Another Away Day Shambles For The Gunners
Jan 30th, 2018 by 'holic
There was an unexpected recall for Aaron Ramsey for the trip to Swansea as the manager revealed that Jack Wilshere was ill. The only other change to the team that beat Chelsea was the anticipated switch to Petr Cech in goal. Olivier Giroud and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were both named on the bench giving the travelling faithful a chance to acknowledge a great servant of the club and welcome the new man.
Arsenal were on the back foot early on and Ayew’s effort was mercifully deflected wide of the far post, and only a wonderful last ditch block by Ramsey prevented Mawson from a simple close-range finish. Seconds later the all-action midfielder narrowly failed to connect with an Alex Iwobi through ball at the other end.
Mohamed Elneny’s last ditch sliding tackle denied Clucas and gave me an option to say something you will not have seen here before. Lee Mason spotted that Elneny had taken the ball and withstood loud appeals for a penalty. Well done Mr Mason. Moments later Ki Sung-yueng’s long range effort skidded just wide of Cech’s right hand post. The home team were looking anything but a bottom of the table side.
Elneny again was the right man in the right place to clear Ayew’s cross as two Swansea forwards arrived in the box at pace and seconds later Mawson’s shot from the edge of the box was tipped around the post at full stretch by Cech. We did muster a rare counter and Iwobi drew a fine near post save from our old friend Lukasz Fabianski. Ayew tormented Skhodran Mustafi and dragged another effort wide of the goal under pressure from Nacho Monreal.
It was Monreal, who else, who ghosted in at the far post and was brilliantly picked out by Mesut Ozil. The Spanish left-back has been our most potent attacker of late and proved it again with a controlled left-footed finish against the run of play.
Swansea City 0-1 The Arsenal
The lead lasted but a couple of minutes. Ozil went from hero to villain when pressured into losing the ball to Mawson who picked out Clucas behind Laurent Koscielny, and he slid the ball past Cech. Koscielny appeared to be held by Ayew for a crucial second as the ball was played outside him.
Swansea City 1-1 The Arsenal
Fer’s mazy run ended in a disappointing shot at Cech with the unmarked Ayew screaming for the simple sideways pass. The Arsenal response was yet more laboured build-up and a wayward left footer by Granit Xhaka. In all honesty we were fortunate to reach the turn on level terms.
One assumes the visitors were given a verbal rocket at half-time and started the second-half with a spell of patient possession, but still lacking any incisive forward passes. Breaking at pace on the counter, Clucas got in a header from Naughton’s cross. It was yet another warning shot across our bows, and a demonstration of how we might best use Alexandre Lacazette.
Elneny took the first yellow card of the night for the team when deliberately blocking an attempted through ball with his arm. We fashioned an opening when Iwobi laid the ball back for Ozil to hit but Fabianski saved comfortably to his right. Back came Swansea and Fer roasted Hector Bellerin who will have been delighted to see Cech smother the cross.
On the hour we finally got a look at Mkhitaryan, brought on somewhat surprisingly for Elneny who had been our insurance policy in front of a busy back four. What happened next beggared belief. Monreal’s throw in from the left back berth was passed from Mustafi to Cech. The experienced goalkeeper shanked a weak attempted clearance to Ayew who promptly put the ball in the net. As cock-ups come, that was a big one. Cech is looking to be reaching the end of an illustrious career.
Swansea City 2-1 The Arsenal
Bellerin had a free-kick and a yellow card for an inoffensive looking challenge. From the resulting free-kick Cech needlessly flapped at the cross beyond the deserted far post and conceded an unnecessary corner. Xakha’s aimless backward header presented a chance to Fer who thankfully pulled his effort wide of Cech’s near post.
Ozil’s cross gave Mkhitaryan a free header seven yards out but Fabianski was equal to it and the new man’s blushes were spared by an offside flag. Cue the introduction of Olivier Giroud for what may be his last outing with a cannon on his chest. Rarely will his song have been sung with such gusto by supporters determined to send him off in the right manner.
Ramsey’s backheel and Mkhitaryan’s driven cross deserved another attacker in front of the goal. “Come on Arsenal” bellowed the travelling faithful who have seen this sort of dross so many times this season. Dyer’s surprising withdrawal by Carroll suggested Swansea were happy to defend a slender advantage. Mkhitaryan and Giroud combined to give Ramsey a chance for what would have been a treasured strike in South Wales but his first touch unusually let him down.
A complete and utter shambles of an evening ended with Monreal surrendering cheap possession by the touchline. Ayew was allowed to run all the way into the area and clip the ball back for Clucas to smash home his second goal of the night.
Swansea City 3-1 The Arsenal
So welcome to the Arsenal Henrikh Mkhitaryan and hopefully Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Yes, you have joined a club capable of the sublime, but away from home this season we have largely been ridiculous. This latest humiliation will have surprised few. Credit to Swansea for taking advantage of a wounded animal. They were ruthless tonight.
242 Responses to “Another Away Day Shambles For The Gunners”
1st?
I’ll have a first then
God, you are fast.
Latest humiliation didn’t surprise me, Holic. Lack of nouse in offence and complete lack of defensive competence underpinned that nicely. Yes, credit to Swansea. One more nail I’m afraid…….
Ooh you sneak Arthur 🙁
We need a goalkeeper urgently, for some time now
And a couple of defenders
And a holding MF
Most importantly a Manager!
That takes Dire to a whole new level – Surely to God he will go now. The signings coming in and players going out scream things are happening behind the scenes with regards the future, and it cannot come soon enough.
Noticed Ozil not into group hugs after our goal.. probably pissed that Giroud is leaving.
If anyone’s in for him ..he’s gone for sure.
What an awful result. After the pathetic display against Bournemouth we now lose to the bottom team. How awful is that?
Even with the excitement of the new arrivals we desperately need a CDM( how many times do we say that ?) and we need better central defenders. I was kind to Cech recently but he is going downhill and needs to be replaced.
The summer will be a time for creating a new defence and defensive midfield. And hopefully for putting in place a much better manager.
Maybe after the league cup final… when we beat city… Then perhaps the new manager will come in…
And save us from relegation???
Get in! Now to read the post and from last drinks:
I switched it off there’s is point me watching them they and the manager should be ashamed after this sort of performance there is nothing in that team with this bloke in charge! Even if we get Messi we would still be shit!
We had time to prepare for this game extra time as well and we produce this garbage! This club is not functioning on the pitch where it matters the most. We are a still a football club for crying out loud and if anyone up there’s still has any brains left in them and not just blinded with his salary should do something about it!
BTM – I think I identified your lovely Irish singer in the previous drinks…
We desperately need to get rid of this manager. No other manager in world football would have such an abject defence and midfield, do no coaching with it despite having a top class (world class?) denfender sat on the bench, whose only job appears to be to help the manager out when he has coat trouble, and sell off/replace all his attackers.
Sack him.
Should have sacked him five, if not ten, years ago.
Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass run into defender, Get caught with a ball over the top, 8 players caught ahead of the ball 3 against 3 fall over the ball gift a goal to the opposition – Arsenal circa 2014
I’m sort of amazed really that the players that have left recently, don’t seem to say anything about what a shambles behind the scenes it must be?
They all seem to still be in support of AW even after having left?
We are an embarrassment beyond anything I remember, even in the 80’s when we was proper rubbish at times.
After the Man U 8 -2, several further daft results before that like losing to brum in the cup final, several canings by the likes of Wigan and Stoke after, how the hell can he still be in a job?
So fucked off right now 🙁
Apologies Mark a shot of wiśniówka is on the bar for you ?
Dammit! Looking like another season of Thursday nights..
My cherry certainly needs replacing arthur 😀 😀
Disgraceful.
Tortuous build up. Dreadful to non-existant defending. No threat up front.
So many times.
I never thought I’d be able to say it but this club is depressing me.
I hate criticising the manager but please go now – something has to change.
