Gunners Devour Spicy Mexicans
Aug 1st, 2016 by 'holic
Arsenal Player has allowed a look back at Arsenal’s clash with Chivas de Guadalajara in the early hours of this morning (UK time). The Mexican Super-Cup winners were weakened by national team call-ups ahead of the Olympics, but in the first quarter of the contest you would not have thought so.
Benitez volleyed over from the centre of the area and it was Guadalajara who won the game’s first corner in the opening ten minutes. In truth though neither goalkeeper needed to make a save until the twenty-ninth minute when David Ospina spared Rob Holding’s embarrassment after the young defender had dangerously misplaced a pass midway inside his own half.
The same player could not have made amends for that error in any better fashion than to open the scoring four minutes later when Santi Cazorla’s free-kick was fed into his path by Calum Chambers. From point blank range Holding tapped in what will hopefully be the first of many goals in Arsenal colours.
Guadalajara 0-1 Arsenal
It was nearly two a couple of minutes later when Granit Xhaka freed Nacho Monreal on the left and from his cross Theo Walcott saw his close-range effort well saved by Rodriguez. At the other end Holding expected Ospina to collect a through ball and the goalkeeper’s delay resulted in him taking an accidental boot to the face as he contested the fifty-fifty ball.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, lively as ever in pre-season produced a wonderful solo run with five minutes of the half remaining, but Rodriguez was equal to his left-footed effort. The next attempt came from Cazorla and again the goalkeeper dealt with his cross-shot, but what a joy it was to see the dancing feet of the little maestro again.
Two of a number of second-half substitutes, Joel Campbell and Chuba Akpom combined to create the opening opportunity of the second-half but the latter miscued his finish and the chance was gone. It didn’t matter for within minutes we doubled our advantage with a simply wonderful solo goal by, who else, Oxlade-Chamberlain. From the right flank his back-heel took him past two defenders and having cut inside he curled the ball inside the far post.
Guadalajara 0-2 Arsenal
Before the hour was up it was three. Francis Coquelin played a ball inside the full-back to Mathieu Debuchy and the Frenchman’s cross was touched in by Akpom, his second goal of the USA tour.
Guadalajara 0-3 Arsenal
Akpom could have had a second when the marauding Holding put him through on goal but he screwed his effort wide of the far post. Next to find himself clear in front of goal was Debuchy, but he was in nose-bleed territory and saw Rodriguez deflect his effort wide of the same post.
A spicy final twenty minutes started with a crude challenge from behind on Debuchy which earned Zendejas a booking. Zendejas got his revenge when tumbling theatrically under the challenge of Debuchy in the box to win his team a penalty, duly converted by Zaldivar. The fuse had been lit.
Guadalajara 1-3 Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny curled a twenty yarder just wide as Arsenal looked to re-establish their advantage. Debuchy, clearly rattled by Zendejas, was next to see yellow for returning fire on his tormentor. In the aftermath of that incident a member of the Mexican support staff was ordered from the bench, presumably for something he said to one of the officials?
Debuchy got the benefit of the doubt when Zendejas once more threw himself spectacularly to earth under minimal contact. Then Hernandez said something to Campbell which sparked a reaction and a bit of handbags. Both players were the last additions to the referees filling yellow card, and the curtain came down on what was eventually a comfortable Gunners triumph.
There is little point in seeking any guidance to the season to follow from what have effectively been a couple of exhibition matches, but there are positives to be had. Xhaka looked a decent player on his debut. It is interesting that both he and Elneny played separate halves. Coquelin’s good form complicates matters with the two rear most midfield positions. Holding, although obviously a little raw, looks a decent player in both boxes. Most important though is that Santi is back. He is the metronome of the side and surely a position has to be found for him in the team?
Fantasy Premier League
The code to enter the Goonerholic Fantasy Premier League for this season is
696884-192307
It’s just a bit of fun, but do add your team and test yourselves against your fellow ‘holics.
Have a good week, ‘holics.
116 Responses to “Gunners Devour Spicy Mexicans”
696884-192307
Also the phone number of alcoholics anonymous.
😉
Harsh, but fair Cynic. 🙂
3rd?
A ‘twenty harder’? Fat fingers or a comment on Elneny’s shooting power, Guv’nor?
Back in the swing, Holic,
Or still concentrating on putting the back into the golf swing ?
The usual measured, classy delivery. ?
696884-192307 gives you a pretty good team: Tony Adams, Paul Merson, Laurent Koscielny, Freddie Ljungberg, Mikel Arteta, Patrick Viera — David Seaman, Davor Sucher, Lee Dixon, Nigel Winterbern, No One, Robert Pires.
Chris, from previous drinks –
Thanks for asking about the Trev-ette.
