GUNNERS MARCH ON TO WEMBLEY!
Jan 24th, 2018 by 'holic
The manager opted to stay with an unchanged formation from that which accounted for Crystal Palace at the weekend. The only change of personnel was the recall of the cup tie ‘keeper, David Ospina, for Petr Cech. Chelsea opted to start without a recognised striker, but with a triple mobile threat of Willian, Hazard, and Pedro.
A cagey start ended with Alex Iwobi surrendering possession with s careless pass across the face of our goal area but fortunately Bakayoko’s shot was deflected for a corner from which Moses scuffed an effort well wide. Then Pedro did put the ball in the net from an offside position. VAR was not necessary but after six minutes Hazard was sent clear by Pedro to finish comfortably.
The Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea
Stung into action the hosts were denied when Caballero made a smart double save from Jack Wilshere and Nacho Monreal. Then Bellerin’s ball across the face of goal was helped out for a corner. Nacho Monreal’s header ricocheted off Alonso and Rudiger and into the net. The latter got the credit for the own goal. We were level 78 minutes from the securing of the ‘holic pound.
The Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea
Hazard’s reward for bringing down Mesut Ozil and stopping a Gunners counter-attack was the receipt of the first yellow card of the night. Hi next act was to dummy a cross that gave Willian a good chance but he dragged his effort wide of the far post. A long ball over the top gave Alexandre Lacazette hope but a couple of defenders surrounded and dispossessed him.
Midway through the half and we appeared to have reverted to a back three with Iwobi withdrawn to left-back and Monreal playing more centrally. Willian limped out of the contest and was replaced by Barkley, Chelsea’s newest acquisition, making his first appearance of the season. He was welcomed by a challenge which earned Wilshere the second booking of the night.
Barkley then avoided a caution when he scythed through Laurent Koscielny near his own goal-line. Xhaka’s free-kick from a tight angle shaved the crossbar near the far post. It would have been some goal had it been a few inches lower.
The rotational fouling of Ozil passed from Bakayoko to Christensen, both of whom were spared any further action thus rendering the ‘tactic’ an early success. Rudiger’s lunge into the back of Lacazette ended another attack. With Chelsea successfully breaking up our forward momentum the game was slipping into a coma as the half drew to a close, although in time added on Wilshere put Ozil through and the playmaker watched on as his effort bounced agonisingly wide of the far post.
Granit Xhaka was first to try his luck after the break but he lifted his left footed strike into the North Bank. It looked as though the Gunners had reverted to a back four as our fluid formation mutated once more. Elneny took up position alongside the central defenders when Chelsea broke early doors, but when they counter-attacked it was Xhaka who produced a magnificent slide tackle on the edge of our area.
Chelsea seemed happy to sit back and invite us to find holes in their well-drilled defensive lines. With the advantage of an away goal they needed no more. Another attempted break reached a bizarre end when Hazard threw himself to the ground under no challenge whatsoever. Michael Oliver could clearly be seen to say “it was a fall” when presumably asked about the lack of a second yellow card for the dive.
Against massed ranks of five and four the Arsenal once again found themselves playing from side to side, lacking any incisive forward threat for long spells. When Wilshire tried to do just that he was flattened by Kante, again without as much as a warning. Ozil finally sprung Iwobi on the left and his cut-back was inadvertently put just over the bar with his clumsy clearance by Azpi
The goal we needed arrived as the hour approached and it owed a lot to Lacazette who held the ball in the box and saw his cross deflected by the unfortunate Rudiger into the path of Xhaka who flicked the ball into the net. Cue euphoria around the Grove.
The Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Bristling with intent, the Gunners drove forward again in search of a killer third goal. That forced Antonio Conte to send on a striker, Batshuayi, for the ineffective Pedro. Chelsea tried to seize the momentum and Monreal was carded for body checking Hazard. The card made a rapid reappearance when Moses lunged in at Iwobi.
Back came the Arsenal. Hector Bellerin and Lacazette combined to provide another shooting opportunity for Xhaka but the ball was deflected to safety. Again Kante slammed into the back of Lacazette, again Oliver kept his card in his pocket. Zappacosta came on for Moses, and Chelsea looked at that point as though they needed the fresh legs. We could have sealed it when Ozil broke and found Iwobi unmarked in the centre but his first time strike from seventeen yards found only the legs of Caballero.
Chelsea had to pour forward in the last ten minutes and from a well-flighted corner Rudiger head over under pressure from Mustafi. That signalled a double substitution. Lacazette and Iwobi were withdrawn to a standing ovation with Aaron Ramsey and Sead Kolasinac coming on. Xhaka, enjoying as good a half of football as he has played for us, burst in behind the Chelsea back line but couldn’t quite get the volley right.
Tense minutes ticked by. Chelsea won a free-kick that Alonso sent flying into a delirious Clock End. The chants of “Arsenal Arsenal” reverberated around the Grove. Into the last of the ninety minutes. How much added time would be signalled? Four minutes were signalled to a collective groan. The tension grew. Ozil was flagged offside and twice Elneny as the last man headed clear. “Arsenal Arsenal”.
Alan Smith named Nacho Monreal as the man of the match. Not a soul would disagree with that. Into the fourth added minute and Columbian Dave grabbed a cross and nursed the ball like a bag of the finest Charlie. And then it was over. A performance in which we had shown massive cojones had delivered a memorable triumph.
WEMBLEY, WEMBLEY, WE’RE THE FAMOUS ARSENAL AND WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!
349 Responses to “GUNNERS MARCH ON TO WEMBLEY!”
Wemb. LY.
Arsene Wenger masterclass 🙂
sad day for rock n roll
great day for football
raise yer glasses
Nacho should become snooker player after he retires! 😀
It’s fair to say this is Xhaka’s biggest moment in an Arsenal shirt. Poacher’s instinct.
Are yellow ribbons ‘de rigueur’ in February, Holic? Not that I had a ticket of-course, but I live in constant hope 🙂
How many times have I watched us play much better than that against, Chel$ki and lose?
Job done, we played all.
Back to bed
Am thinking these players are out to clear the doubts of certain set of Alex(es) And show them how this parish became stronger after their departures.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42809676
I’ll keep my eyes peeled BtM. I suspect it will be a ballot again.
In tube queue being abused by the losing semi- finalists. A game of two halves which in the end we deserved to win :. More later!
Excellent report, Guv’nor. There were times in that game where we just parked the bus. But ends justify means, and all that.
As Delia, I think it was, pointed out a drinks or two back, Nacho makes a huge difference.
ATG@10, as I said in the previous drinks, we’re going to need a ‘Holic cryptopound.
Cheers holic for tip top match report of a tip top result. Nacho man another MOM performance ( another overpriced purchase ? ).
What a pleasant turnaround as we now have a hold over the bus stop in Fulham – at least whilst Conte is in charge (but maybe not for much longer).
Wemberley Wemberley – back to our second home in february ?
Nice write up H.
Another trip to Wembley? I’ve lost count of how many thanks Mrs that is Under Arsene.
Well we rode our luck a bit, especially with the goals. Sky have just shown the first one again. It’s even funnier in slow motion. And what a tremendous use of an opponent’s boot by Lacazette for the second?? The only disappointing thing with it all is that Maureen is not still in charge. How funny would his interview have been?
Nice to see the side play with some character in the second half. Whilst we got some luck with the goals it’s worth remembering that they only had two shots on target. None in the second half. Nacho a deserved MOTM.
I bet the spuds will all be glued to the TV for the final? It will be nice for them to see the ground full for a change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUiPs1PxKo&sns=tw
Ever in doubt?
COYG
Di’s is one of d best match for arsenal Di’s season,they all play,even without Sanchez, ozil play wit d team today,he should be man of d match .
I say, old chap @18. Would you be kind enough to repost your drink in English?
Thanks awfully.
Sadly that tube queue didn’t move and off we’ve gone to Finsbury Park.In the wait I’ve read H’s excellent report. Very different game to the league match and we have a different defence with Nacho at LB. Sll gave of their best except for the match winner who was largely useless. Lacszette worked well with no support and Ozil had a fine second half . Liked Mustafi tonight too and Elneny was effective in the second half
Dortmund reportedly rejected our bid for their striker.
Is it a case of them telling us … PEA off?
*ahem*
Alexis who?
At least ‘Alexis who?’ was what I was thinking before Iwoeful’s late howler. Then I couldn’t help thinking what Aubangabomb would have done with Mesut’s excellent assist. If Dortmund want £50m give it to them ffs, and throw in Iwobi for free (or an extra £10m to take him).
That’s 3 wins and three draws from our last six games against the chavs? Makes a change from the Moaninho era.
Finally finished reading your excellent report, ‘holic. “Columbian Dave grabbed a cross and nursed the ball like a bag of the finest Charlie.”