While I appreciate giving Giroud the chance to wave goodbye I cannot believe he was on the bench tonight. It’s such a fragile transfer,part of me still refuses to believe it will go through.
If Giroud had been seriously injured what the hell would we do?
I also refuse to believe that Citeh can just peel off some notes and sign Mahrez because Sane will be out for two months. It’s a ridiculous transfer and underlines the fact that while obviously a fine manager Guardiola is head of a financially doped club.
We are just managed by someone who is doing a good impression of a dope
Go Ollie, just go, save yourself good man
Agree totally that Arsene’s race is run. I earnestly believe he is going this summer. I have no problem with anyone wishing him gone sooner, as long as it is expressed with a lack of venom he doesn’t deserve.
He should go because a new team is taking shape that is not his. He is not being allowed to manage the club in the way that he has for over twenty years. He is holding the tiller until a structure has been put in place for a new Admiral.
Pray he can leave with a League Cup, or better still, a European trophy to his name.
I may copy and paste this as a blog tomorrow.
Can I just add that must be the slowest, weakest midfield pairing I’ve ever seen – Holy shit they made Leroy fer look like Paddy reincarnated but with the added pace of usain bolt – They looked to be running in treacle.
Final word of the night as – of course – anyone remotely associated with the neighbours has decided to send me a text enquiring what the score was, which is;
The irony of Fabianski conceding just the one goal whilst our super duper worth 10 extra points a year keeper lets in three hasn’t escaped me. 🙁
@12 Thanks, Cynic. Well spotted. Very talented lady.
@20 Well said, Holic. The nails in the coffin are being hammered in one by one after every performance like tonight’s. Hopefully we’ll see a Cup win or two and then a fond farewell at season’s end.
Swansea/West Brom/Southampton/Stoke,bottom 4 teams,2 pts out of 12 away from home.
If you include Hammers and Bournemouth who were in the bottom 4 when we played them,that makes it 3 pts out of 18 away from home against what was effectively the bottom 6 teams.
There is a clear lack of self belief among the playing group away from home.
There does not appear to be any clear structured plan on how to set up and play on the road.
It is only our home record keeping us in the top half of the table,and the incompetence of those below us,that we are somehow still in 6th place.
Swansea clearly deserved to win,played as if their lives depended on it,while we meekly surrendered yet again.
I remember Arsene saying once,years ago,that it was very hard to keep the players motivated in league games when they had no hope of winning the Title,and that they saved their best performances for the Cups comps where they still had a chance of a Trophy.
On this and previous away day disasters we seem to have given up all hope of a top 4 spot as well.
I sympahise with your sentiments ‘holic, re: Wenger getting respect.
But right now I feel like he had the chance to go with the deserved respect 4, 3, 2, 1 years ago. Or even in 2011 after getting EIGHT goals stuffed past us at Man U, just a few weeks after losing to Brum in the cup final.
He’s certainly losing credibility and respect at a greater rate of knots that I would normally reserve for him anyway.
Say it ain’t so. How can we lose with our “reliable & highly productive” performer Iwobi a starter as usual? Oh I get it, the water logged field had something to do with the loss.
This won’t help claw back those three points down the drain or win any points in the future but I think a game like this needed our now dearly departed ‘crazy coq’. Ayew was left with too much space to influence the game in crucial moments. Le coq’s agricultural style would have gone along way in handling this…….not even important…….speaks volumes about the need for a proper CDM. Gilberto Silva??? Has it been that long??? How many have we signed since?? And we still haven’t figured it out. How did we not sign mahrez last summer????? We can talk all we want about what arsenal needs but in the end nothing gets done!! Not the first time i’m considering quitting arsenal entirely. Surely…this can’t be good for my health. The price we been paying is getting too high as gunners, not even speaking financially. Same sad story. The novelty of the invincible wore off a decade ago…….i’m not even angry.
Unfortunately Kenyan, quitting isn’t an option. It’s a life sentence 😀
That was just horrible.
Nothing else to say.
The real sad part is I honestly thought he was going to give them a kick up the arse at half time, instead he set them out exactly the same as in the first.
I have only respect for the guy but he’s tarnishing his legacy. Time was to go at the end of the season after winning the cup.
It’s a sad story however it ends. It reminds me of Fergie a little he knew when to walk away. Arsene still thinks he has it in him which I admire but not at this level anymore. Football moved on it time he moved on as well! Very sad indeed!
Mark
Exactly!!
So the “disruptive” Alexis Sanchez can’t be blamed for this latest shambles away from home, Arsene! ?
Shall Pierre Emerick Aubameyang be your Dennis Bergkamp? ?
I bloody hope so. Please just go voluntarily at the end of the season! ?
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF! NAWF!
Too right MTS @ 29
It’s part of the love deal and you signed up for life!
I’m surprised he didn’t see how bad we were in the first half and didn’t do anything about it!
I was hoping he’s long enough in the game to notice these things 🙁
Please declare that you’re going in the Summer, so that Ozil and Jack can sign new contracts in preparation for the new guy that’ll be coming in!
Thanks BtM. Here is to another ‘Friends’ day out next month.
Here was me looking forward to celebrating 100 years in the top flight in a couple of seasons … now I’m worried failing to reach the mark could be AW’s lasting legacy.
Yet again the point I very much wanted to raise has been highlighted by TTG@18. If Ollie G is an integral part of the transfer merry go round then why was he even in Wales, let alone playing? It’s not as if we are bomb proof when it comes to injuries is it? Bizarre in the extreme. I would genuinely love to know what thought process was used to make that decision?
I’ve not seen or heard any of the game. Sadly performances like this have been happening for many years now. The difference is that more have actually woken up to the fact. Hopefully, the changes that have taken place are the start of the future.
I was actually going to get to the Everton game on Saturday. I’m beginning to have second thoughts. There had better be a few regulars in the Tolly?
I earnestly believe he is going this summer.
I don’t. He’ll stay for as long as we let him and we’ll let him for as long as he wants to.
If Ollie G is an integral part of the transfer merry go round then why was he even in Wales, let alone playing?
For the same reason Theo played days before his move, when it was all over the papers the deal was done, and the same reason we played OX against Liverpool when everyone knew he was going there.
Clueless management.
Chris, really disappointed with that post. Sorry, but that is nonsense.
Cynic,
Wenger is gone!
The only say that he now has in our club, is with the current squad he his on match days, and his team selections and tactics. He alone still makes those decisions, and with what he’s still got at his disposal.
Wenger’s pretty much now being left to his own devices with the squad and Colney so as to prove to his employers that he deserves the right to finish his “charitable” two year contract extension. Sadly for him and his legacy, he’s failing on that front this season; with the – CL re-entry being the minimum requirement come July 2018.
The signings and sales being made right now this transfer window (Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang in; Sanchez, Walcott, Coquelin and even Giroud potentially out) are all being lead by Mislintat and Sanllehi with Gazidis baxkstopping in full support. They are signings and squad changes being made for the next Head Coach and Man
-Manager; they’re not for Wenger.
Wenger lost much of his mojo, even with Stan Kroenke, when he failed to get back onto the Champions’ League gravy train this season. As this 2017-18 season has progressed, and that genuinely wanted title challenge with its base minimum CL re-entry, have pretty much already disappeared already, the little remaining mojo that Arsene had to continue to be given the benefit of the doubt by the majority shareholder and the Board, has all but now disappeared.
It is sad but it was inevitable, because Wenger isn’t the majority owner of our football club; and the majority owner does want to keep on making money from his investment. QED!
Wenger’s Arsenal tenure is about to end. One just hopes, because of all the good he’s done for Arsenal for over two decades, he at least gets the chance to pocket the League Cup as a parting “farewell” against the new kids on the block that are gunning for a historic quadruple. A fitting achievement for Le Prof (Emeritus).
