5-6 Testing Testing 5-6
Aug 7th, 2010 by 'holic
There is no doubt that if you want to see goals this coming season, then Arsenal will definitely be the club to follow. I would normally be the first to caution against over-reacting to the five goals conceded today, but I do have a couple of genuine concerns.
One, nobody will be surprised to hear, is the goalkeeping position. I know that the staff are convinced that Fabianski is the future, but something must be done to protect him in the now. A year of confidence-building elsewhere is surely being considered now that his former club have copied Blackburn’s lead in exposing his vulnerability at set pieces.
I’m always wary of speaking on behalf of others, but there also seems to be a consensus developing amongst the support that we cannot go into a full season still woefully short of quality in the centre of the defence. Legia, far from being the toughest side we will face in the coming months, always looked capable of adding to their tally against a disorganised Arsenal back four today.
I’ll stop there with the criticism. Others obviously will go further. Be aware that the coming international week will mean the chances of signing anybody else before we go to Anfield next week very difficult. A week of inactivity should not be taken as a sign that we are not looking to strengthen the squad in this transfer window.
We can also draw some comfort from the form of Samir Nasri, Marouane Chamakh, and the inimitable Emmanuel Eboue. The first two combined to salvage a goal from the wreckage of the first half. A three goal deficit at half-time may have been too much to claw back after the break. Chamakh’s wonderful header turned the tide in our favour.
Who would have thought that Eboue would be the clinical finisher who would get us on level terms before an hour was completed? A far post header and a lovely little delayed chip at the near post suggested the Ivorian has worked on maintaining his composure in key areas. It would be harsh indeed if he did not get the nod ahead of Theo Walcott next week.
We took the remaining half an hour 3-2 and owed the victory to a goalkeeping howler that enabled Nasri to grab a winner he richly deserved. If the skipper is not considered ready for next week then Samir looks ready to assume the mantle of creator and goalscorer in the meantime.
Personally, I think this performance may actually have a positive outcome. If there was any feeling that we could try and ‘make do’ with the current squad, that has been exposed in a friendly, and not in the competitive surroundings of Liverpool on day one of the Premier League.
Everything I hear from those close to the club suggests that wasn’t likely to be the case anyway. The theory, I’m led to believe, is that prices currently being asked will not be held the closer we get to the end of August. Interesting theory, is that, because I’m not sure the prices we will be quoted for both ‘keepers and centre-halves didn’t rise sharply this afternoon.
You see, it is not just Arsenal supporters who know where we are still light in the squad.
202 Responses to “5-6 Testing Testing 5-6”
U r right mate its fortunate for us that this happened in preseason rather than at anfield.Now arsene has to do some thinking over the next week and do something abt our defence.The positives are chamakh’s bravery,nasri’s hot form and finally vela is proving his worth hopefully he doesn’t get injured playing for mexico
idiots like you holic who campaign nonstop for wenger to remain in charge have brought us to where we are today, I’m dreading the new season,we are a joke club now
international or no international he has had all summer to buy the obvious.
yet he still sits on his hands as rome crumbles around him…
Really, I’m responsible for where we are today? How proud I am then. Check your calendar and the league table fella.
Why did i renew my season ticket again?
Sadly, i fear it’s going to be same old same old. I’v always been pro-Wenger but his failure to live up to his promises are driving me crazy. I doubt i’m the only one with this view. Buy a GK and a decent CB please.
I don’t see anyone laughing, visionary, and if you want to be taken seriously doing without the childish name-calling would be a start.
Measured enough, holic. It was only a pre-season game, and a bit of an anomaly because very few games have that many goals, but that was genuinely worrying.
Centre-half and goalkeeper much more urgently required than they were before.
Woodford Reserve, please.
top balanced post… i m sure we will see a new gk sooner rather than later
Jesus Christ, when are you ever going to wake up and see that Arsenal will NEVER win anything again with this manager? He CAN’T COACH DEFENCE!!!!! And he won’t buy defenders either. He’s completely and utterly lost it. Thanks for everything Mr Wenger, and I mean that, but it’s time to go, you are in your own little world, even the most idiotic simpleton can identify what you are doing wrong. If Arsenal win any of their first 6 away games I will be surprised.
Holic i cant stop laughing at people wanting arsene to be sacked after preseason. Now chelsea have lost almost all of there preseason games and i cant see any chelsea fans calling for anchelotti’s head,ofcourse chelsea won the league last year and we finished third but give arsene atleast half season’s time before u can fire at him
Very fair and intelligent posts Holic mate. As for visonary??? Surely the name is purely ironic!
Where we are now? I think there are quite a few teams and fans who’d like to be as piss poor as us! Granted Wenger has made a big ol rod shaped thingy for his back with comments made at the start of the summer about this being the 1st transfer window since the move to the Grove where he has had serious money at his disposal.
Why then has he not actually spen t more on players? Hopefully, it will happen this week and I seriously hope we dont hear stuff about how we “almost” signed Buffon, Hangeland, Cahill, Casillas.
Imagine the shirt sales if we won 6-5 every week – who wouldn’t want to watch us?
What was concerning about today was that some of our regular defenders were in the action: Sagna, Clichy, TV.
Personally, I think the fact this was a friendly does explain in part the lax attitude of the players. The only one with serious pressure i.m.o. was Fabianski, and he will be kicking down toilet doors tonight.
I’m of to get very very drunk,
We actually seem to be regressing at the back 🙁
I would like to think of this result as a freak one but the fact remains that our defense has been worrying all pre-season apart from the Milan game. And even there we conceded a silly equalizer.
Please stop acting like an eccentric grandpa Arsene. I hope you sign a goalkeeper and CB.