Actually she had a terrible nine months from last September to May this year but the last couple of months have been much better. The old personality has returned and with it, her enthusiasm for her dancing and tennis. Fingers crossed.
Kind of you to take an interest.
We’re all on holiday and now missing the dog after ten days. I hope things post Oskar are getting less painful. Amazing how dogs affect us, I know.
Alex Song has gone to Rubin Kazan on a free. 28 and done?
Trev, best wishes for, and to, the Trev-ette. Good to hear of a turn for the better.
Indeed Ned @6,
Could I please have Podolski, or Eduardo, as number 9 though.
Eduardo for bravery and sentiment. Still love Podolski – such a shame we never got the best out of him.
How about Bendtner as “0” – he did nothing the whole time he was here.
Thanks, Ned.
Nice work in the last set of drinks, Dr. F.
Another of our old boys, Armand Traore has joined Nottingham Forest from QPR on a free. And you don’t get a much older old boy than 39-year-old Alex Manninger, newly moved to the Scousers from Augsburg, though it is 14 years since he departed our parish.
TGSTEL as 0 would be perfect.
Trev, the best news. Let things go on improving for her. ?
Good stuff Guvna. Good to hear we look ok. Here’s hoping the rest of the reinforcements arrive soon.
Thanks, Holic.
Good to hear the little one is on the improve Trev,heartbreaking when your children are struggling.
Now we know why little Jack was looking so glum,and sat out the game against the Mexicans.
Surprise surprise,he is injured,with according to AW ,
” a minor knee problem ” patella apparently,so Trev can give us some insight into that.
Also Santi is behind the rest of the players on the fitness side,and will miss the opening few games.
Going to be an interesting line up against Pool on the 14th.
Also kudos to Scruz and Dr F for their posts,top stuff.
Fingers crossed for continued progress, Trev.
Oskar still missed, but Mad Max is well settled in his place and quite a different personality so more a new friend than a replacement. Well meaning dog friends assure me Oskar will be waiting for a reunion at the Rainbow Bridge to heaven when my time is up. Hmmm. He and several others, one of which has now been waiting 65 years if she hasn’t got pissed off and pissed off long since. I wonder how the hierarchy is working out among them.
Nice report.
Thanks Homer and Clive for the kind words. And TTG & others in the previous post who commented after I had posted my last round of thanks.
TTG, to answer your question: I think Bielik is a very talented player with ball on his feet and his positional anticipation. He is also fast, a good long distance passer, and already quite tall. So he has all the makings of a modern day CD, which is a trade the qualifications for which I think will continue to evolve considerably in the next few years. Because of changes in the way the game is played and taught in the grassroots and youth level you will have more and more of technically accomplished versatile midfielder-forwards and less of the maverick strikers, and in the resulting deadlock in a football field you will need very accomplished technical defenders to start attacks and sometimes even maintain tempo, where the midfield battle becoming highly tactical (and often even) and only players of Mesut’s caliber really making meaningful difference. At the same time you will need composure and maturity in those defenders as well. We will see more and more of these young ball playing defenders coming to the fore where the exceptional ones would be identifiable by their composure and maturity. A Varane or now a Umtiti. I think Bielik has all the technical and athletic ingredients, he is not even 20 so the occasional gaps in concentration and composure are expected. But he will need to learn to get rid of those very soon — in the next 2-3 years — to make a claim for a CD role in a club like ours.
I think this is where we may have unearthed an exception in Holding. Who I don’t think is technically as accomplished as Bielik despite being a couple of years older, but I think he has a coolness and maturity that is very promising.
What all these mean for Chambers is anyone’s guess. You get the feeling he hasn’t really convinced himself that he can play in the center of the defense. I think he looks very good as a DM, but we now have that position well covered for a while. Hopefully whatever psychological maturity and conviction is needed he will find it this season, at Arsenal or out on loan.
Trev, best wishes for your daughter.
Trev, my best wishes to your daughter too.
Watching the recorded game against Chivas (thanks scruz for clarifying the US tv schedule), I noticed slowly but surely how much of a change in the psychological make-up of our team has been made. Not only Xhaka or Elneny, there is a no-nonsense attitude to many of the youngsters that were pleasing. Joel has always been a bit of a fighter, but seeing Iwobi or Akpom not giving up an inch against a Chivas team who really were very frustrated — apparently they had a horrible 4-0 drubbing last weekend in Mexican league that was deeply embarrassing for them — and didn’t treat this as an exhibition match at all.
Akpom’s goal was harder than it looked. He physically imposed himself to stave off the challenge of the defender who read the cutback very well, and the a very instinctive finish.