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Dear ‘holic
Yes it was nonsense, even I know that. Just frustration that the Arsenal are going backwards while what would otherwise have been AW’s legendary rep is similarly diminishing as every year goes by. He should have gone years ago, as some of us urged repeatedly, but still it continues with no certain end in sight.
Disgruntled of Wellington NZ.
If the signings and squad changes of Mislintat and Sanllehi (with or without Gazidis’s support) are being made for the next manager, Dapper Dan, this would assume the next manager could be already identified, and maybe even have an agreement in place. Any suggestions?
To further clarify, ‘holic, I don’t for a minute imagine the Arsenal in the Championship this side of the Sun’s red giant phase when all will be engulfed, including football.
Only seen the high, er, lowlights. A question pops through my head though. WTF was Xhaka doing on their first goal. The answer: Standing around doing nothing when he was in a position to defend it. It could be time for some quality, I mean quantity, bench time for him and a few others.
Ugh. I’m glad I currently don’t have the time to watch the matches (I watch the highlights (lowlights?)), and I’m resigned to us being a boring, mediocre team for the near future. But what really irks me is Wenger having a go at Nacho for letting the ball run out for a throw in. A player who is arguably our best defender, best striker, and a decent human, and made a decision based on his professional judgement that it was okay to let the ball roll out. When is he going to rip into Xhaka and Mustafi for being brainless defenders. For the first goal, Clucas literally jogs past Xhaka and was probably surprised as anyone there were no defenders near him when he received the ball. Do they get a pass because they cost 35mil, which Wenger agreed to?
The scrap at the bottom of the table is looking far more interesting at the moment than anything that is happening in the top half. Laughing gas please, barman.
No one with the heart to take the 50?
I’ve nothing to say about our non-performance
that hasn’t been said so i’ll just say thanks Guvnor
for the report.
Chris,
Yes, I’m very much of the belief that the new Head Coach has already been identified, and will now be coming in in the Summer. I’d hazard a guess at either one of Luis Enrique or Joachim Löw. But either way, it’ll be a manager that suits the style of play of Ozil, Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang.
Mislintat and Sanllehi wouldn’t have come to Arsenal if they knew it was still going to be Wenger for too much longer. Gazidis probably told them that in advance. Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang wouldn’t have come either, and Gazidis probably told them that too. Alexis Sanchez was probably told too, but he wasn’t patient enough to wait and wanted shit loads of cash too! ?
Ozil probably knows Wenger’s going too, and he’s waiting to see exactly who the new Boss is going to be before he puts pen to paper. He knows he’s getting a nice sign-on fee regardless anyway, so, happy days! ?
Mesut and his Family love living in London. Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan will love it too more than Greater Manchester and Dortmund. Who would’nt, right??? ?
UTAAD&AN!
100 per cent agree, Dan.
And regardless today’s fiasco, with Mikh, Aube, Mesut, Laca, Jack, Nacho and Rambo we have enough class to reverse recent fortunes. So long as the defence gets as much focus as the attack by the end of the summer window. A couple of Italian CBs would do nicely.
Ttg
Your post ‘re city
It is disgusting they are allowed to splash 50m plus simply to cover a slightly injured player.
That fucks me off more than the result last night. It’s another nail in football’s coffin for me.
Cheers H!
Bag of shite.
DDC@51: Low would be an interesting choice. For all his success with the German national side, he has never coached a European top-20 club and the only league title he won was Austria’s Bundesliga with Tirol.
Is Ancelotti still in the frame?
DDC & Chris,
I don’t believe Wenger extended on those sort of basis, he would NEVER agree to those terms whilst a manager of Arsenal FC.
Let’s be honest here it’s not just Wengers fault is it?
We have been in decline for years slow decline but still going downhill, can you honestly blame Ox, Sanchez and others for leaving? I honestly believe this goes way deeper than this. Some players take that privilege for granted and keep failing the manager. The manager himself keeps failing the players too, it’s a two way street and Arsene hasn’t got any cure for it.
Those upstairs should have never allowed him to renew for another two years end off but on money side he keeps everyone happy and winning the FA Cup was a good selling point too. Football has moved a long way and Wengerball no longer exists and there is nothing he can to to rebuild as his approach in no longer effective.
It’s a mess and not just that on managerial front but also on the board level and above. Let’s all be clear here they have also allowed this to go on for far too long! These are the effects of having no balls towards once a great manager. Sad story indeed.
DDC@ 51
I tend to agree the new signings added to the changes in the backroom coaching set up say to me a new man is identified and ready to take over from the summer, It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if the outgoings are players he has identified as surplus to his requirements, As they say a Leopard does not change his spots so I cannot for a second believe Wenger is being so Savage with his squad – Id also take a punt he will be German not sure it will be Low though.
Ozil if the rumours are true also seems set to stay which again adds weight to a new German Influence at the club as he would have also id imagine been told of the clubs plans before penning any new deal, Lets hope we can send Wenger out on a high.
Chris @52,
I agree – this squad is going to be top quality up front. Add if the “to be expected” defensive strategy and in-game discipline required of any professional side at the highest level are finally instilled, they’ll all be more than good enough to challenge on all fronts as a team and squad. I’m actually quite excited about it more than before with Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang! ?
Over the years of not challenging for the big trophies, it’s all been about the mindset of the squad being wrong; and that has to have come from the training ground with the coaching and motivational stuff that they’ve been exposed to. Arsene Wenger is “Mr. Easy-Street”, and has been for way too long now. There is no competitive profession at its very highest level, where that kind of “laid back” style, will be tolerated indefinitely when results become regressive. That’s arguably why Arsene’s “nice-guy” coaching-style has stunted the career development of some of English football’s brightest young players over the past decade. Players have come and now gone since the relative mediocrity has set in, but one lowest common denominator has always been ever-present.
Regarding Joachim Löw, NBN; if he brings some defensive discipline from his rather successful international post, he’ll do just fine and he’ll be given the time to optimise it. What better coach to get the best out of Ozil week-in week-out, than the one who manages him for his National Side?! ?
As for Ancelotti, when you’re already out of the top 4, it’s best to pick a longer term appointment and let them work properly into the job. Anyhow, we’re not the Chavs who need a transition manager for our out of sorts league or Champions’ league winning squad. We’re already in a transition right now with Wenger.
Regarding the constant hammering of the Owner and the Board as exhibited by ATG, I think it’s now abit unfair as they’ve actually been incredibly understanding employers to have waited this long till they started ring-in the changes. It shows how highly Wenger has been thought of in the club, and the respect he’s deserved. Incidentally, that’s the way it should be for the classy Clubs like ours. ?
Additionally, if the Board and the Owner are so bad and so disinterested in investing to win stuff with Arsenal, why would Mislintat and Sanllehi have chosen to come to Arsenal when they could have gone to any of the very top European Champions’ League-regular club’s out there, instead of coming to a team club with a team that’s seemingly on a decline? Mislintat himself was wanted by Bayern Munich when he left Dortmund but instead he opted to come to London and to Ashburton Grove instead! Hmmm….? Perhaps we won’t be so very badly off, after it’s all over?! ?
Absolutely Chippy. It all seems rather too coincidental, for it not to be for some progressive purpose?! ?
I think that with the playing personnel we have we should be doing so much better than we are. That must mean that the manager isn’t cutting it. Add to that his refusal to sign and use an actual defensively midfielder or evidence that the defensive side of the game is anything more than an afterthought and surely there will be a new manager/head coach come May.
Ozil is about renew which is fantastic news. If we are letting Giroux go to Chelsea then I hope it’s for an obscene amount and we sign at least one defender!
I have to agree with Mr G Holic. I really hope Wenger leaves on a high winning at least one pot preferably both so we do get CL football next season for the new regime.
Mickey Batshit’s loan to Dortmund agreed, according to the BBC
We made unusual and massive mistakes that was the killer
I bet Cech still plays at the weekend, as will Xakha, Bellerin and all the players he has said were “not good enough”.
Because after all, they’ve all been “not good enough” often this season and they all still play, they’re all still here and not sold off.
