oi Wenger, why don’t you SPEND SOME FACKIN — oh.
*retreats quietly, lets self out back door of bar*
Dr Faustus @143. – “Is that you Snir @122 & 123 ?”
Snir ! Sniiiir !
It’s ME ! You cheeky old philosopher!
I have me name at the top of the posts – but if you must attribute them to someone else …….
Sirniiiir ! Perlease !
I deal in proper rumours – not like that internet obsessed but technologically challenged charlatan !
How very dare you, sir !
By the way – is it done yet ? ?
As for you, cba,
I’ll decide the standard of me own puns, if it’s all the same …….
I don’t have all day to think this nonsense up – so every now and then there will be a bit of rubbish, up with which you will have to put !
Please note the immaculate grammar – just in case Pangloss is watching ?
Dr F@163: Two Croatians (Eduardo and Davor Suker) and one Serbian (Vladimir Petrovich; 13 games in the 1982-83 season) come to mind, but no Albanians that I can think of.
By the way, cba,
looks like the EU are picking on those iRish Apples ….
Ouch ! £11 billion …..
That’s enough to get Bendtner back ?
if the standard is 114
yer work here is done
*mourns passing of a genius*
.
*bows head*
NBN@169: Thanks. If the Paraguyan joins in that would be a first I presume. I agree with TTG that our South American scouting has been below par.
Trev@168: Maybe you were Snir all along. Inventing that Israeli hard-liner alter ego was very clever I must say.
Ingrates – yer lucky to get 114 ?
Ock and Bee Jaysus – the whole bar’s got it in for me ?
i applaud people
who have no option
other than to say no
Trev @ 174: Fame has its price. ?
More deadly finishing from Eduardo: https://youtu.be/OkUUFgHa4S0
trev
eff off ya tart
no round of applause fer you
114
well i never !
Im normally one for slating our PR department but looking at the banter after announcing Mustafi today got to give them some props that’s top notch interaction as stated previously a signing or two lifts everyone !
Evening all. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
an you can eff off an all
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<