Now we know how you like to celebrate the big ones, GH. 😀
Iwobi was extremely hardworking tonight and tackled back very effectively but almost gave a goal away with a stupid pass across his goal area in the first half. He had a much more effective second half stopping Moses and then Zappacosta from getting forward. He should have put the game to bed in the second half though
One key thing tonight was that Arsenal looked much fitter than Chelsea in the second half. Chelsea were treading water for the last half hour. Credit to our lad’s conditioning
Iwobi had a typical curate’s egg, TTG. He stopped Moses on occasions, but failed to do so at least as many times. His passing was awful and his shooting laughable. The best I could say is that he he put in a brave effort.
Is Danny not fit? Because, while Danny is as iwoeful in front of goal he’s a better winger.
And the NDR pound comes in @ 9/2. Great second half performance after a dreadful first half. Happy Days.
I must say, Antonio Conte is very candid in his post-match remarks about Chelsea’s new signing: “When there is an injury to one of your best players it is not simple, especially when on the bench the only substitute is Ross Barkley.”
TTG @ 26. I think we are fitter as AW has mainly run 2 teams for the first half of the season whereas Chel$ki’s squad is actually somewhat smaller and Conte has had to play most first teamers in many more of their games – champions league innit. They do seem somewhat knackered ?
Just back from a brilliant, loud, crazy night at The Arsenal . Crowd were up for it from outside the stadium through the concourse to the all standing North Bank, where the singing never stopped. First goal hilarious, crazy pin ball head tennis. After a dodgy first twenty we tackled and fought through the whole game. Elneny – best game for the Arsenal. Jack and Ozil imperious. Laca a real scrapper with back to goal. Iwobi terrific and really imposed himself (if only he’d taken that gilt edge chance laid on by Ozil). Nacho, Hector and Mustafi just closed the game down after we went 2-1 up.
I’m going to yet another Wembley final in four weeks time. I know the way and it’s already in the satnav. Life as an Arsenal fan is a living hell isn’t it?
One negative on a great night despite the travel problems was the fact that I had two people whose villages were missing their idiots. Banal drunken idiots with very little understanding of the game they tried to move my mate out of his seat so they could sit together. Every time I go to a League Cup game I meet similar fools. If I was forced to sit with these people every week I would move.
Anyway it’s my birthday now ( Burns Night) so this was great preparation.
happy birthday thunder T
?
Not sure about sticking that lot next to the junior Gunners.
Coins flying about.
So glad we beat them.
Swerved the queues and walked to Walthamstow.
Blinding night.
Struggling to sleep,
ooh mohamed elneny
ooh mohamed elneny
ooh Container Driver
ooh Container Driver
sad day indeed silly SY
Is it my imagination or do we play more games at Wembley than the Spuds? It’s like our second home ground.
Ursula K LeGuin RIP
Not sure mentioning authors is the done thing
but anyway I thought she was great.
And I just noticed – happy birthday TTG!
Nice present from The Arsenal.
@30
Hope you’re right and we can make that fitness
pay in the 2nd half of the season.
And while I’m waffling – it was good to beat the
Chavs with 11 on the pitch – no whiny excuses
this time from Conte.
Onward to bewilder the struggling Swans with
our innovative new approach of scoring from
corners. I have another cracking idea too –
let’s play well in both halves and who knows
what we can achieve
Morning all.
Just wondering, anyone else think that the (better) atmosphere at the ground last night was due to many of the regular season ticket holders not taking up their option, and the ticket going out to ‘general public’ (not exactly but those who know the silver/red membership set up will know what I mean), ie someone who doesn’t normally get to go and was well up to enjoy their chance of an evening out to support the mighty AFC?
COYG 🙂
Happy birthday, TTG.
Mark the Spark
You raise a good point but it would have been rocking like the Totts, United, Liverpool and Chelsea league game because it was a big occasion.
As I’ve mentioned earlier I’ve been amazed by the idiots I’ve found around me at Carabao games. Hardly anybody near me goes to the games ( which might influence who the club allocates Tickets to for Wembley) but I’ve been amazed by some of the morons who pitch up. But the lad next to me was a very decent fella and knew the game well so it wasn’t all bad.
As for the transport problem, Tfl were useless last night just allowing thousands of people to swarm around Arsenal Tube without any announcements visually or on the tannoy. I saw few police ( most of whom were escorting some seriously upset Chelsea fans away from the ground) and the queue to the Tube was getting longer and longer. As Larry says it was left for people to make their own way. I walked to Finsbury Park and caught the overground to Kings Cross. It was snug to say the least. It is amazing how many tube problems there are after games. Not a great advert for Tfl. I blame Boris Johnson . But then I blame him for most things
Many happy ones TTG.
Walked to Walthamstow, Larry? That sounds insane! ☺️
I have mixed emotions about the game – obviously delighted that we won and that we’ve beaten the Chavs. But mostly I thought we were awful – our ball retention was so bad that at times it seemed we wanted to gift Chelsea the win. Iwobi was by far the worst offender but Jack and Xhaka weren’t far behind. We still spend far too much time passing the ball across the back line with no attempt to move forward and often then simply giving the ball away.
Lacazette must wonder what he’s got himself into – spends most of the time running across the forward line with little or no support and always ends up getting dragged. Has he ever completed 90 minutes? It must be incredibly demoralising.
I thought the referee was piss poor tonight – the rotational fouling by Chelsea should have seen at least three of their midfield in the book and Moses was lucky to stay on the field after a two footed, both feet in the air lunge. Shades of Oliver “not wanting to influence the game” perhaps?
So, again, happy for a win but fearful that we’ll be embarrassed against City unless there is a marked improvement. New signings, please, Arsene.
UTA.
As we approach another Wembley final do you think that the FA should make an announcement that for the Spud’s Home games this year, that they will actually ground sharing with us?
Happy birthday TTG.
City going for another defender that will cost more than AUba???!
Please let’s get that deal over the line… need him for Swansea!
Details are up for League Cup final tix. 32,000 allocation (7000 more than FA Cup final). Exactly same process as last few years.
https://www.arsenal.com/tickets/arsenal/2018-Feb-25/manchester-city
Excellent report sir. I enjoyed reading that report almost as much as I enjoyed our battling second half performance. Always a pleasure to see our boys rise to a scrap. Deserved win. Many fine performances despite a few areas for improvement. Mesut should be mentioned in despatches alongside Elneny, Lacazette and Nacho.
Sursum Semper like my old school motto advised.
Greetings Everyone, I have been feeling like a Zombie this morning, didn’t get in until 01.30. It wasn’t just the lateness of the hour or the emotion spent at the game, it was the shambles encountered at Arsenal tube and the rush to Finsbury Park where I caught, as did TTG an overground train to KX in time to make the last train home. In fact I got back with 30mins to spare, in time to get the teas in and secure seats in our usual spot but at my age you can do without this kind of pressure.
I thought we were very nervous at the start of the game, failing to hang on to the ball while the Chavs looked to have us in their pocket. After they scored I had visions of them being well ahead at half time and even considered at that stage catching an earlier train home!
Nacho came up with what I thought at the time was a clean header and my nerves settled down.
The change in formation at half time was one of Arsene’s better ideas and we were well on top in the second half although in the last 15mins we were on the back foot but the back line held out. Granit popping up to score the winner was the surprise of the campaign.
Now for getting a ticket for the Final, fingers crossed but it’s something I have not had a great deal of success in the past, although last May was one of my lucky days.
Let’s get this transfer over the line and get stuck in to repairing some of the damage done in several of the away games this season. We can only get better on our travels.
COYR
Walking to Walthamstow doesn’t sound so insane to me, ‘holic. I’d do it for the sake of alliteration. 🙂
Thank you for the birthday wishes everyone.
I’ve heard horror stories of our negotiating style on transfers in the past. It created huge offence at Bolton when we were in for Cahill and a lot of the blame was attributed to Dick Law. However, it seems the negotiations for Auba are just as tortuous and although this could be a BVB tactic to sway the negotiations I’m amazed that things seem to be going so slowly . Given that we spunked away £30 million in keeping Sanchez in August this approach seems a bit hypocritical and counterproductive. I’d really like to see Auba with Lacazette in a two-pronged attack and would hate to lose himbecause we are penny wise pound foolish .
Nice report H.
I had a thoroughly excellent evening. GSD strikes back!
Although I forgot my shorts. Which would have been more of a problem if I was not wearing four layers under where they would have been. But still.
Mind you, my tail enjoyed the freedom.
I have a few random observations…
Lacazette has a thankless job. He made so many good runs and we just don’t play the ball over the top into the space for him. Or even try to find him on the floor when he curves runs along their defensive line. We could get a lot more from him. He worked hard and I was impressed. I hope CAP hits the ground running and links up with him more.