I gave up on my stream last night, so have only just caught up on sky’s highlights.
We fielded our best available back 5 last night and shipped 3 really dreadful goals against the bottom team in the league. Arsene pulled off Mo who at that stage of the game was our best defender and replaced him with an attacker in his first game for the club. We had just about survived at 1-1 but taking Elneny off was criminal. I know he had a yellow card but surely Iwobi was the player to sub.
What followed was just another debacle in a season of away debacles. We got what we deserved, a lesson by Swansea in how to play for the shirt and the fans.
With an incompetent defence we have just spent £60m on an attacker with an attitude problem and have sold the HFB to the Chavs for a song. Who dreamed this one up? We’ve needed a top class DMF ever since Gilberto left, Cech wants replacing and with Kos’ injury hampering his performance and the deputy CBs not up to scratch, surely a world class CB should have been the priority buy.
Where do we go from here?
Great post Holic, as all your posts are. A voice of sanity and proportion.
There is a paradox here. If we did win those two trophies we would see a ‘dead cat bounce’ similar to last summer and Wenger will cling on.
So we are in the invidious position of almost wanting the team to fail to ensure regime change. I can’t countenance wanting Arsenal to do badly . I’d like Wenger to voluntarily step aside so that he can be feted by the many thousands who still respect him. But he’s his own worst enemy. His inability to imagine life without Arsenal is his problem- but it’s Arsenal’s all the time he is there .
I hear that Ancelotti is lined up to come in and may hear more tomorrow when I am dining with somebody high up in Sky who is a Gooner. Meanwhile if we can sign PEA and Ozil commits to a new contract I will be a happy bunny.
Couldn’t get a stream to work last night.
So followed game on BBC via the phone.
Wife nearly left me due to my language…
Good job she wasn’t here today when I watched the ‘highlights’.
Nothing to add to GH @ #20. In full agreement with that.
Alex going for a Song? Deja vu at the Grove. Surely we can do bette4vtgan that? We would be the oldest team in the league!
Sorry- better than that? I’m a bit flummoxed by events!
Dortmund have just announced that Aubameyang has left them and joined Arsenal.
Confirmed now by Arsenal.
Welcome PEA man.
After six years we finally replace RVP.
PEA is a Gooner
Perhaps we can now find replacement for Dixon, Adams, Bould, Keown and Winterburn!
I’m embarrassed to admit to listening to Talkspite late one night last week, and heard an ex “top, top, gunner” laying into our current team. The star in question was David Hillier, now a fireman apparently.
Right. Fuck CSKA Fulham, that’s what I say. £50 million Plus Courtois for Ollie G or they can bloody well swivel.
Just keep everything crossed that the phone lines to West Brom are all down.
The sad thing is DM is that Hillier might well get into this current side? With or without his hose???
I hope you are well my old son.
Are we taking the PEA out of Dortmund or is it the other way around? Time will tell.
According to the BBC Ozil has signed a new contract
@74
Steve T !
Now there’s a sentiment I am fully behind.
Fuck the Chavs.
Surely, there’s a gooner somewhere who
can cut the lines 🙂
No clapping, cheering and whooping?
Me neither.
Ozil has just signed a new deal with AFC say the BBC.
Not altogether adverse to Ancelotti.
We have a very good team of players.. now if only we could get them to know their positions and be coherent as a team..
Good news if Ozil signed.. means we are building a new team as it stands. Now to keep an eye out for some defenders.(Before Pep buys them all up!)
Excellent news re Ozil.
We retain a world class, world cup winning player.
Pints of Efes all round!
Ozil, 29, becomes the highest-paid player in the club’s history – earning about £350,000 a week before tax.
Ridiculous money.
As happy as i am with Mesut signing and Pierre being a Gunner, without 2 established center backs,a gk and a DM, we can bring in Messi as well and nothing will change.
is it all because of Arsene? well frankly it does not matter, the great man has run his race and can leave end of this season, hopefully with a league and a europa cup as memories. It is over Arsene, please accept it.
Who to replace him? Diego Simeone please, we need someone who can kick the balls off players who play without a care in the world, that way he would have knocked the stuffing off Xhaka, Mustafi, Cech, Iwobi, Bellerin and even Monreal yesterday. Wait he could have just lined up the whole lot and kicked them for they were that poor.
Great news about Özil as well.
We need to put Chris on a constant watch for welfare reasons. First Theo gone, and then a new contract for Mesut??? Might just send him over the edge.
Now to get Jack a new deal and to give him the armband.
Right, just to complete the day, can anyone on here play at the back? I was a left back of some repute back in the day but did this wing back malarkey. I reckon I’m still good for at least 20 minutes.
Agree with Cynic, ridiculous to
pay Ozil so little 🙂
I’m happy to be wrong on Mesut as
I really thought he was off.
If decent players sign contract it’s like winning the league ha ha
Steve T I can sub you 20 minutes in 😀
Doing the hamstrings right now Arthur. Bring it on.
It’s like the old days with this “like a new signing “ stuff???
Steve T @ 75,
Alive and kicking, thanks. In fact I might look out my boots and show them what a really bad defender looks like!
apart from signing a top class defender (put your hand
down Evans) the best finish to the day would OG failing
to agree terms with the Chavs.
For Cynic and Chris, courtesy of Opta:
Since his PL debut in 2013, Mesut Ozil has created more goalscoring chances (458) and provided more assists (49) than any other player in the competition.
Since he made his league debut in August 2006, Mesut Ozil is the only player to have created over 1000 goalscoring chances within the big 5 European leagues.
Worth every penny. Now imagine if we had a half decent striker who could score goals?!
It wouldn’t matter who we signed at the back, they’d still need coaching and we just don’t do that kind of thing.
We had one, Barack, he scored 34 last year but because we don’t have a clue defensively it matters not a jot.
As for Ozil, he is the player who best sums up Arsenal for me. Inconsistent, capable of brilliance but too average too often.
When he clicks he’s excellent. But that’s the team as well.
Small but brief wave of good news approaching? If so we should enjoy it and do what fans like me do. Cheer the players and hope it may become a bigger wave.
Now, which player was a having a go at? 😉
a = I
in this brave new world.
Now all are problems are solved
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FdDtCB8xw
Run that sucker up to the brink.
@65 TTG, I’ve convinced myself that he’ll step aside voluntarily (and that’s good enough for me, I’m the first person I listen to 🙂 ). The sands of time are flowing, the new structure is nearly in place and these away defeats are coffin nails. Even if we win the Europa and League Cups (which I’d love, but I doubt…….I’ll wash my mouth out with soapy water in a minute) I think pressure from above and some deep reflection will see an end of term departure announcement followed immediately and “The new boss is…….”.
With JW, Ozil and Mkhi we have three of the most talented creative midfielders on the planet. Two of them can also score goals. Two of them can and also want to tackle. Any chance we can swap Xhaka for a Gilberto Silva type before the window slams tonight?
Ridiculous money, Cynic? Certainly. Bu also the market, badly distorted by oil revenues and Russian finances of very doubtful origin, but the market nevertheless. The only things that have got a gazillion times better and cost less are colour TVs.
Steve, if you can just get your waistline down to that of your prime, I think you might be in! Cirque Du Soleil on Saturday in preference Everton. Sunshine trumps toffee. Solly, no Tolly.
There we go again. “Give Jack the armband” Really?? Is he even a starter on this team?
I assume Ozil, Laca, Pea & Mkhi are starters no questions asked. In the back you have a Kos (whom I think is NOT a leader), Mustafi, Berrelin & Monreal. Given the soft spot that the manager has for Ramsey as long as he is fit, I would say he is a starter.
So that leaves 1 spot between, Jack, Xhaka & El Neny.
Width BtM. You know much I am a fan of width.
Tapera, from that three? Jack by a mile. Elneny a competent squad player. Xhaka will be transfer listed by any incoming manager. He and Mustafa combined constitute £70M down the gurgler.