I like Chuba. Not only technically he is very sound and has very good pace and positional sense, he also has got that attitude, and self-belief and presence in the football field. I think practicing with the first team,learning from Alexis and Giroud, and bursting his balls each time he has given a chance to impress — league cup or a 10-minute cameo in PL — will be better education for him than being mismanaged in a different set-up.
http://www.turkish-football.com/arsenal-mesut-ozil-man-city-star-gundogan-involved-in-social-media-gaff/
Hope you don’t have these problems with your social media team, ‘Holic.
Just popping in, happy summer to all. But this isn’t looking good is it ? Other managers are not only getting new stars in but they’re also ruthlessly clearing out. Our old English core (our Welshman is fine) has failed and is failing dismally once more pre-season, with the possible exception of Ox, who can be a squad player. Walcott has fallen apart formwise, Wilshere is just falling apart again, Chambers can’t have confidence with Holding and Bielik hovering around and Gibbs, well it’s all over for him. The Manager seems to ignore another key point too, as if his/our activity exists in a vacuum. Namely, that for somebody to sell, they must be given time to buy themselves to replace. He and the club seem to have zero appreciation for this and also view Aug 31 as the key date, not the Liverpool match almost 3 weeks before. Our season could be over before it starts, especially with injuries and late returnees. Please, please surprise us Arsene, don’t f*ck with that difficult early schedule we face. And stop spouting on about transfer fee inflation. It’s here, it’s a reality, the business model works for all and you could have bought Higuain two years ago and now be flipping him for double your money and more. You want to be tight lipped about players and deals but go on endlessly about money so that selling clubs and big stars drift elsewhere to do their business. Shut up and do some deals. If you’re going to speak, talk our great club and great resources up, not down. Sighs (already). COYG.
Hi all
from wet ,cold sydney
Watched the match on stream, very good quality
came on about 1100 monday , so had to seem as tho working hard whilst looking at ipad at work…..
I like DF (20) thought that Bielik looked very composed.
Holding too looked very promising.
Suppose this means the end of the “corporal” which as he his a arsenal fan is a bit sad.
The Ox looked good, hopefully he can also do it against better team
I really want Akpom to succeed, suppose a goal a game will help.
Of concern was walcott, forgot he was on the field, and Zalem
yes he is young, but he does not impose himself into a game, which if you want to play ay the highets level he will need to do.
Santi , oozed class, but also seemed to have an aussie beer gut!
onwards up upwards
We need a striker and a cb and that’s that. We will struggle or else and all indications are we will leave it very late. I dread to think what will happen if we do not start well knowing that it is pool and Leicester for starters. Why do we leave our transfers so late? What does it take to get at least the relatively smaller deals done? Ashley Williams going to Everton, well would he have not suited the bill?
Boss has already indicated that santi will not be fully fit for the opener and jack continue to have his knee issues. This does mean ramsey and Alexis coming back earlier and god forbid anything happening to them. Why are we leaving all this late is my question, should we not be going to the season fully prepared? Come on Arsene, we know what needs to be done, you know better than all of us, why delay?
AR@26: not sure it is the end for the Corporal. If Debuchy goes, as his ambition for regular football and drop in form since injury suggests is a distinct possibility, then Jenks would be Bellerin’s understudy at right-back and utility back-up central defender or left back.
With Ozil, Kos and Giroud not back and Ramsey and Sanchez likely playing cameos only, we could line up in the opener against Liverpool like this:
Cech
Bellerin, Gabriel, Holding, Monreal
Elneny/Xhaka, Santi
Ox, Iwobi/Ramsey, Campbell/Sanchez
Walcott/Akpom
We’ll still beat Pool!
😀
Other news ..Jack injured (for a week?) and initial £15m Mustafi bid turned down.
Thankyou all for the kund wishes.
Clive,
With regard to Jack’s injury, all I can find is AW quoted as saying “it’s a slight patella problem ……… He should be ok in about a week”.
If it is a patella problem – and not the patella tendon – that is a bony issue. A week is not long for a bony issue to heal, so you would think it’s probably just bruising. In other words, an impact injury incurred in training. We’d better hope it’s not like last season’s pre-season injury – “it will hardly affect his preparation” – which saw him out for about 8 1/2 months.
Another possibility could be chondromalatia patella – an inflammation of the cartilage lining and fat pad on the back of the knee cap. That is often caused by gait issues, which wouldn’t be a massive surprise given his history of ankle and lower leg problems. Again, you would think that that would be checked regularly as a matter of course.
The one week prognosis would rule out any type of fracture to the patella.
They’re just possibles as I’ve no other information to go on.
I think there is talk of Cazorla having a chronic Achilles problem too.
Half the team not back from international duty and the rest starting to drop like flies – it must mean a new season is about to begin. ????
Thank your lucky stars we only have “an average number of injuries that last an average amount of time”, as I was assured by the gentleman from behind the scenes.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to watch a display by the North Devon Airborne Porcine Division.