Xhaka did some really good things and some really bad ones. When he goes near the ball I have no idea what to expect. Well done scoring the winner.
Jack and Ozil in the same team is quite tasty.
Iwobi should have scored. He has got to work on that. The ball from Ozil was beautiful.
The ref seemed to let them get away with a few challenges. It was especially annoying after he gave Nacho a yellow to watch him let Chelsea get away with the same or worse foul a few minutes later.
I had a few Eastern European guys behind me who thought that chanting was hilarious. They tried to join in a bit but they did not know the chants. Then they decided to give up on the actual chants and simply joined in in whatever Eastern European language they were speaking (I would guess Russian but I’m not an expert witness). After a while they got bored of that and began chanting any random words they liked and giggling like schoolkids. My personal favourite was when the crowd chanted “Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal” and the dude behind me joined in with “Helicopter, helicopter, helicopter.” They were having a good night.
There were some teenagers a few rows behind me who were fairly quiet. The only time I heard them was after our players gave the ball away or missed a tackle when they shouted abuse and complaints. It was interesting. They wanted to join in the noise and be part of things but they were much more comfortable complaining than encouraging. Plenty of abuse but not a single ‘Come On Arsenal’. One for the Sociologists.
The atmosphere was good and I enjoyed it. There was less enthusiasm for the Ospina chant than there used to be. I wanted more from it as I knew the missus would find it hilarious. Which she did. She got bonus points when a member of the crowd inquired as to what the general consensus on faeces was and she recognised the call and response that ensued, whirling round to me with a big smile- “I love this one!”.
Who doesn’t, love?
We worked hard, looked like we cared and got the result. I had a twenty minute walk back to bed, and the bloke in the kebab house on the way gave me a free rice pudding. Boom!
UTA
Great reports Delia and GSD. GSD where do you sit?
Lacazette has a thankless job. He made so many good runs and we just don’t play the ball over the top into the space for him.
Always the way we used to be with Feo. 🙁
Ah well onward and … standstillward. 🙂
TTG best birthday wishes ( if you are still sober enough to read this ?)
Nice reports Delia & GSD – always interesting to get a perspective from those in the ground.
We appear to be making heavy weather getting a PEA – trouble shelling out as usual ?
Cheers all.
Happy Birthday TTG!
Countryman. I had 2 tickets in the North Bank last night, at the top. Block C. But i don’t go more than a few times a year- sometimes less.
@57.
Mind you, I’m not hard to spot. I’m the bloke in the dinosaur onesie!
Thanks for the eyewitness reports folks. I’ve long since given up on the Arsenal tube post-match. Allowing the crowds to clear and the Holloway Road station to re-open are a fine excuse for a couple of pints with the Guvna and some Holic royalty.
Many happy returns TTG. Hope to bump into you in block 100 one of these days.
Fingers crossed that we don’t blow the move for PEA with a reversion to our allegedly penny-pinching negotiation tactics. Just do it.
What is the general consensus on Tottenham?
Faeces!
What is the general consensus on Faeces?
Tottenham!
We’re the famous Helicopters and we’re going to see our Chinese friend Wem Bi Lee.
Get off the pitch Iwobi!
This one’s for Cynic – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linZOaQx5hE
Cut across Green Lanes, through the back streets of Stamford Hill,Clapton pond,Springfield marina ,duck under the scary bridge at Walthamstow marshes and home with a cup of tea before midnight.
Their lot took it badly.Seeing them growling at our lairy teens was funny.
Them throwing coins at families was beyond despicable.
I have never had any time for them .
So glad we won.
I ve been buzzing on it all day.
Barack – Sort of this… music starts at 0.55
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfaOf70M4xs
Larry G
Great post. I remember us losing to the Chavs a few years ago 2-0 and an arrogant group of them being totally out of order as they rampaged down the tube.
Nice to see them so upset at Wembley I’m May and last night as they tried to suggest how poor the Arsenal support was before being drowned out with cries of ‘ Wemblee’! No history and no class
Excellent eyewitnessing, Delia and GSD, shortless in N5.
Bath: High School of Glasgow?
Walking to Walthamstow … I’d do it for the sake of alliteration – bt8 #54
😀
Lovely stuff, Delia and the Dinosaur.
Nice excited report, Holic.
Good accounts from TTG – Happy Birthday to you, Sir !
Ditto GSD and Delia.
Can’t stand Chelsea – for the way they started the spiral of mega money in 2003. Until the arrival of the Abramovic billions, most people had forgotten they existed – no bad thing considering the history of their crowd in the Seventies. It seems from reports above that they still find it amusing to this day to throw coins at people’s heads.
Doesn’t your heart just bleed for them when they’re bleating about having to compete in the second tier of the transfer market, and
not having a big enough squad.
They never would have traded in the top tier of the market if their dodgy owner hadn’t decided to spend his ill gotten pocket money on them.
That horrible all mid-blue strip makes me instantly angry – the legacy of their crowing fans and their bought titles, all capped off by the repulsive Mourinho who managed them at their worst.
Just too late to wish TTG a Happy Birthday. Bugger. Oh what the hell…
Happy Birthday TTG.
With reference to the faeces chant, the line after next always cracks me up. Following the exchange reported by Barak O’B @63 above, the chant leaders go “Thank You” to which the reply is “That’s all right”. Gets me every time.
UTA
pan G
?these wee lads ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7dhDDvU9a0
TTG@55.
Agree totally. If we are quibbling over what in today’s ridiculous marker is peanuts then I really do not get it.
Just get it done
Happy birthday TTG. Not too late I hope! 🙂
Different negotiating team, same approach 🙁
The idiot Southgate is pleased that Jack is
back in form and giving him “a selection
headache”. Jack or Livermore, Henderson,
Cork, Stampy, Lallana? Is that really a
headache?
The fool should be taken out back and
shot.
Meanwhile Lucas Moura looks more and more likely to be heading for the neighbourse ffs. A bargain-priced, ready-made wing replacement for Theo/Sanchez and we’re not in for him? I do despair…
Ned, those monks certainly attended the Saint Sherlock Seminary.
Come on chaps, sign the cheque for that PEA fella. You know it makes sense.
When the tubes are up the swannie I often walk past Highbury & Islington tube and hop on a number 30 bus down to the Angel – you are only on the bus for 5/10 minutes and that station is always nearly deserted…even on match days. Northern Line only though which might not suit everyone.
No new contract for Santi.
This makes me sad but is the correct decision, however with Diaby kept on far longer than was sensible, it still sticks in the throat a bit.
I agree with Cynic (for a change!). Santi has given me more joy than most on a football field. But the chances of seeing him return seem slight. I imagine he’ll be given the freedom of Colney to train (if he’s not already moved back to Spain) and if he does appear to be coming good he could be given a one season at a time contract. But for the good of the club and to free up another £5m wages this is the right call.
Balague this pm.
‘ the suggestion from Dortmund is that Arsenal don’t have the money!’
This after Ox being sold for £35 m, Walcott for £20 m and Coquelin for £12m.’ Those three woukd surely pay for Auba and his wages.
Yet I’ve heard from three different, well- connected Arsenal fans as well as Ornstein in his last tweet that Money is tight.
How the hell is it?
*Arsène nicks fag mid smoke – slots it behind ear*
.
“TTG , TTG , TTG . . . . .”
other non Arsenal news
in the wake of Mark E Smith’s death
lent two singles – junior relative
pretend cool dj set to embellish
no doubt ostentatious picture sleeve showing
.
these two
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzJgUa-f424
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBrAFPG-DE
.
but
his reverential handling
?
near 40 years ago i bought them
i fuckin get it
long time ago
i’m old
.
.
me in same situation when i bought them 80s
woulda been world war two
.
.
‘HOLICS – YOU’RE OLD TOO !
EAT YER MUSHED UP DINNER
AND
PRAY FOR A HAPPY DEATH
.
.
.
Is the “lack of money” a self imposed cap on what we’re willing spend, or are we sticking rigidly to FFP rules when nodoby else is?
There’s no way we don’t actually have it.
Dealing with us must be like that old and stereotypical joke that goes something like this.
Scots lad – Dad can I borrow 50p?
Dad – 40p? What do you want 30p for?
racist™!
And the Alexis Sanchez Manchester United love in begins on Radio 5 and BBC 1.
Sanchez is being booed at every touch.
There must be a significant number of Gooners, Peruvians or simply decent human beings in that Yeovil crowd.
Can you verify your source Cynic,for Santi not being offered a new contract. ??
I have read Arsene’s press conference transcript,and he quite clearly states that Santi is due back after his recent surgery,and the Club then have to assess whether he is medically fit to compete at the top level.
He clearly says that if he is,they will see to it,meaning offer him a new contract.
So not sure where your story comes from.
I can only say that it was on the news ticker on Sky Sports News. I was so peed off for him I didn’t check for other sources.