I assume Ozil, Laca, Pea & Mkhi are starters
I don’t see it, personally, but what do I know. That looks like a four into three positions jobby to me, unless you’re going to expect someone like Mkhitaryan to do a defensive shift in midfield, which we probably won’t get even if we want it.
Of that four, you are definitely going to want Ozil in (even if I don’t rate him, he’s signed a new deal so the manager does and he will pick him) and PEA and Mhikitaryan worked so well at Dortmund you’d be nuts not to pick both.
Lacazette is on the bench for me, which is hard luck on him but he’s hardly set the world alight so far.
The midfield behind this three.. fuck knows.
You’ll delight in Theo’s provision of width for the toffee men on the weekend no doubt, Steve. What are the odds on him to score? I expect he’ll get a good reception even if he scores. Likeable lad. Just lacked heart and talent. Worked harder on his golf game than his profession.
Mustafi does not play the same position as JW.
The money in Football is totally ridiculous. Especially at the top level. I read only a few days ago that Alexis is on £400k a week. Hartlepool FC are on the brink of going out of business. They need £200k to survive. If that doesn’t highlight all that is wrong with the game then I don’t know what does.
But sadly, it is what it is. The money for Özil is excellent business. Letting him walk away for free would have been a disaster and eventually would have proved far more costly.
For the first time in many years I can actually see some positives re the transfer market, and the future. We have stagnated at best for many years. Maybe the new injection of talent and n the backroom may at last be a step in the right direction.
Of course we are still very short defensively. But a wise man once said, a walk if 10,000 miles starts with the very first step. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new beginning. It won’t happen overnight, but at last we seem to be moving in the right direction.
Cynic. I think you need to at least try and think positive. You are worried about 4 into 3? With our injury record???
BtM. Just as long as he plays like he did for us then I will be happy. I just hope the linesman is on his guard.
Seems ironic, considering the way we have been run in recent years, that you miss Saturday’s game to attend a circus???
Cynic, this was the number that Grainne Duffy did on acoustic guitar in Edinburgh at the weekend with nothing more than a bar stool for support. I was impressed.
Wonder if cba is personally acquainted?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWC2GgZakNE
We’ve got Aubameyang, we’ve got Aubameyang, we’ve got Aubameyang, we’ve got Aubameyang
Ecstatic about this signing!
We’ve been after him for years. Ox, Theo and Sanchez out Lacazette, Miki and Auba in. I’ll have that.
Sad news about Ollie though!
I just hope these new boys will work harder and more consistently for the shirt. With Ozil’s new contract and Jack set to re-sign and succeed Mertz as Captain, Wenger needs to lead this team to Europa and League cup victory, extend for another year to add certainty to the squad and add some more quality in the summer!
Anything less would be another set back!
Coyg
She does have a very good voice but I’m not a great fan of Da Blooze personally.
I’m absolutely delighted about Ozil. This gives the lie to the ‘ he has only played well because he’s in the shop window’ argument. He has got himself a new contract but with Nacho and Jack he has been our most consistent player ( in a good way) . He loves living in London and is getting engaged to a girl who also loves London and he now has some serious quality around him- but not behind him. That hopefully will come in the summer. Our wage bill has gone up but looking at the last two windows we have shed Chesney, Gibbs , Ox, Theo, Giroud, Coquelin and Sanchez and brought in the Tank, Laca, PEA, Mkhitaryan and Mavropanos and extended Ozil’s contract. .that puts about £150 k per week on the wage bill, especially if Balague not Ornstein is to be believed and works out at a Net new spend of no more than £10 million. That’s why the suggestions about no more money left to do deals is a little surprising.
In the summer I’d like to see
IN
Butland
2 new CBs
A serious CDM
Promote
Nketiah, Nelson and Mavropanos
Out
BFG – retired
Xhaka
Mustafi
Iwobi
Ospina
There you are Arsene…or whoever . Job done!
I would agree with your outs and I’d add Welbeck to those. The most important IN though is a manager and it’s looking suspiciously like things are being set up for Tuchel, rather than Ancelotti.
I am questioning my own sanity as I write this but here goes…
I don’t want Chelsea to get Giroud unless we get David Luiz in the deal. Straight swap anyone?
Anyone else hearing the whispers about Sideshow Bob turning up as part of the HFB deal? Not sure how I feel about this one.
I mostly agree those too but If Danny goes we have to
add a Cf/Wide player to the shopping list. Problem is finding
anyone any good who would like to compete with Laca and
Auba for a place.
Also if we buy Butland Cech will leave I think so we’d
need 2 keepers.
I haven’t entirely given up on Mustafi yet but then
I’d add Ramsey to TTG’s list. And I hope not but we
may have to face facts about Kos soon.
Giroud gone, photos of him holding up his Scum shirt online.
Love him or loathe him, this weakens our squad and strengthens theirs. Fuck his World Cup, should have kept him.
OM – Samir Nasri’s available 😉
It doesn’t weaken our squad. We have one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the world and they have someone who has warmed our bench this season- nobly it must be said. Giroud is effective but limited. You have to either cross the ball effectively or play to feet. We have now got a blisteringly quick finisher who can play on the shoulder of the last defender . I wish HFB enough success to ensure he goes to Russia but not much more at club level. But he served us well and we must be grateful but I don’t quite get the revisionist view of Giroud as some sort of superstar that’s doing the rounds now. He wasn’t good enough to hold down a place and in fairness to him I’m pleased he can get first- team Football. I’m not sure he starts for them either if Morata is fully fit.
GSD
My thoughts exact!! I hate Chelsk. We’ve helped them out enough!!
To add to my point earlier, if Wenger doesn’t start with Auba, Laca, Ozil, Miki and Jack he will firstly need his head examining and then he should be assessed for a seat up stairs and a freedom pass!
Sorry Wenger but I luv ya!
Cynic,
🙂
That would be a left field choice
I’m off to bed perchance to dream
– I hope it’s not about Luiz or
Evans.
It really hurts seeing OG in the chelski shirt
Screw these permutations
It weakens our squad as we no longer have a lump it in the middle player to put on when we need one.
Although Dortmund must be kicking themselves, swapping PEA for Batty
Bould out!
Yes to most of that, TTG, except Iwobi, much more to come from him.
Bould out!
How’s that?
Ha! Caught it.
Reportedly back in for Jonny Evans today. I’m stumped by that.
Cynic @114,
Don’t Mislintat and Tuchel dislike each other? Isn’t that why Mislintat left Dortmund? ?
Hi all. Putting these thoughts together from Hurghada where Mrs Countryman and I are catching a little winter sun. Got in tonight and, once I got the WiFi working caught the glad tidings on the BBC.
Let’s be generous and leave last night to one side.
I’m absolutely delighted with what I think is our best transfer window in many seasons.
Sure there’s more to do in the summer, but the thought of watching Auba, Laca, Miki and Mesut do there thing for the next 3.5 seasons is mouthwatering.
Back to caviar boys!
I’m absolutely delighted with what I think is our best transfer window in many seasons.
Perhaps not surprisingly I think we’ve had an awful window.
We may have signed some decent players for once, but we have strengthened two teams who are ahead of us that we’re trying to catch and one below us that is trying to catch us.
Improving three direct rivals, in one way or another, is not great business especially as we haven’t done anything to address our failings in midfield and defence.
No complaints with the quality of player we have bought in, although I have reservations about PEA, but we have given three players who scored 70 goals last year to direct rivals. Not good.
Fuck me Merson not sure if PEA is a good buy… doesn’t know his age or much else about the player but gets paid a shit load to spout drivel on a subject he has little insight into.
Prize chat supporting rwat.