A week before the start of the season and our defence is a shambles.How has Wenger let it come like this.We all knew after the game v Fulham that we couldnt go into the new season with either Almunia and Flappy in goal.But look who are “fighting “it out for the number 1 shirt Dumb and Dumber.We are a laughing stock.Fucking hell Wenger go and get a keeper before the season is over come october.We need an EXPERIENCED CB as well
Mr. WEnger…What happened to the BIG signings you’ve promised us for years now? It’s about time you put your money(or lack thereof) where your mouth is or just SHUT UP!
Sell Floppianski and Butterfingers Almunia to The Ringeling Bros Circus where they belong!!
Nice report, but your silence over Walcott is deafening.Kos looks shaky and it isn’t just the keeper,it is the communication with the defence that is lacking and the failure for the midfield to track back.
Chamakh gives a new dimension,Nasri looks better than ever and Gibbs will soon be our number one LB, continuing our conveyor belt of producing great players in that position.
Thanks boys, and Blogs. Understand entirely the frustrations that some have, but to conclude that we are somehow facing imminent implosion, and/or should sack the manager after winning a pre-season game is exactly the over-reaction I am trying to avoid.
Plenty would love the ‘problems’ we are facing. We have the solution to the issues that face us. I’m not sure many others have.
I hear you ron, but I am trying not to be critical of individuals. Of course that is impossible where the ‘keeper is involved, but I don’t need to go to town on players who have a bad game pre-season. They know they need to improve, and quickly.
Don’t worry, it’s just a friendly. Next week at Liverpool we will keep a clean sheet and win 6-0. And then keep another 20 clean sheets in a row. I have confidence in Arsene Wenger because he works so hard coaching the defence. I would trust him even if we didn’t have any defenders – even though we only have 2 and a half at the club anyway. I like his style, claiming we can win the title and the champions league with a ropey belgian centre back a french league 1 defender and johanne djourou who has spent his entire career injured. I mean, it’s basic common sense isn’t it? That we are capable of winning big prizes with 3 crap defenders and the three worst goalkeepers in the premier league. Still, I trust this manager cos he won things 6 years ago and as we all know, what happened 6 years ago is all that matters. I think we should get george graham back, he won things 20 years ago, so he must still be as good as he is now. keep up the good work blogger, your undying support of our manager is fantastic and doing a great service to the club – how much do they pay you by the way?
Trust me Holic. The majority of Arsenal supporters feel the same way as you. I’m sick and tired of the”in-Wenger-we -trust brigade!
In their eyes Wenger can do no wrong.
5 goals in the ass against a pathetic Legia team is just scary…SCARY!!
Unbelievable the over reaction and knee jerkery behaviour of some Gooners FFS!
I think Almunia is a steady, if unspectacular number 2 and would be fine warming the bench while our new top class keeper plays! Of course the players could have done better today, but do you want them to play at full tilt and more than likely with our luck, get an injury a week before the season starts?
Nasri will be a gem for us this season I think. He is top class.
@Jim
As much as your relatives pay the institute you’re residing in right now.
Sorry holic, couldn’t resist.
Everybody, calm down. It was a pre-season friendly. Yes, there are frailties, but it is not the end of the world. We know we need a GK and CD and I think they will come.
To all those who want Wenger to leave, go and find another club. If he goes within the next three years you will realise how much we have depended in his skill, in all areas of the club. Who would you have to replace him? Redknapp?
I like the post about Chelsea. The real world.
I wonder who the biggest laughing stock is, my dumb post or the man paid £4m a year whose defence just let in 5 against legia warsaw. celtic nearly scored 5 in 20 minutes as well. still, we trust in wenger and all that.
Jim, the biggest laughing stock is your post without a doubt. We know that a keeper and CB are required and I’m sure Wenger knows as well. If he didn’t know before, he surely knows after tonight. But there’s a way to say it, and saying it like you did isn’t that way.
Nicely measured response, Holic.
And the obvious hilarious overreaction from the usual quarters. There are 24 days until the end of the transfer window, and Arsene has previous in leaving it late, for whatever reason. Get behind the team, or fuck off. Your choice, chaps.
Agree with you ‘Holic, and i’ve said before, that Fabianski must go out on loan, at the very least, and return only when players and fans have found some respect for him. Otherwise he will be destroyed at the first mistake.
I’ve seen nothing from today’s game, but there was an interesting incident during the AC Milan game last week which probably went unnoticed by many, and almost certainly by any television audience.
He took a long kick out from goal with loads of time and no pressure on him at all. The kick did not look particularly bad, but was clearly nothing like what he intended to do, as he turned in frustration and threw his head upwards and repeatedly shook his arms and hands at his sides, as though nothing would go for him at all.
I don’t honestly know what the exact problem was, but this was clearly someone in no mental state to keep goal for a team like the Arsenal. He clearly had to play today, but simply cannot be allowed any realistic chance of playing for us, for this season at the very least.
Hope that is balanced, but I like most, am getting seriously worried about our chances if we persist with him.
To me, he is another Richard Wright. A highly regarded young keeper – a great shot-stopper – but someone who, unfortunately, simply cannot cope with the pressure of playing at a club like the Arsenal.
5 – 6 ? Better be an Old Peculiar for me.
Erm, that Chippy earlier isn’t this Chippy.
Having said that, I may get drunk too though.
Mainly because the Chippettes are driving me nuts though.
I think the thing that’s bothering everyone is the fact that the title is there for the taking. Chelsea are nothing special, ManU are in decline, ManC are a mish mash of Sun Dream Team players, Liverpool are a joke and Spuds are…well, shit,
Just buy the fecking players that we all knew that we needed last year Arsene! You didn’t and we threw the championship away. I know a saying (I think it was Albert Einstein) – “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”. About sums it up really.
