Scousers Bully Infirm Visitors In Broad Daylight
Aug 27th, 2017 by 'holic
Arsene Wenger’s team selection for the trip to Liverpool, a week after the defeat at Stoke, beggared belief. I have fought his corner for many a year, but there was no defending this line-up. Danny Welbeck was retained while Alexandre Lacazette, a £52m signing, and Olivier Giroud, France’s number one striker were left to watch as one-sided a first-half as I have seen in a long time. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s selection ahead of Sead Kolasinac was baffling, particularly as Hector Bellerin was switched to the left. The same appalling mistakes that cost us at Stoke.
To be fair the best chance of a cagey opening phase came in the seventh minute when Danny Welbeck scooped a wonderful opportunity in front of the Kop over the top from eight yards. He just isn’t the finisher you need to take to Anfield.
Three minutes later an incredible save by Cech from Salah at point blank range on his left hand post prevented the hosts from claiming an advantage. Holding’s nerves would have been settled by a fine interception as Mane threatened the Gunners right flank just inside the box shortly afterwards. Koscielny had to make a block on the same flank as Oxlade-Chamberlain deserted his post.
We surrendered the lead when Xhaka’s casual misplaced pass was transferred via the unmarked Gomez to Firmino and a glancing header found the corner of the net. Less than seventeen minutes in, and we were clearly second best.
Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal
It was so close to 2-0 when Henderson found himself one on one against Cech but fired wide of the target.
Lovren’s appalling block on Welbeck prevented a good opportunity for the break, and he was rightly carded. Welbeck unusually found himself the recipient of a yellow when adjudged to have caught Moreno. The hat-trick of bookings was sealed by Gomez for a trip on Ramsey as the Gunners fought to respond.
The twenty-seventh minute saw Salah put the ball in the net again but this time the absent defence had let him stray yards offside. Liverpool, in good form, and at home lest we forget, were clearly in charge of the opening half.
The Gunners committed bodies forward to little effect, and it was no surprise when the hosts broke on therewith six minutes of the half remaining. Mane curled the ball beyond Cech and the surprise was that we were only two down. It was impossible to find any sense of perspective at this moment. We looked utterly broken.
Liverpool 2-0 Arsenal
Not surprisingly we changed things around at the break. Why it had taken so long remains a mystery. Francis Coquelin was sent on for the out-of-sorts Ramsey and we switched to a 4-2-3-1. The brute that is Mesut Ozil earned a yellow card for sliding underneath a diving Henderson.
Cech’s save from a breaking Salah fell to Henderson who mercifully missed the target under little pressure. It mattered little. Last man Bellerin conceded possession to Salah in midfield and he raced clear to slide the ball past Cech. Men against boys, it really was.
Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal
The once innovative Wenger threw his last dice. On came Giroud and Lacazette, at least one of whom should have started, although to be fair they would have seen little of the ball too. The ineffective Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis departed the slaughter, possibly for the last time in an Arsenal shirt. Such a shame. Quite why Skhodran Mustafi hadn’t been afforded the same opportunity was another mystery on the day. So easy for a blogger in an office chair, this game.
Under pressure, Lacazette blasted a rare half-chance wide of the near post before Bellerin was forced into a last gasp goal-line clearance when Cech made half a parry on Mane’s effort. Holding, finding confidence on the worst of days, stamped on Henderson’ standing foot to break up an attack and accepted the inevitable yellow card with no histrionics.
With thirteen minutes to go a Gunners attack down Liverpool’s right flank broke down, Firmino helping his right back, sent the hosts flying forward on another break which ended with an unmarked Sturridge heading home at the far post. “Show them the way to go home, they’re tired and they want to go to bed” sang the Kop. They were right.
Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal
To be continued, but not by me.
Shambles.
536 Responses to “Scousers Bully Infirm Visitors In Broad Daylight”
Thank Christ I didn’t have enough credits to go.
At 3-0 down I did a rare thing. I turned over to the cricket.
I couldn’t take any more.
This is much much worse than 8-2 at old toilet.
…..
As bad as it gets. On a par with 8-2 at Manure.
The Arsenal you don’t want to turn up turned up.
You’re write up was the highlight of the afternoon. 🙂
Holic
So sad it has come to this. We fans must huddle together for warmth because it’s going to be a long, hard winter. I’ve never known you so down but I guess all on this board and many millions more feel the same.I’ve defended Wenger until the middle of last season but he clearly has lost the right to carry on now. It’s desperately sad to see a great club and a once great manager decline so severely .
He can alter things slightly in the market before Thursday but the Board has to take a big decision now. But we know they won’t . Wenger might even save them the trouble but I very much doubt it.
I’m very depressed indeed
I hope that turns out to be the low point of the season, because if it wasn’t, it is going to be a very long and extremely ugly season.
SAG
My point was the fans can’t take the blame for this. What do they do? Shoot the manager? I totally understand your disappointment and agree Wenger needs to walk but the fans can’t change it. Some tried to last season but it’s the absentee American owner who needs to make a big decision and he doesn’t give a stuff
I don’t even have the heart to laugh at Spurs conceding a late equaliser.
Every single one of the away fans making a 420 mile round trip on a bank holiday weekend deserves their money back and a heartfelt apology.
Time for a drink. A large one.
We have been in decline for years I’m not too sure most folks here understand the actual matter of the fact that we are fucking shit that’s what we are fucking shit !
There must be time for us to buy the whole Burnley team before Thursday, surely?
Simply put, Wenger is destroying the very team he sought very hard to build. What has he done to Bellerin? Hard to watch really. Perhaps the Ox would fare better in a more attacking position?
Wenger has to go… and hopefully the fans stick together and not fight one another.
Fucking shambles.
Retain Sanchez at any cost.
Buy not one but two midfielders. Xhaka seems to have lost confidence completely. If the Ox wants to leave – tell him to fuck off.
Mustafi makes a few errors but is much better than young Holding. And Mustafi is very good at playing the ball out from the back – something that is fundamental to the way we play (or used to play). And Bellerin has not looked up to speed for so many games its just worrying…
Massive four days in the transfer window and a tough tough premier league season ahead.
We were better than this in the 8-2 loss to manure as that day we fought and lost. Today we were at our worst ever, as we had no passion, no pace, were terrible at passing and everyone looked disinterested and at times terrified. What happened to the display we put up at Wembley against Chelsea.
We should sell Sanchez and Ox as they don’t seem interested in playing for Arsenal and use the money in getting replacements for them in this window. We had a mix of disinterested and poor players today and the Manager made it worse by playing players out of position.
Lucky if we finish in the top half this season.
@ TTG.. I hear you. I am just tired of the whole situation. I just feel that fans needs to come together and let Wenger know its time to go. I don’t care what he does in the transfer window. Its time to go. We are not going to win the league this year so now is the time to get this shit done. No need procrastinating it. Time for Wenger to go.
Not even sure I want him to spend any transfer funds now, he’d only buy more of the same and that team isn’t being fixed by new signings anyway – I hate to say it but him going is the only way the club can start to re energise itself maybe even best to cash in on Sanchez and chamberlain and any other fucker that wants out (Not that I blame them) and give all the funds to the new coach as we are not doing anything with or without them this season !
Scathing stuff from Henry there, but no doubt he’ll be called a bitter ex pro by certain people on here.
Sell Alexis, Ox and Mustafi.. and whoever who wants to go..
Promote the youngsters.. those who would give a f…. to play for the shirt.
The saddest thing about that game was the manner of the defeat. They looked scared from the start and like they had no belief in their ability to get a result.
They were outclassed and look like a team heading for midtable.
Who is responsible for the team?
Arsene Wenger
Understand Arsene hired Brinks truck for all future travel for rest of the season. Just for him. Rest of the team will need to hitch hike around as no transport company willing to ruin their reputation accepting them as customers.
Whoa!
Nutshell, Guvna.
Shambles.
There’s only one way to turn this team around and that is to change the man who picks the team, inspires them and tells them how to beat the opposition.
We have been in slow decline for a number of years. There is something very wrong in this club. You cannot sell an entire squad but you can change the coach.
This coach accepts that his failure to sort out his own contract last season had an effect on the team’s performances. His pussy-footing around three players who are not committed to the club and want to leave must have an effect on there rest of the dressing room this season. How committed are the others going to feel when playing with teammates who make it clear that they would rather be elsewhere?
The team selection , formation and tactics were pathetic examples of a man who has lost the plot. There was nothing ‘professional’ about that performance from bench or squad apart from Petr Cech. Is this what a ‘lost dressing-room’ looks like?
Ox was pitiful; his mind was clearly not on the game; was he imagining himself in blue or red? Sanchez was like a five year old trying to beat everyone on the field – probably made under 25% of his passes to an Arsenal player. Ozil was aimless. Rambo gets a pass because he has clearly been told (c.f. Henry post-match discussion) to go walkabout but should by now know better than that. Xhaka is a severe disappointment; he yet again passes to an opponent in our own half leading to a goal. He has a silky left foot but the brain and mobility of Charlie Adam. Holding needs an experienced defender on both sides of him. Bellerin has been a shadow of himself for 6 months.
If I were Stan (thank God I’m not – I hate the wig and the suits), I would tell Arsene he’s going upstairs to the board as ‘Director of Football’, expecting him to decline and resign, I’d sell Alexis and Ox and try to find someone to buy Ozil. We need a major change in the dressing room. I’d hire Pulis (YES, PULIS!) to ensure we get the defence sorted out and a midfield that understands screening their defence and look for a talented young coach to come and rebuild the team long term.
Geesus.. Not PULIS…!
😀
GG is too old. This lot need defensive drilling. Especially the MF. However we also need someone in MF has a defensive instinct.
What this team needs is people with enough pride in themselves and this club to fuck off anyone who doesn’t measure up
Catalyst for change?
The first change should be the sacking of the manager, but it is ten years too late for that and he will never leave until he dies anyway.
We should, if Leicester had been in any way competent, be in the bottom three with zero points.
Some very sensible comments Bath and the Pulis comment makes sense because we need to organise this club. We’ve left it way too late to use this window. We will end up with even more money in the bank and a significantly weaker team with pathetic morale.
The problems are character and organisation. I can’t believe there are many people here who can believe that Wenger restore us to where we were and I believe he has run out of credit. It would have been perfect to wave goodbye on a very high note at Wembley in May. Even his detractors would have given him some credit then.
He is so clearly a spent force and has no idea how to halt this worrying spiral. We got used to qualifying for the Champions Leagueand regarded that almost as a right. Frankly top half looks a stretch with this lot. We are so far behind the top teams that the title has already gone. It is inconceivable that we can recover with the current set-up.
The spat between SAG and me is typical of what occurs when people care about their club. It’s so painful and the amount of media coverage exaggerates the pain in a way it never used to.
The worse thing is that we have an owner and Board who possibly don’t understand the depth of the problem but even if they do I’m certain they have no idea how to change it. And in Kroenke’s case his perspective is financial. Success on the field is a poor second for him to financial success and you can achieve financial success by being relatively mediocre in these days.
I’ve said it before but we must rid ourselves of Kroenke. He is not the right owner for this club. Wenger must walk and with most new owners he would be asked to leave. The board consists of senior business figures but they have either got zero influence or very little knowledge of running a club. That can’t be said of Ken Friar and it indicates to me that the club is in thrall to Kroenke.
What is the way forward ? While Kroenke and Wenger remain there isn’t one.
One very useful life skill is to know when to leave a party no matter how much you are enjoying yourself. Otherwise it can end messily.
Another useful thing to have is a critical friend who will tell you when you should leave and other things you need to hear.
It’s time. In fact it’s clearly past time.
What is the point of buying new players, when you have no clue how to manage the talent you currently have?
This is very good but particularly from the seventh minute. That description of us is spot on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO_NXpPwNHw
Sad to say, I don’t believe, given the team selected, and who played where, that Wenger even wanted to win this game. I now believe the guy is in the grip of some sort of mental paralysis, which we will just have to endure for the next two seasons until he finally goes.
Cech’s done a Theo. I wonder if he will get dropped and never play again as well.
TTG, how do you say we will have even more money. If Wenger retains Ox, Ozil and Sanchez he will be writing off at least £ 120 m at the end of the season if they leave and will need at least £ 200 m to replace them like to like. We will be short by more than £ 300 m , something we cannot afford.
If we lose Ozil and Sanchez we will be really short of quality. As it is, for the first time in two decades our team looks really ordinary and things could become worse if we lose a few more matches.
We played well against Leicester and Stoke (though our defence was really bad) and against Chelsea twice at Wembley and in that context I don’t understand why we were so poor today.
Two words: FUCKING SHAMBLES!!!!!!
Would you trust this man to spend that extra £120m?
He bought two players this summer and neither of them played today
Started, I mean
I wasn’t expecting anything but! Some desire, some application is he deluded as much as I’am with 38K a year?
Quite shocking really.
Can’t say much more than that. For now.
That was so strange, like somebody told players before the game to turn their backs on Wenger.
I am deeply ashamed and the solution is not on the horizon.
…am also deep in booze so I’ll take my black leather jacket and just….leave.
We can actually only hope the manager is NOT given money to spend this week. Save it for the next guy. The only consolation preserving my sanity is that all this is going to blow up on Wenger’s watch. His players are damaged goods, let’s clear a few out. I’m fine with raising some cash here in fact and save the war chest before it’s all gone. The mad old scout can’t handle the modern stars so let him sell our top dogs (they want out anyway) and blood a few kids, that’s probably what he wants to do. I have always maintained he hid behind the stadium years to play youngsters. It’s why he never bought properly even tho the finances were fine and dandy. He fooled everybody into thinking we were on a shoestring 3-5 years later than we were. Well let him wallow in this, just like Theresa May and her dumb election. Their cock-ups…let them wallow and wither. I wonder could Stan and Ivan be smart enough to confiscate the cheque book ?
KSN
I assuming Wenger will sell them that’s how I think we will have more money. I’d certainly sell Ox . I’d love to keep Alexis but it’s financial madness. But we must get replacements in or play lads who aren’t ready to play all season. You can’t sign anybody in January.
I’m happy to see us finish in 14th if the current regime all walk.
It wont matter one bit what you say what you write!
This Football Club is doomed!
After all we all agree to disagree!
Wenger needs to go! Please leave !
The player we really need to be getting rid of is one nobody else wants. How’s that for a so-called Star Player?
The truth is Wenger is the cause of arsenal down fall. He no longer has the winning mentality that’s why he can’t pass it on to his players. He will rather seat, eat his nails and complain to his dull partner instead of standing up ,scold his players or even substitute any of them at the right time. Wenger is scared of buying stars cos he knows he can’t handle them rather he will get players that will be subject to his lack of winning mentality. Even if a CR7 comes to arsenal, over time he will start losing his winning mentality. Do u think if José morinho was arsenal coach, do u think d likes of ozil, welbeck, xhaka , holdings, giroud, eleny, Ramsey would be playing dat sluggishly, The answer is NO cos they will always play their best in order to have enough playing time. ARSENE WENGER is arsenal’s problem. Thanks
Thanks H. Today was spent at the Stade Mayol in Toulon watching the home team put Pau to the sword in a try fest. I tried to keep up to speed with events but internet connection was not the best. Having finally caught up with all of the above it would appear that I easily had the better end of the deal.
The stats today could be from almost any Arsenal game over the last 10 years. More possession and no shots on target.
We have been in decline for years now. I used to get slaughtered by some for saying it but it’s been so obvious. Each season we keep trying to put a plaster over a gushing wound, until there comes a time when everyone starts to realise that it’s just wrong. I’ve not seen any of today’s game. Don’t think I ever need to now. Bellerin? Once one of the most promising right backs in world football playing at left wing back. AOC? Our want away winger/attacking mid player, at right wing back. Holding? After a promising few games at the end of last season is now a shoe in. 5 internationals signed in the last 2 seasons? Only one gets a start. The list is endless and now, somewhat embarrassing.
There is absolutely no point in calling for the manager to go whilst you still have Stan and Ivan at the helm. They are your main issue. Until both of them have departed I see very little changing. It doesn’t matter who you bring in. If those two clowns are still at the helm then I see little changing. The fact that people would now seriously consider Pulis as an alternative just tells you if the depths that these two idiots have dragged this club.
I see little point in going over stuff that has been said over and over again. It saddens me greatly to see the club that I love being treated like this, but as each day goes by my interest lessens. Stan doesn’t care one bit about the club or the fans. Just as long as his goldmine keeps adding noughts to the balance sheet. Until that changes my interests will be purely in the bar and with friends. I will enjoy the very odd flirtation with the old girl but I refuse to line Stan’s pockets anymore.
It’s one massive shambles and it really didn’t have to be this way.
Well said Le Steve. Arsenal need to finish near the relegation zone to shake them up.
Meanwhile it’s back to formula 1 and Dagenham and Redbridge (my actual local club who deserve my support) for me).
Formula One? It ain’t THAT bad surely… 😉
I have to say it’s a feeling of numbness rather than anger or disappointment. I couldn’t care less if Ox, Mustafi and Sanchez leave or stay this week. Equally I couldn’t care less if they aren’t replaced. Oh the tedium of it all.
My Brother made the long trek to Anfield,bless his hopeful ever optimistic big heart.
He texted me after Welly missed an absolute sitter early doors that would have given us the lead,to remind me of the 2 sitters Ollie missed in successive seasons at Chelsea early doors,and they resulted in 2 floggings.
He said ” Can lightning strike 3 times ” ??
80 odd minutes later he had his answer.
I cannot repeat some of the texts he sent me during the game,but the Queen’s English didn’t get much of a look in.
My take on all this is the playing group is not united.
I’m not going to single out individual players,but clearly we are a dysfunctional unit that doesn’t seem to have the heart for the fight.
The warning signs were there at Stoke who are a bang average team,and Pool who are far superior to them gave us a footballing lesson today.
We are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes,but whether mad Jens has stirred the pot and called out a few of the playing group,and has created a rift in the ranks,i don’t know,and what message does it send to the playing group that 2 players who clearly want away,are in the starting lineup,at the expense of our 2 new buys.