Even though I am slightly sentimental about Giroud leaving and that too for Chelsea, the squad shake up was long overdue and it is indeed surprising that it has happened in January. Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan are great signings and should blend in our playing style harmoniously. Ozil signing a new contract would be amazing news – players like Aubameyang will benefit immensely through Ozil’s service. I still have no idea how Lacazette and Aubameyang can play together in the same eleven but hopefully we will find out or stumble upon a way to do that soon. Would have been great if we had signed a defensive midfielder too but hopefully Ainsley Maitland Niles will be given his chance there soon.
Debuchy has finally left the club and that means we only have one specialist Right back in the team – Bellerin. I hope that we do sign someone for that position before the window shuts. Otherwise Maitland-Niles will be left playing the role of a back up right back instead of starting games at the base of our midfield. Ideally we should be signing someone who challenges Bellerin for a spot in the starting eleven but if we can’t secure such a player now, we must get a back up option even if on loan until the summer.
DDC@132: Tuchel fell out at Dortmund with Zorc, too. Also, it is said, Dortmund signed PEA on Mislintat’s say so without consulting Tuchel. If true that would make for some interesting dynamics if Tuchel did come to the Ems. I wonder if Ozil’s new contract adds fuel to the Jurgen Low rumours.
Also rumours around that we are in for a shopping-cart dash for Roma’s Manolas, who wouldn’t be a bad addition to the defence at all; 26-years old, 33 Greece caps and more than 100 Serie A games under his belt.
Ah – I knew my brief period of agreeing with cynic had to end, and it has!
Celebrating with Egyptian brandy tonight!
Chuka Akpom (Sint-Truidense), the Jeff (Angers) and Bielik (Walsall) all off out on loan.
Alex Song, the DM formerly of this parish, has just been released by Rubin Kazan.
Celebrating the end of our agreement or the transfer window? 😉
walcott is on fire
Cannot begrudge Debuchy (32) or Giroud (31) a move at thier age to regular football especially as this will probably be their last shot at a World Cup, too.
Jordi Osei-Tutu is probably our reserve right back at this point, though the U23s have been shuffling him around between RB, CB and RM — blooding him as a wing-back, possibly.
Oddly, very few right backs seem to have moved in this window.
Cynic @134, the only player who one can say with some degree of certainty of strengthening a rival is Alexis Sanchez. If Mkhitaryan does well for us then that blow is definitely softened considerably. From what Ox has done in half a season at Liverpool, it is difficult to say that he has made great impact for them. There have been promising signs but that’s always been the case with the Ox. Giroud will clearly be playing second fiddle to Morata and only time will tell if Chelsea will benefit from him greatly. An 18month contract tells you clearly that they don’t expect too much from him and it would not surprise me a great deal if he left Chelsea in the summer in case things don’t go too well for the remainder of the season for him. So whilst we have sold players to our rivals and I can understand your reservations, I don’t think we have strengthened our rivals too much.
But cheer up mate we finally got a fast pacy tall striker!! That surely doesn’t make an ‘awful transfer window’. If anything it’s been a transfer window so typical of Arsenal teams – we mess things up and then we make the best of that mess!! Hopefully it will be caviar – ish as pointed by Countryman100.
FEEOOOOO oops wrong website.
As you were 🙂
So it seems in the right team he can score fair play to him
Theo is on fire, as Chris will point out. SSY already did I see, but it bears repeating. Theo is on FIRE.
Spuds making Utd look very ordinary at Wembley.
Although Maureen’s ten man away defensive set up was fucked after Spuds scored in the 1st minute.
Should be a very tasty NLD there next weekend.
And Alexis not ?
Shirley we are Gunner sign a defender/DM…
Desi,
One problem our midfield need to supply balls to this pacy tall striker, we know Laca doesn’t really get any service in all honesty. I don’t want to sound negative here but we have issues all over the pitch, right back, centre back and defensive midfield and most of all our keeper issues need to be addressed.
Should have never sold Szczesny to Juve.
Theo is scoring again perhaps it’s not the players that are bad perhaps is the guys who sets them up.
Iwobi will never become the player we all want him to be under Wenger same for Bellerin and others.
I see our youngsters are keeping the flag flying in their respective Cup Comps.
The under 18’s came from 4 -2 down against Norwich in extra time and leveled up with the last kick of the game.
Won the penalty shoot out 5 – 4 to reach the semi final.
The under 23’s are also through to the round of 16 in the FA Youth Cup.
Still on for the Treble.
ATG,
I already mentioned that we should have signed a defensive midfielder and a right back. I still think that Koscielny and Mustafi can be a good defensive partnership but they need some protection from our midfield. Even the best Centre Backs in the world would look terrible if they are left so exposed by the midfield. The midfield balance has never been found since Santi’s injury and the resultant breaking of the Santi-Coq partnership. If we get that midfield functioning smoothly with a man sitting deep and doing the dirty work ( want to see Maitland-Niles play there but Elneny can do a job there too from the evidence of the last couple of games ) the central defenders will start to look much better. I would also have faith in young Holding & Chambers and slowly start giving them game time to ready them for the future.
Walcott has looked like a world beater even for us in a few games in the past. The only problem with him is that he goes missing for half a dozen games after a couple of good games. So I wouldn’t get too bothered by his hot streak in the odd game. I certainly won’t put it down to excellent coaching by Fat Sam of all people!!
Bournemouth 3 up on Chelski…guess we can be outdone ?
Our loss to Bournemouth isn’t looking so bad right about now…
Isn’t it time to get Giroud on?
😀
Clive
The U18s with a weakened team because they play in the Youth Cup on Friday, beat West Ham 5-1 yesterday. They have a really good crop of boys being coached by Kwame Ampadu
I’m delighted for Theo , he needed a good start and this is perfect for him
Ned
I understand Osei- Tutu is very highly thought of but we are a little short if Bellerin gets crocked. I guess Chambers would fill in.
Fellaini on, Fellaini off, hahahahahaha
TTG
Very encouraging,
Whether the new manager will be quite as open to giving the youngsters a chance at the top level as Arsene has been,is another matter.
Let’s hope so,although the demands for success at the top level,seems to be blocking the youngsters pathway at all the top Clubs.
Let’s all laugh at Bus stop in Fulham ?
United have looked terribly ordinary against Spurs… Sanchez nowhere near close to scoring a goal or an assist. And Delle Alli has escaped another potential red card…
Alli really is a complete tool. Thinks he is hard but looking like a drag act before the wig goes on sort of ruins the effort to be rock.
Spidey theme song:
“Aubameyang, Aubameyang,
Scores whenever, a striker can,
Is it left, or is it right,
Or a header, however he likes..
Look out! Here comes Aubameyang!”
Maybe, switch the however/whenever part..make that boy feel welcomed
@ bus stop in Fulham.
What did they do now?
F
A
R
C
E
!
Desi,
I share your thoughts on our defenders not being protected by the midlfield. Xhaka is really prone to just switch off he’s not suited for that role anyway, I agree Elneny has improved even though sometimes he runs around like a headless chicken maybe he can do better with a run of games. As for the young players Wenger needs to have all the senior guys to lead the way at the moment we are shot of confidence a little. I’m a bit concerned with Kolasinac not playing regularly though. He was one of the best left backs in Bundes Liga last season.
We need better tactics for games and a bit more direct approach Aubameyang (hope I spelled that correctly) should add speed and muscle up front. Laca for me doesn’t cut it he’s weak and gets pushed out the way most of the time. I thought he was very slow against Swansea. Jack and Ozil is a must throw Ramsey towards the end to give him game time. We missed Jack on Tuesday night as well please get them fired up for the next game and the next after that not just one in a blue moon.
I’m looking forward to seeing PEA in that shirt!
ATG at 151: “…we know Laca doesn’t really get any service in all honesty…”
ATG at 168: “…Laca for me doesn’t cut it he’s weak and gets pushed out the way most of the time. I thought he was very slow…”
He gets ‘service’ but makes nothing of it, or he doesn’t get enough ‘service’. Which one is it ??
Both! 🙂
In other news, I’m coming slowly around to the idea this may have been a decent window for us, not least because we didn’t spunk any dosh on Jonny Evans, even though we reportedly tried to.