Calm down everybody. AW believes all his chaps are entitled to a fresh start before the season begins. He now knows where he needs to strengthen and has until 1st September to buy. What he doesn’t need is all the backseat drivers telling him what to do. He has a host of staff at the Emirates and Grimandi and Co overseas. That should be sufficient for any manager. Let him get on with the job he’s paid to do.
Sit in judgement next May.
I cant believe a friendly can cause such a heated debate. For me, the match seemed like an attacking exercise. Players were told to go all out. Also, if u’d watched closely, the midfield did little to no defending. So its unfair to blame the back 4. I do agree about the GK situation though. Fabianski should go on loan, and we should buy a Top class keeper. Keep the faith gooners!
Is it the manager… or is it the board. We dont know who is at fault for the lack of transfers. Wenger or the board… no one really knows. Is it that Arsene has money but is too cheap to spend money that IS NOT HIS, or is it the board wanting to protect their own financial intrest by not spending too much.
Re. marbellaron, you`ve hit the nail on the head, the midfield have to take a large part of the blame for todays shambles. They look world beaters with the ball, without it, clueless. There is no doubt we need a keeper and a centreback, but surely a top class holding midfielder is also a priority. It wont matter who we sign at the back, we will continue to be exposed there until we start giving them a bit of protection. I`m sure Arsene realises these problems, but as holic said, is being held to ransom by clubs, some of whom just may not want to do business. As for the muppet who wants george graham back, you must be a new supporter. Whilst george did a good job in shaking up the club, people should never forget the shambles he left, we were nearly relegated one season. When Arsene does call it a day, he will leave the club in the best health in its entire history. Years from now we will all be eternally grateful to Arsene Wenger.
Haha, Chippy. May I introduce you to, er, Chippy. What is the collective noun for a group of Chippys’ I wonder?
I was worried about the possibility of an over-reaction, and I’ve not been disappointed. Some of you people need professional help, really.
For me, this game confirmed that whatever self-confidence Fabianski has had has been completely shot to pieces. He is almost scared of the ball, by the looks of it. And for me Szczesny also confirmed that if we don’t buy a keeper, he is the one to go for. Look at the corners and free-kicks that Legia had in the second half, where all of a sudden our defence was actually quite organized and this was down to Woj, becuase he was shouting instructions and pointing out where players should be.
And conceding five against Legia is nowhere near ok, but let’s not go overboard on this one. In the last friendly, the focus is often a bit off because most players are already starting to gear themselves up for the real stuff.
The eleventh hour will be too late Mr. Wenger we go to Liverpool without a reliable keeper, like the majority of Arsenal fans I`m not impressed ,you`ve had plenty of time.
The only time I have rated Fabianski was when I watched clips of him on YouTube before his arrival (always misleading of course). I don’t doubt that he has talent but he is missing one thing, one crucial thing: confidence in himself. I see it everytime I watch him, be it in goal or on an Arsenal TV Online interview. I don’t know if he can improve that but it sure won’t happen overnight. We could try to send him out on loan and see what happens but I am a bit skeptical.
Another point about our defense. I don’t think it is the personnel as much as it is our style of play that is the reason for our sometimes appalling defensive performances. When we were in serious danger of falling out of the top four in autumn/winter 2008 we took an a more defensive approach with two holding midfielders, playing more cautious football which resulted in many cleansheets including something like 20 games unbeaten. The downside was that we didn’t score quite as many goals but surely this season we should try to find the right balance between attack and defense.
I think that is the real problem, our tactics. We should be looking for a new number 1, if not then definitely Almunia over any of the other three. And we also need at least a new defender, preferably an experienced one.
Typical overreaction of some over here and spud supporters joining in.
The main problem today was our midfield. Jack and Frimpong are not ready for PL games. At least not both in midfield and not for an entire match. It was difficult for Vermaelen and Kos to be in two positions at the same time. Walcott can not defend and Landsbury providing the assist to their last goal, well what can you do. We really have to improve our communication on the pitch.
Fabianski has to go out on loan for our sake and for his. But I like the look of Szczesny.
I think a lot of people are forgetting that we were without our four 1st choice midfielders today. We’d have way more possession and be far more defensively solid with 3 of Cesc, Denilson, Song or Diaby there.
I’d like cake instead of a drink for some reason please ‘holic
Oh and a 12 year old Jameson please ‘holic.
I agree Holic. That’s the real worry isn’t it? that Arsene has identified the players he needs, but the price is too high at the moment and in normal circumstances the price drops nearer to the transfer deadline, therefore the waiting game.
In the mix is that, they know Arsenal has the money, needs the player, and a player picked by Wenger is a normally a gem. Take for example Kos, who I believe cost us at least double what was the original offer. He had one good season in Ligue 1. The market is mad, the bar raised by Madrid for Ronaldo/Kaka and City’s little boy in the sweet shop routine, with unprecedented wages.
I really believe he is looking at top class players and the enquiry at Liverpool is not beyond this realm, although the price quoted in the tabloids is. Arsene’s philosophy in the transfer market is always value for money. What happens if at the end of the transfer window the players identified are still too expensive? In this market, we might have to bite the bullet. I see Liverpool and City challenging last season’s Top 4.
Fuckin’ unbelievable that Almunia, Fabianski, Denilson, Eboue, Diaby and Bendtner are still at our great club. Spend our money Wenger you tight cu*t!
I would have a hard time believing, as some are suggesting, Wenger is too thrilled with that performance. And while it brings home the point that we still need a few signings, it is hardly the end of the world. It was a friendly, and one without Song, Cesc, or RvP.