A kind of Pinky (and Perky) Arrows. ?
Why does our manager always to buy players on the cheap, especially at time when the market values for these players has shifted up?
Please have courage and be decisive on these new signings.
http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2016/08/02/transfer-news-arsenal-offer-for-shkodran-mustafi-rejected-by-valencia/
Correction: “always try to buy players on the cheap”?
Ned,
Jenks did his cruciate last Feb – meaning he’ll be out for some 3 -4 months yet I would think. Therefore he won’t be providing any cover for 2016.
Sweden.
Not that I wouldn’t mind keeping on eating Mexican food but isn’t this where Lars takes over?
Have I earned an Angel Delight, I ask myself.. yes I have.
Football content – we’re fucked aren’t we.
🙂
I’m in a wifi black spot so posts will be intermittent. I just wanted to send all good wishes to Trev’s daughter
Ron Mael is still a hero.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTUXKk-GXo
Thnks for the informative post on Patella’s Trev.
Much appreciated.
Ned @29
I would be very surprised if Chambers didn’t line up alongside Gabriel against Pool,he acquitted himself well there when he came on against Leicester at the Ems last season,so no reason to suppose he cannot do a temporary job there.
The Boss has already said that Santi won’t be fit till end of August,so that might make midfield selection a bit easier as well.
Ttg, much appreciated.
My pleasure, Clive.
Just wish we didn’t have so many blasted injuries to talk about.
Here we go again with players off on their holidays and unavailable for the opening matches of the EPL season. It happens every year for one reason or another. Is it really asking too much of these overpaid primadonnas to actually play for their fat salaries? We don’t have the easiest start to the season and the last thing we need is to be chasing the game all year … yet again. Wouldn’t it be better to promise them time off once we have the season off to a good start? It’s not like we have the strength of some on the bench to replace them. If we had we wouldn’t still be angsting about strikers and CDs to the extent many supporters are doing.
Any NZers know how we’re going to follow our team this year? Yes, Sky has regained EPL rights, but a look at their schedule shows they are covering just 1 Arsenal game in the first 4 rounds – compared to 4 Spuds’ games ffs. Even Sunderland get 3. No coverage of the Leicester/Arsenal game for example – champions and runners-up last season.
I have of course complained, but no response as yet. I imagine they will say something like ‘spreading the coverage wider’ making it fairer for supporters of lesser teams. To which I will ask ‘What has fairness to do with it?’ They should be looking for the largest audience possible in the interestes of their advertisers, and Burnley v Sunderland is not going to provide that.
Any ideas where we can get coverage from? Coliseum quality wasn’t the best in recent years but at least they covered every game of every team and we could watch every Arsenal game without knowing the score beforehand.
Totally pissed off.
Rumors hotting up currently but they are bound to subside aren’t they?
bt8
The only Rumors i ever listen to are those provided by Fleetwood Mac.
The rest are just that.
One might be jumping to conclusions here, but it sounds like Draxler might hand in a transfer request.
Joe@36: Had quite forgotten about the Corporal having gone in the fetlock. November return at the earliest, which probably means late 2019.
Clive@41: I see that Gabriel is now off-games with tonsillitis. You’ll be getting a game against the Scousers at this rate…
Leicester have signed… Kapustka (Kaput?~!) ..
..so Mahrez..?!
😀
slow oul day
must get liquored up an eat a loada dinners
.
sláinte gooners
same old waiting game
but
good things come to those who wait
cept Job of course
he got boils
Goonersince5400BC
half ton
woo hoo
ye see – things are on the up
Owizeeeeeeeeeeeee!?!?!
Just trying to liven things up, mid snooze.
Hello Kapustka, bye bye Mahrez!
🙂
Hello Mahrez, bye bye…?
‘Jesus can make big impact’ -Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain
“I’m looking forward to showing the City fans what I can do – Jesus.
—-
Alright then it’s not like he can walk on water can he?!
😀
Just thought this particular title deserved fuller illustration.
http://vecto.rs/1024/vector-of-a-cartoon-mexican-man-blowing-flames-from-his-mouth-while-holding-a-plate-full-of-hot-spicy-food-by-ron-leishman-33538.jpg
Whether we catch fire in the transfer market remains to be seen.
Karanka, Puel, Mazzari, Guidolin, Ranieri, Koeman, Conte, Klopp, Mourinho, Guardiola, Wenger.
Blimey…there will be blood.
If he’s not performing by Easter he’ll get crucified, BB
@Cynic
It remains to be seen if he’ll be a revelation or an apocalyptic mistake on their part.
Leicester looks to have made a bargain on Musa.. scored two against Barca and very quick! Only 20m too it seems!
Maybe we should bid on Barca’s Munir. We need a bigger pool of talent scouts!