Ters,
He doesn’t get any decent balls to him from what I have seen, he gets those little passes inside and and then he gets muscled out every time, put it down to the way we play I suppose.
Yes, to me it looks like he is still adapting to our game* as well, and crucially, has yet to develop a proper understanding with Özil on the pitch.I wouldn’t go as far as saying that he gets little service however.
*whatever that is, nowadays! Now that PEA is here we’ll have to invent a whole approach, so we will have to see.
Theo Who, bt8?
And for the record, Steve T, I’d been saying Walcott should leave for the sake of his career (and my sanity) for ages before he finally did. Best thing for the lad, and if his double today presages a minor flood of goals I’ll not be surprised. Just hopefully not including this weekend!
I’ll also bet he scores more goals for Everton than Laca does for us. I queried Laca’s lack of size for a striker forcibly before he was signed. Yes, some are smaller – Aguero for example – and Ian Wright was the same height, but these were exceptions and I think he’s being found out now. He’s scored a few nice goals for sure but he’s pushed of the ball too often and spends too much time doing bugger all for mine. Perhaps he’ll adapt in time, but the Prem is a tougher proposition than Ligue 1.
Seems the window is done
thank fuck.
On the surface, it went ok Auba in,
Mkhi in and some serial non-
performers out. Sanchez/ Ozil and
hopefully Jack’s contracts sorted
out – Sanchez went and we gave his
money to Ozil. Didn’t sign any
second rate stop-gap CBs.
Defensive/Midfield problems remain
to be solved but in the short term
I hope we can focus on getting the
current squad to turn up and try to
get some silverware out of the dogs
bollocks they’ve made of the season.
@174
I’d take that bet Chris
Especially as Laca is younger and already has
8 or 10 🙂
Not sure about the criticism of Laca in a few
posts, seems a bit too soon to decide about
him. He’s adapting to a new, tougher league
and not surprisingly has looked less sharp
as the season has gone on. Personally, I
think this time next season will give us a
better idea of whether he can be a top
class PL striker.
Good luck to Debuchy, McGuane and also
the kids out on loan.
Good luck to OG too – not sure why he’s gone to
sit on the Chavs bench instead of actually
playing for Dortmund, maybe Mrs OG really
does make the decisions.
She probably does, ever since she caught him with that other woman.
After she caught him ‘playing away’ is what I should have said. 🙂
Compared to previous January transfer windows, this one has been a blinder! I’m sorry to see some of all of our favourites go, like most we all desperately wanted them to be successful, but there comes a time when the dead wood has to be chopped.
To see Theo score though is just further evidence to me that our tactics and set up under AW are just clearly wrong. Pissing about passing around the 18 yard box from side to side is the most frustrating part.
I said before that there’s not much difference between Laca and Theo, time will tell now.
Can’t see Tuchel coming btw, too much history of animosity there.
As long as it’s not Pulis or Hughes I don’t really care though 😀
And along come Chelski to put a defeat to Swansea into perspective ha ha ha
Chris,
One little mistake……
🙂
Women, eh Matt?
Yep, at least Arsene gives second chances.
TTG@159: Fair point about Chambers, and I’d forgotten that we still have Carl Jenkinson on the books (currently on loan at Birmingham City). To ‘desi’gner gooner’s point, Chambers and Holding need playing time to learn their craft if they are going to be our CB pairing of the future.
last i heard, Birmingham want to
send back Jenks and Bramall –
though it seems nothing happened.
Anyway, they don’t seem to be
playing, which is a bit of a waste.
Maybe now with the attacking talents we have
Auba Mkhi Laca Ozil Jack Ramsey… Wenger can just work with them and let Bould or Doris the tea lady try and mold the rest into some sort of defensive unit…
I remember Giroud was poop when he first joined. But once he got going he became a fans favourite.
I think fans need to give Laca the same bout of confidence so that he doesn’t lose his.
Just my opinion!
Hmmm I may have sounded a bit direct there.
I am a fan of Lacazette. I just feel that once we start playing to his strengths more (allowing him to make runs behind), he should get more goals.
But I do see the frustration that some fans have with his playing style. The main thing is, is that he is a finisher.
Let’s hope for more improvement throughout the squad!
I think it’s way too soon to judge Lacazette. The team have been so inconsistent with all the Sanchez stuff going on as well. He’s a quality striker. We don’t have to have a plan B target man if the alternatives are top quality. And they are!
A front 4 of Auba Mkhi Ozil and Lacazette could be devastating.
But AW has to get over his Xhaka fixation.
Chambers and Holding need playing time to learn their craft
Preferably at another club with proper defensive coaching. I was slightly alarmed to hear that we were trying to get Holding out on loan but it would be the best thing for him. Anyone can see he’s got the ability in him, it just needs a proper coach to do the job of developing his obvious talent.
He’ll go nowhere if left to do it himself.
The lack of defensive midfield cover won’t help Holding or any of the defenders. I also think Cech will hardly imbue confidence at the moment.
Dexter I agree.
I feel like jack could be that guy with a little help from Kolasinac or even Maitland-Niles.
Xhakas possession and awareness gets the better of him sometimes.
Cynic@164,
You made me piss myself!
Here’s the team I’d play from here on in.
Ospina
Mustafi Kos Nacho
Bellerin Jack Elneny Mkhi Kolasinac
Ozil
PEA
I think that’s a solid 11 as long as Elneny sits in front of the back three. I still think Chambers can become a top CB along with Holding but the former has been poorly managed to date in my opinion. Perhaps well go for Evans for 3m in the summer when West Brom are relegated! We’d also need a GO a proper DM and perhaps a wide forward.
However I’d like to think some of our young players will get more chances. Maybe even AMN in that problematic for Wenger DM role. We’ve never replaced Gilberto ffs.
Where is our FITB?
Only OOTB momentarily I hope.
Back four please. Everything else almost doesn’t matter.
*sets it up*
Boom.
Cheers Cynic.
There is a strong rumour from sensible sources going around that we are looking to bring in Jogi Low as manager after the World Cup. This may have arisen because of the stronger German profile developing at the club or be based on real facts.
I would estimate that only about 5-10% of Arsenal fans do not want Wenger to go but many ( and I include myself ) want him to be treated with respect given his enormous contribution to the club.
We are at a funny stage and it is impossible to estimate where we might finish, how we might play and how the changes will work with any degree of confidence.
I do find myself rather excited at what could happen. Our attaking potential is enormous possibly the equal of anybody in the league but it is hard to be too optimistic with our defensive set-up. It’s a bit like 1964 which some of the old’uns will remember. Baker, Strong, Eastham, Armstrong , McLeod, Skirton- we had goals coming out of our ears but looking at the defence we had Magill, McCullough, Lawrie Brown and co ever ready to ship a hatful of goals.
This season is going to come down to whether we can win the Europa League or not to get back into the CL. The Carabao Cup will be a nice day out but means bugger all. Auba can’t play in the Europa but if he can lift the place and we get a structure that incorporates our best players sensibly ( a diamond midfield?) I think we might end on a high note. But with thus team , who really knows?
What a weird club we are. Top salary shoots up from 140k a week to 350k in about a week and we smash our transfer record again. Who said Wenger didn’t have cash at his disposal. But, wait, he didn’t do any of these deals did he, nor the disposals…he couldn’t negotiate his way out of a brown paper bag. We know that only too well. This has been a superbly managed window, transforming the likely loss of our only two stars for zero into three stars with long term contracts and departures that yes we can all live with…and I too loved OG, tho not completley in that way. And what about that low 80k salary offer to Wilshere ? Brilliant ! Totally threw us off the scent ! Left to his own devices after 5 or 6 good games Wenger would surely have offered Jack a Theo-esque 140k ! Hell, put everybody on 120-140k or was that the structure already for the first XI + bench ? Let’s not also forget that if Wenger had been generous enough and far-sighted enough 2 years ago he probably could have signed up Ozil and Sanchez for 200k a week then. But let’s face it, he wanted to be the first man on 200k a week and so it came to pass with his new deal. But just as you start glowing for our bold new future, you hear we low balled WBA last night with an insulting 12 mill bid for Evans, in that part of our formation where we leak 3 goals a game to bottom 5 outfits and where we see top international reputations and fine young careers literally exploding every time we take the pitch. WTF. But we’re getting there… I think. It is indeed a cunning plan we hope, get more attackers in now, still keep blowing up in the League, run around extra hard in the one-off cup matches so Wenger can leave, head held high. Yea, that’s it. Then get our new man monsters and inspirational leaders to heal our feeble spine. One crazy club. On yer bike Wenger, the Dortmond lads are showing you up, good and proper. COYG.