My bad.
It said something like ARSENE WENGER CONFIRMS SANTI CAZORLA WILL NOT BE OFFERED A NEW CONTRACT IN THE SUMMER
The Sky Sports website has substituted MAY for WILL
Sanchez makes his debut whilst our directors are on the 4th day of their Jolly Up in Dortmund.
TTG, if there is any truth in that then the whole lot should be replaced.
Still, what could possibly be the point in trying to get the deal done? What benefit would that be to us?
In truth, none of us have any idea what goes on but I never quite understand how we always make such a drama out of almost every transfer we are involved in?
I must say, if we manage to cock this up then I can’t imagine the locals tolerating it for a second.
With PEA playing for Dortmund tomorrow, or at least being in the squad, it’s not looking good.
Our good friends at Sky.
Twisting words for bait clicks.
Who would have thought it.
As for Sanchez,
Substituted at little old Yeovil.
Took off his gloves,threw them at Maureen and stormed off down the tunnel.
{ Only kidding on the last bit]
Does anyone think there is anything in these Jonny Evans stories? If there is any truth in that one you’d again have to ask, why on earth has that not been completed weeks ago? Unless of course it’s all paper talk Bollocks.
Sky reporting that we are arguing over a difference of 10 million. Now I know that 10 million is a ridiculous sum but in football terms, it’s not even a Coquelin????
Again, if that’s true then we really are pathetic.
Just get it DONE. If we don’t want to do the deal then stop pissing it up in Germany and get your arses back here and do your jobs.
Well there’s not much bait clicking to do on a tv screen but I know what you mean.
Just got it on for background noise most of the time, looked up and saw the headline..
Calm down everyone. I’m confident it will happen. Mind you I’m outside a good dinner, a bottle of red and am on my second brandy.
Boom!
THIEVIN’ WANKER !
Telegraph story on Santi seems sensible. If he is fit to play in the Premiership next season, he’ll get a new contract. The club will make a medical call on that at the end of the season when his current contract runs out. Also remember that Santi will turn 34 at the end of this year.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/26/arsene-wenger-refuses-rule-new-contract-santi-cazorla-confirms/
Honigstein is telling that we played hardball over Xhaka ending up paying the exact price BMG wanted. John Smith the agent offered to forego £1.2 m in the Arshavin transfer but we ended up paying the full amount that Zenit wanted right on the deadline.
It’s not a new thing but it was the Board and not Wenger who were dragging their feet on Arshavin apparently.
Re Steve’s question I’m absolutely certain that there’s something in the Evans story and I think there is much more chance of him being an Arsenal player next week than Aubameyang although I think both deals may go ahead.
*drops fag *
*circle squashes*
.
“………. not wurfffit….*
ITV4 ©
bbc 4 is hilarious
.
1985
’bout halfway through my tenure
in that there cold hearted london
.
*shivers*
.
now we’re talking
Phil Collins
a musical titan !
.
her voice grates on me
god rest her
Awww
CHICAGO
20 George Bensons
.
people wearing more material than is necessary
If Jonny Evans is the answer I can’t imagine what the question is. But for Debauchery and £10m he could fill a bench position.
what foot does he kick with ?
.
.
dear sweet mother of god
people bought that – i forgot
wi those high barnets
we’ll probably sign the pair o them
*boom boom*
.
.
.
BEER
.
Aaaaaaaahhhhh
THE KINKS
.
any you elderly london bastards saw them 60s?
EH ?
.
god I love The Kinks
.
no ?
heavy lifting has been done recently in the bar
number of drinks is suspiciously high
*nods*
‘hol gets paid by the bullshit
nickels for nonsense
Just for you cba.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BIc-RnqjwWA
.
pad a PROPER GOONERS pension !
And another little pearler for you big fella.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LemG0cvc4oU
No news on Auba this morning
🙁
Not sure what’s going on as all
sources seem unreliable really.
Doesn’t my Red membership
entitle me to hourly progress
reports from Ivan and AW?
steve
bbc4
If not, I’ll slaughter a chicken and
check the entrails for portents
the archway tavern
a discreet wee bar
@112
Chris – I wondered when Evans
became a good player too. Certainly
didn’t notice it myself
Kinks is nuthin’ but good.
As the man said.
With only a week of the window to go I can’t see us finalising anything, so best not to worry. Any way I’m more pissed off about Moura going to the spuds, and for peanuts too. Grrr.
got punched square in the back of me head one night
in fairness
me mother said she saved it up ?
that’s a lie
it was a free state ape
fuckin fulla them round there
one more for the man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkQ7_I5S6CM
touraloura accents
songs of war from afar
Got you.
Had to press record though. Up in 6 hours to take the 2nd born off for some early morning egg chasing.
.
.
I love this song
fuck off
COME DANCING
rugby
i met Ollie Campbell
he could land our corners on a sixpence
has he any sons ?
If it’s The Kinks it’s really just the man … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1spuGm3J5Hg
it’s on the telly now
they are
admittedly it’s got a bit shit
.
anyone in a choir
needs to re-evaluate
everything
coffee is just a drink
147 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
czechs out
i met Ollie Campbell
Did you end up in the soup?
Listening to a mashup collection, the best track of which is sadly not on YouTube
Long Distance Good Luck Call is, however, available here on an EP
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tem2tiz2edw/ghp_six_pack_ep.zip
?
not too arsed about Moira to be honest,
let him be a spud
arsed©
Every once in a while I find myself singing this song in the house and I can’t remember exactly why. Normally when somebody suggests having a cuppa tea though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw6qxDPmOGM
.
herself drinks tea all day
.
tea bags run out
she’s like a strung out starsky and/or hutch extra
Stoke are in with a real shot at relegation. It couldn’t happen to a more deserving club.
Burned my hand on a tea bag recently. Dangerous buggers.
What happened to Southampton? They are in the bottom half three, worse off than Stoke. I guess Shane Long and Charlie Austin aren’t surprising too many defenders then.
for Stoke
https://youtu.be/PLrxT8Vu978
Watford in 10th are only 4 points off the bottom 3
so any 3 from 10 or 11 could go.
bt8,
Stoke are definitely in the 3 i’d like to see
the back of come May
Oi !
Don’t be arguing with Chris about Moura, Moira or anyone else.
Remember that Feee-oh bloke ?
Chris knows a winger when he sees one.
Or should that be a whinger ….. ?
@153
?
oooooooh
i think i should step in to save chris
from a thousand degree dressing down
.
yeah
ooooh
pfffft
162
SEE ME AFTER CLASS !
.
.
.
(bring beer)
yeah
blaaaaa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8zHMAYh-ww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XFtPW6lG-A
Lotsa energy in those last two. Good stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adpZ1YWjvNI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFCOt6wbm80
nobody listens to these
CATCH YERSELF ON !
“but if i can loosen up even one mod
make him iron only one sock
Shirley , that’s worth it”
.
.
nope son
they’re like a cult
What happened to Southampton?
Selling something like £300m worth of players in recent years, that’s what.
never mind, the owners can just blame the
manager and sell the club now they’ve flogged
all the sellable players.
Looks like the PEA deal will not go through. We, apparently, are not willing to go beyond the record amount we paid for Laca. Not surprising that we are getting closer and closer to being a mid table club. We didn’t make the top four last year for the first time after Wenger took over and this year failed to reach the fourth round of FA Cup for the first time since 1996. With the way we deal with transfers we may not even qualify for the Europa League this year.
Still look forward to our visit to Swansea next Wednesday.
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Jonny Evans will be Arsenal employees come the 31st January 2018!
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
Correction: Come the 1st February 2018!
I hope you’re half right DanC!
*boilk*
like i’ve never boilked before
.
sweet mother of god
take me now
apologies if i was rude to anybody
.
havin said that
ye probably deserved it
.
iffin i did / was
that is
.
.
.
UP THE ARSENAL
.
.
SID WADDELL !
Am happy that the Gunners are in the Community..
More news from Soccershell here
http://www.soccershell.com/2018/01/auburn-university-softball.html
Rude, cba, , you,
always ?❤️??
.
who , dear ?
me , dear ?
rude , dear ?
no , dear ?
.
*breaks under interrogation*
“cynic made me do it
and ran away”
A likely story that
anyway, may your hangover be short and
your afternoon long cba
kind words
lovely sentiment
but i’ve played mood indigo
on the armitage shanks all morn
threw up on me foot
it’s a fuckin WAR ZONE people !
“…Borussia to start with Aubameyang…”
au revoir pierre
PEAs off !
considering shaving Fido
.
last attempt i chucked up in the sink
.
.
.
ive been doin this for decades
why now the bokes an shits
(sorry again Delia)
Well, we started Ox then sold
him……
I think Dortmund want shot of
him and it’ll be the usual game
of who blinks first on price
amid random media story plants
Hopefully, we can get 2 or 3 decent
20 goal seasons out of him.