Nasri and Eboue are playing really well at the moment. I have a suspicion that one or both of them could follow the footsteps of Alex Song this season in terms of improvement.
Worrying, very worrying.
It would be easy to shrug this match off as a friendly but really when we have our first choice back line and ship 5 a week before a trip to Anfield there really is no getting away from the fact we look just as vulnerable defensively than as last season. We knew the attack was strong enough, we knew the keepers were not up to task (at least the younger ones yet) and we’re one week away from the start of the Premier League and nothing resolved. Keeper situation seems a ‘make do’ choice and one on loan.
I don’t think our defensive problems are personnel alone, not depth and quality the only issue but clearly good habits, decisions, positioning, understanding and unity are contributing factors and I just wonder why we don’t have Martin Keown or another of the old back five here to help shape the back line as a unit get them communicating, making good habits etc.
At the moment I would say it’s looking like our defence is every bit as poor as last term. With hindsight, with the improved fiscal health and time to do something I have to say the situation is wholly unsatisfactory. If the boss signs a keeper and centre back and we go on to have an improved defensive record then great, where we are a week from Anfield in this state is really well not good is it!
The match though preseason depressed me a bit in the first. The second was awsome (if you ignore our defense) We seem very close to being the deal even with this shite performance. This was to find flaws we found em (still the same) now fix them. Almunia could be great and the Polish kid back-up. The first half was powder-puff. Alm starts at Liver with The young Polish kid back-up (not even tryn to spell it). We get a center back I think the Dikaite guy at best. ……………..Well back to my point. I was a little depressed and needed a lift me up.. went over to ARSENALTRUTH and told them once again what a bunch of tools they are and was once again banned (no profanity) it makes me happy makes me smile Arsenal 4 Ever …
India Pale Please ….two actually
soul
So who WILL be in goal next week?
Whatever else you can say about today’s result it is pretty poor all round that after all this time we still don’t have a goalkeeper good enough to play for Arsenal. I have been lamenting this since Fabianski crapped himself in the semi final the season before last against the Chavs.
I assume we are not expecting to win 6-5 every week? So we need to spend some cash urgently on a keeper, surely?
Maybe it will prove to be a good thing as if this isn’t a serious wake-up call then nothing is. The players will be extra motivated now to put things right for the Liverpool game. I think…
Wake up call?
2009-10 was the wake up call, if it wasn’t then….
‘holic,
hope you delete SE insults.
This is a friendly with 6 of our first choice players unavailable. What would some of you have written if we had lost? A friendly is there to test our tactics and our players. Some prove to be not ready for the first team despite the hype.
2009-10 a wake up call? Some fans are just too miserable to be taken seriously.
Overall I don’t think we’ve had a poor pre-season. We have won 5 out of 6 games. Against Celtic we were visibly tired towards the end of the match. Frimpong and Wilshere had played almost two full games in as many days which naturally left some gaps in the middle of the park. Today was very poor defensively, the midfield, defense and goalkeeping… I think we will see a much improved performance at Anfield!
Great Post ‘holic, however despite the over reaction as some of the more panicky arsenal contingent let their arseholes twitch uncontrollably and thus take control of their fingers to blog crap.
The fact is we are in dire need of a good solid GK, I know every team has imperfections and is in effect a constant work in progress, but the weak positions are glaringly obvious and thus far aren’t apparently being suitably addressed.
I appreciate Wenger’s commitment to his young charges but he must surely see that whilst Kos is a gamble, the GK situation is suicidal.
Transfers aren’t easy, granted but they do happen if your need is great enough as there is a plethora of choice that easily surpasses what we have currently. On this point I believe there is no excuse for the lack of action, especially considering how Lens was dispatched.
Double Makers mark on the rocks please, need something to steel my belief for the seasons comings.
Very measured as usual Holic. We could all name at least ten top keepers we’d like to see at Arsenal, but would any of the clubs involved sell their No 1, never mind at a cheaper price, as the transfer window closes?
The Arsene-must-go brigade are out in full force of course… but really. They’re certainly entitled to their opinion but we sure would become a laughing stock if the club sacked the greatest manager in it’s history for winning a friendly 6-5 out in Warsaw.
We’re going to Anfield next weekend with no Cesc, no RvP, no Bendtner, no Song, probably no Vela after his journey back from Mexico, maybe others who go away for internationals and pick up a knock. The result up there is going to have very little bearing on the team’s success next season.
Honestly i can’t see us challenging for honours again this yr, not due to games like this but due to we to lightweight and can’t handle the bigger clubs. The team is to whimpy but with a boss like ours what you expect, always whinges when oppositions dare make tackle yet never see it when we do it. We need to find the “next” Seaman, Adams, Parlour, Keown, Henry, Wright and Bergkamp or we never win another thing, especially under a clueless man like Wenger who have over-rated our chances again.
@typeface
I make you right, some of the miserable gits are in need of a visit to the dignitas clinic in Switzerland!
@ SE London Eboue led the fightback today, why would you want to get rid that spirit, that’s precisely what need.
Find a corner, rethink and come back with constructive opinions.
I sure hope tj is a spud/chav/manc fan, coz he’d be bleedin embarassing if he actually was a Gooner.
Eboue is a headless chicken, most of you lot on here don’t even go to the matches, you can’t judge a player watching it on the TV, you don’t see the whole picture.
SE London, judging by your half baked assessment, you havent been to a game in a few years.
By reading the comments on various blogs over the past few years it is clear that a lot of Arsenal fans are very negative. But I must say overall I am proud of our fanbase. We drew 60,000 fans twice in the space of two days for a friendly competition while Liverpool only managed to draw 31,000 to Anfield for their Europa League Qualifier!