Something is clearly not right,and unless it gets sorted quick smart,the bar is going to be even more of a a hotbed of discontent this season.
I really don’t think the finger can be pointed at Jens, because this kind of performance was seen long before he got here. This goes back years.
If there’s a split, it seems obvious to me that it’s between the manager and the players. I say that not because I want Wenger out or have an agenda, but because they are not playing for him, and happy players don’t play as badly as this lot have been doing for far too long.
Of course he will have his supporters in the dressing room, but they are the ones who are in the comfort zone and happy to be in it. The likes of Giroud and even, yes, Theo Walcott, who is out of favour with his manager but has hung around Arsenal as a handy “spare part” for years, when he should have gone elsewhere, nailed down a first team place and improved as a player.
Sadly, most of these guys seem happy to end up with millions in the bank and a couple of FA Cups to show for their career.
Everyone can see where the failings are and today it started with a nonsensical team selection. The manager is responsible and he should have walked away in the summer.
Nobody would have criticised him for doing that.
It bothers me to see someone like Henry, who would kill half that dressing room if he was able to get in there, so bewildered and so accepting (in terms of expecting it) of that rubbish today.
When the anger wears off, all there is is sadness. But nothing will change unless the board grow some balls.
I used to hold the opinion that I wished AW, out of respect, would bow out gracefully and retain a legacy.
I’m afraid to say that I’m beginning to hate him.
Far too stubborn.
I also think the Ox is having a RVP moment. Why stay at this club if you want to win things?
QED. ??
Steve T has been a voice for sanity in a bar where most of the drinkers genuinely understand what the club stands for and care about it passionately. Holic has always ensured a constructive if passionate debate ensues in the bar but the depth of his disgust for today’s performance shone through in that account that appeared before the whistle.
Today was a truly black day in the history of Arsenal Football Club. We were humiliated on the field and that has happened before , but rarely have we felt that so little was likely to be done to improve or change things.
Wenger’s legacy which was a wonderful one is severely tarnished. Yogi on ACLF made the very sad point that the Invincibles seem as far away as Herbert Chapman’s great teams of the Thirties.
We have had bad eras before but unless and until Kroenke goes and there is a new owner willing to make the changes that need to be made to re-establish a proper football club nothing will improve and it will only get worse. Those who claimed that Kroenke couldn’t be proved a bad owner because he wasn’t damaging the club may need a rethink now.
Two depressing stats to close a depressing day. Wenger has never broken a contract and that’s what he would consider a resignation to be and Kroenke has never sold a sporting investment. How desperately we need that to change.
Not a lot I can add at this late stage. But Danny Welbeck playing the full 90+minutes in a game where we didn’t get a single shot on target pretty much says it all for me about where AW’s head is currently. On the chopping block. Where it’s been for at least four seasons if not longer. I’m reminded of Henry II … Will no one rid us of this muddlesome pest?
By leaving Laca and Kalashnikov on the bench what AW was effectively saying is, that the team which finished 5th last year is still our best option for the big matches. Even if you switch half the positioning around.
As I’ve been saying for seemingly ever … If we play 4 at the back, with proper defenders and Alexis and not Ox or Danny, we may have a chance. To that perhaps I should add … and AW left back in a Home for the Bewildered.
Agree with Cynic that players are not playing for Wenger. The team’s performance in our next two matches against Bournesmouth and Chelsea will tell us whether yesterday’s form was a one off or the players have finally given up on Wenger.
The international break couldn’t have come at a better time. By the end of the month we will also know who will stay, be bought/sold and if Wenger does not do anything meaningful in strengthening the team we can write the season off.
Earlier, we would play well even if we lost matches. Yesterday we did not play our customary game and looked totally lost and bereft of ideas. We did not look like a premier league team. Pathetic. Losing to Doncaster in the league cup at home would probably complete the picture.
Incomprehensibly mind-boggling stuff, still, from some quarters! ?
The day that those “fans” which are still completely and intractably smitten with Monsieur Arsene Wenger wake up and acknowledge what’s been going on since 2004 on the playing-staff side of “Our Club”, the sooner it’ll be alot easier for them to understand the facts. We can then all move forward together to something better, at long last!
Your Majority Shareholder and your Club’s current CEO, are not your Football Club’s immediate and major problem Folks – No! It’s still, and always has been, your now two-decade long Head-Coach and Man-Manager. He’s been your lowest common denominator since your major-trophy winning drought started in 2004! QED!
Try to answer these simple questions in order to help you to now wake-up to that lovely cup of “reality” double-shot espresso coffee:
1. In what year did Stan Kroenke become the majority shareholder of Arsenal Football Club?
2. When did Ivan Gazidis become the CEO of Arsenal Football Club?
3. Who within Arsenal Football Club’s current senior hierarchy of its playing-staff coaching team and man-management team (with respect to major decision-making), has been the only constant, and therefore the lowest common denominator, since 2004 – when Arsenal Football Club’s “big trophy winning” hiatus began?
Hmmmm. ?
Arsenal Football Club Only Forever!
Not Arsene Wenger Forever! ?
https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/arsenal-fan-reaction-to-liverpool-loss-most-damning-truths-about-arsene-wengers-mismanagement/news-story/b271f12d84bb6fae80c794732fb6cd58
Next game is Bournemouth on
the 9th September. Let’s see who
is still here then.
Rubbish performance, everyone
pissed off, slagging each other’s
well meant ideas – but the reality
is it will still be the same owner, board,
manager, coaches and mostly players
on the 9th September.
Difficult to see how we can turn it
around after that shit-shower but
anyway 35 games to go and 3 cup
competitions to play for. Can’t get
any worse – famous last words!
For once the pundits are right about our abysmal performance yesterday:
https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/liverpool-v-arsenal-video-highlights-neville-carragher-and-co-react-to-gunners-disaster/news-story/336e4d35797f205365e2e71a4a7cda36
Arsenal’s lowest point since Wenger’s appointment.
The last time we lost 4-0 we went on a >10 game winning streak. Could do with NBN’s help here.
If Alexis leaves, with or without Ox and the rest who may or may not follow him out of the door, we will have a worse squad than the one that came fifth in the Prem last season. Weren’t we supposed to be strengthening the squad after that ‘failure’?
And even if Alexis stays I doubt his heart will be in it any more.
It’s taken me a while but, regardless everything he brought to the club and what we owe to him, I find it really hard not to agree with those who would see him sacked. And soon.
And can someone tell me why he wants to sell Mustafi after 1 season?
By ‘him’ I mean AW of course. I seem to have excised his name while editing the last para. D’oh!
@65
Not me anyway, as I have one or
two doubts about Mustafi but
certainly not given up on him yet.
We don’t actually know he is going
of course. It’s an odd one but I’m
fine with it if we sign someone
better.
@66
Reached that point after Bayern last
season. Problem is Stan won’t do
anything. I really want Stan gone
too. “Want doesn’t get” as my old
Granny used to tell me.
I think Gabriel was better than Holding. Can’t believe we sold him for £10m. We buy high and sell low.
A double for Marco Asensio today, plus a rumour we could trigger his £75m release clause. Believe it when I see it of course, but just the kind of replacement I’d welcome for Ozil Gummidge.
Keown might think Gabriel worth keeping, ksn, but I can’t remember him ever standing out much. Holding has far more potential, imo, regardless he played like a nervous nelly today. I put that down to the disinterested efforts of all the senior Arsenal players around him.
Marco Ascensio is just trying to get a pay hike by using Arsenal’s interest in him.
Holding has potential but lacks experience. I feel Chambers is better as his stint at Boro gave him all the EPL experience he couldn’t have got at Arsenal. Wenger doesn’t rate him.
Both Holding and Chambers lack pace and given our high line defending they are found out when faced with the likes of Mane, who is, even for speedy backs, too hot to handle.
A couple of year back Wenger could have bought EPL proven Mane, Wanyama, Van Dyke at very reasonable rates but our scouting is just as bad as our team was yesterday.
ksn@63: The last time we lost 4-0 was at Southampton on Boxing Day, 2015. The next game, as it happens, was against Bournemouth, won 2-0. We won the two after that (Newcastle in the League and Sunderland in the FA Cup, both at home) then drew away at Stoke and Liverpool before being beaten at home by Chelsea.
Thanks, NBN. We are due to play Bournemouth again after our latest 4-0 loss. It would be great if we could win the next three.
The previous time was the 4-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of AC Milan on February 15, 2012. We lost the next game 2-0 at Sunderland in the FA Cup but then went on a six-game wining run and lost only two of the final 14 games of the season.
You then have to go back to February 2008, the FA Cup defeat at OT. We lost the next game, 4-2 against Liverpool in the Champions League.
Kroenke cannot and should not be used as an excuse to let Wenger off the hook. He’s absentee landlord I grant you but if he has a huge portfolio of businesses and any time he comes over, usually in the spring, only to hear “there’s only one Arsene Wenger” what precisely is he to think ? Plus he would have heard same reported on A4 protest day. I daresay Ivan was ready to pull the plug last year, we had enough clues on that. The fans have perpetuated this mess, make no mistake. I also include there those who want Wenger gone but have always refused to articulate it out of respect and loyalty. Time for the polite middle ground to make its bloody mind up and get off the fence.
Asensio is already under contract with RM until 2022, ksn. RM want to further negotiate his contract so they can up his release clause to several hundred million to protect their asset. But what Asensio really wants is more game time, which we could certainly guarantee, but which RM are less able to do with Ronaldo and Bale ahead of him in the pecking order. I doubt he’ll move, but it’s certainly worth a try while his release clause is relatively low.
ksn @71
You can add Suarez, Xabi Alonso, Bale and Higuain to that list among others.
Just remember that AW turned down Bale because he didn’t want to upset Gibbs.
The Alonso transfer stalled at the last minute because the transfer fee nudged £0.5m too high for AW.
Higuain who was deemed too expensive at £36m but is now worth upwards of £100m.
This for me will be Arsene’s main legacy – the inability, unwillingness, or perhaps just plain stubbornness to strengthen the team in transfer windows, despite every man and his dog knowing it was necessary. He always made the best of the players he did have but his ego did not allow him to divert from that mindset and I’m afraid something does now need to be done about it.
Ditto your last paragraph, BO’B
Dan. Is the FA Cup not a major trophy anymore?????
I’ve said this several times before but what constitutes success for us as fans and what constitutes success to Stan and the boys are two different animals. I have always believed that all Stan is interested in is money. To that end AW is the perfect manager for him. For many many years he has delivered major results on the bank sheets whilst the club as an asset has grown regularly in value.
There are many failings at this club of ours, many of which have been going on for ages now. With the odd exception The transfer policy has been a shambles for many years now. Crack going and not replaced? RVP leaving and not replaced are just two that spring to mind.
AW must shoulder a lot of the blame but until there are changes at the top I dont see anything massively changing. Do you honestly trust Stan and Ivan to select a new manager? I don’t think that either would know where to start.
Cesc going and not replaced even…
Steve, so Arsenal are doomed until Stan sells his shares ? Thought I was gloomy ! Would he object if we won the Prem and made him zillions more cash ? Would a new manager have a wonderful stadium, a bucket load of cash and some excellent players ? Would a new manager, just like Wenger, have completely free rein and an owner who kept his nose out ? Are we in fact a wonderful proposition for an accomplished modern-day manager, even with Stan owning 67% ? I say yes we are. COYG.
BO’B@77: Question is, had AW bought Bale back in the day, would he now be trying to off-load him for £10 million to West Ham or Palace?
And can someone tell me why he wants to sell Mustafi after 1 season?
Because he is dead average and we should never have paid £35m for him in the first place?
Scgooner
How much would we realistically need to spend to have a chance of winning the league. Deduct that from riches gained in prize my net etc.
If AW was to go now, who would you have to come in and replace him?
I’m not for one second suggesting we don’t need change. The whole club is as stale as I’ve ever known it. But I think that AW is a good choice for Stan.
Would Stan like to win the league? I’m sure he would. Would he like to do so if it were to eat substantially into club funds? I’m not so sure.
In prize money…… Poxy phone.
?
Because 3 rather than 2 central defenders worked brilliantly so start selling all your central defenders is that it ??
Mustafi and Perez were both panic buys last year.
Again, we have been in dire need of a top centre half for years now.
Steve, he pays AW a huge salary, is it top 5 globally ? We would have no problem getting a new guy on 7 or 8 mill let alone Wenger’s new 10 mill. But, more to the point, the club has been under-achieving for years now so there’s no pressure on a new guy, he would know that. It couldn’t be more different to Moyes following Fergie and all his titles. The goodwill would be overflowing. With the legacy smashed nobody would hark backwards. I accept fully that the talent pool has shrunk because 2-3 years ago was the musical chairs period for top clubs and the market was fluid. We missed that window for a Klopp, a Pep, etc. Koeman was a bad miss too. I’d be perfectly happy with a sensible, safe pair of hands for a year or two while we try to fix the place and, crucially and rather importantly, did something about the old pig-bladder continuously flying into our onion bag ; Ancelotti, Rafa, that sort of thing. Allegri would do great. COYG.
That was shameful and humiliating from the manager and players on the field yesterday with the exception of Petr Cech.
It’s a shame that AW didn’t have the wisdom and self-awareness to leave on a high with the record FA cup victory. It’s downhill all the way now I’m afraid.
This is going to get extremely ugly. Those who like watching train wrecks will have a great time.
Scgooner.
For me we missed a trick with Klopp. I said it at the time and I still think he was tailor made for us. I can’t see Ancelotti or Allegri coming. Not in the immediate future anyway. Why would they?
At the moment we are rudderless both on and off the pitch. It’s a mess. Until there is some firm direction I see little changing. It’s time for those who really do want to be at the club to stand up and be counted.
And Rafa???? Seriously?? That really is clutching at straws.
Needs must Monsieur Steve. Anyway, you’ve called it all very well down the years.
Steve T,
No, the FA Cup is NOT a major trophy when one had always been “realistically” challenging to win the League Title and the Champions League!
The FA Cup is a major “standalone” trophy for Clubs like Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth, NOT for Arsenal Football Club – unless it’s part of a League or Champions-League realistically challenging and/or winning season, year upon year! That’s what Arsenal Football Club used to represent, and it should always be regardless of who’s at the playing-staff helm. If they’d brought in an up-to-date and “still-in-touch with modern methods” Head-Coach and Man-Manager long before now, AFC wouldn’t be the shambles it is now. It’s still not too late by the way, but it will be very very soon now!
Kroenke and Gazidis can only be blamed from the season 2011-2012 till now for the shambles, and that’s for not firing and replacing Wenger as of yet! They’ve got nothing at all to do with what’s been going on on the pitch and at London Colney with regards the now tangible tactical ineptitude and mis-man-management of the playing staff for over a decade now. That buck stops squarely with only one man, a Demagogue that’s now laughably nick-named “The Professor” and has become a full parody ? of himself – a certain Monsieur Arsene Wenger!
All good things inevitably come to an end lads and ladettes, and that’s because time never stands still for any mere mortal human being, even for Arsene Wenger – our greatest ever manager who is now totally dismantling all of his greatness in football in full public view of the whole world! It’s actually deeply sad to watch! Please Stan and Ivan, be kind to him now and put him out of his deluded misery! He has absolutely no psychological “insight” to walk on his own, and he never will now – his mental state is entrenched and intractable!
AFCOF! NAWF!
stayed up for vegas fight
stayed up for The Arsenal
three disasters
.
no energy left
for
*huffin puffin effin n jeffin*
à la
“the more i hear about wenger and hitler – the less i like”
.
Donald Trump! ?
Kim Jong-un! ?
Stayed up? At four o’clock in the afternoon?
You rock star, cba.
If Liverpool get the Lemar deal done after we’ve been fucking it about for weeks, certain people at this club should be fired. They won’t be of course, they will get a bonus
sometimes it feels like ye don’t take this place and football seriously
?
Oh and as this is an assist, I’ll make it about Ozil.
Fuck off with your social media “anger”. Show a bit of spirit on the fucking pitch.
Bollocks, assist fail due to self promotion by the MOOOOOOOING One
well i laughed and i roared
?
know yer enemy ?
At least Brian Clough had the excuse that he was either totally pissed or having the DT’s when he pissed all over his legacy and turned his team into an utter shambles.
?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXhW3JC9Zw
simpler times
?
Naby Keita to Liverpool from RB Leipzig! ?
£48 Million??? ? Bargain for another Ngolo Kanté plus! ?
Anyone would Think Klopp had a plan when it came to players he wants to bring in – How Novel, Wonder what Arsenals is. Surprised Gazidis hasn’t popped his head above the parapet yet – Or not !
I’m not sure which one of them two is making the other one look stupider as that’s the only reason I can think for Wengers team selections or Gazidis stupid never going to happen soundbytes, All the while the Club suffers to fuck, why they stand there having a pissing contest.
Simpler times indeed cba. A classic. Thanks for the memory.
One down, several to go!
http://www.skysports.com/share/11010458
Goodbye Ox! I, personally, will miss you. ?
no ye won’t ya big jessie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psFQMKcsIF8
stop cuttin people up an boogie
ya fuckin bollix
backin dancers doin the three amigos
*huhhhh*
I won’t, and especially not for £35m in the bank account.
https://g.co/kgs/shrAXX Ya Mad Hatter! ?
the impertinence
.
manners cost fuck all
and indeed nor does taste
xtreme ?
sweet mother of god ?
Here you go cba, and don’t say I never do anything nice for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtx5jiDEvJc
😉
cynic
lord nose knows i like you
but slide anymore shite like that
down the mighty ‘holic’s counter
an i’ll boot the ears off ye
.
scorpions indeed
ya cheeky wee fucker
? CBA! ?G
I must say, I don’t blame AOC for wanting out for one minute. His development here has been fragmented at best. He has hardly had a chance and playing at wing back may well have been the final straw. AW saying he was desperate for him to stay and that he wanted to build a team round him is utter Bollocks in my opinion. If there was any truth in the rumours then his contract would have been sorted ages and he would not be playing as a bloody wing back.
Gotta love that British spine.
Does anyone at the club have the slightest idea wat is happening at the club do you think?????
So Sky News are reporting that the club have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the Ox?