Send in the drones : http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36954689
😀
Whiskey in a Jar,
Don’t think i didn’t notice that.!!
Cheeky Irish Rebel.
Finally some self-realization…
http://news.arseblog.com/2016/08/walcott-wants-to-be-a-winger-again/
Shows a little bit of lack of self-conviction.
Shows a little bit the desperation.
They really did sign Jesus.
Shows what money can do.
Trev
If only he had shown a bit more desperation on the pitch,he might have amounted to something.
In two out of three cases the BBC website says “This content doesn’t seem to be working.”
Doesn’t seem to be or isn’t?
Is that when you Google ‘Theo Walcott’, bt8?
According to Iwobi, that Musa’s an amazing talent!
Mahrez looked a little distracted on the pitch!
He must have been thinking ( I want 100k a week or I’m off)!!!
Vardy was playing like a little weasel earning 100k a week!
And N’Golo Kante was…
😆
That Theo thing is very old news given a reheat on a “WE STILL HAVEN’T FUCKNG SIGNED ANYONE!” day
Could be Theo in three games out of four, Chris. 😉
Not a massive fan of The Gooner these days but this is worth a read. I’m sure there are many that will disagree but although simplistic, I think it makes some decent points and sums up the feelings of many frustrated fans.
http://www.onlinegooner.com/article.php?section=exclusive&id=3492#.V6M2tvRkmnM
Depressing to read, Steve T Down Under but it is impossible to argue with any of those facts. We appear to have set the bar at stability in the top four, rather than progress (or stagnation, which puts a considerably more negative connotation on stability).
The article does overlook the fact, suggested by Swiss Ramble’s careful analysis, that we do have more money in the bank than we did and indeed than anyone else have. If we wanted to, we could buy anyone we wanted. Or on the other hand we could build a hospital or just watch it grow, though the interest rates are not encouraging the latter policy.
If you pay attention to the magical comps of Santi and Ozil, what do you notice? There is either Nobody in the box, or someone arriving late to skew the chance. Correct me if wrong pls..
Reason i mention this is- If Laca, Musta and Riya are our last transfer bets, i am solidly for Riya because the burden of creation from the RW would not only stretch Ds, but find our striker and b2b MFs in better positions.
If i had to vote, would choose Mahrez.
The real shame, in both senses, was that we didn’t invest in the squad last summer when, to have done so, would almost certainly have won us the league.
I don’t know who makes the final decisions on what we spend but last summer was a collective failure. To pay the prices we do and to have accumulated the amount of cash we have, it is very disheartening not to use the resources we do have available.
Prices in the transfer market have gone quite mad this summer – it is impossible to justify £75 million for Higuain – but all the more reason to have acted last year. It’s not like we didn’t know there was going to be a heap of extra cash chasing very few world class talents this time around.
The sad fact is that even if Arsenal did go and bid £100 million for Pogba – just as mad as the Higuain figure – the Arab and Russian run ckubs could simply bid £110 million.
We are in a race we can’t win.
Our hope is that the likes of Mahrez or Aubamayang have a burning desire to play for Wenger or Arsenal. Otherwise, I fear our ship has sailed.
On the bright side, Xhaka looks very good, we still have Ozil and Sanchez, and the likes of Iwobi look ready to make an impact.
We just have to hope it’s enough.
That is not really good enough but it’s where we are.
So, here I am about to make my self unpopular.
Mahrez had one good season (albeit, apparently very good), and suddenly he’s the second coming. A veritable TH14 no less. BREAK THE BANK WENGA!!! Or…before the club spunks more money on another midfielder, hang on a sec.
Perhaps its just me, or my contrarian nature, but I am skeptical of one-season wonders – and their are plenty of examples. Of course, I didn’t watch every match Mahrez played last season – I stick to watching the Arsenal. So perhaps Mahrez is the second coming, and based on not watching him every match, I’m ignorant of his amazingness (is that a word?). Could be. Based on the two matches that Arsenal beat LCFC, however, I wouldn’t say so. And I wonder; if he were all that, surely other big clubs would be falling over themselves to sign him, no?
LCFC and Ranieri caught lighting in a bottle. Very cool to see if one cannot see the Arsenal win the league. But can they do it again? Unlikely, but no one knows.
So excuse me if the Mahrez love ‘fest makes me a little nauseous.
Clive,
Theo showed desire in two matches last season and looked a player.
They were Leicester away and Man Utd at home.
Those apart, with shiny new contract secured, he did three tenths of two fifths.
And that is being extremely generous.
Trev,
Great to see you back.
The two articles today on Arseblog & 7amKickoff on Theo are compulsive reading. I have great respect for Wenger but I just cannot fathom the rationale in keeping Walcott at the club for over 10 years now and would wholly agree with Holic in thinking that a move away would probably be best for all concerned at this stage. Last season Walcott was visibly booed by the home crowd and its all too easy to see the same thing happen again and you have to wonder what the sensibility is in running that risk again?