Shrugs and leaves, wearied by the
unending, unedifying sameness of
it all
but pauses to reflect that at least
he didn’t throw up on his feet this
morning
.
herself is makin a beef an onion pie too
a real one
not a euphemism
.
the fuck i’m eatin that
*sways*
sterling work osaka M
bring it back
to
the
famous
ARSENAL !
.
.
and 193
foot
not feet
right
not left
thankfully george cox’s not on
expensive cunts
.
.
CHEERIO
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2756254-borussia-dortmund-issue-statement-on-arsenal-target-pierre-emerick-aubameyang
For you to read Ivan.
Get it sorted or get home and do your job. The whole situation is farcical and just so Arsenal.
Dortmund have made their position crystal clear on PEA. He can go if we pay the fee they require which appears to be about £57 m . I. Ant for the life of me see why we wouldn’t do this although a story has broken that we have an agreement to buy Benzema in the summer -if we meet Real’s fee demand . I’ve never been convinced by Benzema and feel he has seen better days but PEA is arguably at his peak. I will be livid if we don’t get that over the line . We’ve raised the fee already this window and at the end of last and we were pretty flush beforehand.
Frankly I’ve got sympathy with Dortmund’s position,much more than I have ours. We are the only big club who end up with a net profit at the end of transfer windows and as someone who forks out a lot of money to follow the club I’m none too impressed by the parsimony of the club.
ps.
the mighty blogs
outdone himself again
WHAT A STAR !
innit
thunder T ye use parsimony with ease
.
somebody buy this guy a jar
do it nonchalantly
Same old Arsenal. Either take a dump or get off the pot. Or don’t be surprised when cba barges in and throws up on you.
Why on earth Ivan made it so clear what he was up to as he headed off to Germany if he was going to quibble over a few million (which is not much in football money) is beyond me. All talk and no trousers.
Boring boring Arsenal.
aww right
figure of fun am i ?
boke on me foot did i ?
.
.
.
fair dues
.
apologies ‘hol
it appears not only my foot got it
.
.
it’s the shuttin up fer me !
no better man
fer shuttin the fuck up
than me
yup
ye can take that to the bank
SteveT@206: This from that link just about says it all:
Dortmund have been angered by Arsenal’s sluggish bartering and low bids, according to German source Kicker.
Same old same old.
Could someone explain to our moostarchyohed, syrup bedecked owner that a transfer window is not just an opportunity to transfer more funds into the accounts of Kronic Sports Enterprises.
I would also like to take this early opportunity to apologise for the unintentionally hairist nature of this post.
TTG@207: Amen. With Mkhitaryan and Ozil feeding into the pace of PEA, we’d have an attack that might actually terrify a few defences.
Betfair rate it as 40% likelihood PEA joins the arse, so definitely looking less like happening now.
Ned, Steve T,
Our club is probably so used to accepting any bid that comes along, in the desperation to remove our overpaid “never quite made its” from the payroll, that we think every other club will do the same.
Well you generally get what you pay for in life and while AFC is not a club that can waste money, it is not up to us to tell Dortmund what the price for their player is.
This is, of course, blindingly obvious to all but apparently our negotiating team of Scrooge, Meanie and Hansoff.
The mighty Notts Forest dumped out of the FA Cup by Hull.
trev
as i said before
i hate the invasive knowledge
of the swans undercarriage
that i carry with strain
how do you cope ?
how do the youngsters cope?
i memorized our entire everything
when a younger brain was mine
sorry
for shutting up
I’m shite
but
hey ???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k6Sx_J6NxQ
“too much brandy for break fast uhh”
“people tend to let you down”
“it’s a swine”
.
.
“uhh”
Tashist Trev@222: Back of an envelop calculation: CL football is worth about £30 million-50 million a season. And we are quibbling over less than £10 million for PEA. Isn’t there anyone at the club who can do the maths?
FANTASTIC LIFE
.
.
“uhh”
What I find most disgusting about the whole Aubameyang transfer fiasco is the blatant cynicism with which the Club is trying to treat its fans. Whatever flaws and faults Arsene has, and however mixed his recent transfer records may be, he at least used to try to keep things secretive as best as he could and commit to making any decisive comments only when he is sure.
This time our head honchos make sure some stories are leaked with their photos in Dortmund and all, create this big sense of anticipation in a fanbase that has almost nothing to cheer about this season, and even the supposedly attractive football that the club sells itself on has become pathetically dull for the most part, and then make the club look like being run by a coterie of miserly amateurs. It is one thing to be tough and smart negotiators, and another to appear as a bunch of clowns out of touch with the real world. We couldn’t wait to get rid of Coquelin and Theo for absolute pitance in a world where Virgil Van Dijk costs more than twice their collective sell price, and now we cannot spend a few millions extra to get our primary target in a transfer window which we will need to get absolute right to have even a remote chance of returning to CL!!
I hope for their sake they get this deal done. Otherwise the rapid loss of credibility this club has suffered in recent years will continue to worsen.
ned
yer fooling no one
you file and cross reference
the backs of yer envelopes
the mighty doc Fau
233 absofuckinlutely !
Great to see The Doc in the bar. I agree with every word of 233.
brilliant : newport county have knicked all our anti totts songs ! laughing my head off…and they are one up !!!
Newport County. Are they even part of the league structure?
*shakes head*
there’s always two
Ned, Trev and others.
I just find the whole thing cringingly embarrassing.
Probably part of the Isthmian, Corinthian or some other naughty Greek league. Probably big in the noughties.
Doc Fau,
Fairly spot on.
I think the acceptance of a pittance for Coq and Theo was because any buying club had to accept their wage demands and wasn’t prepared to fork out a lot on top for fees.
Let’s leave the whole Theo topic alone – but the sale of Coquelin is strange if we’re not getting a replacement. He may not have been top drawer but he was the only really defensively inclined midfielder we had, although his tendency to morph into playmaker Song was becoming less controlled.
The longer this PEA saga goes on, the more it looks like the ludicrous “we’ve bid £90million for Lemar on the last evening of the summer window, while he’s actually kicking off in a football match in Paris”,
or the annual pre season ticket renewal proclamation from Gazidis that
” here comes the summer of big, exciting changes where we leave no stone unturned in our quest to win the biggest prizes”.
Yabbedy yabbedy yah.
Time to stop talking big and acting like you mean it.
cba, how do I cope with it ?
Very badly.
The frustration of watching this club stumble and flounder through a transfer window causes me actual physical pain.
We have the means.
It’s actually like they just don’t want to do it anymore.
Latest dispatch from Dortmund:
“The lack of commitment to his current club evidently deeply offended the Dortmund fans who replied by displaying anti-Aubameyang banners during the game against Freiburg and booing him when he touched the ball.”
trev it’s heartbreakin from where i’m sitting
shakin yer head before a game
shouldn’t be in our armoury
There’s no room for shaking heads in the Armoury – it’s packed full of all 37 varieties of our current shirt, baby clothes, mugs (not the customers, although come to think of it), dressing gowns and everything else you associate with a serious football club…….
In case you weren’t aware, cba, the Armoury is the name of the superstore under the stadium.
The neighbours played as badly against Newport as we did against Forest but at least they had the sense to have some insurance on the bench to bail them out.
Maybe Arsene should give up on the zipper on his coat and get one of those lovely dressing gowns instead.
Oh well. Sp*rs don’t lose but they pick up a cup replay and a devilish dash of fixture congestion. Next best thing!!
Farce at Liverpool as they all stand around waiting for a goal to be given. Fuck off VAR.
Good post Dr F.
You can’t move in The Armoury for all the tourists. That is what the club relies a lot on at match days.
Perhaps Ivan is actually on holiday after all? Perhaps we’ve all got it wrong?
I mean, why would we want to get players in towards the beginning of January? Surely it’s better to have a mad panic with only minutes remaining?
Jonny Evans – abject defending for Liverpool’s goal
Both Evans and VVD are doing schoolboy defending at Anfield. And some things never change, as Gibbs goes off with a hamstring.
Evans with an “I don’t really want to play for Arsenal” performance here.
He’s no better than what we already have anyway
Liverpool so bad, Klopp can’t even be bothered to do his fake anger routine.
I don’t think we ever discussed the interview that Griezmann gave recently.I think it comes from his book. During the Ozil window we pledged that we’d sign him and told him to rebuff all other offers. He was very excited and did so only to be told at the end of the window that we weren’t going to sign him. The result is that he has vowed never to play for Arsenal however hard we chase him in future. He’s out of our price range now but would have been an example of exactly who we need to target if we don’t pay top dollar. But Wenger apparently changed his mind. Can you imagine Ozil with Griezmann ( we could have afforded both then) together ?