And they didn’t know about this agreement yesterday?
WTF!!
Sounds like Ox phoned his agent straight after full time then and said get me the fuck away from here.
Who can blame him.
You might be a Syrian and patriotic but if ISIS are in control then you have to flee.
They knew he was going but picked him anyway, when better options were available. You’d almost think things were being done on purpose, just for the wind up
(see drink 121)
It’s not like Syria and ISIS.
We are more like North Korea, but with David Brent in charge.
the things people’ll say de save their lobes
(see 126)
I’ve been thinking a lot today about our club. To deflect from the sheer misery of the current situation which has much further to go I’ve been consoling myself with the wonderful moments we’ve known under Arsene and before . Three Doubles, Anfield in 1989 , the Adams goal against Everton, the Invincibles. Maybe you can only have so much ecstasy without corresponding doses of agony…like yesterday. Bath is right in his earlier drink. There is much more to come .
Wenger will need to be dragged kicking and screaming from the club. He will never resign. He has a hide like a rhinoceros and little else in his life. His dedication and single- mindedness which served us so well in the early years are now the cross which all Gooners have to bear. He is going nowhere unless Kroenke says so and Kroenke is massively insulated from the fallout in America.
Our only hope is his son , Josh, who I understand has been handed Arsenal as his project by his Dad. He wants to succeed ( obviously) and briefed against Wenger at the last Board meeting. The gormless Sir Chips( Lord preserve us from pathetic Chairmen) and the duplicitous Gazidis weren’t willing to change and Stan fresh from his day in the sun at Wembley thought all was well.
Most very loyal, decent Arsenal fans wanted Arsene to move off into the sunset with the affection and respect of most of the fans and May would have been the perfect time to go. Believe me, as Bath says, there is much more incompetence, dithering and disaster to come. This is going to be a helluva season and not in a good way. It could have been avoided if Gazidis particularly , had shoved his head above the parapet but he is clearly frightened of offending Kroenke.
I wish I had good news but the media scent blood and will crawl all over the club this season. Wenger is a big scalp for Sky, TalkShite and the tabloids and they won’t relent but he will dig his bony heels in and an awful stand- off will ensue in which Arsenal Football Club will be the loser.
For umpteen years Wenger could claim he sacrificed his own life for the club. In the last couple of years , Arsenal Football Club has been sacrificed on the altar of Wenger’s ego and dependence on the job as the primary focus in his life. This could run and run…and run.
The lobes are beyond saving, cba, it’s your shoe leather that’s at stake.
so much for my deflection technology
Cheers H!
I think I’ve fucking heard it all now. The problem with Kroenke is he comes over once a year and ‘hears…one Arsene Wenger’, and so keeps him on and so it is the fans fault in the stadium? What a load of fucking tosh. Is the fault of Kroenke and his piss poor sports franchising operation – KSE. FULL STOP AND THAT IS FUCKING IT.
Wiser heads than me have been saying that on here for some time now and they are right. Say what you like about Wenger and the fans who still sing his name after all he has delivered over many years – but Kroenke is the fucking problem. I dont think Danny Fizman had a lot of choice at the time in delivering the club to Kroenke but sincerely believe he must be turning in his grave at what’s happened since.
I try not to use such expressions lightly, but to me Kroenke is a malignant cancer within our club. One that if it is not removed will kill the host. Relatively quickly.
m’lud
so much for my deflection technology
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVaFHbyWcAU-WOg.jpg
TTG- There is much more to come. Ox gone and now Sanchez:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/arsenal-meltdown-continues-alexis-sanchez-reportedly-hands-transfer-request/
aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh
.
grumpy considered angry gooners abound
stick that it the anagramorama
I can’t understand what is happening at the club anymore. There are rumors that Arsenal is looking for a fees in excess of £20m for Mustafi from Inter. We paid £35m just last year and I cannot understand our desperation to sell him at a near 40% loss. Arsene is no businessman.
http://readarsenal.com/2017/08/28/arsenal-name-price-mustafi/
Once Ox, Sanchez and Ozil (Dortmand looking to replace Dembele with Ozil) leave what are we left with. It is becoming scary now.
I won’t miss Ox, Mustafi and Ozil. They can all go tomorrow.
Ah nice, if he can move Ozil on as well as Sanchez we can avoid those awkward 200 k + salaries and everybody in the commune can all stay on roughly the same salary. Time for a big group hug.
I won’t miss Mustafi either, my point was that we are selling him cheap.
fuck away off sc
I HUG FOR NO MAN !
free staters !
blogs is another one !
moooooooooooooooooooooo
professional paddys
Peculiarly KSN we may be better off. Not sure if Gibbs would not be going as well . Our planning has been beyond diabolical but those left will want to play for the club. Mertesacker is key here. He showed huge character at Wembley and though slow he defends for his life. He needs to step up as captain and rally the team
If we lost that lot we would have a starting team of
Cech
Bellerin BFG Koscielny Kolasinac
Coquelin Elneny Xhaka
Ramsey
Lacazette Giroud
Bench: Ospina Monreal Chambers Wilshere Nelson Welbeck
It’s way off any chance of top four but we’d have a chance of shoring up morale and getting through the season but we’d have to jettison the Europa League by playing boys. That isn’t a plan but I’m not sure we do plans . We’d be buggered if ( when) we get injuries but we’d bank about £160 million….for the next manager. Who may not arrive for a very long time.
Well done Arsenal. Three games into the season and we are into contingency planning.
131 no point
Contingency planning TTG? Do you honestly think that there’s a plan?????
24 hours later and the anger is still there, no one can explain the team selection and no one can explain that the entire team couldn’t give a shit !!!
Cech took to twitter to say that it just isn’t good enough and he was very honest in his words. Ramsey did also but was one of the main culprits so should keep his thoughts to himself.
Everyone one who`s contract has a year left to run should be sold and that includes Alexis, he has no intention of staying so why hang it out. Ozil will sign another over paid contract because no one wants him or he would be going as well *I want him to go* looks like the OX is going to chelski and I hope he keeps the bench lovely and warm there.
We have way to many players who are just picking up a wage for doing nothing because they are allowed to do so. Far too many players on way to much money so we cant get rid of them. we still have Deboucy FFS and with Bellerins form we might as well play him.
We are the laughing stock of the PL and only have 2 years left of being the butt of every joke.
Its a sad time to be a Arsenal fan and the future looks bleak.
Up the Dubs CBA. If TH14 can put his hand on Jamie Carrrrraccckkker’s knee, can I not have a hug ? After all, I’m hearing the border will be only virtual and our coming together can be frictionless.
After Sunday I would only play Ramsey again if everybody else was injured.
I’m not sold on the new left back as a defender so the obvious is to go 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 and abandon this joke three at the back, which I maintain has gained results more by luck than anything.
Three players who should be nowhere near our starting XI in the next game are Ramsey, Ozil and Welbeck
The team almost picks itself if you leave those out and revert to a four at the back
*tuts*
lived in dublin for years
barstool warriors cock a hoop
hearing an accent
nordie as it was called outta earshot
.
shitheads
cheerio
Whaddaboutye?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Srrg1YtEk
off the hug ya dour nordie
*retreats all hurt like*
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3T2u_V4wBWM
Just for you CBA, Yee Mad ?
Imelda was brill tho. Imagine her belting out “Gool old Arsenal, we’re proud to sing that name”.
I’d rather see her grab the mic and do a rendition of the best bits from DT’s AFCTV rant on Sunday.
i hate that channel but that was a quality bit of boiling over (I won’t make any references to spuds)
Le Steve
To answer you I really don’t see how we can do planningwhen it ends up so catastrophically wrong . I was just trying to plan for them!?
Frankly I’ve heard more sense from the Holics in this bar than from Arsene and Gazidus for a while . We are the laughing stock of football and completely deserve to be.
Esso
Welcome back mate! Sorry it’s in such sad circumstances
You cannot tell me the players weren’t playing for the shirt when they beat Chelsea in the Cup Final,nor that that weren’t up for it in the Community Shield against the same team.
A refuse to lose come from behind win against Leicester in the opening league game,also showed great fighting spirit.
So i would love to know what changed from that winning Friday,to the insipid display at Stoke,and the shellacking at Anfield.
I do not believe the Boss in his wildest dreams thought that after the euphoric win over Leicester,that just 2 weeks later the Arse world would be in total crisis.
Was it Wenger’s bigging up of the Ox in the press,and his assertation that Sanchez loved the club and was staying,when the rest of the squad all knew the 2 players couldn’t wait to get out.
Or are there other factors behind the scenes that we aren’t privy to.
You cannot tell me the Ox has suddenly decided to join Chelsea.
He has been tapped up by them same as Cole was,and probably signed a pre nup some time ago.
This reminds me of the Overmars/Petit scandal,when they also signed a secret prenup with Barca the year after we had won the Double.
We played Utd early that following season,and Fergie said we weren’t the same dynamic side that had won the Double.
The intensity wasn’t there but he couldn’t work out why.
When players are training and playing together,there aren’t any secrets,it doesn’t take long to sniff out who is not putting in like they used to.
Having said all that,if we can get rid of the poison and cauterize the wound swiftly,i still think we have the nucleus of a good squad that can compete this season.
Still time to clear out some unwanted deadwood before the window closes.
I do not for one minute think things are as bad as some are making out.
Sometimes it takes a humiliating result to galvanize a Club,and it has happened to us before,and i hope it is a catalyst for change.
Start with a clean slate and field a team against Bournemouth that is committed to the Club and the supporters,and will give 100% on the pitch.
That is all i ask,win,lose or draw.
Goonersince54,
It’s all quite simple really, many of them don’t give a flying fig about, or want to play for, Arsene Wenger any more! They don’t believe in him or his methods. So goodluck with clearing out all of those that want to leave and then replacing them with those that care to play for and believe in Arsene Wenger and his methods. “The Lowest Common Denominator” at our football club!
Arsenal Football Club Only Forever!
Not Arsene Wenger Forever!
I think the general level of abuse and hysteria has been nothing less than expected and somewhat pitiful.
It’s all media driven. Yes there are issues, but we’ve just won 3 FA Cups in 4 years. If Klopp did that they’d be building statues in the streets of Liverpool to honour him. They might even give him a 6 year contract for achieving nothing at all…?
And how some blame Kronke is utterly laughable. We’d pulverise him if he interfered with the management / team and when he decides to leave the management of the club with Wenger – we pulverise him anyway.. What’s he suppose to do? Does he have to spend billions to augment his own profile in order to protect himself after stealing millions in natural state resources from the Russian state ala abromivich? No. Does he feel that he has to invest his money in acquiring global brands due to the potential exhaustion of pertro resources in the Middle East? No. Could it be possible that he just might happen to believe in running the club responsibly as a going concern – like you would any normal sporting franchise or business because to do otherwise would be recklessly adding to the sheer fantasy world that football is nowadays ?
Yes there are a lot of issues at AFC. But there’s an awful lot that’s right too. People need to get some perspective.
That’s my tuppenseworth.
Hope your all in good health otherwise!
I don’t think you can say the unrest is media driven at all. You’d be hard pressed to find a more sensible, level headed, unbiased but supportive trio than our host, Arseblogger and James of Gunnerblog yet all three think the time has come for the manager to go.
The prevailing mood is of desperation for change.
The media have actually been far more fair than results have deserved, all they’re doing is reporting what anyone can see for themselves. There’s been no press mockery at all that I can remember. Certainly nothing along the lines of what various England managers have had to face over the decades and not even the level of scrutiny Moyes and van Gaal had at United.
Wenger is being given a very easy ride IMO.
They weren’t playing for the shirt in the Cup final, Clive, they were playing for a medal for their trophy cabinets (those that have anything to put in one). Playing their guts out for one game to win something is much easier than doing the same week after week for a lost cause.
But you’re right about the squad. Once we divorce the manager and sell our troublemakers Sanchez and Ozil we’ll still have a half decent squad and the money to buy the other half – although we may have to wait till next summer to do so (when they may be costing double).
As for Ox, I can’t believe anyone would pay what is being quoted for him. In my opinion his joining the Chavs will up the average player ability quotient of both clubs. 😉
Ox will become another Wayne Rooney at the Chavs under Antonio Conte. He’ll become the World Class Player he was meant to be with us when he initially joined.
Conte won’t play him on the flanks primarily – he’ll move him into the centre as an attacking midfielder or give him the license to roam freely as he now moves his development to the next few levels. What a fuckin’ waste of another genuine homegrown talent under the charge of Arsene Wenger following Walcott, Gibbs, Wilshere, Chambers. ?
TTG, I agree that Per is a thorough professional and he would strengthen our defence. Playing him against Pool would have been risky as their pace would have caught him out but I was surprised he was not played against Stoke.
The team you have named will be defensively solid but lacks creativity. If we have Coq and Mo in the team, I would play Ozil (if he is still around) and Iwobi who provides more defensively and looks good going forward and bring Ramsey later in the match. I also like Monreal as he provides some thrust on the left flank. The best option would be to play Kolasinac and Monreal and Bellerin and Theo on the right.
Cech,
Bellerin, Per,Kos,Kolasinac
Coq, Elneny, Ozil/Iwobi
Theo,Giroud, Lacazette
Ramsey and Welbeck as subs.
We should sell whoever has one year remaining including Ox, Ozil and Sanchez. Cannot afford to lose around £130 m?
And Jenkinson too I mustn’t forgot, amongst others! A fuckin’ waste of proper English talents and athletes by Wenger!
Goonersince54 and Joe, well said. Everyone get a grip please and step away from the ledge ffs.
Kroenke needs to do now what Abramovich did when Mourinho lost the dressing room at Chelsea. Bring in a Gus Hiddink-like figure to stablize a demoralized ship while a long-term successor is lined up for next season who can start rebuilding the crew. Kroenke could move AW to the US with a mission to make his struggling Colorado Rapids a power in US soccer, which might actually revitalize AW and be a better alternative than kicking him upstairs at the Ems.
Assuming that the AOC deal goes through, that will leave us with a £12 profit from this window. Now I’m no expert but that to me does not seem the best way to strengthen a squad that were 5th last season and a country mile away from a title challenge?
The thought of either Le Coq or Elneny playing in central midfield worries. Me. The though of them both playing there together I find positively terrifying.
If Ox has gone to “title rival” Chelsea and we’re actually nowhere near being “title rivals” anyway, what’s the problem selling Sanchez to City ? He’s going there anyway, let’s face it. Then expect last minute flap and lunge by Wenger at his long term crush Julian Draxler, who just represents a punt on a big club discard. Replacing Mustafi (and Gabriel) ? God knows, looks like City want to throw in Jason Denayer who flopped at Sunderland so another reject possible there but, look, this is where we are. As I’ve said before, just don’t let this guy spend too much money. Save it for the new guy in January.
I think Coq and Elneny will provide midfield solidity and go some way in reducing the number of goals we concede. You are terrified by this combination because they won’t be able to create or take the ball forward or what, Le Steve T.
NBN, I like your idea of giving Wenger a break. It will enable us to see how we cope without Wenger and it will also, hopefully, energise our players.
I also see absolutely no point in keeping Sanchez. A great player but someone who was moody even when things were going well. I can see no point in losing potentially £70 million just to keep someone who clearly does not want to be here. If he stays then you could well get a season of half hearted effort and just more dressing room unrest.
Just one of the many bizarre situations at the club.
You are an optimist, Scgooner, Wenger is going nowhere till his contract runs out in 2019. I am also all for selling Sanchez to anyone including City and recovering around £50 m. No point in keeping anyone who doesn’t want to play for us. Forcing a disinterested Sanchez to stay would not really help our effort this season and he would leave on a free next year. We should encash. Ditto for Ozil, if possible unless he signs a new contract before close of transfer window.
Ksn. What worries me is that I don’t think either Le Coq or Elneny are remotely good enough. In not convinced that either are Premier League players.
As I said, just my opinion.
Sterling plus cash for Alexis. I would bite their hands off for that.
Like has been said above, Sanchez is definitely joining Man City now or next summer.
It would make the most sense to get what we can for him now.
Raheem Sterling has the same attributes the Ox has but more end product. Get Draxler/Lemar in with Sterling and losing Ox and Sanchez isn’t as daunting anymore.
I’d say we should only take cash SG, nobody wants the £Stg these days, that’s falling faster than Shkodran Mustafi’s market vaulation…sorry, low ball.
Sanchez for Aguero would be the only sensible swap, if we were to do such a thing. But we won’t.
Scgooner
Haha.
On a serious note though, taking cash only would make sense if it were to be reinvested. With the way things are right now, would you trust the club to do that?
Aguero would have to be dragged by at least 50 wild horses to come anywhere near Arsenal presently. Don’t see it happening.
Goonersince54 @161
Totally agree.
See my drink after the Leicester game – I noted that every single player and substitute played with the effort and ability that we expect from an Arsenal team. They all looked worthy of the red and white shirt.
Fast forward two matches and…? I don’t believe for a second that the players don’t care – they do. They are being hampered by poor tactics, poor team selections and neglect of the transfer window.
Aguero or if that is not possible accept an all cash deal for Sanchez. City trying to get rid of Sterling as they don’t find him good enough.
The manager presides over a set of players who play as if they either do not know what they are supposed to be doing, cannot do what they are asked to do or do not wish to – a mere three games into the season. To be too tactically sunk and low in determination to perform basic tasks is a desperate recurring theme.
Amy Lawrence excellent as always.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/aug/28/arsenal-early-season-breakdown-no-sign-change-arsene-wenger-liverpool
Thanks for the link Cynic.
From Amy’s article:
“Can they enforce the changes needed to turn a club that looks unhealthy into one that is radiant and positive? It will not be easy, simply because there appear to be so many departments that are underperforming, complacent, overwhelmed (or any combination of). The probability of any substantial remodelling is wafer thin. There is no reason to believe a change of management, ownership, chief executive or a wholesale shake-up of team personnel or dynamic is around the corner.”
All the underperforming departments report to or are looked after by Wenger. Unless Wenger goes nothing will change and chances of that happening appear remote.
Very insightful article. There be trouble at’ mill.