While I agree with you in the sense that attracting the very top players to the club is an exercise in futility at times given the resources of those we compete with, I hope that we manage to sign a couple of more players and if I’m honest – I’m actually confident that we will. I probably wouldn’t agree with you entirely that we ought to invest just because of the resources that we have. I don’t think it works like that for clubs who try to run their affairs organically. £200m can be 20 players, or 2, at the very highest level, so getting those decisions right is a very big responsibility I feel. And I’m glad, that we have a manager, that puts the club, its development and its future far ahead of his own personal ambitions. That type of humility and maturity in todays climate are rare. All you have do is look at Van Gaal and Mourinho to see the stupendously egotistical self-gratification that takes place and the reckless spending that occurs as a result. Manu have spent in excess of 500m in the past few years, during which they haven’t even qualified for the CL! Manu is Mourinho’s last stand. If he makes a balls of this job in light of the fiascos at Real Madrid and Chelsea, I think he’ll find himself down the pecking order and running lessor clubs ala Benitez. And in truth, its about all he deserves.
Otherwise and most importantly, I sincerely hope all goes well with your young lady. As a father myself, some things in life are far more important than a bunch of millionaires kicking a football for a living!
Joe,
Thankyou for the greeting and the kind wishes.
Oddly, although you don’t agree with me entirely, I do agree entirely with your excellent post.
That, insofar as, I don’t think we should spend money just because we have it. My meaning was that we failed to at least reinforce the squad last summer – in all the outfield positions – while we started the season with Welbeck and Rosicky suffering long term injuries, Jack Wilshere clobbered in pre-season, and midfield backup comprised of the perma-crocks that Arteta and Flamini had become.
While it is fair to say that Arsene Wenger always and only tries to add top-top quality to the squad, in order to improve it, sometimes circumstances dictate that we could do with a couple of good solid professionals to support the first team.
That top-top quality argument falls down rather dramatically when you consider we have actually signed the likes of Squillaci, Silvestre, Poom and Kallstrom.
The transfer market has become an impossible place for self-sustaining clubs to genuinely compete in. We have to be extremely clever, or extremely lucky.
What worries me most is who and what we are actually sustaining.
That is a whole other argument and one that has got me into enough trouble already.
Good to see you, Joe. ??
Trev,
As usual, you make excellent points!
The point about failing to reinforce last season is well taken, and I think even from Wengers perspective, his actions in January in signing Elneny is a de-facto admission in this regard. While we usually have many players injured each season, last season, by any yardstick, must rate as one of our worst ever? Wenger’s biggest fault is his sense of belief and trust in his players – when its rewarded it yields amazing results, and when it isn’t – it backfires pretty spectacularly.
Your points in relation to Squillaci, Silvestre et al might be deemed somewhat wide of the mark if you consider the financial cost and risk of those players which was comparatively negligible. Thats not to say he always gets it right – he doesn’t (Reyes, Podolski..)! But in relative comparison to other teams and managers, he generally makes fewer mistakes that others in the larger signings (Ozil, Sanchez, Henry) and always tries to sustain the ethos and values of the club.
I think we’ll sign Mustafi. And I think he’s after a major signing up-front. I don’t know who that player is, no more than anyone else, but I don’t think its Lacazette. We could have signed him anytime over the past few years. I think he’s a secondary option, but not the primary target. It’ll be most interesting so see what happens!
Good morning all.
The depressing thing for me in The Gooner article is that a lot of it was so predictable. If you lose your best players and don’t replace them then you are on a slippery slope. We have been in gradual decline for several seasons. We have stagnated at best. I can only start to imagine how much we would have been improved if we had added the likes of Alonso and one of either Suarez or Higuain? Or perhaps both? As the article rightly points out, prices now have at least doubled. I’m amazed that those at the club had not foreseen this in light of the massive increase in TV revenue. If you were the chairman of a foreign club and a premier league side came calling, what would you do the the price?
Like many, I have no idea how much of what appears in the media has any truth to it. Mahrez seems to be a target. He was fantastic last season but like Homer, I’m always somewhat sceptical of the one season wonder. Who knows, he could be even better next year?
I haven’t been convinced with our transfer policy or our ability to be big players in the market since DD left. Of course, the signings of the likes of Sanchez and Ozil have been top class. But I don’t remember fighting off all comers to conclude either deal? There was a reason that the likes of Squillaci and Silvestre were cheap. The same reason that the likes of Sanogo were free.
I have struggled to believe for a long time now that Ivan is up to the job. The days of AW trying to unearth that hidden gem are considerably tougher than they were when the likes of Anelka and Vieira were making their debuts.