As for Evans I think Cynic is quite right. We know how to defend catastrophically already , we don’t need to import more duffers.
cba@234: and we do it in triplicate…
TTG@258: When 30-year old ManU cast-offs are your future, your present has reached a sorry state.
Sadly TTG, your account from Griezmann is not really a surprise. I’m sure other clubs have their moments but we just seem so unprofessional when it comes to the transfer market. I have actually no idea what goes on or what their thought process is? That’s being incredibly generous and working on the assumption that there actually is a thought process??
Ivan and the boys have been in Germany for 5 days now. All they seem to have achieved is to piss people off with their all round buffoonery.
The chavs are in desperate need of a striker, how come they’re not in for O’Bangabomb? I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see him nicked from under our noses.
Meanwhile Jonny Evans was see limbering up for his Arsenal move feeling his hamstring with some concern late in the match today. That after feeble defending for the baggies’ winner. Both excellent signs for any Arsenal scout at the game.
Jeez Trev, enough about Theo already…
Oops, ‘for the Pool goal’, I meant to say in#262.
After selling Gabriel off for no real clear reason — he could be a little inconsistent but he was technically sound, a good athlete and at 23 all the time to grow; he was rather good in the FA Cup semi — if we buy Johnny fucking Evans as our defensive “protection” … I really don’t know what to say.
Nowadays with lot of our young players we seem to be in this no man’s land: either we have faith in Holding and Chambers or we don’t. If we have faith in them we should trust them, and knowing that at their age there will always be the odd mistake we should fully support them. Much better them making mistakes and learn than some ex-ManU mediocrity. Watching Gallas and Sylvestre strutting around — and being as inconsistent and sometimes downright poor — wearing Arsenal colors was pretty hard.
Nice to see you back Doctor F and fortunately Johny’s hamstring may have saved us, although an injury prone, error prone CB might fit in seamlessly .
Steve
Not sure if Ivan is still there , I’m not sure Dortmund is that interesting but your point is well made. We are awful in the transfer market since Dein left.
Prior to this transfer window (only because Arsene seems less involved), I always imagined Arsene wandering into a flea market in some small French village (while scouting a Ligue 2 18yo striker) and spotting a previously undiscovered Picasso in a pile of old posters. The seller wants 10 francs for the ugly painting but Arsene is only willing to pay 5. They start haggling and a stranger walks up, sees the Picasso and immediately offers the seller 20 francs, which of course the seller agrees to. Arsene walks off smirking because he didn’t, “overpay” for the Picasso. Two months later the buyer sells the Picasso at Sothebys for 20,000,000 francs.
This is how our transfer policy seems to work.
What position does Picasso play, ecg? What’s his injury record?
Jonny Evans surely must be somebody’s bad idea of a joke?
Then there was the occasion Arsene asked Picasso to paint a portrait of him for his Ems office. “Sure”, the maestro replied, and immediately produced a typical Picasso with some rapid flicks of brush and paint. “That’ll be 10,000 francs”, said Picasso. “10,000 francs!” Arsene exploded. “But it only took you ten minutes!” “Yes,” Picasso replied, “but it took me 50 years to learn how.”
Chris, Picasso doesn’t play a specific position so he can express himself abstractly on the pitch. As to his injury record, he frequently dislocates various limbs to other parts of his body making him very one-footed.
“are we going to start taking
goals away from the entertainment
for slight margins?”
Congrats to Pardew for the
stupidest comment on VAR yet
I don’t want Picasso, he has blue
periods and we’ve enough players
like that already
NBN @260. “When 30-year old ManU cast-offs are your future your present has reached a sorry state.”
Sunderland approach the new Arsenal approach?
There still could be time to sign Tom Cleverley to patch our midfield then.
Playing for Hoffenheim, Serge Gnabry missed a penalty but scored a beautiful goal against Bayern. Nice to see a former gunner do well.
PEA played for Dortmund against Freiburg but he didn’t look interested at all and was booed by the fans. Clearly, he wants to leave, Dortmund want to sell and we want to buy him but we are still not able to get him. Fucking shame, but this penny pinching management couldn’t care less as all they are interested in is to make more money for Kroenke. They should get their fingers out and smell the stink they are causing.
Ned @260. Nail hit firmly on the head.
I expect the media to paint Arsenal a certain way but am disappointed when our supporters do same thing. When we sign a certain player, then it happens despite our manager, our negotiating team, or our best efforts. Or the message is that the player is the wrong fit for Arsenal. If we don’t sign a player, it’s because our manager, negotiators, etc are rubbish or penny pinching, even though we have spent millions on Ozil, Sanchez etc.
I’m disappointed that our own supporters spout the same nonsense even though, like the media, none of us has a clue about the inner workings of a particular transfer. Instead of assuming that everything the Arsenal negotiating team does is crap, I will assume that they are operating in the best interests of the club and if PEA comes, then great, and if not, then there will be justifiable reasons for it.
PEA not coming wouldn’t bother me so much (and it doesn’t really bother me THAT much for previously discussed ‘bling obsessed money mad trouble maker’ reasons) if we hadn’t got rid of Sanchez, because for all the talk of HM being a straight swap in footballing terms, he ain’t.
HM is an Ozil replacement. If Ozil stays and Wilshere stays I don’t really see a spot for him in the team, unless we do that thing we love doing of playing players where they least like to play, to fit them into the team.
HM only makes sense if PEA comes and Ozil goes. Otherwise I don’t see the point of that particular bit of business.
Chris @268,
Picasso is bristling with good health at the moment – although he is prone to strokes …. ?
….. something the medical team may try to brush under the carpet .
Cynic,
How about playing a back four, a proper defensive midfielder at the base of a diamond with Jack, Ozil and Mkhitaryan, with Lacazette and PEA together up front … ?
Just a thought but I’m not much kop at the “guess the team” thing.
I love the back four plan but the rest of it looks a bit flaky unless we can find a DM exactly like Vieira, and even he had to have a partner in there to be at his most effective.
Devon Stu,
I understand and agree with your sentiment but to a point.
Clearly the negotiating team will be trying to get the best deal they can but, sonetimes, there is a price to pay that is not negotiable. It only irritates the seller if you keep offering way below their valuation. If you can’t understand or agree with that valuation then you drop out.
I also, through a friend, have knowledge of what has happened in the past, right at the heart of the training centre.
Without naming any names, a failure to act in time, or continual changes of mind have resulted in us losing players we were very close to signing.
Maybe, because we live in a time when total secrecy is impossible, it has become necessary to act faster and more decisively.
We can’t compete with the Mancs and PSGs of this world but we do have some very decent resources after all.
Cynic,
My plan is partly predicated on the idea that the opposition will never have the ball !
Trev, thanks for responding. I think we normally get our man but like all clubs, not always. You have inside knowledge but most people don’t and always seem happy to blame the club. I think with PEA , we have to be very careful how much we spend. £60 million for a guy nearly 29 whose main attribute is pace, which tends to diminish pretty quickly in the early 30s. Everton just bought one of those for 20 million.
I agree with Cynic that Mkhitaryan has been acquired to replace Ozil; AMN to replace LE Coq, PEA to replace Theo and Jonny Evans to replace Sanchez!!
Trev,
That’s enough Picasso, time to
easel off
Devon Stu. An interesting view point but I’m not a massive fan of assumptions. We all make them and they are made having analysed the information available.
Personally I think our transfer dealings over the last night never of years have mainly been shambolic. We seem to live in an ideal bubble of a world and that simply isn’t the case.
All of the facts around the potential Aubameyang deal are unknown. I would suggest that it’s safe to say that we want the player, the player wants to come and Dortmund are happy to sell. We appear to have two negotiators in Germany and it appears they have now been there for 5 days. From the statements issued by Dortmund it would seem that we have made offers that have been rejected. It would also appear that they have given us a final ultimatum. A take it or leave it offer. Frankly, I don’t blame them for that at all.
Will it all happen? Who knows. If it doesn’t then I would ask the question, what an earth have we been doing in Germany. I would also suggest that we had completed the transfer window weaker than when it opened?
With our medical team so lacking in expertise they may well have to speak with others and canvas opinion????
Oil get me coat…
Will it all happen? Who knows. If it doesn’t then I would ask the question, what an earth have we been doing in Germany. I would also suggest that we had completed the transfer window weaker than when it opened?
It will be thinner, for sure.
Hmm, I asked to easel off and I’m
bristling at the brush off but no
pointillism in moanlisaing any
more…
Steve T,
@288
fair enough points but we haven’t
sent them there to be liked. If
they come back with the job done
I’m not too bothered about any
hard feelings as I wouldn’t like
us to be seen as a walkover.
Easel off? Careful or I might paint a cheesey still-life of mouse and Swiss cheese.