So, the heads are finally being taken-out of the sands that they’ve been stuck in for years! Well, you’re two months too late lads and ladettes! ?
AFCOF!
NAWF!
Some of us would say a decade too late, oh Dapper one.
‘Tis weird. I used to hate it when people said, “Oh it’s only the FA Cup, why do you care? We’re after bigger prizes than that, who cares if we are out?”
And now those very same people are using the FA to claim the last four years have been great, and I’m like “Oh it’s only the FA Cup, Why are you satisfied? We should be after bigger prizes than that”
Fickle fuckers football fans
Try saying that with a mouthful of nuts.
😀
“Bickle buckers bootable bans!”
You’re right, it ain’t all dat easy with a mouthful of nuts, or a mouthful of humble-pie, mate! ?
For some reason I’ve just remembered this https://www.google.ie/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2183019-arsene-wenger-to-referee-charity-game-in-rome-on-transfer-deadline-day.amp.html Arsene, would ya ever shag off again somewhere this week, these fanciful swaps and late buys ain’t gonna happen are they ? Save yerself the stress and bother, it’s not good for you old son. Just bag the cash for Sanchez, leave the swag for the next man and we’ll pick up the pieces with you this season as best we can. Sure maybe Nelson, iwobi and Holding can grow into beastly men childs. Maybe. Oh actually, I forgot, you came back from the Vatican with Danny Welbeck, even if that didn’t exactly answer our prayers. Amen.
Its so funny how some fans always wants to get mad or blame players that wants to leave. I for one cant blame them, at least it shows that to some its not all about the money or feeling comfortable player shit and getting new contracts i.e Ramsey. Good for them, at this point I really don’t care what happens. The club can sell as much as players as they want. Its not like they are going to re-invest the money into buying better players anyways. We can blame Kroenke all we want to. I have seen coaches from other clubs resigning when they feel the owner is not doing what they feel is right for the club. Why is Wenger not resigning? Greedy bastard.
Sunday will be remembered as the day it all changed.
The day mild mannered sit on the fence types (like er…me) actually turned around and realized that enough really was enough.
It’s the end of things for Wenger surely…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak9y2yWe82c
Supposedly we’ve been offered Sterling and asked for Aguero, which is a bit like having the JW’s come round to your house and you trying to convince them to give Satanism a go.
AKA – NOT HAPPENING.
Gibbs to West Brom…
Mustafi, Ox, Alexis… uncertain but we’ll know soon enough.
£5m is ridiculous.
Too expensive?
😀
Pubis will eat him alive and if he doesn’t, James McLean will in training. Ridiculous money given Walker’s 50 mill, agreed. I never understood why Gibbs wasn’t ideal as LWB given he was always so good going forward if a bit shite as LB ?
So, an alleged “player-trade” with Man City for Alexis Sanchez?! Genius Arsene! Genius! ???
So singlehandedly, you’re gonna try at the 11th hour to change the whole matrix of the Professional Association Football Player transfer market, which has existed for many decades, all by yourself?! You’ve clearly been spending far too much time with Stan-the-Money-Man-Kroenke, and told him “don’t worry, this is gonna be just like what I said about Financial Fair Play – it’s the future and we’ll be ok!” Sadly Le Prof, this isn’t Professional US sports like Basketball or Baseball that you’re part of, where you do get that sort of player-trade thingy happening regularly, buddy!
Aside from all of that, two very important questions however that I think many fans would like to ask:
1. Forget about the fact that you promised us that “no one will be sold this transfer window because we are in a “strong financial position now”; why would Raheem Sterling want to leave a Man City side anyway that’s “realistically challenging” for all of the “major” trophies available this season, and he’s also a regular in their star-studded squad of Worldies, whilst he’s already scored two goals this season in three games? Why would he want to come to our club?
2. Why would he leave being coached and developed into a better player by Pep Guardiola, only to come and be coached and developed by Arsene Wenger? A coach whose English Team Mates (cf. AOC), are losing faith in?
Hmmm…. ?
AFCOF!
NAWF! ??
4-3-2-1
Almunia
Eboue Squillaci Silvestre Santos
Frimpong Kallstrom
Park
Miyachi Gervinho
Sanogo
Pipe down lads. We survived this in the recent past, can survive anything.
UTA
James from gunnerblog on one of his recent gunnervlogs said something important.
He stated that the Ozil experiment has failed.
I tend to agree.
The reason being that Wenger attempted to build the team around Ozil but in all honesty Ozil isn’t the kind of player you build a team around. He isn’t merely a luxury player as some would have you believe but neither is he the one stop answer to all your attacking needs.
I was elated that we could get a player of Ozil’s stature to join us and have been one of his staunchest defenders but I think it’s time to either back him up with the appropriate cast or let him go.
The club can turn all the negativity surrounding it now to a stepping stone, a foundation of sorts for the future by making the right decisions now. Getting shot of players who have no reason to be here as well as others who don’t want to be is a step in the right direction. Getting in players with the right profile who fit into our playing identity (insert joke about not having any) is the next step.
Whatever the issues are at present between the top hierarchy and the manager and players should not be allowed to affect our playing style.
Arsene Wenger can still turn it around even if turning it around is positioning the club for future glories. He just needs to concentrate on getting our playing identity back.
Personally, I got involved with Arsenal long before Kroenke knew there was a game called football so I won’t stop supporting the club on his account. I also believe that AW needs to step aside but will continue to back him until he does so. A shellacking at Liverpool is nothing new for those of us that have followed the Arse over land and sea for sometime(admittedly, the performance or lack of it is the worst I’ve seen for a while).
Change is needed, but should be constructive in nature. We need to come together as a fanbase and canvass for a better Arsenal.
Sending death threats to our players on social media is not the way to go about it.
UTA
Good stuff Solid Gooner.
Post 202 is the best thing I have read since Sunday’s debacle.
God help the people of Houston and the Gulf Coast, ftom a permanent refugee of Hurricane Katrina. I know the hearts of the good people of New Orleans are with you.
Well said, Solid Gooner.
Seems the jungle drums are beating and Sanchez is going to be on his way now too – Someone at the clubs started feeding their friends in the papers little snippets of info from the dressing room. So Transparent and we all know what comes next,
Bt8
Yes our hearts go out to them , awful devastation
Stay strong Texas & Louisiana! ??✊?
That, President DJT, is why Climate-Change is also of a humongous concern to you and to your “America First”! Please wake up! ?
Watch out for those alligators in the flood waters! ?
And so the “barter-trading” begins, finally! Let’s get ready to rumble ala Mayweather vs McGregor! ?
One assumes that Cit$h are “Money” Mayweather in this now two day bout?! ?
http://www.skysports.com/share/11012059
£50m cash for Sanchez makes him no more than a mere Kyle Walker. Fuck the contract situation, if we accept less than £75m we’re lubed for anyone.
This transfer window has been excruciating leaving our travails aside. It has revealed a game that is totally predicated around money and this plays to the seedy agendas of Sky and all the ridiculous websites. So little of the information is reliable and we now have fake news websites. Tge game will kill itself if it is not careful
I love the game but the Premier LEague can fuck itself sideways. Grass roots is where it is at.
O Dapper One
I have no idea what you are smoking,but whatever it is,judging by some of your laughable posts in the bar recently,@199 just one example,it is obviously far too strong for you.
Along with your new Bestie Cynic and a few others,your constant moaning vitriol directed at Arsene ad nauseam,is quite frankly just tiresome.
The postings of ” supposedly we are doing this or apparently we are doing that ” in reference to fanciful transfer activity is really really silly,as it is all click bait that you constantly get sucked into.
Cynic in one of his more lucid moments,has posted an excellent article by Amy Lawrence,on the problems at the Club.
Please try and use that as a template for discussions in the Bar in future,instead of the hysterical rubbish that laughably gets posted in the Bar for debate.
The last time i checked,apart from Joe/Gedo/Barack O’ Barman and myself,the rest of the over 200 odd posts in the Bar are overwhelmingly negative about the Club/Manager and Playing group.
This is after only 3 games in the new season.
Yes i agree 100% percent that the performance at Anfield was a fucking disgrace and the players should be ashamed of themselves,and the team selection was baffling to say the least,and that’s on the Boss.
But i prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt as we don’t know what is happening behind the scenes.
I am going to wait until after the transfer window closes,to reassess, and see how the team responds to the valid criticisms aimed at them when they return to league duty after the Int’l break.
Why thank you Goonersince54 for more of your invariably “obfuscating-to-the-more-weak-minded” posts! Funny; that’s what Arsene’s been also doing for many years now! ?
All I’ll say to you now is this m’old chap; “Goodluck & Godspeed”! The end is now nigh, and we’ll now be getting our glorious Club back sooner rather than later – thank God for that! I for one will be quite glad not to continue to listen to the sycophantic, out-of-touch, Wenger-loyalists’ drivel! Enjoy, Boss! ? ?
AFCOF!
NAWF! ?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-gibbs-west-brom-11078787
Thanks@Bath, NDR and Dorset Mick
His Highness is in.
solid gooner @202, well said. i’ve been in a funk since sunday morning, and this is definitely a light among the darkness that has been spewed in many places since then. thank you.
It seems that Gibbs is moving
on and good luck to him.
Things didn’t work out in the
end but he’ll always have Hull
and that header off the line as
a happy memory – he got us
out of trouble that day.
216 & 219
Poor man’s comedy duo.
But only at the local rough house hostelries.
Absolutely no chance of a gig at the Palladium,due to lack of class and more importantly,Wit.
“… great big creatures squishing …”
https://youtu.be/ioudby-xooc
You’re welcome Scruz and thanks.
The benefit of the doubt, Clive? Perhaps you’re waiting for AW’s book to explain the things behind the scenes we cannot see?
That was my excuse for being mildly protectionist for years, but over the last 2-3 seasons I’m afraid I’ve rather lost faith in such a book being entirely honest.
Actions speak louder, and the INaction accompanying our decade-long decline has in no way been ameliorated by the hollow words emanating from every level of management at the club on every occasion they have thought it necessary to say anything at all.
All levels, we are constantly reminded, being under the control of Obergruppenführer Wenger. He’s had more than enough rope, imo. It’s been going on longer than WW1 and WW2 combined ffs.
@222,
“… a gig at the Palladium”! Geez! ? Now you really are starting to exhibit your age within your despair and frustration?! Sadly you’re not of the same calibre as the Late Great Brucie Forsyth. Please do try to take it easy Goonersince54, it’s not worth it because the inevitable is always inevitable, no matter how much we may dislike it. ?
Since i’ve been quite well bought up by my parents (well at least I’m told that I’ve been by some), and I’ve been raised to respect my elders – especially when it looks like they may have become intractably cantankerous – I’ll refrain from here-on in illuminating certain realities to you and your entrenched kith, and I’ll start to pray to the “Islington Gods” so that some genuine “insight” is attained by you all really soon. The show shall must go on! ? Pip-Pip Boss! ??
AFCOF!
NAWF! ?
‘s way outta hand
https://youtu.be/qLrnkK2YEcE
a proposal of summat, or other …
https://youtu.be/9UOweeSdI2k
Just for you Goonersince54! ?
https://media.tenor.com/images/442fc0f21c7a2473cfc1733c6236e204/tenor.gif
Knock, knock
https://youtu.be/Q0Q9Zc7nZjw
Blimoi!
https://youtu.be/q_bq5mStroM
Calm down, Dan, this is getting childish.
From whom Chris? Everyone has an opinion! Unless we’re indeed living in an autocracy?! Pathetic!
Goonersince54 @ 215 above. When are you going to call it like it is? Are you serious about
“But i prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt as we don’t know what is happening behind the scenes.
I am going to wait until after the transfer window closes,to reassess,”.
How many times have you repeated the above statement in the last 3 years?
You are very ambitious my man.
Lets get real.
Your opinions are always welcome, Dan, so long as they are pertinent and not personal.
This is indeed an autocracy, under the rule of Goonerholic who has proscribed childish bickering amongst the blog’s posters. Just saying.
@Rev AL
Blimoi indeed !
Thanks for the links. I would of reached for my drugs or therapist but
ones not popular in Japan and t’other is prison.
Buckets of iced water on the bar for those who need to cool off.
That’s everyone in Osaka NBN
🙂
A cloudy, humid 32degrees.
Tapera @234
I do it every season.
Wait till the window closes,see what we have,then decide what i think our goals are.
Haven’t for many years ever thought we had a squad good enough to win the Title,although we could have gone close a few times but for serious injuries to key players at the wrong time.
My thoughts were always top 4 and local Cups.
Anything else was a bonus.
Once the window closes on Thursday night,i will do the same as i always have.
I will post my expectations on Friday.
@233
Totally agree re opinions.
Only problem is yours come across like a demented dwarf overdosed on steroids.
Which doesn’t exactly encourage sensible debate.
I refer you to Steve T/Solid Gooner/ TTG ans several others in the bar with the same agenda as you re the travails at the Club in this round of posts,who have presented coherent well thought out structured posts which are worthy of a response.
Yours just come across as bombastic/hectoring and derisive.
@Chris,
Personal to who? Arsene Wenger and his “still” fans?
@240,
So when did you last meet a demented dwarf overdosed on steroids? Which types of steroids exactly? The female kind or the make ones? I’m 6ft 4inches and weight 100kg. ?
AFCOF!
NAWF! ?
Like I said; intractably cantankerous! I’ll also add, “petty” too.
Goonersince54 (I won’t call you Clive because I’m not a real regular and I just don’t know you). I accept your points above on style, etc but I’m very curious about your kind of fan profile as my view is we will not progress or change at all until your cohort is happy to call for change. I note you say ; “But I prefer to give him the benefit of the doubt as we don’t know what is happening behind the scenes”. You support the current manager and that’s fine but I really do wonder what outcome/scenario in this case will allow you give the manager the benefit of the doubt ? Even ignoring the debacle surrounding the uncertainty and value destruction surrounding our two fine offensive stars, what will satisfy you in the defensive area given a/ We have sold or are selling Gabriel, Mustafi, Gibbs and Ox as wing back b/ Kos is injury prone, Mert too slow, Bellerin is regressing terribly and Holding is losing confidence already ??
Would , say, a combination of Van Dijk, Evans and a new full/wing back be the minimum required to give him the benefit of the doubt ? Yes, I do rely on reports and news of who might go/come as how else can we piece together what is going on “behind the scenes”. All we can do is try to look to the best sources for all that. Anyway, very interested in your view on that defensive side of things because I’m sure you will agree that it is this area that has indeed kept us as a team just aiming for top 4 and the odd local cup in the last 13 years, which I note is enough to satisfy you. We have clearly had the attacking verve and goalscoring potential at various times to win titles and progress further in CL in recent years.
Thanks in advance for any reply, no problem if you prefer to keep your counsel. Like I say, this is genuine interest on my part on how my fellow fans think.
Actually maybe you’re not clive at all ! Is that countryman ? See, told u I wasn’t a regular !
Clive – You say – The postings of ” supposedly we are doing this or apparently we are doing that ” in reference to fanciful transfer activity is really really silly
The whole internet Arsenal blogging scene at this time of year especially, including this site and Arseblog which are the two best Arsenal sites, is based on rumoured activity at the club, once you get away from what is actually going on on the pitch that most of us can see for ourselves.
Some of it comes from supposed “sources”, none of which we know about or can vouch for and some of it comes from click baity stuff. Even people who post here who have club contacts can only post what they have been told or what has been hinted at, or what they take out of whispered conversations, be they by text or email rather than face to face.
Nobody knows anything really, no matter how well connected they say they are.
Personal to whom, Dan? To Clive obviously, as in Now you really are starting to exhibit your age within your despair and frustration?! in #226. Indeed the whole tenor of that post and #216 before it contravenes the level of decorum required here. You are perfectly entitled to disagree with the opinions of others, but not to ridicule them, however nonsensical their opinions may be.
And, yes, Clive is equally guilty. I should have made that clearer.
It’s called having an “informed opinion” Cynic;?and most of us here in this drinking place do have their own “sources” – mine being amongst the medical team at our club. However, clearly “some” fans aren’t ever, no matter how glaringly obvious the malaise would seem to have become to many persons and their dogs, permitted to have any opinions on things; and especially if those opinions are way too divergent in the opposite from the perspective of a few “still” deeply-attached AKBs. Sad!
Chris,
Question: Doesn’t the number 215 precede the number 216? Or did I miss that Maths lesson at primary school before going on to Medical School?
Clive Goonersince54 commenced the personal attacks, and he clearly should be above such pettiness – even if he’s frustrated and doesn’t care for another’s opinion. One can never assume how much (or little) another truly knows about what’s going on “behind the scenes”. That’s where the AKBs wind us non-AKBers up the most! The intractability of it all is now just as equally tiresome and boring, as you’re now witnessing in earnest all over – including on march-days from those majority moderates.
UTAAD&AN!
…including on *match-days from those majority moderates.
DAPPER DAN C and THE GOONER SINCE 54
throwing down i’m guessing
over some girl who’s F – L – Y
and
I MISSED IT !
.
that’s whack
?
.
.
.
. . . . . .# i am c – b – a and i’d like to say hello …….
Clive is right. The time for final judgment is when the window shuts and we know what we are playing with this season. However, the problem for me is that all of our major deals seem to be around panic offloading rather than recruitment? Sanchez, who is 100% staying now looks likely to go. AOC, who we want to build a team around can go but would appear to favour a move up North. Gibbs is having a medical somewhere, poss WBA. Mustafi might be negotiating somewhere in Italy? My view is that these issues should have been sorted months ago. Not being played out in public with less than 36 hours to go?
I don’t ever remember agreeing with Jamie Redknapp but this for once makes sure me valid points.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11012188/arsenal-almost-amateurish-over-transfer-dealings-says-jamie-redknapp
Dan,
Did you really go straight from Primary School to Medical
School Dan ? Shakes head at state of health service.
The whole AKB / non-AKB thing winds me up by the way.
I have never met AW and neither love nor hate him. I think
it’s time for a change but I respect what he has achieved
and see no reason to lambast the man. Is that so offensive
that you have to deride it as an opinion?