Come on Gooners, try to remain rational!
To all those how say its an over reaction,it isnt.We have been going backwards for the last 5 years.But what about last seasons 3rd place i hear you say.We lost NINE league games worst than the previous season.
Wenger hasnt got a clue about defence.Last season we let in 41 goals yet we are weaker at the back.Kos is the new Cygan.
Without a keeper of quality we wont even finish 4th.I believe that even after all the cock ups last season made by that clown Flappy Wenger was going to start him at Anfield.That cannot happen after his latest clanger.
As the blog suggests, it is imminent there will be an over-reaction to this loss. But the problem is that a lot if it is justifiable. I won’t say sack Wenger right now, or spend 40 million on two players. But there has been suggestions this summer saying that the defensive system is to be blamed and not the personnel, and I have begun to feel that it is true.
I love the Arsenal philosophy of playing, but I do think we are being too ambitious with our defense, holding a very high line and letting defenders barge forward. Problem is, when a opposition does get behind us, it really exposes us, and gives the players space to run and pick out a pass with more time.
Watching the game today, I could not help but think that all the goals scored against us were easy finishes. The first goal, though it was a wonderful strike, was conceded because nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody closed the player down. He had more than 10 yards to bring the ball forward and take aim. With the quality of players, a lot of goals will be scored if that much time is allowed. Then our weakness from set pieces were evident AGAIN today. Especially the third goal.
For me, Arsenal have to change their approach to defending. I don’t know what it is about their training, but perhaps more than a experienced player, we may need an assistant coach who focuses solely on defending (we still need cover for the CB position).
Overall, the criticism of the goalkeepers is being exacerbated because of our weak defense. The ease with which Legia got past our defense was very concerning, even though this is a pre-season friendly. I hope this was an anomaly, but Arsenal have to take responsibility partially at least. We need to work on our defending, otherwise our top four aspirations are under serious threat, let alone the title.
I’ll have something non-alcoholic as I’m on call please.
Good to have many goals at the final warm-up game, even if the ‘goal against’ would have benefitted from a lower number.
I’m not sure I would consider Nasri’s goal as ‘the winner’ as it put us 2 goals ahead, and well, the usual deterministic theory means that if he hadn’t scored, it would have been a different game and who knows what the score would have been.
Sorry, I think I’ll indulge in an Irish whiskey after all then.
Cheeers, ‘holic.
I wondered who’d be the 1st one to slate our new defender BEFORE he has played a competitive game. Course it isnt an over reaction!
@se london … meh…..
Is that an extra ‘e’ there, sub-ed? 😉
Jimmy, the team have previously played a more defensive system, when we looked a bit flimy defensively. We went 20+ games unbeaten, keeping 8 clean sheets in a row or something. Therefore the coaching is there, as long as it is instigated of course!
I do think the new formation has made us more attacking, but also it can expose the defense a bit IF all the players dont do their defensive work when we dont have possesion of the ball.
typeface, if I deleted all the nonsense I would quickly get a reputation like one of those blogs where you can only hold one opinion, or be banned…
SE, I have been to a game or two down the years, and a couple of years back I would not have dreamed I would be typing this now. You are so wrong about Eboue, and obviously stuck in the past.
I used to hate him, his mannerisms, his determination to see us reduced to ten players in the biggest games, his diving and play-acting. The staff weren’t enamoured with him either but have worked very hard to persuade him to apply himself and cut the bulk of the crap out.
He is now a very good footballer, and an improving one. Fair play to him for turning it round. Fair play to Arsene and the staff for persisting with him, even when his only value was being the team clown.
“I like the post about Chelsea. The real world.”
No, it’s not the real world. The real world is Drogba. The real world is Chelsea’s defence in the PL. The real world are our same problems each and every year because of Wenger’s stubborness because he cannot accept he knows SH!T about defending and goalkeeping.
I dont want to see Walcot start any match on the wing as long as {Van Persie, Arshavin, Eboue, Vela, Jay Emmanuel Thomas} are fit, he is a super sub not a starter until he can learn 2 cross n pass, we need players who can cross to Chamakh’s head n pass on time and also score.
Also i dont want to see Nasri on the wing fru out this whole season i want to see Fabregas – Song – Nasri (not Diaby or Denilson).
its also Fabianski’s turn 2 go out on loan not Szchney or Mannone.
——————— Almunia ————————–
Sagna — Koscielny — Vermaelen — Clichy
——————— Song ——————————
——————————– Nasri ——————-
———— Fabregas ———————————
V.Persie ———————————– Arshavin
——————— Chamakh ————————
and if fab4, persie n song cant start against liverpool then:
——————— Almunia ————————–
Sagna — Koscielny — Vermaelen — Clichy
——————— Frimpong ——————————
——————————– Wilshere ——————-
———— Nasri ———————————
Eboue ———————————– Arshavin
——————— Chamakh ————————
@Mug, Totally agree with you mate. Why can’t people have a bit of patience with the new boy? Jesus, I’d hate to think what some of you thought of Henry after a couple of games, as I remember he took a while to get going.
hmm.. maybe a little less hysteria???
Man U and Liverpool have already LOST in preseason against MLS sides.. so what if Arsenal shows some careless defending in a non-event. This game was essentially an exercise
Wenger has already said that we are short in defense and he is looking for more players, he will almost certainly leave out Fabianski after today or possibly even buy a goalkeeper.. so if that would be todays outcome then I´d say we got a positive result.
I´m hoping for Akinfeev.. but not betting on it 🙂
I’m not feeling the outrage. I guess because it’s the last pre-season friendly people were expecting it to be a dress rehearsal.
