Santi And Mo Out – Kos And Rambo Back Soon?
Feb 23rd, 2017 by 'holic
Southampton’s journey to the EFL Cup Final has robbed us of a weekend fixture so the internet is rife with speculation rather than much hard news. Injuries continue to be the most tangible snippets out there. Reports that Santi Cazorla is out for the remainder of the season will surprise few, but it is desperately sad news for the Gunners who it’s fair to say have missed him a lot since he went in the fetlock back in October. Let’s hope he can recover fully and return to complete a full season 2017/18.
Out for three weeks is Mohamed Elneny just as it looked as though he might be making a regular starting spot his own. The timing could not be worse for him with Aaron Ramsey thought to be on the cusp of returning to training. Laurent Koscielny is also expected to be back in full training prior to the visit to Anfield on Saturday week.
The midfield has been seriously misfiring in recent weeks and it will be interesting to see if we can repair the area of the team that is so crucial to the football that Arsene Wenger wants to play. Numerous combinations have been tried and it may well be that we are about to see a fairly settled spell of Ramsey and Granit Xhaka, if they can avoid the twin threats of further injury and suspension.
I prefer to steer clear of speculation but there have been more reports following the Mundo Deportivo revelation yesterday that Hector Bellerin remains Barcelona’s number one defensive target in the summer. The article suggested that Barca hope Hector may agitate for a move away from the club should Arsene Wenger leave at the end of the season. I’m sceptical as he signed a new long-term deal, reported to be over six years, in October. He has also said repeatedly he is happy at Arsenal. I’m keeping my glass half full on this one.
Finally Arsenal.com carried an interview with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain today talking about the importance of the supporters getting behind the team. He also shows appreciation of the fact that the team having to lift themselves as well.
“People have been doubting us and it’s important that we pick ourselves up to try to turn the tide into a more positive one. Our fans are great home and away. They’re very loud so we hear them when they’re happy and we hear them when they’re frustrated, but that’s part and parcel of being at a massive club like Arsenal.”
Every day it seems that one player or another is making all the right noises, and hopefully for the remainder of the season we can produce a run of improved form and results that will deliver a greater unity around the club.
46 Responses to “Santi And Mo Out – Kos And Rambo Back Soon?”
Sorry to open the bar with this but..
Filth Scummer.
https://my.mixtape.moe/echuhi.mp4
Evening H
Not sure about Rambo returning to training.
He was on the Premier Injuries website as due to return on 25 Feb,but has now gone to no return date/ruled out.
If El has done his ankle ligaments,the perennial 3 weeks,will be more like 6.
So we may be stuck with Granit and Coq,which was so ineffective against the Germans.
Kos and Iwobi are both a 75% chance of returning against Pool,and i guess the next 7 days will be crucial in that regard.
The constant chopping and changing in that so crucial midfield area,has done us no favors this season.
The protection of the back 4 seemingly more of an afterthought at the Arse than a standard requirement in modern day football.
And now the BT Sport sycophants are going on about how wonderful that lot have 80k at Wembley.
Strangely no mention of the vastly reduced ticket prices.
If I lived in N17 I’d pay a tenner to get out of there for the night.
top 4?
Scgooner … Re Brady, Stapleton, Rice and O’Leary in the last drinks, I realised what I’d done the moment I posted.
For the record, Brady and Stapleton are Dubliners (Ireland) and Rice an Ulsterman (UK), but O’Leary was actually a Londoner born in Stoke Newington (UK). So I was half right! 🙂
The spuds are on the slide again. Thanks to a Harry Kane goal … at the wrong end! They never fail to amuse… 😀
Fuck it, Chris, Ireland is British anyway
*runs from cba’s wrath*
😉
I now know one team I really hope go down this season . Sacking Ranieri might be seen by some as pragmatic but I suspect is he got a lot of very average players to perform at a level for nine months that was way above their natural one.
I think he has been incredibly badly let down by his players , people like Vardy rewarded with a massive new contract and as bad as we all thought he was when we nearly signed him. Some of those players are pale shadows of what they were last season . I hope they reflect tonight that a man who got them to places they couldn’t have been expected to reach has been sacrificed while they remain.
This is Leicester City we are talking about. Oh what delusions of grandeur and notions of loyalty some owners have. I suspect Ranieri will display his usual immense harm and dignity whilst the Talkshite baiter will reflect that it’s all about winning. Not for Leicester I think, it’s about thanking your lucky stars you employed a man who achieved a miracle.
In other news might our neighbours be in the same sort of mess next season given they will be playing at Wembley as a home ground. We can only hope so.
So is America, Cynic, we should never have let them go.
The Leicester miracle just had to happen when we came second … bugga it. 🙁
Gent, who knocked mighty Sp@rs out of the Europa League, are put into context by the BBC:
“Gent’s first-leg victory was only their third win in 13 matches, with their recent form dropping them to eighth place in a Belgian top flight ranked as only the ninth-best European league.”