My own opinion is that not many marched and also that
not many still support either – why do supporters have to
be pigeon-holed ?
Wonder if I should clarify the first part was just a joke
given the fevered state of the bar ? Sedatives all round.
And a quick shout to Chris and NBN – blessed be and all that.
? She’s a right proper lass CBA!
Called Arsenalina F Clubinova.
Slovak I think, via a place that’s common to another called Strasbourg.
Firstly to Dapper Dan,all 6ft 4 ” and 100 kilos.
I have never expressed any desire to stop other people voicing their opinions,on the contrary the more the merrier if it keeps Holic vested in continuing with the Blog.
Gone are the days when we used to get up to 400 + posts on a regular basis.
In fact the meltdown at Anfield has got us close to 250 for the first time in a while,so post away to your hearts content,i just cannot warm to your way of getting your point across.
So in future i will count to a 100 and leave you to your own devices.
Secondly to Cynic
I cannot argue with any of your salient post @245
Thirdly to Scgooner
I have never recovered from the demise of the Invincibles,and the CL final loss to Barcelona,a match i still haven’t had the intestinal fortitude to watch.
Once the Invincibles side was dismantled,the only way was down.
We never for whatever reason replaced like for like,the move to the new stadium didn’t help,and the supporter base has fragmented ever since.
Apart from a few good buys,most of our incoming players since then were either ones not wanted by their club or are what i would call 2nd tier and some even 3rd tier in technical quality.
I maintain Arsene has never got over David Dein being ousted from the Club,particularly in regard to the transfer market.
He would give Dein a wishlist and lo and behold the players would arrive at the Club.
Witness the regular shambles during transfer windows since DD left.
So when you have a squad of mainly good but not high quality players,you cannot aspire to win Big ears or the League title.
Arsene doesn’t seem to have a structured way of playing like say Utd now under Maureen, Chelsea under Maureen and now Conte,or Spurs under Poch.
We seem to make it up as we go along and the players are expected to problem solve on the run.
As to your comments on the defense,i can only refer you to the Invincibles template,top class keeper,tough as teak back 4,2 top class defensive midfielders,with the front end taking care of itself.
That is what i favor,but you need the right players to do that,something we are nowhere near achieving.
@247 – The only point I was really trying to make was that whoever posts here they are dealing with what they can see for themselves, what they are told and what they read, and there’s no real need for anyone on either side just to see the name of a poster and go after them, rather than what they’re posting
Because as far as any of us know, it could all be total bollocks and we will tend (all of us) to believe what we believe based on a personal bias.
As I sit here chilling I just read today’s Arseblog. I must say that in my opinion it’s absolutely spot on.
OsakaMatt,
I was a Doogie Howser, so what else can I say! ?
Leave off our NHS! ?
As for the Wenger-bashing, the vast majority of fans have had the utmost respect for what Arsene Wenger has done for our football club for so long. But there always comes a time when enough is simply enough. I personally have been convinced for at least three seasons now that the various squad of players that he’s charge over at London Colney, have been/are more than good enough to properly challenge, and in a sustainable way, for both the Premiership and the Champions League in recent past. That’s clearly been manifested via the FA Cup victories. The only reason that they haven’t been able to, is because of the same “on-field” mistakes year-upon-upon and that must be because of his sub-standard, and now quite stale, Coaching and Man-Management style.
Yes, Kroenke and Gazidis aren’t the best of owner and administrator respectively, but the problem for us not now being “the best that we can be” on the pitch season upon season, is because of only man – Arsene Wenger. This is also now beginning to affect us off-the-pitch too!
Twenty (20)! Yes! Twenty, thumpings at the hands of our so-called major title-seeking rivals in the Premiership and in Europe. What has that had to do with Stan Kroenke and Ivan Gazidis on a Match-Day?
I guess we wont sign anyone now! 😀
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenals-emirates-stadium-ram-raided-11079905
Classic Sweeper.
Dan. I think you are wrong in the fact that you think the whole situation is down to AW. I don’t agree. Whilst he should shoulder a large chunk of the responsibility, so do both Stan and Ivan. I agree totally with Clive that possibly our biggest loss was DD. I genuinely don’t believe for one second that we would be in a situation like this, every year, if he was still at the club.
Loving the use of “the best that we can be” line. So underused these days. However, what follows really highlights another major issue because you say “on the pitch.” Under DD, it was what happened on the pitch that was most important, as long as financially we were sound. The problem today is that those in charge don’t see it that way. They are more concerned with profit than performance. That for me is a major issue.
Latest reports are suggesting that people were actually bringing stuff back Arthur, not nicking it.
?
Thanks @ 254, interesting. We were certainly spoiled in the early Wenger years. The man tried to re-invent himself and the club – basically singhehandedly – and it has failed as you describe post Invincibles and CL final. God knows why he didn’t carry on with his tried and trusted methodologies. Personally I believe he was largely a victim of his own success and wanted to achieve a kind of immortality (relative to Fergie for instance) by doing it with kids and doing it without big transfer fees. The scout in him wanted to find the talent himself and the economist in him wanted to create a business and model of totally his own design.
It was an admirable project in many ways and perhaps if FFP had been applied it might just have worked. But it failed, in a very repetitve, boring, divisive way and Wenger’s reluctant and calamitous dive into the top end of the transfer market has, in many ways, been the final nail in the coffin.
I don’t accept it has to be like this going forward at all, no way. The job of manager at AFC has never been more attractive to a newcomer than right now in terms of salary, expectations, resources, stadium and a rump of very talented footballers, even post Thursday this week. We need to change or this slide could become very nasty indeed. I implore the more neutral fanbase to take a more proactive stance. Blaming a relatively new owner (and Dan is right to point out things were going assways before Stan bought in) is, IMHO, a major cop-out at this critical juncture in this ongoing, inevitable demise.
Steve T,
If you are suggesting that David Dein was just as integral to Arsene’s coaching and tactical acumen during match-days, I can’t really buy into that. Off the field, yes. As a confidant, yes. But on the training ground, no. That wasn’t David Dein’s job.
In my own personal (and own-sources’) opinion, Arsene got very lucky when he came into our club because he inherited a very well-drilled and disciplined, self-regulating defence group of players with a wholesale defensive strategy as a team, that was still in existence from the George Graham era. Being an “offensive-minded coach, as Arsene is, all he had to do was to “be himself” and to bring in the game-changing offensive side of the game. Those players and the rest of what then transpired with them so quickly early on, is now history! QED.
Some of that defensively-disciplined cadre that remained long enough after the famous back 4/5 had left the club, were then able to still indoctrinate the larger and new invincibles’ group, and they were blessed with some naturally-gifted “mature and in-game-management aware leaders” as players.
Now, when experiment youth came along as a result of our shift from Highbury to Ashburton Grove, Arsene’s deficiencies within certain aspects of his coaching style, namely in the defensive parts of the game, became accentuated and more highlighted year-upon-year, as other coaches and managers started to catch-up with his pioneering methods. To have to drill into “immature” young players, the need for consistent and personal defensive responsibilities and discipline, it became quite obvious with his “nurturing and liberal” style of man-management, that Arsene couldn’t do that. The offensive aspects of his coaching style are still world-class but he can’t instill and coach a consistent transitional defensive strategy for love or money! He just cant get the balance right with any consistency to challenge for the major titles he still does want to win, and I don’t think that he will now. He seems to have simply thought for some time, “I’ll bring in some defenders and then they’ll work at it like before amongst themselves just the way Adams, Bould, Keown, Dixon, Winterburn, Cole, Campbell, Lauren and Toure used to do.” They’ll do that (and now with Bouldy too as part of my coaching team) whilst I do the attacking-thing again. Sadly for him, and us as fans, it’s just not working out. No one likes to see a once loved and revered become unloved and unrevered; and that includes an impatient fucker like me!
Oh dear. The bar hasn’t seen such puerile stuff in a long time. I thought you had to be 18 to get in here. It’s time we opened a creche next door.
It’s pre-pubescent I think you mean @263. ?
Ticket prices for the Europa League group stage will range from £15.50 to £23.50 for adults, going as low as £4.50 for kids.
Hopefully a sign that our main focus will remain on finishing as high as possible in the Premier League.
@264, I meant puerile. You always think you know what other people mean better than they do, don’t you? It must be wonderful to be so wise and all-knowing but it gets a bit tedious for us mortals.
@Bath 263
Yes, indeedy, but 254,257, 259, 261 and 262 were all good, interesting
and reasonable.
@Dan 257
I agree that AW must take his share of the responsibility. But I don’t
believe you can separate out the on / off the pitch activity so simply.
Yes, the on the pitch thumpings have been down to AW (and clearly
the players too as AW is not on the pitch either). But what have Stan
and Ivan done? Nothing that I can see, just let it go. You cannot be
the owner, do nothing when things go wrong and be then be
absolved of responsibility. There must be a connection between the
two halves of the club and there is simply nothing (as far as I know
of course).
As for the defence – well AW started Cole, converted Lauren and
Toure and bought Campbell so I don’t think that was just luck.
However, your point about our fallibility at the back for years is
certainly true and AW bears major responsibility for that too.
Anyway, Steve T is arguing this point as well and I don’t want to
duplicate but thank you for a reasonable reply
I can promise not to berate the NHS on this football blog 🙂 .
https://www.arsenal.com/news/kieran-gibbs-joins-west-bromwich-albion
Good luck to Gibbsy!
@266,
The consequences of an Oxford and Edinburgh education! ??
&267,
As the ganging-up on thee by the “regulars” continues, we shall just have to wait and see what does tangibly happen once a newbie inevitably takes over the player development and coaching/man-management role! It won’t be long now! ?
and lo
the sport of doc fighting was born
.
let’s throw ointment on them and sell tickets
i’ll squeeze into me Vegas jumpsuit
wallop out a few standards
ye in ‘holic?
i’ll give ye a cut of the hotdog concession
Dan. I’ve been back over the last 4/5 years and whilst I have continually said that I think DD is a massive loss, I can’t find a single occasion where I’ve suggested he should have any involvement in coaching, tactics etc. I am happy to stand corrected if wrong. What I do think is that DD was, and still is a huge loss. He is Arsenal through and through. He turns up to more games in a month than Stan will in a year. I can’t for one second believe that we would be in such a situation with players coming towards the end of their contracts if he was still involved at the club. I also firmly believe that we would have been far more effective in the transfer market, both buying and selling. Those alone I would suggest makes the manager’s job so much easier.
To say that AW got lucky when he inherited the defence is I would suggest a bit is a bit daft. He is not responsible for who he inherits? The same players would have inherited by whoever took over? The same will be true when AW eventually goes.
Do I think that AW has had his day? Sadly, yes. But to suggest earlier thstvthe FA cup is not a major trophy is again wrong. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend all 8 finals under AW’s reign and with one exception, relished everyone.
In my opinion, major changes are needed throughout the whole club. Clive hits the nail on the head saying that those thstbleft from one invincible era were not replaced. The club’s current situation goes back many years. Each year has seen a slight decline until cumulatively the effects become far more noticeable. Who is at fault? Well in my opinion the blame does not rest with just one person. Had DD stayed, would it have made a difference? The answer is of course pure speculation, but in my opinion he would have made a massive difference. I would suggest that what DD considers success and what Stan and Ivan consider success are quite possibly measured in two very different ways. There, for me at least, is the major fundamental issue.
Here’s some standards for you CBA
https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=5LCmWdwpgvSABpztuNAH&q=standards+the+jam&oq=standards+the+jam&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..0l2j0i22i30k1l3.3411.7220.0.8557.15.15.0.0.0.0.338.2630.0j12j1j1.14.0….0…1.1.64.mobile-gws-serp..9.6.1173…35i39k1.Am_G5ubDl0w
And some more.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QEo7tU7Dqis
Seems the buckets of iced water I put on the bar a few hours back have had few takers….
(Though they may be big in Japan…)
A Baldricky cunning plan on the Ox’s part to play like a drain at wing-back on Sunday so Liverpool would only consider buying him as a centre-mid.
Word reaches Castle Ned that the ‘undisclosed transfer fee’ for Gibbs was £6.75 million.
Steve T,
Now this:
“What I do think is that DD was, and still is a huge loss…..I can’t for one second believe that we would be in such a situation with players coming towards the end of their contracts if he was still involved at the club. I also firmly believe that we would have been far more effective in the transfer market, both buying and selling.” This! I agree with. ?
As for the perennial “playing-side” deficiencies since David Dein’s departure, Arsene Wenger still cannot obviate responsibility on that front I’m afraid. Didn’t he just vociferously refuse to have a Director of Football work along side him this very season after Ivan alluded to such an appointment to “help” Arsene out being made? I’m sure that had Arsene asked himself personally for some help long ago, “if” he too felt it was prudent and necessary, like David Dein used to afford him beforehand (and also knowing how much he’s already having to do alot beyond handling the playing-staff “stuff”), Kroenke and Gazidis would’ve probably obliged quite expeditiously with that request, as long as the “bucks” were going to keep on coming in?! Something which I’m quite confident would’ve still happened with a Director of Football there in is camp. Moreover, a Director of Football’s usually alot cheaper to employ than a Head-Coach/Man-Manager, and certainly cheaper than any “good” player in the modern game. So having one was a no-brainer and it wouldn’t have affected the annual £100+ million War-Chest all that much, one can fathom an educated guess upon.
Anywho, all Gooners now to their very own-some’s conjecture and speculation; and may it continue without abandon from whatever quarter is willing to indulge, until the inevitable convergent Event Horizon.
Pip-Pip, Gents!! ? ?
I declare this transfer window an unqualified success following a sale of an English left back for £ 6.75 mill (thank you Ned) and a cunning pre-emptive purchase of a promising Bosnian Beast LB for free ! Cheer up folks, it’s a masterful switch and Stan has already been on the phone with hearty congratulations to all. Now, just a few more odds and ends to put to tidy up in the next 32 hours….oh sweet jesus, may our god go with us, it’s out with the rosary beads again…. COYG
Liverpool sign Ox.
Liverpool decide they have to sell Coutinho to fund their summer business and that they no longer need or cannot afford Lemar, because they have signed Ox.
They are weakened by selling Coutinho, don’t have an exciting attacker in Lemar but do have James Milner MK II in Ox
Arsenal then sign Lemar.
Man, this straw is a bit greasy, I can hardly clutch it….
Ah well…if Johnny Evans comes we already have a song…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2-lczoLETU
Ha ha @ scgooner ?
@Scgooner,
Yes one does fella for the kiddies! ? Along with the famous Mr. Happy cufflinks. ?⚕️
284 – Apologies – forgot how awful that tune was !
Ox gone to Liverpool on a six year deal.
Good riddance. Never thought he was any good, personally.
I hope Ox gets his Arsenal win bonus added to his first Dipper paycheck for his key contributions on Sunday.
Always flattered to deceive. Too little end product. Too brittle.
I sincerely hope he passes the medical.
Get the other refuseniks out and we will improve the dressing room focus and atmosphere in a flash.
A tasty new face like Draxler or VvD or the long awaited decent holding MFer would help a lot too.
£40M for Ox? Well, better than the rumored £35M from the bus stop.
Why didn’t Wenger offload him to Scousers for that fish before the match? If he’d played for them like he played for the Arsenal, might have gotten a result.
Scgooner@282,
Not sure that this in terribly good taste. Not to me, anyway, while I along with many others receive palliative care. Still, if it makes you laugh, don’t stop on my account.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy9_lfjQopU
£40 million for a player who didn’t make the first-choice starting XI for most in this bar doesn’t seem too bad business. Or am I missing something?
Liverpool look a bit light in numbers in midfield, especially if/when Coutinho goes and while Lallana is injured, but the Ox will have a fight on his hands dislodge Henderson and Wijnaldum as starters in central midfield, Can behind them or Lallana in front of them when he is fit again. Looks like he will be contending with Grujic and Milner for a place on the bench most of the time unless Klopp can work the magic on him that AW used to do on our new signings.
Still, the Ox has probably almost doubled his £65,000-a-week salary given the £120,000-a-week that Liverpool has been paying to new signings like Salah; or perhaps he settled for a cut-price £90,000 a week just to get the deal done.
First world problems, eh?
Just five posts to the triple ton. A moo-in for cba, surely?
Best fantasy team name I’ve seen this year?
Chicken Tikka Mo Salah.
Made me laugh
300 looms and CBA is off getting his man hugs…
Le moooooooooooo
You snooze, you lose.
Basics really.
Oh well.
Having done all the hard work.
Rude not to.
We know all is not well in the state of Arsenal but what we did not anticipate is that we have ‘ no money for new signings’ according to Ornstein. That is after shifting about ten players and saving about £500k a week , realising about £15 million net in sales and that is without dipping into the money supposedly allocated for purchases.
I’ve seen tweets from Geoff Arsenal and Pablo Camden who confirm that there is a big revision in our financial forecast.
We will only sell Sanchez if we get a massive offer and a replacement apparently. This suggests keeping him was a preferred option. If we can’t invest in new players we go with what we have and pick up the pain next year if we don’t get CL.
Is this a reforecasting after the shock of no CL?(in which case it’s fucking ridiculous to realise it now) or does Kroenke need a cash call? Either way we should bloody well be told.
Has anyone heard anything reliable?
This is beyond awful.
Bonjour. Etc etc etc…
TTG. If there is any accuracy to your post then the whole management team should not be sacked, they should be shot at dawn.
Ornstein also told us that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mustafi weren’t going to be involved at Anfield. I mean neither of them were even though one was supposedly on the pitch 🙂 but he was wrong on that score.
Is the timing of this coincidental? I hear we have big financial constraints which have been hidden from us.
http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/kroenke-arsenal-transfers-mahrez-chamberlain-12883621
We had better hope that this is all pure speculation as well
http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/kroenke-arsenal-transfers-mahrez-chamberlain-12883621
Ahh TTG. Clearly far sharper than me.
Ornstein has two tweets right next to each other that appear to make a nonsense of each other.
We were offering Oxlade-Chamberlain £180k a week just last week, yet now we’ve sold him instead for £40m, we don’t have any money to spend.
Durrr.