I think that Ivan believes his own hype. You can have all the resources in the world but if you don’t know how to use them then they will never be enough. Ivan’s world is one of constant spin. I’m not sure how much of it he actually believes. However, all he seems to do is to try and tell us that we are in one great position.
Picture the scene. Ivan is out walking his trusty dog one morning. The call of nature is upon us and Fido effectively gives birth to a Tottenham fan right there on the pavement. Ivan of course has to clean up the offending faecal matter. Ivan is the sort of spin merchant that would attempt to convince people that the way to pick it up is by the clean end. That’s Ivan.
8 days until the season kicks off and what shape are we in? There’s still time of course but we should be in better shape than we are.
8 days until the season kicks off? Holy bejesus. Whisky please, barman.
“We have to be extremely clever, or extremely lucky” (in the transfer market) – Trev #78
Exactly. Leicester were triply lucky with Vardy, Mahrez and Kante all in one season. Reminiscent of Henry, Vieira and Pires back when. Such things make all the difference – especially in years when the likes of manure, chavs, poo and $iteh all cock up at the same time (and that’s unlikely to happen again).
Thing is you somewhat reduce your chances of getting lucky the less players you sign. So while I support not buying at inflated prices when there are legitimate question marks hanging over today’s ‘hot’ names I don’t see the harm in investing in lesser lights identified as possible superstars in the right team structure. And don’t we now employ the genius (lucky?) guy who picked those three for Leicester?
At least buying someone gives us a chance. Saying there is no one worth buying at the price gets us nowhere.
“the signings of the likes of Sanchez and Ozil have been top class“, Steve T? I think they are both just a bit less than top, both being deemed expendable by their former (genuinely) top class employers. And that is why we were able to sign them. Quality players both, but neither has the consistency (especially when needed) that real top class players – Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Ibrahimovic, Aguero etc – provide.
Morning Chris. I still think they are top drawer players if not in the same bracket as a Ronaldo or a Messi.
I don’t think we got lucky with Pires, Vieira and Henry. All were known to AW and two were established French internationals when we signed them. Leicester had an excellent scouting network that worked very well. For all 3 to come off there would have been a degree of luck. However, I’m drawn to an old Gary Player quote when he was accused of being lucky. “It’s funny. The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
We used to dine at the top table. Having not eaten there for some years we now feed off the scraps. Whilst I accept that we will never compete with the oil boys or there like, I do feel that a lot of that is of our own making. The fact is, we are not as attractive to it entail signings as we were 5 or 10 years ago.
The smartest fan in history????
https://twitter.com/footballvines/status/756812551556562945
It was another world back when we acquired Titi, Paddy and Bob, Steve T, and even if we could identify their like today it’s odds on we’d lose out to deeper pockets.
If you’re right about the luck factor then we can expect Wrigglesworth to pull off a blinder or two for us before the window closes, right? I’m hoping that’s true because it makes more sense to me than investing squillions in the likes of Lacazette or Draxler.
I was more echoing what others have said about securing top drawer talent. 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.
“It’s funny. The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
Love that quote, Steve T, but unlikely to have been originated by Player. In fact it has been attributed to a large number of people, including golfers Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer as well as Confucius, Sun Tzu, Ralph Engelstad, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Goldwyn, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Kettering, Stephen Leacock, Ron Harper, Mark Twain, George Allen, and ‘old Amish saying’. Added to which precursors of the Diligence is the mother of good luck kind can be traced back to late 16th Century.
The most detailed resarch I know comes from Quote Investigator … http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/07/21/luck-hard-work/ …
In 1922 Coleman Cox published a collection of adages titled “Listen to This” that included a witty remark about luck. The statement which Cox apparently crafted has clear precursors, but a twist makes it humorous [CCGB]:
I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have.
That’s 13 years before Player was born.
Tricky business transfers. There are probably a dozen clubs tops across Europe who can pretty much afford any player they choose (and outbid other clubs on them). There probably aren’t a dozen players who would unquestionably improve those clubs and are available. It is a seller’s market.
The Ornacle has spoken chaps/chapettes!
No Mahrez and Draxler!
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
ach now clive
i only mooched yer moniker
to highlight the plight of an early gooner
perched atop his dung heap
awaiting transfer news
poor Job
sat there with the patience of … er ….. Job
what did he get ?
pus !
.
.
so
-What we gonna get for our patience ?
A fully formed massive new boil ?
Another few pimples guaranteed to become boils given time ?
Another 10 years of a wee pimple that thinks it’s a boil ?