Ranieri sacking puts Leicester into the basket of despicables.
Completely agree with @8 TTG.
To steal a line, you’d have to have a heart of stone not to laugh if Leicester go down this season. Wonder if Vardy, Mahrez et al. will display the same Leicester forever loyalty then.
Who couldn’t be happy with spuds humiliation. Also no spuddish excuses about the congested fixture list when we peel them again this season 🙂
Thanks for the post as always GH.
I hope that we will persevere with Ox / Xhaka at Liverpoo as we really need to find out about both of them in the centre. I can understand people will have doubts as I do myself, but personally I think it’s too early to conclude anything either way on Xhaka. In Ox’s case I think he is simply not productive enough out wide but still has a possibility in the middle – we won’t know unless we see a decent run of games.
Anyway, my guess is you’re right GH and we will see Xhaka / Ramsey.
Still laughing at the neighbours. It’s like losing to Sutton United. 😀
And this old has-been calls himself a gooner … http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39068481
Can you imagine the media uproar if Granit had done the tackle that ‘golden boy’ Alli carried out?? You have pricks like Sherwood backing him cos he’s English.Give it a rest you tools.Proper nonsense.
I was watching this last night. That is one of the single worse tackles I have ever seen, you could see the lad’s leg bend as Alli’s boot thudded into it just below the knee.
To their credit, the all Spurs panel on BT Sport (Hoddle, Redknapp and Jenas) did not hesitate in condemning it and didn’t even give us the old Shawcross “he’s not that sort of lad”.
The Millwall game could be lively. Spurs do seem to go into full on disciplinary meltdown when the going gets tough (eg vs Chelsea last season).
bt8 – thanks for the stat. Shows what a triumph this Spurs campaign has been.
Leicester – words fail me. Evidently the players told the board the manager had to go. Sounds like Leeds and Clough.
As TTG says, Ranieri “got a lot of very average players to perform at a level for nine months that was way above their natural one”.
As he’s at a lose end, is anyone else thinking what I’m thinking?
Oops, loose.
Hi. It does not matter if we don’t win anything this year [we are still in with a chance in 3 competitions – a 4-nil would do it!] we have to stand 100% behind Arsene. Let him manage at Arsenal for the next 4 years and then maybe a position on the board… if he so chooses. We lack belief at this moment in time… this is the time to stand strong and take each match as it comes… we can beat the ‘pool!
Ranieri sacking typifies all things wrong with football nowadays. OK, whoever they are replacing him with, what is he expected to achieve? this season, do not get relegated; next? he can do everything he can but he wont win the league and even if he does, that was already done by ranieri. Absolutely stupid, player power at the fore there.
Talking of us, as much as i love santi, offering him another year contract defies logic. If he is not fit this year, will he be an fitter the next to sustain an entire season? agreed, he is injured and hopefully he comes back injury free but honestly he cannot sustain a season and we should have ideally replaced him by now. He can be the backup and he is quite brilliant as one. no, ramsey is not the answer for that.
2-0 against the chavs are the boys as i type, so wish the senior guys looked at this and then looked at themselves. It is the attitude and leadership that is soo lacking.
Football is a result based business. I don’t see why people are going crazy about Ranieri. He won the league last year thereby making history. He will forever be remembered as the coach ( maybe only one) that brought them a league title. He probably got a hefty bonus and a new bumper salary. They are 1pt above the relegation zone. The owners don’t want to win a league one season and the next season end up in the championship. Of course one cant blame him for all their problems, players too have a lot to answer for. You cant sack all your players, something had to be done. If this was season beginning, then it would have been a stupid move but they only have 13 more games to go. That’s my view anyways, no sentiments. If they still get relegated, then it is what it is.
San Antonio Gunner. Maybe Leicester can get Fat Sam. He has already moved one club into the relegation places this season so maybe he can try for two?
cynic7 and chris5
.
nope !
nope , i’m not gonna
not on yer nelly
NOPE !
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.
.
.
.
.
*gnaws at chains*
This time two seasons ago, with 13 games to go, Leicester had 17 points vs the 21 they have this season, having just lost 2-1 to us at the Ems, leaving them four points adrift at the bottom of the table. Then it was DLDLWWWWLWWDW and salvation, 41 points and 14th place.
ned
who among us hasn’t DLDLWWWWLWWDW’d
.
judge not leicester ye be judged
Lighten our darkness oh Ned we beseech thee.
The Guardian reports that Hector is open to a move to Barcelona if Arsene Wenger leaves.
I am sure you have, cba. I am sure you have. Nothing is beyond you.
?
nearly 8
radio 2
the end of an era
.
“This is your old mate Brian Matthew
saying that’s your lot for this week, see ya next week.”
.
?
http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-writes-12649873
That is truly very decent of AW.
I love Santi but the truth is that he is now at an age where longevity in a physically harsh league season may be beyond him. We need a replacement and nobody currently at the club fits the bill.