Wenger can’t seriously be considering playing Fabianski in goal. Almunia is a decent keeper and he’ll undoubtedly start against Liverpool.
Koscielny is new and there’ll need to be time to iron out the organization.
We were playing hopefuls (les espoirs) in midfield.
We’ll be competitive against Liverpool, I’m confident.
I advocate 4-2-3-1 for this coming season instead of 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1. We need two defensively disciplined midfielders. One holding and one box-to-box.
——————Almunia——————-
———————————————–
Sagna–Koscielny–Vermaelen–Clichy
———————————————–
—————-Song–Diaby—————
———————————————–
——Nasri—-Fabregas—-Arshavin—-
———————————————–
—————-van Persie——————
Sorry Bogi, Chamakh has to play, which is why you won’t see us playing two holding players much, if at all.
Bogi – That’s pretty much exactly the formation we were using last season. Diaby is not going to sit back Makalele style. He’ll push forward and it will be very much like a 433.
Chamakh does have to play.
Oh, and soul, how can you go there and not profane 😉
@433. He’ll be told to sit back!
@Goonerholic. The formation and shape of the team has to come first. Chamakh will play! We need to have competition for places. Don’t worry, we’ll get plenty of injuries and some suspensions throughout the season.
It’s going to be a strange start to the season with Van Persie presumably “a bit short.” Fabregas, Diaby, and Song might fall into that category as well.
I’ll be very curious to see how we line up with Van Persie and Chamakh in the side together.
I’m trying not to be too concerned about a friendly but I cannot help but be disturbed at the ongoing glaring defensive/goalkeeping frailties. We have been hopeless at set pieces for so long now you do begin to wonder about the quality and intelligence of our coaching.
To be only a week away from a trip to an inevitably pumped up Anfield with Wenger’s end-of-season pledge to address our defensive issues hanging empty in the early August air is starting to gnaw away at my usual pre-season optimism.
Cesc’s comment that he hopes Arsene is right in believing we will challenge for the title is beginning to sound like a loyal and loving son’s wish that his slightly frail and deluded father’s dreams will come true.
Whatever happens this season AW will always be a legend and the fantastic new stadium his legacy but the sense that he is stuck inescapably in a rut of perpetual transition and development with this team is growing stronger by the year.
We simply not got the goods to challenge, our gk/ df are useless, we lack a real badass in mf and hadnt replaced Henry up front. Under Wenger we are now going backwards and need 5 new signings to steady the ship, we should of let Fabs fulfill dream but didnt cause Wengers selfishness, we could of used that money on Reina, Hangeland, Jagielka, Hazard, G.Cahill, Elia, Ozil, Ireland, more solid players who dont vanish when season hits the busy end, now we will struggle.
What a joke
Calm down everybody and read this interview with Wenger in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/07/arsene-wenger-arsenal-interview
“I travelled at the World Cup a lot, you cannot imagine how popular Arsenal is in the world,” he says. “It is massively important to me that we win titles, but there’s something as well deeper and stronger in the way we play, the policy we have. The fact we do not only inject money is hugely respected all over the world.
More so outside England? “Much more, because in England it is a clan situation,” Wenger says. “Tottenham supporters do not care about the Arsenal, how we do things. They just want to beat or be above us. Man United as well. But for people who are really lovers of how you should run football, we are hugely, unbelievably popular.
There is still work to be done before the season opens. Wenger makes no secret of his need for another centre-half. And does he understand why people expect him to bring in a new goalkeeper? “Yes,” he says, smiling ruefully.
Wenger believes players become men at the age of 23. “That’s when a player can handle to go to Stoke, to Bolton, play at home against Chelsea,” says Wenger. “At 19, you know they will be great one day, but they are not completely ready. Now our generation are all 23, 24, 25, but they have already big experience. These guys have 50 Champions League games.”
Unbelievable hysteria over a friendly (which we won btw).
Is there a coordinated attempt by someone to whip up negative comments about Arsenal and Wenger? It could be in the interests of some of our rivals – Barca, for example, and the Spuds of course? Or maybe someone wanting control of the club?
Or just a bunch of mindless idiots?
BTW, which team have the most players in the England squad righ t now? A clue: they are all under 21.
fabianski out on loan, cannot believe that he will come back sometime in the future then. would it not be better to steal his wallet throw him off the bus and abandon him where he is and when he turns up for training in a few days terminate his contract for being absent without leave.
that’s 1 problem solved, now for the best manager in the world, that’s gonna be more difficult because he has made the board and the directors filthy rich ( and himself also ) any ideas ????????????
I’m going to assume that people are misreading the score as 0-5. We actually managed to score SIX. A bit of overreaction going on tonight, I think.
“let Fabs fulfill dream but didnt cause Wengers selfishness”
Jesus wept.
Holic – ” if I deleted all the nonsense I would quickly get a reputation like one of those blogs where you can only hold one opinion, or be banned…”
That’s the problem with liberals- always have a conscience and want to let all sides have their say.
Meanwhile, the fascists like one or two blogs we could mention, and presumably the likes of our Visionary friend, have no such qualms about censoring debate and distorting the facts.
It (sometimes seems) like its a war out there!
‘holic,
calling our manager a c+++ has nothing to do with opinion.
lol WENGER DELUDED, we have only 30m fans world wide, less than Chelsea (90m), Liverpool (150m), Madrid (235m), United and Barcelona (299m). Spurs care deeply bout us why you think they always getting at us- they worship Arsenal, Utd do things in same way to us only better and Wenger mental if think they only want beat us, their already above us in every way and got over 300m fans. Chelsea took over London long ago and have a bigger fanbase and better set up, seemily leaving us behind, we dont measure up.