We’ve also been told by him and others that we had offered Sanchez £400k a week. Yet we are skint?
It’s nonsense IMO.
Cynic
I’m puzzled that we were apparently offering silly money for Mbappe. That looks like a risible smokescreen. Two theories are circulating. Either Kroenke is beginning to raid the coffers or we have breached PL rules which is about to be announced.
Neither may be true. As a businessman myself I find the detail tends to diminish when you search on these things . The first is highly feasible. Arsenal may be guaranteeing the Loan he is taking. It’s something we always feared, nay expected. He may be prevented from selling the club if this is the case.
If the second is true several heads should roll but it may explain the random behaviour of Wenger in this window. He sets plans which are quite ambitious, buys Lacazette and we get in the season ticket money and then we discover we need a cash injection a few weeks ago( we could still have sold the deadwood earlier but maybe they didn’t see it as a priority before.)
Either way or if there are other explanations this news is awful for Arsenal fans. We get reduced to a much less ambitious club unless we find a new owner who is prepared to buy out Kroenke( and is allowed to). Usmanov could do it a stroke but he might want to twist the knife after being rebuffed by Kroenke so often. This could run and run
Or, the ambitions of Stan are vastly different to those of us that are fans?????
Again, how long have I been saying this? It’s a business deal. Stan is a very shrewd businessman. AW makes him a handsome profit each year for minimal expense. What he sees as success is vastly different to what we as fans see as success.
I don’t want to be a franchise. I don’t want to be the North London 49ers. The sooner he goes, the sooner we can all get on with the job in hand.
Sad that Danny Fiszman, who was a true Arsenal man, decided to sell the club out to someone who, with hindsight, was the worst possible option.
At this point in time I think its time for all fans to come together. We all want the same thing when its all said and done. We don’t need to be fighting each other, the focus has to definitely be on Kroenke. Its time we know exactly what the fuck is going on. I still want Wenger gone, but its looking like this problem is bigger than Wenger himself. If sixty thousand plus fans in the stadium have signs saying time for a change. I believe that might start doing it. No more standing on the fence, you are either an Arsenal fan or not.
Looking at the Ox sale report on the BBC site, seems he turned down 180k from us, yet accepted 120k from ‘pool?
If that isn’t a snub to wenger I don’t know what is.
He also appears to have refused to move to chelski so he has maintained his dignity in my book.
It’s gonna get a lot worse before it gets better….
For now we look fucked!
Why on earth did he play the OX or said he wants to build a team around when clearly he was on his way out!
MESS!
Dorset Mick @291
Very sad to hear you are receiving palliative care.
I do hope you are not in too much pain,and that are being well looked after.
If you have the time and inclination,would love to hear how long you have been a Gooner.
Heartfelt condolences mate
The views of John Cross.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-complete-mess-transfer-deadline-11083608
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Aguero – who scored 33 times last term – as City continue to pursue their leading scorer from last season, Alexis Sanchez.
But the Gunners, who spent £53million to sign Alexandre Lacazette in the summer, believe they are well stocked at centre-forward, with the ex-Lyon man, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck.
I make no comment on the truthfulness of this but it’s a pretty funny couple of paragraphs even if it’s a lie.
“Hello, we’re fed up with Lionel Messi do you want him?”
“No thanks, we’ve got Danny Welbeck”
You couldn’t make it up, although I just did 🙂
We apparently haven’t got a pot to piss in and friends of mine believe Kroenke is going to continually asset strip this club. Lots of crap will fly and tomorrow could be one of the most painful days in the recent history of this club.
Goodness knows what that arsewipe Durham will be saying ( who cares ) We tend to keep a sense of perspective here but it’s pretty fair to call this a crisis. It could certainly mean that we won’t be a top side until we have a new owner who wants to take the club forward. I think we should think seriously about completely refusing to buy club merchandise of any sort. I might well have refused to renew my season if I had known how devious their plans were.
Can’t see how Gazidis can stay if he has any conscience. I’d like to see Arsene walk as a matter of principle but he would regard that as dereliction of duty.
Relieved to see the back of Ox who, by moving, has effectively upped the average PAQ (Playing Ability Quotient) of both clubs, imo.
Any chance they’ll take Danny too? Or an ageing, past-his-use-by-date manager??
Now, if we can just squeeze in Lemar, VvD and young Kylian or Marco Reus or Emil Forsberg or frankly anyone of quality between the panes of a rapidly closing transfer window, perhaps we can all sleep a little better over the interlull.
Also pleasing to see a more civil exchange of views come over the bar. But take care critiquing others’ lexicons, Dan. There are a number of highly skilled scribblers contributing to this blog, several of whom I suspect to be professionals.
Ttg@305 & SteveT@306: Is there any new news about Kroenke’s loan for his Inglewood Stadium?
The Sports Business Daily was reporting it as virtually a done deal back in January 2016.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2016/01/18/Finance/Kroenke-loan.aspx
The story was picked up a couple of days later by the Los Angeles Times.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-nfl-rams-financing-20160120-story.html
That story also seems to be the source for the bulk of the football.london report you both link to, albeit with a time lag of more than a year and a half. But I don’t see it having anything that we didn’t know from the SBD and LAT stories.
Now, obviously there could be covenants, collateral or guarantees involved in the loan agreement that have gone unreported and which are now kicking in in some way, but with that caveat, the loan in itself doesn’t explain this Arsenal transfer window. If anything, quite the opposite, as the cash calls would have been known well in advance so the necessary transfer business should have been done in good time, too.
If the club’s unexpectedly skint, or about to become so as you suggest Ttg, then the cause would appear to lie elsewhere.
Now we know who was behind
that ram raid at the Arsenal shop.
Clearly a couple of freelancers
hired by Stan in a desperate
attempt to take more money out
of The Arsenal. I hope Inspector
Knacker of The Yard is on the
case and arrests can be expected
imminently.
Morning Chris.
Yes, I think a decent signing
would improve the mood,
which is frankly looking a
little mutinous with no Bounty.
AW doesn’t really fit the mould
of a stern Bligh but who else
to cast ? And where is our
young Marlon Brando with a
hankering for the delights of
the South Sea Islands?
I could cameo the old, fat Marlon
if an epilogue is needed……
Agree with you the discussion
improved and once it did, lo
and behold we weren’t that
far apart in fact.
Is this what it feels like to be a Spurs fan pre-16/17 season?
The irritation obvious in many of the views floated here, Matt, is principally down to the déjà vu nature of the current window. Everyone knows the problems and has done for years – including every strata of management and ownership one assumes – but nothing ever changes in the approach to solving them by those charged with the responsibility. Same old same old nervy dabbling in the market, year after year. Like Sunday drivers taking on the Nürburgring.
As for young Marlon … like Terry Malloy “We coulda been a contender!” if we’d had better management when the opportunity was there. 😉
A cracking film – it was management
that done for Terry’s career as I
recall. But that analogy is a bit
wonky perhaps as we’ve never paid
anyone to take a dive, they do it
for free 🙂
It has taken to now to recover my sanity from watching that performance by the gunners last Sunday. My first match was in September 1945 when we were bring some style to the spuds by playing at s*** lane, so I have seen Arsenal for a fare number of years. In 1946/47 we were bad and looked to be heading for division 2 but we managed to escape. The anfield shambles was by far the worse team performance I have seen from the Arsenal.My family have followed the team since they moved to Highbury I am the third generation my my grand- daughters are the fifth. My advice to Wenger is this if the want to leave, sell them because IF THEY WANT TO LEAVE THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO PLAY FOR THIS GREAT CLUB. And we as supporters do not want them. As for the ox, £35 million, ta very much. As for sanchez, oozil, if you can find a buyer sell them too and those that clog up the sick bay on a regular basis, move them on when fit. As for Wenger as any one thought to check him for Alzheimer’s or some other age related problem, because his team selection and press briefings have got really weird. I never thought that the crap performances of the sixties would come back to haunt me but I have a nasty feeling in my stomach, bring in big Sam to save us from the championship.
Well that catch up session was a true labour or love. Or hate. Or bile.
1946-47 got off to a very rocky start. We lost three of the first four games and six of the first nine, including a 6-1 drubbing at Wolves on opening day. A run of eight games undefeated between mid-December and mid-January steadied the ship. Then the inevitable blip before a strong run-in, losing only two of the last ten games. We ended up 13th with 41 points, 16 points clear of relegation despite losing 18 league games and winning only 16 (42 league games a season then).
Ronnie Rooke joined the club in December that season, Ned, at the ripe old age of 35. Scored 21 league goals in 24 appearances in the balance of that first season and 33 goals in 42 in his second.
No one has scored more for Arsenal in a top division season since, not even TH14.
I’m surprised he didn’t mention this in #328. 😀
In a weird way whats happening maybe the best for the club as it will mobilize the fanbase and if enough pressure is applied we may well be able to rid ourselves of the Sceptic wig wearing cunt, Any Potential Suitors – Im looking towards Africa rather than Russia, will know this may well be the time to strike as they will be universally welcomed by all,
Say what?
Have club. Won’t travel.
Billionaire wanted.
Looks to me like we swap Draxler or Mahrez for Sanchez today. Meh… No defensive rabbit out of the hat. Xhaka and Ramsey still “shielding”. Big announcement on Ozil mega deal and long term contract within 48 hours. Up front and in midfield we will look weak and we will be bossed. We will miss Sanchez’s physicality and pressing dreadfully. Draxler would just be a typical Wenger punt and Mahrez, well he’s just such a typical gifted, tidy, twiddling, lightweight Arsenal player isn’t he ? At the back we will be dangerously short of depth and as disorganised as ever. Pray tell, what has any of this got to do with collateralisation of assets, the Rams moving or dodgy moustaches ? COYG.
Where’s Snir when we need him?
This day is his day.
This no money nonsense has a whiff of smokescreen to me to explain away total inactivity and excuse it.
With the amount of money swilling about in football NO CLUB in the top division can use no money as an excuse.
Oh we just spent £53 on a striker but we have no money
We offered Sanchez £400k a week but we haven’t got any money
We offered to double Ozil’s wages but we don’t have any money
We offered an average squad player nearly £200k a week but we are broke.
And here’s the killer.
We don’t have any money but we are/were prepared to let about £150m worth of players sit around and leave for nothing. OK so one has gone for about £40m but we’re still skint chaps…
It is bollocks.
That should, of course, read £53m
Although we spent recently £19m on a striker worth £53 and played him in every game so far this season.
Goonersince54 @ 316,
Cheers, Clive, thanks for the kind thoughts. I’m feeling fine at the moment, and making sure I enjoy every day.
Been a fan since 1966, long after you!
Whatever the trials and tribualtions facing Arsenal at the moment, I’m sure you agree that they’re generally much easier to watch than for long periods before AW arrived.
Cynic, Ned
It is as you both suggest a very unlikely situation but it is clear that Arsenal should not need ( I’m understating) to emerge from the window with the lowest net spend in the Premiership.
Whatever happens now this has been a disastrous window and either there are constraints from Kroenke which would make him an even bigger hate figure or Wenger has list the plot. I’m not sure where Gazidis comes in.
This club is a laughing- stick but the disillusion won’t go away after this and I suspect what has gone before in terms if fan unrest will be an hors d’ouevre compared with what will follow. I am incandescent and I’m a sad old fella who doesn’t get worked up very often. ?
The money story is clearly bollocks. There is money – but it may be being prioritised for other things.
The shambles is real.
I was unaware of the PL salary cap rules but the management of the club should have been aware of it and should have ensured that the unwanted players were disposed of swiftly even at a lower price than desirable to allow flexibility in transfer dealings at this point in the window.
If we are hamstrung by our salary bill, how have Manure, Shitteh, Chavski and even the Dippers not been similarly hamstrung?
Rule number 1: if a player wants to leave, sell him pronto; no player is irreplaceable.
Best wishes to you Dorset Mick @339. Always a sensible voice.
Bath
Couldn’t agree more! Let’s buy some fooking players 😀
Good posts 337,341. Whether we’re falling foul of salary cap rules or not (ironic given we f*cked up over FFP) we have infringed good practice with our own flat internal salary structure. Another turkey returning to the roost. Further, any business must at least do some contingency planning for a possible downturn, even if hope springs eternal that the graph bounces straight back up. A small transfer surplus this year would be prudent in my opinion given lower CL income, lower EL ticket prices, presumably plummeting shirt sales, trickier sponsorship negotiations and, in all likelihood, probably lower season ticket prices in 2018/19. You have to cut your cloth. We are where we are. You know, if we at least knew what’s going on, if we can see the club is planning for the future and implementing any kind of changes, I could see us all re-engaging big time. Let’s see if Nelson, Iwobi and Holding could blossom. Let’s move on from the past. It needs a bigger broom though and Wenger won’t change anything in his overall ethos and approach on and off the pitch. If he did, I’d get behind him. COYG.
Would it be too cynical to suggest that friends of our manager in the press are being briefed that we supposedly have no money, to take the heat off him and they’re using the Kroenke loan “story” to do so?
This is the richest club (in reserves of cash) in the richest league in world football, with the highest ticket prices, paying silly wages to average players, turning down bucket loads of money for players who can leave for nothing next year, yet we don’t have any money or Evil Stan, who we’ve been assured for years never interferes in his sports franchises* is suddenly saying we cannot spend anything.
Here’s a little nugget to ponder then.
Kroenke is not siphoning money out of Arsenal in the quantities required to kill our spending power. If he was it will be in the accounting at the next AGM and he would get fried alive in his own juices.
If he is supposedly using Arsenal as security on a loan, wouldn’t weakening that asset’s value by holding it back in the sporting arena be counter productive? He might be able to say, “Hey folks, I’ve got £200m in the bank” but isn’t the club only going to be worth less if we suffer on the pitch? If we’re a mid table club with fuck all on pitch assets, because everybody leaves, we are not saleable at anywhere the current share value?
I put question marks because that makes sense to me but is probably deeply flawed as an idea.
*Apart from that little matter of moving an entire set up across the USA 🙂
Or how about Kroenke is looking at the results on arsenal.com and listening to warnings from Gazides and his son that Wenger’ recent transfer policy (recent as in since the 8-2 trolley dash) has been atrocious, as has his decision making in terms of contract renewals, team selection, player morale, control freakiness, etc. Maybe he’s now regretting the 2 year deal and won’t release any funds for him to waste on more average, same as we’ve already got dross. Maybe they’re telling him to hold back and see how results go and he’ll be replaced by May and a new man ! Or maybe not.
Or, as suggested in the arses this morning, our accountants have ring-fenced funds to cover the absent transfer incomes from the refuseniks next summer.
In which case, if we accept £70m for Alexis this morning we suddenly have some freedom on the salary cap clause and more importantly money to spend, albeit with little time to spend it unless we have someone lined up for that scenario.
Chris @321,
Who are they? Aside from the Barman – who’s sensibly letting things take their natural course it would seem – where are the other super-scribes of Shakespearean and Dickensonian repute? Or are we talking about some John Crosses and Piers Morgans? ?
On a more relevant note, one hope that your Gluteus-Maximus, -Medius and -Minimus are all well warmed up for their 11pm “squeaky-time”! ?⚕️
AFCOF! ?
#339
Generally yes ; but watching us on Sunday was like a mid season performance in the nadir of early eighties (pre-Graham) Arsenal.
Only Charlie Nicholas can save us now !
Charlie Nicholas??? Now you’re talking!!!
It was tough getting over the loss of Chippy Brady to Italy but I still loved those years. Paul Davis, Alan Sunderland, Dave O’Leary still flying the Oyreland flag for us, the gritty Brian Talbot…Charlie of course, followed soon by our beloved Rocky. I’m forgetting someone I’m sure. Woodcock wasn’t bad. It all seemed much more “Arsenaly” back then of course, maybe it was my youth, maybe it was Highbury. It was effortless tradition and class back then and you never knew what to expect. I can’t rightly explain why mediocre results were just fine back then but not now and we even put up with Terry Neill for a good while too tho’ fans eventually did get him out let’s not forget.
The knives are already out!
http://www.onlinegooner.com/article.php?section=exclusive&id=3725#.WafugIjythE
Official….!!!!
https://www.arsenal.com/news/alex-oxlade-chamberlain-joins-liverpool
Asano scores for Japan in World Cup quailify match
So far Japan 1 australia0
He looks very lively
When does his work permit arrive!
Let’s face it we are nothing but a selling club but that is purely because we were in decline for years!
I’m hoping we will sign someone but something inside tell me this won’t happen!
Hey Lacazette can always be converted into a wing back role 😀 so Le Boss can destroy another players career!
@354
Just settling in for the 2nd half
myself.
Asano isn’t a bad player and is
well thought of in Japan. My only
concern is he may be a bit
lightweight for the PL
351 – My post didn’t mean to imply that they weren’t fun times ; and I also remember all those players you mentioned with great fondness.
Apparently Tony Woodcock is still revered in Cologne according to my brother , who lived down the road in Bonn for a few years…
The Torygraph online has an
amusing app thing where you
input your details and find out
your value in the current market.
Even though I input my age at
52 I’m still valued at 31.8m.
Now I know why we got all that
money for Ox.
So, Sanchez out only if Lemar in?! How’s about dat???
Van Dijk also in the pipeline too!
Maybe Arsene, just maybe! You might just pull it out after all! ?
Interesting link ATG @ 352. Pitchforks at the ready, mes sans-culottes!
Hold the pitch forks.
There be rumblings of activity at’ mill.
Chambers bids rejected so no Van Dijk in my eyes.
Mustafi out, Van Dijk in???
Not a chance IMO.
VVD would be great but why us ? (refrains from cricket-inspired jokes involving Holding, Coquelin and Van Dijk)
Jesé Rodríguez from PSG to Mordor City on loan?! ?
Grzegorz Krychowiak from PSG to West Brom on loan?! ?
Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich to Swansea on loan?! ?
World Cup Summer coming up! Everyone wants to play!