Ramsey has neither the technique nor the ability to stay fit for long enough – not his fault but there it is. The Ox has already been given a number of chances but for various reasons has not taken them.
We need a new signing – a real one, not a ” just like a” one. I realise the divided opinions about Cesc but given the benefit of hindsight, as one previous poster has said, I wish we had re-signed him when we had the chance. He would have been a perfect replacement.
Much the same as I felt when we messed up on signing Xabi Alonso when we had the chance.
This needs sorting for next season.
UTA.
Noosa, I’d be inclined to persevere with Xhaka/Ox. Both have issues to work through but also have more potential than all of the other options.
Yes, had we managed to scrape together the 18M that Liverpool wanted for Xabi Alonso so that they could acquire Gareth Barry, I suspect that a Fabregas/Alonso pairing would have been ultra-poweful. I suspect also that Cesc would have been encouraged to stay.
The other two massive financial ‘misses’ were Van Persie’s departure and our failure to sign Suarez. Had these three been managed optimally the last decade would have been different (and, I think, much better).
–
I’ve got a bike. You can ride it if you like.
It’s got a basket, a bell that rings and
Things to make it look good.
I’d give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it.
–
BTM
I remember Fabregas at the time,was all over the papers urging Arsene to sign Alonso.
But i don’t think supporters ever understood,that Benitez was never ever going to sell on of his top players to a PL rival,no matter how much money we offered.
Alonso wasn’t out of contract,so he couldn’t hold a gun to the Club’s head.
Also,anyone who ever thought we could have bought Suarez,was dreaming.
His only destination after Pool,was always going to be Spain.
We were just a sideshow along the way.
As for the options at the base of midfield for the visit to Anfield next w/end,i don’t think it matters who Arsene picks for the job,because if we don’t show a vast improvement in mental and physical application over what we have shown in recent weeks,it won’t matter a jot.
With Ozil way off his best,Sanchez dividing the dressing room,and other players unsettled due to off field factors,our esteemed manager and his assistants have a week to get the players heads right for a massive 6 pointer next Saturday.
We could try Xhaka and Mustafi (who loves to get forward) with Kos and either Holding or the BFG at CB. I was aalways disappointed that AW never tried Vermaelen at DMF back when this midfield problem originated.
Pity Fibreglass ever left in the first place, Clive, but re-signing him could seriously have back-fired so AW was right not to, aye.
Sooner we sign Reus and Forsberg the better.
Not sure why I addressed my last to you, Clive, unintentional sorry.
I’ve always been a dreamer, Sweeper. Yes, mental and physical application require a severe torquing prior to the Anfield visit. I have a good feeling that we’ll prevail nevertheless – availability of fit bodies permitting.
Arsene isn’t a fan of it but I would like to see us try three at the back. What’s more next season I’d like to see Koscielny with Holding and young Bielik. Hector would make a marvellous wing back and I suggest we look for a suitable young, mobile left back although I’m not certain that Ox isn’t a potential candidate there. Look at the way Moses has developed at Chelsea.
The young boy Nwakali is doing superbly in Holland and might be ready next season in a younger faster team. Assuming Sanchez and Ozil leave Reus would be a good suggestion upfront with Welbeck ( fitness issues permitting!) We could then look for a mobile holding midfielder like Matuidi ( doubt he’d be available) and the key place would be a number 10. Ox could be a candidate here but I wonder about Rodriguez at Real
We’d need to think seriously about midfield because Im not sure we know what our best midfield is .
Football is changing and defenders need to play out from the back and be solid and strong. It might be a gamble to try it in mid- season but it worked for Chelsea well enough.
Everton are showing that good youngsters can develop quickly and positively in the Premier League. The key thing is we need more character and drive in this team.
Character. Drive. Indeed, we could use some of those qualities. And a good measure of confidence, spirit, and aggression. Swansea seems to have picked up a good deal of those qualities with a managerial change. Not just any managerial change though. I would keep an eye on Paul Clement.
I’m not sure Eddie Howe’s star is as high now but Clement and Silva have made a big difference to their teams and Big Sam is under severe pressure at Palace. Moyes is looking like a dead man walking at Sunderland
I think the Arsenal Board still intend to retain Wenger for at least two years unless he chooses to walk away at the end of his contract. We need some clarity early in the summer because there is a lot of work to do before next season
Dead boring weekend. Nothing of note.
When is March 4?
When are we signing Messers Reus?
Will Xhaka pair Ox against L’pool?
When shall we try 3 at the back?
When will Welbeck & Lucas flank Sanchez in attack?
Will Özil play against L’pool?
When will Spurds loose two games consecutively?
Will Wenger leave by the end of this season?
When shall we start playing like the 96 – 2005 teams again?
What team will Wenger manage next season?
When shall we beat Bayern Munich 4-0?
Am f#cking bored!
Another plea for technology, sorry. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>