Ah, a Chelsea twat spouting bollocks now. Come on in tj. The psychotherapist has a bit of a queue but he’ll get to you as soon as he can.
Shame Chelsea can’t fill their ramshackle old dump with all those fans to sell to…
Oh, many fans are overreacting to this result. Of course we have some defensive frailties. But I think there is time to get it sorted.
An experienced GK and defender and we’ll be fine….and the midfielders should learn to share some of the defensive duties.
It seems the end of the world arived a couple of hours ago, so can I have the entire contents of the bar, please ‘holic.
It’s a fascinating question about the size of the fan bases. Anecdotally, in the US, Man United has the biggest fan base, with Arsenal probably in the top 5 or at least top 10 – Arsenal might even have the 2nd biggest fan base here. Is there a source, such as the results of a legitimate poll, with this kind of data?
tj
Wonder where you get figures from, as there is no source mentioned.
Oh, you made them up did you?
Some figures which does have a verified source (comScore World Metrix) are the visitors to clubs website, which is a conduit to overall support, shows Arsenal to be third worldwide.
Manutd.com Manchester United 2,218 43 % 57 %
Liverpoolfc.tv Liverpool 1,497 53 % 47 %
Arsenal.com Arsenal 1,435 47 % 53 %
RealMadrid.com Real Madrid 1,137 33 % 67 %
FCBarcelona.com Barcelona 1,053 26 % 74 %
ChelseaFC.com Chelsea 1,000 38 % 62 %
ACMilan.com AC Milan 825 34 % 66 %
Inter.it Inter Milan 824 49 % 51 %
Juventus.com Juventus 619 31 % 69 %
Om.net Marseille 531 82 % 18 %
PSG.fr Paris St Germain 413 77 % 23 %
Olweb.fr Lyon 319 78 % 22 %
zico you think only Jesus wept, well let me tell you that Jesus Mary and Joseph wept and all the animals in the stable after watching fabianski on setante today
dj that’s a really fabulous bunch of gunners you mentioned,don’t forget dixon oleary and nigel winterburn and to think someone tried to taint your post by stating you were a non gunner, one thing about that bunch is that that the captains armband always fitted snugly on whoever arm it was put on.they were all leaders i suppose
Thanks for that, Paul. That study is from March 2007, so things might have changed a little since then (like Barcelona moving up), but that’s a pretty decent answer to my question. Here’s a quote from their study:
“The study also shows that roughly 60 percent, or 1.3 million, of Manchester United’s 2.2 million monthly visitors do not reside in the U.K. – quantifying the global reach and appeal of the Manchester United brand franchise. Rounding out the top 7 most popular football teams online are Liverpool (1.5 million global unique visitors), Arsenal (1.4 million), Real Madrid (1.1 million) , Barcelona (1.05 million), Chelsea (1.0 million) and A.C. Milan (0.8 million).”
433, I’d be willing to bet that such “fan base” figures are in almost all cases more or less just assumptions, perhaps based on some small survey designed to give the answer you want it to give. I could quite easily “prove” that pretty much everyone in the whole world is an Arsenal fan, it’s just a question of phrasing the question:
Q: would you prefer to see an Arsenal game or have your Magic Johnson cut off with a dull and rusty knife?
A: Arsenal game, please…
SURVEY RESULT: 100% of survey subjects said they would go and see an Arsenal game if they had the chance!
(you would of course not use such a silly counter-statement, it’s just to illustrate the basic principle – you just have to phrase the question so you can read the answer in the way you want to read it)
Read matty at 81. He’s summed up what I think far more eloquently than I could. Love the description of aw as the “slightly frail and deluded father”. Sad but true. I hope it’s his last season. Its been groundhog day for at least the last five years.
Wenger’s such a selfish c*nt isnt he? Keeping our captain and best player at the club.
Of course everyone would have applauded him if he had allowed Cesc to be flogged to Barca, not only on the cheap, but the never never.
Im aint a chelsea fan, just a cynical gunner who lost all respect for wenger the moment he refused give my lil girl his signature after the home game with city last year and knocked book out her hand before storming off, he went down in my estimation when did that.
Just like to add that my response to 433 was written while paul made his post. That seems to be a fairly reasonable survey, although I wouldn’t really take websites hit to be a very reliable basis for translation into world-wide support. Despite the Pravda-esque contents on Arsenal.com, it has for years been the best and most user-friendly web site of the Premier League and such factors must also have en effect on the hit ratio.
chinaman
If you cannot see the shackles that have been put on the club’s resources, which has prevented us signing players then I can’t help you mate.
I think the team is improving every year as well. We suffered alot last term due to an horrendous injury list and the players that were fit, were in poor form; Nasri, Arshavin to name 2. If we do not suffer the same injury jinx and have our best players in good form, then we can win the league, of course I am assuming there will be 2+ signings before the 1st of Sept.
If Wenger is frail and deluded then WTF is Fergie? Its funny as Fergie is making the exact same noises as Wenger has been these past 4 years; “WE will use the youth players, the squad is strong enough, I dont need to spend, etc” It has nothing to do with the fact that United are up to their necks in debt now!
tj,
you’re at best a comical liar.
TJ
Thats nothing, Wenger spat in my nan’s face and gave her the finger when she beat him at dominos down the Nag’s Head last week.
tj
Ahh – your lil girl! What a heart rending sob story!
Come on boys. It’ll be ‘your Mum’ stuff soon. Can we raise the standard a bit please?
Thanks.
Mug, you are bang on about the cash constraints up until now. Everything I hear says we should now have money, however, so on September 1st I will not be able to defend any lack of investment in the squad as I have up until now.