I don’t have any inside knowledge or details about our transfers. But from the broad strokes the only conclusion I can draw is that we struggle to finish them. With or without the involvement of the old master, Arsene, it’s hard to gloss over that.
So ironic we are bringing the pointillistes into it. At most clubs Jackson Pollock is the only artist they would consider. Direct application with maximum effect.
All these painting puns, yer just playing to the gallery ?
The PEA signing – the club needs to shell out to both improve the quality of the squad overall and give a message to star players such as Mesut Ozil we intend to be serious challengers. Without this he is offski to an ambitious club in the summer. Just get it done ?
If you missed yesterday’s ACLF it is worth a look for the picture alone. 🙂
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/2018/01/27/alexis-bingo-aubameyang-false-dawns/
You’re all talking Pollocks!
Arty or farty – a matter of opinion – don’t dare ask cba …
In any event, water colourful lot we are ?
bt8 – so is that a picture of false Dawn ?
Seconds the post of Devon Stu @278. “Penny-pinching Arsenal” may have some truth to it, but has anybody mentioned penny-pinching Dortmund?
Trev @300. It would appear to be the case. 🙂
Oh Dalisque!
PEA just get it done – just 3 days to go – and don’t dilly Dali on the way ?
300
?
childish centuries are all i have trev
ya big brained klimt
Show them the Monet Ivan! He has been in the South of France but found the Toulouse Lautrec was a waste of time. I hope we can sign PEA and that our effort to sign him doesn’t run out of Degas. We are Ruskin another side coming in to sign him. It’s Sisley to let it go on this long. I think Dortmund will eventually tell us to Pissarro off.
Already got coat and leaving building.
Just read story from BBC journalist that a compromise fee has been agreed so if true I’m Gauguin down the pub to celebrate
Really sorry there was not a post this evening. Obviously my Arsecast appearance meant lots of new visitors which blew my months capacity. Come back tomorrow for a Swansea preview
and welcome Aubameyangpost.You mean we’ve agreed to hand over the Monet, TTG?
Let’s hope PEA Livens the place up
Balls. Art puns only really work if you spell the name correctly.
*sneaks missing e into Lievens*
Just watched highlights of Cardiff v City.
How Cardiff still had 11 players on the pitch until injury time is beyond me.
Reminded me of Man Utd against us in FA Cup semi the season of the Invincibles,it wasn’t football it was GBH.
Referees have been very poor with the lack of straight Red cards for foul play this season.
Ornstein confirms the PEA deal is close. BVB have to sign a replacement but have someone lined up from France.
HFB looks like moving to Chelsea for £35m so if my sums are right we may still end up in profit….unless we are stupid enough to sign Jonny Evans.
Matisse all I have to say on the subject.
TTG@306: Toulouse Lautrec always comes up a little bit short.
I’m really quite excited about this Auba deal. Anyone want to calm me down?
c100
calm down – it’s not auba the
line yet
But is O’Bangabomb the surreal thing, or just another pop artist? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKouLGgpl-4
OsakaMatt
But but Ornstein!
…did I say the surreal thing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBVJFGxyxgE
For those with nothing better to do for the next quarter of an hour … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfnXM_DmEzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9WtBo9b3WI
I remember listening to their very first single, as a spoddy fifth former, and thinking – “This is just poppy shit” but being jealous of Gahan’s moves.. little realising at that time that he danced like he’d been anally imapled on an electric cattle prod.
But what a great band.
c100,
by the sacred scribblings of
St. Ornstein !
If we could actually get 35m for
OG you’d have to be tempted.
But why would he go to the
Chavs if he really wants first
team football? They’re committed
on Morata and just want a back-up
If the Chavs want a striker why aren’t they gazumping our Dortmund deal?
Chavs seem to be looking for a Plan B
striker Chris – of the PL sides I’d have
thought only Liverpoo would be interested
There is nothing B-rated about a player who scored 46 goals in all comps last season, Matt. Who wouldn’t want him?
…by which I mean that surely any team in the Prem would want such a player.
Quite agree Chris, his goals make him a top
striker.
My thinking is….
He’s going to cost 60m or thereabouts.
Spuds have Kane, Chavs have Morata, Manure
have Lukaku, Shitty have Aguero and Jesus.
So 60m for nice to have is a lot in their
cases. Personally I thought he’d be a good
fit at Liverpoo but Klippity said they’re not
looking for a striker just now.
Now is a good time to buy because come the summer
Spuds will be looking when Kane’s gone and the
Chavs will realise Morata doesn’t score enough.
Auba comes with baggage I think but we need to
replace Sanchez’s goals and he is the best available.
Hopefully, he can give us 2 or 3 twenty goal PL
seasons before his suspect character leads to a
parting of ways.
Glad to see that it looks like we have finally agreed to pay the asking price.
Whilst I understand that £35 million for OG makes sense I will be sad to see him go. Especially to another premier league side. Selling does have a certain amount of risk as Aubameyang can not play in the Europa.
Disappointed in yours @312, TTG. If the deal has indeed been done, surely that’s a Good Thing, period. There’s nothing wrong with making a profit, indeed some would say that it’s the reason most companies exist.
COYG
Whilst I understand that £35 million for OG makes sense I will be sad to see him go
I won’t miss his games where he starts crying at the very first tackle he gets and then wanders about doing not much for 90 minutes except beg for free kicks every time the ball comes near him, as he had far too many of those.
I will miss his goals off the bench but I don’t think he’s made enough of himself at Arsenal, although he’s not exactly alone in that. I also won’t miss the feeling that he was far too impressed with himself and not only his footballing ability.
I still wouldn’t sell to Chelsea though, even for £35m. Merson called this move weeks ago by the way, so he’s not as clueless as some think.
Merse calls so many things!
He’s bound to get some right.
Although it’s just a media story so far.
Fortunately the window will be over
in a couple of days so we won’t have
to wait long for the ending
Arsenal have agreed a club-record fee of £55.4million with Borussia Dortmund for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
————
😀
So essentially, Dortmund will sell us Aubameyang but only if Chelsea let them have Batshuayi, but Chelsea will only let them have Batshuayi if we give them Giroud.
Surely we should have just wrapped this deal up a week or two ago, before Chelsea stuck their interfering chavvy noses in? Would have given Dortmund enough time to find a replacement without the need for the merry-go-round where we will now end up losing perhaps our only real “Plan B” player to a direct rival.
1/3 the megaton?
And to add to BB @331 – “Feckin’ bargain”! ?
That’s how to get a good deal doubters! Sven Mislintat – already becoming a legend! ?
https://youtu.be/bESn0KRHFjo
UTAAD&AN!
AFCOF!
good hit bt8
🙂
Nice beach Balague was walking on, Dan. What was he saying? Have we signed anybody yet?
He can’t play at centre back as well, can he Dan???
I’m sure that Arsene may try him there for starters, Steve T! ?
Everybody well focused on Swansea, then?
Nice beach Balague was walking on, Dan. What was he saying? Have we signed anybody yet?
Chap called Sandy.
Sandy Shaw
*ahem*
…I trust the news be delivered by an Aubamaeyangogram ?
Pangloss
Greetings.
As a ex- NED of several companies I would always agree on the general point of making profits in business but Football clubs are different. They derive huge revenue from sources like gate money , TV revenue and sponsorship and spend it largely on players and player salaries. Yes they should make a profit overall if they are well run but not significant transfer profits in Arsenal’s position.
If you look at the spend of our main rivals their gross transfer spend wildly exceeds ours while we normally have a net transfer spend. If you correlate this with our league position and theirs it suggests that the teams who spend the most on transfers do best. Arsenal already have a huge financial reserve, they don’t need to accumulate cash from transfer dealings because it will affect their raison d’etre as far as the fans are concerned which is to be a successful football club on the field.
This is at the essence of the Kroenke debate – stockpiling money from the highest ticket prices in the world to fill his pockets is completely at odds with how our competitors are run. Making juicy profits because we don’t spend as much on the team is anathema to many of us who regularly pay our heard earned to support the team.
But I must say that I do like the intent shown in this window much more than previous ones and the Mislintat effect is already in evidence.
Looks a done deal and if so well done to all. Does this indicate the team being adapted to suit Mesut and he will sign the thing?? time shall tell but honestly if we are still trying to build teams around individuals, then it is a failure for there is nothing called loyalty in football nowadays. I would love Mesut to stay here for i adore him but we have been bitten too often to believe anything.
If Auba does come, i hope Wenger does not push lacazette to the wings, i have seen Pierre play and he can play inside left very effectively and more importantly i think Lacazette is the more natural finisher among the two, stats not withstanding.
People suggesting we are building the team for next season, i say build on 2 things which we can achieve, win the carabao cup, try winning the europa for top 4 looks unlikely although spurs,pool and chelsea do give hope.