Another youngster gone:
https://www.arsenal.com/news/malen-signs-psv-eindhoven
According to the most recently available accounts, the interims to November last year, we had £123.7 million in cash, of which £23.3 is ring fenced for debt service. So that left £100.4 million. Of that, we have to set aside £42 million for installments on transfer fees that will need to be paid in the twelve months to this November, and, if we were being really conservative, a further £22.6 million in transfer fee installment payments that fall due after this November. Which takes the available cash to £58.4 million or the more conservative £35.8 million. Since then, pre-Ox and Gibbs, we had a net transfer spend of £26.6 million, which would have run the piggy bank down to £31.8 million/£9.2 million. So if we were being Arsenal conservative, for a club that had £226.5 million in the bank little more than a year of so back, that is starting to look close enough to being skint that you could commute. The run down in the cash is mostly because of last season’s buys and higher wages. Some £25 million more in broadcasting revenue following the new TV deal will have offset that to some extent, but the bell-end that last season became will have hit the other sources of revenue. Match-day revenue is weighted towards the second half of the season and we didn’t get much by way of Champions League games in the second half; people buy less merchandise when you are not winning; don’t turn up for games etc. Next season, of course, there will be no CL income (£53 million last season), and broadcasting appearance money could be down if we are not a top-four contender and don’t get a deep run in the Cups and Ropey League. Meanwhile, the wages, including the higher wages, still have to be paid, as do all the other operating costs, out of this diminishing income stream. The main sponsorship deals (Emirates and Puma) are in mid-term, so little chance of any help on that front in upping revenue. Getting £46.75 million for the Ox and Gibbs (assuming it is cash up front) will have helped, but even with that we could have as little as £56 million in the piggy bank — barely enough to cover not being in the CL. Even on the less conservative figures, we have £78 million in cash. Deduct £53 million for not being in the CL, and that still only leaves £35 million. You can see why we need to do player swaps and get wage packets off the payroll, almost at any price.
Superb data NBN, thank you very much. Are we on the cusp of Arsene Wenger and his cosy, amazing, technicolour financial straitjacket, mark II ?
lols
Sky reckoning we’ve bid £92 for Lemar.
lol and lol again
+ m
Superb NBN! ???
So we got Lemar…?!
Oxlade-Chamberlain becomse the first player to make his debut for a team having already played for them in the previous match.
Interesting
https://twitter.com/LacazetteAlex/status/903276620668121089
Cynic,
That is really shambolic of Wenger to play him in that game!
Too late to sign Lemar and seems he isn’t really interested in us anyway. Sanchez will stay.
It is very difficult to believe that Arsenal have bid £92m for Lemar. Lemar, however, prefers Liverpool move. If true, shows how far we have fallen in players eye after Pool thrashing.
http://sport360.com/article/football/transfer-news/246722/arsenal-agree-fee-with-monaco-for-thomas-lemar-but-player-wants-liverpool-move/
There’s no way Wenger would sanction Sanchez to Man City without a guaranteed replacement. He knows the supporter backlash would be unprecedented and his position almost untenable.
Agreed, ksn. Interesting how the BBC have not made a single mention of the Lemar “offer”.
And now Sky saying the move has broken down suggests to me that it was never really on.
It’s all gone quiet on the Mahrez front.. maybe a last ditch offer in the pipeline?
He will not be sacked no matter what he does. The fans could burn the stadium down if we sold Sanchez without a replacement and Stan would be like, “Great! Now we can move the fanchise to Truro, like I always wanted. Here’s a five year deal with increased pay, Arsene my man”
I can’t see how we can not sell Sanchez. He doesn’t want to be here anymore. What do we do? Keep a player who then sulks every week and leaving on a free? Or take the £60 and work on something for January? Yet again, the fact we have left it so very late could be the downfall of it all.
If we have really bid £90 million for Lemar and he has said no because he wants to go to Liverpool then I’m totally amazed on several fronts. The fact that we have offered £90 million for a player we originally offered £35 million for? The fact that if we have really offered such a vast and ridiculous sum that we might have checked that the player himself might be slightly interested in the first place?????
The deal we might regret not doing is Krychowiak. Just the sort of player we need.
I expect some stories to be flown now by the friendly journos like John Cross with help from the club to make it look like we are trying everything to do a deal. That superb run down from Ned evidences the fact that we will look very vulnerable when ( not if) we fail to reach the Champions League next year. Leaving it al this late is ridiculous but typical of the way we handle windows. Sky must love us
Guardian reporting an Arsenal bid for Rabiot of PSG
Sorry that should read Twitter rumours via the Guardian
Couldn’t agree more with you, Le Steve T. We must sell Sanchez and bank the money. £60m is too much money to waste on a player who is not interested in playing for us.
We would probably have got Lemar if we had bid, early in the window, something like £60m but once Pool entered the picture the price went up. Wenger said that Monaco had closed the door on Lemar transfer and then bid £92m (if any of what is reported is true) for him.
Looks like it is too late to do any business so Sanchez may stay.
Just 8 more hours of this nonsense. It will be our sorriest transfer window ever.
Evening all. Apologies for absence. Just back from Cornwall as my brother-in-law passed away on Sunday. Maybe I will write something tomorrow about our glorious transfer window.
Sorry for your loss, Holic.
Sincere condolences Guvnor to you and the Family. Sorry for your loss. May His Soul Rest In Eternal Peace ??
OsakaMatt @356.
I plugged in my values in the Torygraph thingie and now know to demand
£187 in the transfer market. But I might get my agent not to settle for anything less than three quarters that, as well as a couple of sausages.
that’s shitty ‘hol
sorry to hear that
yer sister was glad to have you around
of that i’ve no doubt
.
may i suggest a small libation
unhealthy food
and your smallest toe dipped in this madness
.
all the best chief
Sincere condolences Holic. It puts Arsenal in its true perspective
Deepest condolences H. Sad news. Love and hugs to you all. Xxx
Sorry for you loss Holic, my deepest condolences. 🙁
Adding my condolences, ‘holic, for the loss in your family.
Perez returns to Deportivo on loan. What a master stroke his signing was. No panic involved in that one then?
Can you imagine how shit our board would be at a game of monopoly???
cometh
the hour
.
cometh
LEMAR
If Wenger’s phone is red hot on the transfer deadline he must be wearing one of those oven mitts, no wonder it takes an age to get a deal sorted must take him hours just send one text message 😀
Lemar starts for France, as does Kos and the HFB. Laca and Rabiot on the bench.
Condolences on the loss of your brother-in-law, ‘Holic. Hope things are as well as they can be in the circumstances. Always an awful time whether expected or not.
Apologies holic. I hadn’t seen your note when I wrote my last post. I am so sorry for your loss.
Real life and especially family puts this football lark into sharp perspective sometimes.
we don’t need you and you and you
we got giroud giroud giroud
Apparently Wenger pulled out of the deal because we didn’t have time to complete it. All window andcwe end up running out of time. There’s a metaphor there somewhere. He will be unbuyable ( by us) next year after the World Cup.
Although we’ve not lost much in the way of irreplaceable talent ( I think Nelson will step up and be a big bonus , the window ends with me feeling that Wenger breathes a sigh of relief. He is just not geared up to function in the window and our performance is deplorable. Keeping Sanchez is a dubious gain . It’s a huge amount to forego , the rest of the team hate him and he may well not be motivated although he lives to play football.
Above all I hope everyone realises how badly this club is run at the moment. I hope Lehmann and BFG can lick us into some shape but I really dread the rest of the season. Ramsey’s #shambles teeet suggests what the dressing room currently thinks .
If we all thought last season promoted a toxic atmosphere at the ground this will be much worse. I can hardly wait
Great French goal by Griezmann. They have £52m Laca and £180m Mbappe on the bench. Interesting how well Griezmann and Giroud play together. Couldn’t Laca and Giroud do that?
Dutch are pants. RVP in the squad!
Its amazing how some of us are supposedly smarter than a man who is a multi billionaire, when we are ourselves might not even be millionaires.
Some say the billionaire is a money hungry dude. If that is true why would this man turn down selling one of his players/asserts for 60M pounds and risk the chance of getting zero for this said assert in about 4 months from now? Do the math.
TTG re Ramsey and “shambles” that was Ox’s dressing room nickname (I read on Twitter). Given to him by Per as a result of his shocking timekeeping.
Here is some wishful thinking. Why didn’t someone @ Arsenal try to sell Sanchez after the lost Neymar. If Barca is willing to pay 140+M for Coutinho, I would offered I have told them they can get Sanchez for 90 – 100M. I think most would agree that Sanchez is better player than Coutinho.
Just thinking out loudly.
Ramsey just tweeted this a few minutes ago
Let’s all calm down, ‘Shaaambles’ was a nickname used as a joke for the ox sometimes around the training ground. #personaljoke
Tapera@410
Simple answer is that your idea would require someone at the club with a certain degree of brain cells and an element of a plan somewhere. Both are in massively short supply I would suggest.
?
@408,
Speak for yourself, I’m a multi-millionaire. ?
LOL DDC @413.
rocking and rolling
been there done that
i’m fucking lee winterburn and nigel dixon two in one
i’m marlon caan
hell i’m poison interior
go pull me tail i dare you
come on arsenallllll!!!!!
and you money wankers yes you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfglWoK54I
where there’s muck there’s brass
Get Jonny Evans in quick! ??
Kos absolutely axed by Robben. Looks bad. Twisted ankle. 3 weeks at least I bet.
Should have been a pen. Irony. Fucken Robben.
TTG
We had weeks to come up with something this is exactly the repeat of Wenger’s contract saga. We have time, there is no rush and it’s not affecting the players.
Bla bla bla bla bla…..same old heard it all before! This is just a big sack of bollocks!
The owner, the board the manager all clueless!
RVP’s on!
Kos is playing on after Robben crunched his ankle, though he’s limping a bit.
Lemar (of course) just scored a worldie for France.
Sorry to hear your news Holic,
https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=dHGoWYuIHsS6aaXMrMAO&q=panic+the+smiths&oq=panic+the+&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.0.0l5.2648.9507.0.10952.12.11.1.5.5.0.1390.5453.0j3j2j1j6-2j2.10.0….0…1.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..1.11.2742.3..35i39k1j0i131k1j0i10k1.jxmcnhHZlLg#mie=e,,panic%20the%20smiths,H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLRT9c3LDYwLTc2iS97xOjJLfDyxz1hKYdJa05eY7Ti4grOyC93zSvJLKkU0uFig7KUuASkUDRqMEjxcaGI8AAAI8P5X1wAAAA
Is it time to hit the button yet????
Very sorry to read your news GH.
My sympathies H
d’ye know what
this kerfuffle
is really gonna affect
my 500 flow
.
mind you
fuck all new
sorry to read about your BIL, holic. may he rest in peace. and i expect you were a comfort for your sister.
to quote arthur the gooner
“a big sack of bollocks”
Is it better to have a big sack of bollocks or a sack of big bollocks?
Answers on a postcard, or stuck down envelope…
cynic
me out mucker
i just don’t know
obviously i meant oul
though
*touches up lipstick*
“hello sailor”
.
.
see arsènal see ?
.
see what ye’ve done !
But a multi-millionaire in which currency, Dapper Dan? We are probably all South Korean won millionaires. Some, indeed, billionaires.
Come on Stanley? Big Ivan?
Go on. You’re just keeping us hanging on. You little tinkers. Cometh the hour and bang…. The big announcement.
All are fears will be for nothing. It wasn’t all one massive clusterfuck after all. There really is a squad rebuilding plan.
i am incredibly poor , ned
but my household is full of love and beer
Our fears even…..
See, the excitement??????
i sold her an the kids
that of course
is a lie
.
.
couldn’t shift her
Campbell and Perez both go out on loan. That is £100,000 a week off the wage bill.
So, it looks like we’ve managed to keep hold of our key World Class players, and Mustafi in Central Defence, until atleast when the Winter Transfer Window comes along in January! There’s at least some saving-face grace in that, even if the financial hit that “may” now come as a result is against all that our “prudent” Football Club is supposedly meant to represent under Monsieur Arsene Wenger!
Then what’s next towards where it really matters – i.e performances on the the pitch? Well, surely it’s gotta be; have a full, open and frank “fuck-you ya lazy cunt”, clear-the-air, proper sit-down private talk as a first-team and squad of players, together with the Head-Coach and the whole coaching team! Do that immediately after you return from the inter-lull, and get it into the neck of each other, and especially to Arsene. You tell him and each other, to a man, to “man the fuck up”, so that he and each of you demand that you pull your fuckin’ fingers out. Get us on top of the Premiership table before the Winter Transfer Window comes around in January! That’s what all of we “real” fans want – i.e. for you to “be the best that you can be always!” And guess what, your “best” is pretty bloody good in case you didn’t know! Just apply yourselves always the way we all know you can for fucks sake! Just man the fuck up!
Finally, what better way to stick the finger up to the whole fuckin’ world, and show them who we are – The Bloody Arsenal – other than get up top and stay there until May!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lXAZJ28s1rU
With or without Arsene Wenger’s coaching input, it can all happen – i.e. become major title winners again! Just get that professional “win at all costs (within the rules) siege mentality” in and around the squad and on Match-days, and you’ll all be fine. Then, maybe just maybe, come January’s transfer window, both Alexis and Mesut (with a fully-firing Lacazzete and a tight-as-fuck back-line and a proper and reliable defensive strategy as a team, both Sanchez and Ozil will sign new deals when they see what this current talented squad of players, even without Ox, really can do CONSISTENTLY! ? You lads are more than good enough to win everything you play for, and it’s only been one man that’s been holding you back – I think you know that too?! So don’t let him do it to you any longer – humour him when and where need be! Do a Leicester with Ranieri and Shakespeare in the background, because we all know who was the real coach and architect of that “once in a lifetime”‘season for The Foxes! For you Gunners, it doesn’t have to be a once in a lifetime – it can be every year! And there’s only one “Big club” in London, and both Ox-Chambo and Ross Barkley know that too, judging by their ?
UTAAD&AN! ? ?
AFCOF!
You will love this one.
On this day of all days. I’m reliably informed that With two minutes to go Arsene is working for the French media at the France Holland game. You can all make your own minds up on that one.
I will leave it at that.
And there goes the groundhog…….
The window has closed. You can open your presents now, children. :0)
shortbread again
FUCK YOU BAFF
But you are rich in heart, spirit and imagination, cba.
And you have shortbread!
And he loves a great big man hug.
?
the shortbreads on a long lease
no change there
.
thank you ned
you are a fine fellow
part machine/part fine fellow
bless you brother
steve ?
i can take or leave
.
?
mooooooooooooooooooooo
Come here you big moo loving hunk. Big hug it out man hug.
You know it makes sense.
*gives in*
Probably in a minority here, but not terribly displeased with how the window has gone (today, at least). Our biggest problem is tactical, how the squad is managed, and what’s happening on the pitch….
If we had to lose one of our final-year contract players, I’m glad it was the Ox. £40m with that contractual situation and poor track record is great money.
Delighted to keep Alexis. Wenger & co have been chastised in the past for putting balancing the books first, so it’s a bit rich of ppl to be criticising the club for not cashing in on Alexis. I say we had to hold on to him if we have any ambition of reclaiming our top 4 status. 30 goals and 15 assists a season is a rare, rare commodity. Let’s see how the season pans out, and if Alexis does indeed go for nothing next summer, so be it. We can cross that bridge financially and squad-wise when we have to. A year’s a long time in football. I’m not worried about his attitude either. He’s a winner and I think there’s absolutely nothing wrong with his body language on the pitch. You can’t moan about players who stroll around, then complain about those who show passion and natural frustration when balls aren’t played at the right time etc. It’s normal high-level player behaviour.
I think moving on Ozil should have been the bigger priority. I really think Wenger must choose between him and Ramsey as #10 for future games, and play a more defence-minded player next to Xhaka.
Let’s hope the loss of Ox uncomplicates Wenger’s thinking and allows him to bed Kolasinac and Bellerin in as full-backs, and then play Per and Kos as CBs (add Holding or Monreal if we’re still going to play 3-5-2). Midfield should be Xhaka/Coq/Ramsey, and front 3 – Alexis, Lacazette, Giroud.
Only disappointment is the failure to bolster centre-midfield. We should have gone to Monaco at the beginning of the summer for Bakayoko rather than Lemar. Lack of strength and athleticism in CM is our biggest weakness, and has been for years.
*is underwhelmed*
*moves on with life*
.
?
i do apologise
now is no time for levity
???????????
collect yer stern faces at the gate
*battens down mental hatches for long posts*
Big hug coming big man.
Enjoy.
NBN @437,
A multi-Millionaire in “Scottish” Sterling Pounds! All held with the Bank of Scotland. I dunnae see any Brexit devaluation worries fer me as we Scots stay in the Euro-Zone! I’ll be a wearin’ ma kilt all the way to the New Queesnferry Bridge whilst a tourin’ in ma DBS. ?
Oh, and a Billionaire in Bitcoins too! That’s where i can give Stan a run fer his stash! ?
I think the silence since the window shut speaks volumes. Our dealings within the markets and with players contracts have been a monster clusterfuck of gargantuan proportions. Sanchez was not about cashing in on an asset. It was about doing what’s best for the team. Unless we have some master plan in place that will see him sign a new contract I genuinely struggle to get my head around the fact that we are now prepared to let him go for nothing? How we honestly think we can allow £60 million to disappear down the drain is beyond me. Whilst it’s gone under the radar let’s not also forget Ozil? Another contract with only 9 months left. Another major asset that can start negotiating his free passage in 4 months time.
The squad is short of quality as it is. How we honestly think our actions with regards to contracts and transfer dealings helps that is a mystery to me. We wouldn’t sell Sanchez because we didn’t have enough time to bring a replacement in? Give me strength. Then there’s Arsene working for French television in the final few hours? Fuck me, who runs this circus?
So what happens in 9 months time when Sanchez, possibly Ozil and a host of others pack there bags and depart? How do we then finance their replacements when they walk away for nothing? Perhaps we can use Arsene’s TV money to pay a deposit?
It’s a leaderless ship that is about to hit some choppy waters. At least with AOC gone then Hector might get to play back on the right? I mean, what on earth is that about???
I’m glad I’ve already off loaded my Bournemouth tickets. If that doesn’t go well then it could be carnage. Real carnage.