.
the lot of the gooner , eh ?
wait patiently
boil the arse outta pimple metaphors
wenger will break the bank when pigs learn to fly ???
mahrez, draxler, lacazette ……
It is not just about who it is more so why does it take so long? Agreed that the top,top players will be a lot of negotiations and underarm tactics but come on why should it take this long or late to sign a mustafi or even an ashley Williams? This is the crux of everyone out there who just wish these things are finished quickly than go on till the end. If we are not buying anyone, let us get on with a club release stating the same. The laments will be loud but atleast for the rest, we will look forward to the season with limited expectations.
You know what kills me; it is if we want to win the league or try to win the league. The attitude or the answer to that question is wherein the doubts remain. I understand that we are amongst the teams who can win the league but the attitude should be we will than we will try.
Actually cba,i thought it was very clever.
Rather like Arsene,misdirecting all the press to look in one direction,while he does the business in the other.
Watch this space. !!
here’s hopin’ , big man
.
*puts hoover round dungheap in readiness*
.
UP THE RAMBLERS !
No beating about the bush at Jose Mourinho’s first Manchester United press conference at the club’s AON Training Complex this afternoon.
….
He also said a couple of his Premier League managerial rivals are ‘unethical’ for speaking about United’s transfer business. Mourinho did not say who he meant but in recent days Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said the proposed £100m+ fee for Pogba is ‘completely crazy’, while Jurgen Klopp said the day such transfers became commonplace was a day ‘I am not in a job any more’.
————————
Unethical??!
…so spake that three toed toad.
19th November.. can’t come soon enough! Time we put them in their place.
Preseason fixture congestion: Two more games to play and two more countries to travel to within seven days’ time. Good preparation for the real thing?
I’m told in my reclusive eyrie in Norfolk that Arsene is genuinely interested in Griezmann but won’t pay his buy- out clause . The chance to sign him may occur if Chelsea buy Lukaku and sell Costa. Lacazette is a fall- back option at best. As Joe says he has been a viable option for years. But transfer dominoes isn’t a game we have shown much ability at even though Atsene loves to play it every season. He has to strengthen in two positions for the season – CB and Striker if we are to have any chance of doing well this season.
Trev makes the key point. Who and what are we sustaining. Is it Kroenke’s overall enterprises, the new Rams stadium or are we just trying to turn in a decent profit to show how well- run we are. Arsene really has got a hide as thick as a rhinoceros as he just won’t play the game most other top four managers do. Is he right? Clearly not really because we might have had an extra title or two if we had pushed the envelope further. I remember us signing Lee Chapman and Tony Woodcock in one close season and being delighted. A 2016 version of Woodcock would go down nicely. You can hold Lee Chapman ?
Both Gnabry and Asano scored in the first matches for their respective national teams in Olympics. According to the reports however Asano was instrumental in changing the game coming off the bench as Japan trailing 2-5 ended the match 4-5 against Nigeria.
Am in favour of promoting Gnabry if we don’t get another forward in…!
😀
Gnoal !
please
no applause
throw cash
*holics various club together for 50 quid of pound coins and a high speed slingshot*
?
Ttg,
“Griezmann”……..*swoons*.
He ticks every single box doesn’t he. What a signing he would be!
None of the selling clubs take Arsenal seriously. “Oh, it’s just Arsenal. They’ll take the piss with a lowball offer, as they always do, and stand aside as we sell to a club who meets our valuation”. The latest rumour is that Everton are preparing a bid for Draxler, and part of me hopes that they get him, though I doubt if even that would embarrass Wenger. The fans would be in uproar though.
What perplexes me, is that Wenger has admitted we need a striker, but that man HAS to be a proven top level goalscorer, and offering peanuts in the modern transfer market is crazy. In a market where Everton, West Ham, and even Palace are prepared to spend big, what’s the point in messing about like we do. The sort of money Wenger is prepared to spend will only buy the sort of strikers we have already. I very much fear I will be on tenterhooks on the final day, hoping we don’t just beat the deadline and announce the signing of Jonny Evans!
Re: Biscuitbum. Arsenal can and most likely will alleviate that situation for you, precisely by announcing the signing of Jonny Evans in the next few days or hours. ?????
Penalty missed. Santi.
Bielik and Elneny looking very good.
Good headed assist by Elneny for Joel’s goal, good anticipation by him. His second of the pre-season.
We should sell Campbell during half time before it’s too late.
Elneny just keeps getting better. We will miss him when he will be off to ANC in January. Him and Xhaka at the center will be a great combination. Coquelin will probably drop down the pecking order.
Santi clearing away the cobwebs with some great passes and then a wonderful goal.
Two quick goals , Theo’s first for the pre-season. Joel with two assists.
Joel with his second goal, well taken. This is getting too easy.
Got to like our current generation of youngsters, good combination of technical abilities and physical qualities. Iwibi, Jeff, Akpom all have a presence and confidence that few of our senior squad members can take inspiration from. Jeff and Iwobi had some lovely combination play, fast and incisive.
Evening all. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>