I’m up for any formation which will include a front five of Aub, Lava, Ozil, Miki and Jack!
4-4–2 seems the most sensible to give Jack some support in the middle however, with a three at the back Kolasinac and Bellerin would have to quick. AMN would also fit this equation too.
…the Dortmund lads as well as the Dortmond lads…
*goes shopping for the best brand of feeble spine strengthener*
you hear we low balled WBA last night with an insulting 12 mill bid for Evans
Personally I feel valuing him at £12m is flattering.
Acronym pushers, that would be FSS.
Wouldn’t give 12 quid for Jonny Evans personally, Cynic.
Jonny Evans could make a 33 year old Mikael Silvestre look world class.
Sven Mislintat. Does he like Jonny Evans? Doubt it.
Pardew quote: “Jonny is a very very important player. He is a great player. He is part of the spine of the team.”
Feeble spine syndrome again?
We got Mesut Ozil and even though he is not better than Zidane, he is our best no 10 after Dennis and for whatever reasons it maybe, he has signed the contract which keeps him here till 2021. At a time when most are jumping ship, this is away from the norm. Before a few or a lot come and say he is so and so and let us see how long he stays etc, i really am just happy he choose to stay be it for 300,000 reasons or for one. Love you Mesut.
Loew or Jardim or Carlo or Simeone, it looks fairly certain Arsene is set to move or leave. Unless we turn this around amazingly now on, top 4 is gone, we cannot win the Europa with this defense and i just think these were some of the primary things agreed upon before his contract was extended. Sad day it will be when the great man leaves but then it is time boss.
Chavs and Mancs were laughable but spurs did look good. NLD next weekend will be well worth the watch and let us LMAO at them with all 4, lacazette, Mhki, Auba and Ozil playing.
In terms of lacazette, i maintain, he is the better finisher than Auba.
I would have loved to have replaced Theo with Moura, who went to Spurs instead for just £23 m only. He is a very good right winger, with Theo’s pace and is a much better technical player. I can, however, understand why we didn’t go for him. Spuds snared a very good player for peanuts, the fuckers.
35 mill mustafi, 19 mill chambers, 10 mill debuchy…..index-adjust them for transfer fee inflation of, what, 25% per annum ? That’s at least 100 mill in today’s footy money. Then 12 for Evans very fair indeed or even the 15 that would have got him.
I like Lacazette, but I don’t think we’ve been playing to his strengths. The one thing about Auba. is we have to do just that. Indeed we must build the team around him, given that he’s no hold-up merchant, or it seems particularly good with the ball. Set him up with the chances, and he’s proved he can be lethal, but the usual fencing for openings around the box will leave him high and dry; so we simply have to be more incisive and get the ball inside the box as often as possible.
Scgooner, Just because we could have gotten Jonny Evans for 15 million does that mean we should have gotten him? I see Evans has been the heart of a defensive unit that has conceded exactly 34 goals this season, the same number that Arsenal have conceded.
Maybe without Evans WBA would have already conceded twice the number, is that your argument?
The thing about PEA that slightly concerns me, apart from his mentality issues, is that he spends so much time in the box. We don’t really hit the box without ten minutes of passing first, so we’re going to have to move the ball with a lot more tempo and intent than we have in quite a while.
Obviously with HM is the team he should know what PEA wants and be able to deliver it.
I just hope the others can get out of PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS PASS mode.
in the team, not is the team lol
hoping his brain is not the size of a pea
gas
brake
gas
brake
cba?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5s3QSrRsQ4&list=RDS5s3QSrRsQ4&index=1
News flash: “Mahrez is understood to have told Leicester his emotional state is not strong enough to play football at the moment.”
It sounds like that would automatically qualify him for the Arsenal team then.
I think he’s solid bt8, reads it well and some leadership qualities. Seen much of any of that with our lads/girls lately ? Did you also notice Northern (sorry Norn) Ireland (Iron) getting 7 clean sheets in their Group matches recently, marshalled by guess who ? More importantly, we need bit of a drop of Irish as we haven’t had much lately bar (no pun) a couple of failed youngsters (alas) and before that Stevie Morrow, he who was fekked unceremoniously on the ground by Big Tone. Sure I only got involved cos of Rice, Nelson, Devine, Stapeo, Dave O’Leary, Jennings (ok, closet spud) and the phenomenal Chippy Brady. Slight lie, it was actually CG and his 71 winner but u take my point. And what with French lads and Great British core now falling like skittles is it not time for a bit of Green, as well as Armenian, Gabonese, Greek, etc, etc. ? COYGG
I’m sorry but I have never thought of Jonny Evans as a super-top quality defender, and I can’t help thinking that our own (admittedly much less experienced) defenders would be vastly improved with proper coaching.
ozilaubameyangmkhitaryan
digest that
here’s the tune for ya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuV0ixmHnRw
but…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYuYtgzqLjo
or…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZv1KXAehXs
Let’s have some
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl114U0m6eg
I would estimate that only about 5-10% of Arsenal fans do not want Wenger to go but many ( and I include myself ) want him to be treated with respect given his enormous contribution to the club. TTG #202
That was my position until well after the decline became apparent, TTG, But enough is enough, it has dragged on too long. A song for Arsene … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmrOHxS_cK0
One aspect of current football reporting in social media is the utter misuse of the term ‘legend’. As in ‘Arsenal legend says wrong striker was sold.’
Sky employ any number of dubiously talented pundits and one such is Paul Merson. Merson a man who did not respect the club enough to turn up to the closing of Highbury- we were a club that nurtured and protected him while he literally pissed his career down the toilet .
Now he is the oracle that holds court on how to play and how to behave. He was an awful manager and though a talented player never got close to reaching his potential because he was a brainless twat.
Hence his suggestion that the now sainted Giroud should have been kept while we sold off Lacazette should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Sorry I don’t buy the cockney geezer schtick that Merson brings. Give me Alan Smith, Nigel Winterburn or Martin Keown anyday. Men who behaved like professionals and have the intelligence to articulate their views following a career in which they squeezed every drop of talent out of themselves. I’m not impressed by pundits pontificating on a game that they treated with contempt or which they were utterly useless at just because they have the capacity to make arses of themselves as TV requires. Step forward Merson, Robbie Savage and on TalkShite the incoherent Mick Quinn.
Well said, TTG. Shout down the pipe of that oracle, I say. 😉
To be fair, Merson is probably a legend in his own mind.
Chris Sutton to add to the gob Shiite list
TTG@230: More bellends than legends.
Give me Alan Smith, Nigel Winterburn or Martin Keown anyday.
Two of those have been highly critical of Ozil all season and wanted him sold. You sure? 😉
Billhoooks, thought i closed the tag
I did. Shit, sorry folks.
*Specsavers visit booked*
Pardew doesn’t half talk some bollocks.
I thought 12m fair enough for Evans too.
Glad they turned it down.
I only skim read that piece but it sounded like “Yeah we might have been ok with 12 but only if you’d haggled us down for a couple of weeks first”
Santi was named in the Europa
League squad – does anyone know
anything about that? I thought he
was for another several months at
least.
“was out” I meant to say
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>