Giroud to go? well he has given us his best years for us, let him go where he can play.
Help!
Anyone know how to check the archives?
I am back in a weird pub that I watched us play (I’m pretty sure it was against Spurs) a couple of years ago. Checking the results I think it was Nov 2015. I wrote a match report and posted it in the drinks. I’d like to track it down (and technology rarely does what I want it to). Any clues?
GSD
This game provided me with one of the oddest football-watching experiences that I have had in a long time. I warn you all that my report is a LONG one. I dedicate it to Wind.
I was out in the sticks. In a small town in the English countryside. I had to delay my return to the big smoke as it would have left me traveling during the game. So I entered the local pub with the Sky Sports signs in the windows. I made my way to the bar just as the teams were being shown. As I waited to be served I was greeted by a slightly drunken pair of middle-aged women at a table and their embarrassed mid-twenties companion. I said hello but did not volunteer much to the conversation, only being there for the football. But they stood up and came over anyway. They started asking to play with my hair (not a usual style in the middle-of-nowhere) and began a series of clumsy insinuations that it was their mate who would really like to do so. She cringed into her drink. What are mates for, eh?
I was able to buy some crisps and a (soft) drink and gently moved away from this unecpected attention to find a space in the corner to stand and watch the big projector-screen thingy. High tech indeed. A woman at the table next to me asked if I ‘was the band?’ Err, no. I’m just here for the football.
After about ten minutes an old boy went past to go outside for a smoke. He paused when he saw me and came over. He introduced himself as Mike. We shook hands and I gave my name. He then gave me an intense stare and said “I saw you, and I can always tell like-minded.” I nodded and smiled and wondered what the hell he was on about. Presumably it was an Arsenal reference as I thought I heard him cry something about ‘go on you gunners’ earlier. I couldn’t be sure and I had nothing Arsenal-related visible on my person. He followed up by gesturing down at his clothes (he looked like a spark or plumber on the job) and said “you couldn’t tell now ‘cos I’m on the road, but I can always tell like-minded.” He went off for his fag. I stared, slightly dazedly, at the match and tried to re-focus on what I was actually seeing.
The women went past for a smoke, tittering. The leader turned and told her younger mate “It’s alright Soph, he’s still here!” Soph looked mortified and managed to look up at me and say “I’m really sorry.” I smiled. Then carried on watching the match.
By now it was clear that Mike was a Gooner as he began shouting more animatedly at the TV. It was not a high level of analysis. Every time we committed a clear foul he screamed the air blue that it was ‘never a foul.’ He opined many a time during the game that we can ‘do everything apart from score a bloody goal’ and exhorted our boys to ‘give me an effing goal’ (he did use the proper words). He asked me why we could do everything apart from score and was quelled slightly when I replied that we hadn’t looked much like scoring yet today but I was hardly worried it was a long term trend given we had scored three in our last three league games.
It was at this point that the barman came over to the table I had moved to and asked me if I minded moving as he had to move the table to ‘setup for the band.’ Okay. No problem sir. I went to sit at Mike’s table, the pair of us sandwiching the old gent who had been intermittently mumbling and shouting into his own pint since I arrived. Soon after he said something unintelligible to me which caused Mike to tell him to “shut-up you daft old fart.” He said nothing and supped serenely at his ale. A few minutes later after a couple more awkward and self-conscious sallies past me from the ladies (who seemed to assume that I stopped watching the football and studied them Attenborough-style every time they exited for a cig) Mike went over to the steamy window saying “I just have to clean this window” and winking inexplicably at me. I wondered if he was a window cleaner. But no. He wiped it clear with his forearm and carried on grinning at me as he exited the building. A moment later his face appeared at the other side of the now transparent window, a fag nestled contentedly in his jaw and a huge grin spread over his face at the ingenuity which had led to his not missing any more of the match than necessary. Fair play.
Whilst he was outside the gent next to me said audibly “daft old fart, eh?”. I chuckled politely, unsure what response was expected of me in this Royston Vasey community. Mike returned shortly after and came over to me, asking me who I wanted to win the match. My reply of Arsenal earned me another grin and another handshake. I was now even more confused as to what he had been on about earlier. In what way was I like-minded? How scared should I be?
Some geezer came in had a conflab with the barman then disappeared. He came back a few minutes later with some sort of sound equipment and began shuffling it about. The band had arrived. So had half-time. I picked up my bag and left the pub. I needed some fresh air.
I returned for the second half. As I resumed my seat the old boy next to me ranted loudly to himself about whether it was five o’clock yet or not. I had no idea what the significance of this might be so I kept schtum. More sound equipment filled the space to my left and some goth/rocker types had begun to fill in. Baggy jeans, Maiden tee-shirts, piercings and died black hair. Country living can be very polarizing as all the teenagers pick a category and then you’re either in or you’re out. So they stick with their choice come hell or high water. Even when visiting Leicester.
Three of them went to sit in front of the projector-screen but, as much I felt it was bad bar etiquette, I was playing away so I said nothing. They were mostly under it anyway. A few minutes in to the second half one of them started making shadow puppets. I shouted something at him including the phrase ‘behave yourself.’ He apologised and deceased. Now two away teams were one-nil up.
After about an hour of the match the geezer with the guitar standing about six feet to my left in the area that had now become ‘the stage’ leant into his mic and introduced himself as someone-or-other. He then informed us that he was starting with a Jimi Hendrix song before launching into ‘All Along the Watchtower.’ Which is not a Jimi Hendrix song. I sat, amazed, as I looked from the side of the room over to the other side where the match was on while simultaneously the bloke at the front of the room performed loud rock music to the appreciative patrons who had slowly been filling up the back of the room. Until this point I had foolishly thought that the start of his set would coincide with the end of the derby. You know what they say about assumptions. Next in this carnival of insanity came a barmaid who I had not seen up till this point who tried to shout over the noise to those of us still determinedly watching the footie that she was packing up the projector but that there was still a screen at the other end of the pub, by the bar. Of course there was. Right next to my favourite table of ladies.
So I decamped that way and pretty soon Gibbs had scored. I let off some steam in my enthused celebrations. So did a few others. After calm had been restored one of my, now fully drunk, lady friends turned and asked me if I was an Arsenal fan. Indeed I am, Sherlock. She then decided that she would show solidarity by becoming the most die-hard Gooner she could be for the next twenty minutes. This mainly involved a lot of unintelligible screaming through a pair of lungs substantially better equipped for the task than I would have guessed. Her younger mate, who to be fair was perfectly pretty in a small-town-spends-a-lot-of-time-at-the-salon-trying-to-achieve-the-magazine-look sort of way was engaged in an amusing dance between checking me out and trying to ignore the increasingly lude suggestions of her partners-in-Sminoff-Ice.
Then a Spuds fan with a London voice came over drunkenly and told me that he had no grudges against Arsenal, despite his own allegiance, as ‘I’m a football fan and they play good football’. I graciously accepted this compliment on behalf of all Goonerdom and did not mention a single one of my own feelings about his club. He then asked me if I knew what had most annoyed him about our equaliser. I confessed my ignorance, eyes locked all the time on the screen. He then told me (and at this point I will confirm that all of this is true) “Well your player who just scored is Kieran Gibbs. And my name is Kieran Brown, so we’re both Kierans and that just winds me up. Easily the most annoying thing about that goal.” I turn to look into his eyes and see a man completely in earnest. It takes all sorts.
Just as I began to question my own sanity, what I was doing in my life, indeed, the very nature of existence itself, I felt a squeeze on my shoulder in what I could tell was a make-or-break moment. I turned to see my old man smiling at me. “Good. Your lot have scored.” I felt the relief flood through me. At last I had an ally against this grim horde. He bought a pint I and positioned him between me and my lady-friends. He raised an eyebrow as he heard some of their lines but wisely did not comment. He gave me his eyes for a moment. Sometimes a look really is worth a thousand words.
At this point the die-hard gooner (for twenty minutes, anyway) decided that she was not getting a good enough view from her seat and went to stand in front of the only screen in the room. It was an amazing performance. I have rarely seen anyone expend so much physical energy living and breathing every moment of the game. Like Steve Bruce on Billy Whizz she was. People would have paid good money in an exercise class to be lead on such a varied and energetic set of movements. I doubt there was a muscle in her body that didn’t feel the strain as she ducked and jumped and swivelled and side-stepped. Thank God she didn’t have her drink in her hand or she would probably have started a mass brawl.
The final whistle went. Me and the old man bee-lined for the exit. We left with our belongings and, just about, our sanity. As other commentators have observed, if from a slightly different standpoint, ‘Given the circumstances, I’m happy with a draw…’
Wow H. You are a legend. Thankyou so much.
The service here is second to none. Please have a single malt on me.
Should be a yard of ale, GSD, given the length of that report.
How crap was that FA Cup draw?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>