Had enough. I’m tired of it all.
Oh well, I guess our ‘trophy’ for the season will now be Europey qualification.
But at least we made a profit on the window, and no one else in the top 6 can claim that! Yay.
Is that an Arsenal 3 weeks, bath? (#418)
No idea what you’re on about in #345, Dan. #321 was OsakaMatt anyway.
Commiserations on your loss, ‘holic.
Take all the time you need summarising the window, it’s clearly not something to rush into if our management’s approach to it is any guide. 😀
Chris @468,
It was #321 when you posted. You don’t remember already? The Guvnor clearly deleted Scgooners joke at my expense about my emojis upon his return to the bar due to it’s bad taste wrt to Dorset Mick and his terminal ill health. Be strong Dorset Mick. ??
Anyway, it’s now time to move on Chris – there’s nothing else to see or be of tangible relevance anymore. Godspeed!
Hello GH,
Sorry to hear of your loss, I wish
you and your family well at such
a difficult time.
Matt
Hello bt8,
£187 ? I hope they’re top class
sausages for that. You must be
the first person this transfer
window to tell the truth about
your footballing skills.
cba,
No long post from me on the
transfer business, I’ll just
summarise for you……
2 in, several out
We likes the new ones and
we doesn’t likes the old ones.
Always good to move on, Dan. Let’s hope we can move on from this frustrating transfer window.
France have some good young
players coming through. And
some decent older ones too
( step back Benzena – when I
said decent I didn’t mean you).
Worth getting on ante-post for
the World Cup in Russia?
@457
Gregoire,
I’m in the minority with you!
In 1st team terms we bought
Laca and Kola, then sold Ox
and Gibbs.
Alexis staying is a risk but then
what isn’t really.
Good luck to Donyell Malan at
PSV. We got him from Ajax so
I hope he’ll be ok at PSV.
Good luck to Lucas and Joel
too. At least they’ll know people
where they’re going.
And a shout to Lucas for being
leery of the Toon – now there’s
a lesson in how to fuck up what
should be a big club.
And so to Ox – I usually always
wish our departing players well
but I struggled in his case.
It was easy for Kieran as he did
at least some good over the years.
I suppose it’s the manner of Ox’s
going that blurs his previous
contribution but ok I will accept
the bad with the good – best of
luck to Ox too.
Well, that’s some hard yards
through the 470’s done.
And all pertinent stuff. But
now I’m just waffling.
Batting on friendless – I feel like
Sir Geoff of Yorkshire and
England.
Or the thuggish Costa of Chav
and Spain ill repute.
Or Coutinho of the miraculous
recovery – footballer heal thyself.
I wonder how he will be welcomed
back by the supporters.
We’re not the only ones with
potential flies in the ointment
it seems.
”Twas ever thus to wax
bollockosophical
On to Bournemouth then I hope
and less waffle about money –
who’s got it and who hasn’t etc
etc etc ad nauseous.
Lies to the left of us and lies to
the right, the centre cannot hold
(well ours certainly can’t sadly),
the truth will be found on the
field of battle. It was at Liverpoo,
let’s find another truth against
Bournemouth. The one we found
in the Cup final (and Leicester)
would be handy.
Chris @475,
Absolutely! It’s now the “glass half full” time, once again!
Please, please, please Arsene; pull your fuckin’ defensive-coaching finger out! Focus on that now immediately after the inter-lull! That’s what every Gooner and his/her Gunnersaursus wants! The attacking side of our game will then just automatically take care of its self, like it always does!
UTAAD&AN!
I forgot Gabriel in the departures.
Good luck to him too, started well
the first few games but seemed
too error prone. Not much fun
playing behind our midfield at
the moment so I wouldn’t be
too critical, anyway not sure there
was going to be much of a
first team role for him this season.
Finally, as I run out of steam in
the 480’s, it’s good luck to Kelechi
Nwakali on his loan to Venlo.
He played 30 games for Maastricht
last season so knows the league
a bit now and should come back
a better player.
We’ve kept him but let a fair few
of the youth go this summer.
Some seem to see this as a
failure but to me it’s fine. We’ve
helped them along the way to a
career in football, given the
opportunity and now they can use
that somewhere else. What’s
wrong with that? The vast
majority of players come through
someone’s youth system and
generally end up where their
work and talent deserves.
As long as we (and other pro
clubs) can maintain that system
then it’s to the benefit of all.
You were not friendless Matt, just alone mate. Temporarily.
I wonder who will be so keen on Sanchez in a year’s time? He’ll turn 30 next season, and who knows which of the younger brigade will be breaking through before then. I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs a new contract with us before this season ends, maybe in January. Especially if that £400k remains on the table to tempt him. A bird in the hand, so to speak.
Ditto Ozil, whom no one was interested in buying from us anyway. I’ve never seen him as an Arsenal ‘type’ although I recognise his latent ability. Just too latent too often for mine.
Two in and 20 out (11 permanent, 9 loans). At least the Out objective was achieved I guess.
That’s 20 out over the season so far, not just the Summer window of course.
Takuma Asano (Stuttgart) Loan
Chris Willock (Benfica)
Kaylen Hinds (Wolfsburg)
Marc Bola (Bristol Rovers) Loan
Dan Crowley (Willem ll)
Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus)
Emi Martinez (Getafe) Loan
Stephy Mavididi (Preston North End) Loan
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia)
Carl Jenkinson (Birmingham City) Loan
Cohen Bramall (Birmingham City) Loan
Ismael Bennacer (Empoli)
Savvas Mourgos (Norwich City)
Jon Toral (Hull City)
Kieran Gibbs (West Brom)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)
Kelechi Nwakali (VVV-Venlo) Loan
Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven)
Lucas Perez (Deportivo de La Coruna) Loan
Joel Campbell (Real Betis) Loan
Hello Chris,
Completely agree on Alexis. Who
does know? Not even Alexis
himself I think.
On Ozil, it’s pure speculation on
my part but I wonder if he was
advised by Flam along the lines
of…….sit tight, don’t push for
a move, tell your agent to put out
no feelers and then make
your own decision on a free as
the master of your own fate.
I know there’s different opinions
in the bar but personally I’ve
loved watching him play for
The Arsenal and think he’s an
exceptional footballer. I also
believe, unlike others too I
acknowledge, that he will find
a top club very easily.
as 327 writes
Charlton Athletic a good side then and Sam Bartram in goal. I was at the clock end with my father and his brothers. Eleven years old short trouser, jacket no thermal protection then. Frozen pitch snow swept to sidelines and into the gully behind the goals, terraces covered in snow and ice. Sod health and safety 1 nil to us thanks to Ronnie, possibly the ugliest man to play to play for us. The following season champions and Rooke top scorer, 44 games 33 goals. He was level pegging with Stan Mortenson of Blackpool, it was the last game of the season at home to Grimsby Town 8-0, Ronnie got 4 and was top scorer in league 1, and it was the Grimsby keeper’s last game before retiring, Tweedy,I believe Stan got 2. The last time I saw him play he was player manager for Bedford Town in 1953.
I think it’s the memories of games and players that one gathers over time. of the championships, cup’s won and we have not done bad in my life time 1935 to now. Better then the s””t up the road. I think we have a better record at Wembley too. So has old red nose would say squeaky bum time this season. Will Wenger be here for the next transfer window?.
Yes, we’ve certainly had a clear out.
6 of 20 will come back among the
younger players I guess though.
2 or 3 made their own decision and
the majority went as AFC decided
it was time to part ways.
The modern game seems this way
and better for them and us I feel.
I did read a funny report in the
paper that Pukis has now sorted
out his left back problems with
the acquisition of Gibbs.
I liked Kieran but I’m a bit
doubtful that will be any
defensive problems sorted out.
Maybe, he’ll thrive there but
he doesn’t seem a Pukis type
to me.
Thanks Ronnie at 493.
Nice to read about that and it
is, happily, the good memories
that mostly stay.
Going along with my Dad and
brother as a young kid is one
for me too. To be Arsenal 🙂
May as well get the 500 done
while I’m here and twiddling
my toes.
Shambles said Aaron and the
Guvna.
But turns out Aaron didn’t mean it
after all.
Though I do believe the guvna
meant it very much indeed.
Raises bat, pumps fist and retires
to the pavilion for lunch
Lovely stuff Ronnie. Even if you are usurping my position as senior Gooner here (unless Delia holds that honour, but I cannot ask a lady her age can I?) and by a clear 7 years! I feel young and refreshed and ready to face Bournemouth.
Lovely place Bournemouth, I spent an idyllic weekend there with my first serious gf c1960. We had Dublin Bay prawns in a restaurant after trysting among the sand dunes of Sandbanks at a time when sand was all there was in what is now the 4th most expensive place in the world to live, apparently.
Well done Osaka Matt.
Well, the transfer window has closed and the world seems not to have ended…
May the wind ever swirl the groats up your kilt, Dapper Dan
SteveT@465: It is broadcasting revenue (45% of total) not player transfers (a net loss in seven of the past ten seasons) that mostly fund buying new players. Difficult to quantify Sanchez value in terms of TV money generated, but if he secures a deep run in the Ropey League and a return to the CL next season the resulting broadcasting income will offset at least some of the ‘loss’ of £60 million if he leaves for free at the end of his contract.
Sorry for your troubles Holic, sincerely. As sorry as I was in my now deleted sincere apology to Dorset Mick. I don’t like that my sincere apology was censored/deleted also but of course, like football, this is extraordinarily minor relative to what you two gents are going through. Enjoy the season and your bar Gooners. Coyg. .
So Ned. The facts are that we still lose out on £60 million? We might make a bit of TV money but the net result is that if things stay the same, we’ve given up on £60 million?
My understanding is that there are still some leaves where their transfer window remains open so players could still leave the club.
Some leagues even…
and so the crown for shamelessness
in the pursuit of the multiple ton
passes deservedly from west to east
nice one osaka M
(small point of order though)
your posts were both amusing
and contained useful information
a clear slap in the chops of established protocol
anyhoo ??
.
.
UP THE ARSENAL !
(yup , you heard me)
.
morning all
happy to know ye
cheerio now
?
Thanks cba but if i have posted
further it is only by mooing on
the shoulders of giants
????
of course it’s the Asian century
now and sadly the sacred cows
must be slain 🙁
????
anyway Friday night in the East
so I’m off to get treed and will
miss the 600
https://g.co/kgs/Xy7NXw ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q2fizeoT22g ?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yHfjcq3BJno ?
Apologies re the # Shaambles misunderstanding. I thought it was unlike Ramsey.
Given that our net spend was less than Fleetwood Town’s over the window and can be further reduced by the sale of Ozil tonight, I am amazed that there are those who weren’t unhappy about the nature of the Arsenal window if not the outcome.
Wenger who has to rubber stamp every decision spent yesterday working for the French media. Does he not earn enough with us. And if you contend Paris was the place to be, I acknowledge that but not if you are in front of a microphone as the window is closing. At least he wasn’t refereeeing a game for the Pope in Rome.
A hugely demotivated and temperamental Sanchez is going to push for a move in Jsnuary. He is an exile in the dressing room and the atmosphere will rival that in the ground. The pilots around North London are already filling their tanks in anticipation of the banner waving.
Older correspondents will remember 1966 which was not a glorious year for Arsenal and saw the departure of Billy Wright. In the end the fans just walked away but the chants of ‘ Wright Must Go ‘ were hugely demotivational to the team .
Lord Knows what the next few months are going to be like. I wish I had followed the example of Steve T and Trev and decided not to go so much.
I can see two causes of optimism. One is that young Reiss Nelson might get an early chance in the first team and he is very exciting and may well replace the Ox in our affections quickly. The other is that I believe the BFG will make a fine job of running the Academy next year although it would be better if he was not reporting to Wenger. He is an inspirational figure and a possible future manager. I suspect the lack of planning at the club would be anathema to him.
Otherwise I hope Wenger goes as soon as possible. I don’t see him turning this around and I would rather we entered a new era at the club asap. A sad conclusion to the career of an honourable and once great manager but he has stayed too long. A full- time career in French broadcasting would surely appeal.
The Spanish transfer window shuts tonight so does that mean players can still leave even here in the PL?
TTG
It’s going to be right hostile atmosphere at the Ems I reckon and I don’t think fans will stop until Wenger will leave the club.
Well now,
Here we are. The morning after the night before. I’m not much given to philosophical musings – that is much better done by many others in this bar. But I tell you one of my philosophies in life, which has grown upon me as I got older. That is, you can only control the controllables. To beat yourself up and lose it over something you can’t control is not healthy. So, given that I’m not happy with the state of affairs (far from the first time over the decades supporting the Arsenal) what can I do about it?
1) Stop going to games. Not going to happen. Despite the fact that my son, my constant match day companion for the last 13 years, is off to University (bless him) and so during term time I have to unload his ticket, it’s too much part of my life not to go. Plus I hate it far worse watching on TV or a stream with smug commentators. The pub is an option but I like to watch with other Gooners which is far from guaranteed where I live. So I’ll be at Bournemouth/Doncaster/Cologne and onwards. I make no criticism of any who make other decisions.
2) Don’t buy merchandise, food/drink etc. Been doing this for years. I don’t even buy a programme and all my beers/food are bought outside the stadium.
3) Join a demonstration. It may come to this. But it would need to be attended by those I respect, not the current organisers of such.
4) Give up on football and do something more useful instead. If only. It’s a life time addiction.
5) Bang on about how unfair and wrong it all is on the internet. See para 2 above.
My name is Paul and I’m an Arsenal fan. “Hi Paul”.
Just to add people are going nuts on the clubs Twitter account I can just imagine what will happen on a match day especially if he is going to keep coming up with his bizarre team selections, obviously results will play a big part too. We do look a weakened side compared to last year, time will tell but it doesn’t look good one bit.
Anyway I will get behind the team with all my heart but my head knows not to expect too much this season yet again.
Seems Rafa’s available
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/sep/01/rafael-benitez-job-offers-newcastle-mike-ashley-west-ham?CMP=share_btn_tw
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIoQzT1XUAAZnTT.jpg:large
OsakaMatt.
The new engine of the five ton. 🙂
We were told that after the manager signed a new contract that this summer would be a catalyst for change. We were a team that finished 5th and some 18 points off the champions. So to take us forward and to become a real catalyst our dealings in the transfer window amount to 2 new signings, 24 players departing and a net profit in the region of £30 million. We have players that have had longer loan periods than the stadium itself?
The failings are too numerous to keep mentioning. Players not wanting to be there. Players leaving on frees and a manager who thinks that working for the French media on deadline day is the way forward. I genuinely do not remember a period when we have been run so badly, both on and off the pitch.
TTG, Countryman, I get and understand both your comments above. I have had my season ticket at The Grove since the day it opened and have been a regular at Highbury for many many years. But I’m now ruled by the same apathy that appears to have gripped the management at this club. If it wasn’t for the friendships and match day socials then I would have given up altogether.
I went for option 4 Countryman and will be going to watch Saracens with my youngest now. £400 for two season tickets. Football could learn a lot.
One massive clusterfuck in my opinion. One that could take years and years to now put right.
All very sad.
We are in an abusive relationship with this organisation.
Our faith, loyalty, love and hopes have been persistently taken for granted and dashed.
In truth, on paper our squad is stronger than last year. The additions of Lacazette and Kolasinac more than compensate the departures. However the manager’s bizarre team selections and absence of strategy, the failure even to attempt to correct the glaring deficit in central midfield, and our fannying around in the window are major failings that compound the new widely held image of this club as a bunch of incompetent clowns.
Arsene’s urgent major task in getting all the players onside and focused again most notably Sanchez (who I expect to start throwing tantrums right, leg and centre, if he ever returns to London) and Mustafi (who must more than most wonder what the hell is going on and whether there is any kind of plan) is almost certainly beyond him. All trust and faith must be in shreds. At least Clough had the excuse of living in an alcohol haze when he destroyed his legacy and his club.
It’s time for Arsenal FC to draw a line under this and start again with a new broom or else it’s time to end this abusive relationship.
“a manager who thinks that working for the French media on deadline day is the way forward.”
I saw the pictures and thought the same. However I then saw a Twitter post that said that the pictures were from 3 years ago (at the last World Cup) and that Wenger hasn’t worked for French TV since.
Can any French or France based member of the bar clarify?
Just back from a week or so of failing to hotspot from my phone with a Greek telecomms provider slightly slower than Andre Santos.
Liverpool away and another equally pathetic attempt to re-vamp our squad in the ‘summer of big change’ have come to exactly what Bathgooner describes @522.
Thank you, Sir, for relieving me of the need to try to say anything further.
I will simply look forward to seeing you at the weekend, where I will once again try to kid myself and possibly you, that glory is once again just around the corner.
Ahemmm …..
the failure even to attempt to correct the glaring deficit in central midfield
Without wishing to suggest he is in any way The Answer, don’t forget that if Elneney had accepted a move to Leicester we would have one less body for that area as well.
Still in the bar complaining guys? Wow! Sad!
Gedo,
Simply voicing what is the current status of the club we all love. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps sad, however everyone is entitled to an opinion.
Just watched an interview with Szczesny on a Polish channel. He knew months before the season ended that he was going to Juventus all he had to wait for is the transfer window. He had a really good conversation with Wenger and he approved this was the right move for Wojtek.
Interesting….
Saracens – I had you down as a man of class Steve 😉
Only 3 sporting Institutions should be followed,
The Arsenal
Middlesex CCC
Harlequins
That’s is All. 🙂
saracens
big part o my life
.
*fills up*
ATG, of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. Unfortunately, some copy and paste the same thing for 20+ posts. Lighten up all, it’s not that bad, you could be Wayne Rooney.
Another man hug CBA??
Come here big guy.
Chippy.
The Arsenal.
Gloucestershire CCC.
Saracens.
End of.
The armoured cars, cba?
Sorry if what follows is seen as over the top from me. >>>>>>>>>>
Funny – I played Rugby until I was 30 at School, University and Club but I never got emotionally engaged with watching club rugby. England yes, and I’ll happily watch the Aviva Premiership if it’s on TV but it just doesn’t provide the same feeling as watching football.