‘Holic, yeah me too. I will be truely astounded if there arent any more significant arrivals by Sept 1st.
Mug, count me in too. There just has to be another central defender brought in, and I have seen nothing that convinces me that Arsene isn’t also looking for a new keeper. If we haven’t got another defender in by Sep 1, then it is a failure on Wenger’s part no matter the reason.
Tj can’t even spell Jt properly.
Six sublime goals from the Gunners. Great to see Chamakh on the score sheet again. Some of the stuff on here tonight is a hoot. Particularly the visionary chappie.
Mug
The difference between fergie and aw is sadly that fergie has won a few things in the past five years and man u still pay top dollar for decent players despite their horrifically high debt. We are the most profitable premier league club and with the biggest turnover yet we’re still shopping in the french second division. I love aw and the players we have but I can’t understand why he won’t sanction the acquisition of top players. Arshavin was a very rare exception and rumour has it that wenger wanted to pull out because of the excessive fee demands but was persuaded by the md to go though with it. I hope it will be different this summer from the last seven but if you’ve seen the film Downfall about hitler’s last days, I fear arsene is going that way a little…
A slight worry going into the season with our current goalkeepers and centre back partnership but I’m still optimistic for the new season purely because I’m sure a new quality centre back and goalkeeper will make us stronger in that key area. Who and when those signings are coming I don’t know but I’m 100% sure they’re coming because common sense tells us we can’t go into the new season as we are. So all in all despite today and despite some who’ll have you believe it’s all doom and gloom at the Emirates I’m confident for this season and think we had a good preseason. We got fit, we got the likes of Nasri, Chamakh and a couple others getting some form before Liverpool so bring them on I say.
A shot and a brew please mate.
chinaman
Thats your opinion and you are more than entitled to it. However, I feel that we have been unable to make big signings due to the cost of the Grove. However, that is apparantly not an issue any more as Wenger stated at the begin ning of the summer.
Therefore if we still do not buy quality and pay decent money for it, then, as i have already stated, it will be a huge surprise to me.
As for fergie, I personally would like to see how he does IF United cannot afford to sign players like they have been used to.
Lets not forget it isnt just the chavs and City who have consisntely spent huge amounts on players every season. United ‘s spending power has long been one of their biggest weapons.
Ah BtM, glad you made it. I need a bouncer tonight 🙂
Evening Holic,
Some gooners would make you sick! Anyway Holic always enjoy reading your blog best one out there! keep up the good work,
Seems to have calmed down a little bit now. You would think we lost to Spurs in the Champions League with the noise some are making. Never mind the fact that we actually won the game.
Our strike force is looking very lethal this year (and that is without RvP even). A couple more signings (which Wenger has hinted he is planning to make) and we’ll be looking able to put Cesc fully beyond Barcelona’s reach. I doubt they’ll be in a position to afford the captain of a Premier League and Champions League winning side a year from now.
If you want over reaction head on over to Arsenal Truth….Mass murder and mass suicide are being contemplated in equal measures.
A simply horrible defensive display.
1. We need a goalie!!
2. We need a tall commading centre half.
3. We need to protect our back 4 better better,
4. Frimpong & Wishere look raw in midfield. Particulalry Frimpong’s distribution. Wilshere has improved though since last year.
5. Nasri is the bomb!
6. Chamakh is going to be a big plus!
7. Eboue’s finishing was well not exactly Eboue-esque!
8. We came back from 3-0
However, overall-shocking defending and we better sort it out!!!
Agree with Jay 100%
So it seems it all comes down to what Arsene does with his apparently healthy chequebook between now and Sep.1st.
I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt for now (even if ideally any new signings would be nicely bedded in already) but if his late window strengthening amounts to anything less than an experienced, commanding centre half and a top class, confident, vocal keeper I will not be at all surprised to witness a sixth consecutive trophyless season and Cesc’s inevitable departure thereafter, possibly to be followed by Robin.
I believe such losses to the squad would inflict fatal damage upon Wenger’s youth project, the whole basis of which is to develop a talented young group and keep it together into maturity. It cannot succeed if the cream is constantly skimmed off as it rises to the top.
Two or three judicious signings now which help us to win that all important first trophy with this group could prove to be the difference between the glorious, hugely satisfying fruition of Arsene’s plan and the depressing confirmation of his flawed idealism.
Obviously if we sign a world class central defender and a world class goalkeeper (and maybe throw in a couple more world class players while we’re at it) the side would have a completely different complexion. I’m just not expecting that, and I’m ok with it. We finished third last season, and we can do that well or better this time around with the players we have (and a little luck).
What in the name of the holy barman is going on around here??
All it took is a bad defensive display and everybody goes ballistic? What’ll happen if we lose to Chelsea or Utd?
I believe in Arsenal and thank you Holic for keeping a sane voice in the blogosphere…
Up the Arsenal!
WE DID WIN DIDNT WE? and it was a friendly to OPEN a teams new stadium!!! The fans that were there certainly won’t forget the game. So job done .Start ur moaning if were mid-table at Xmas!! which ain’t gonna happen Lets all calm down and I’ll get Us all a Jiegermister shot to clear our heads. In Wenger we trust? I STILL DO
I’ve got my tickets to Warsaw…off to become a top class Polish goalie….wish me luck
Had to watch this twice to see if I was up to snuff…I can’t dive like I once could but I can claim a ball
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/6498540/
Seriously though, there are positives – I’m sure every player on the pitch will be forced to watch the video of the defending to ensure it’s tightened up. Surely right?
7+ days from now we’ll be celebrating a 3-1 away win to get us started. Calm down….it was a very friendly.
I just cannot help but to believe that many of the comments just bashing arsenal and arsene after a bloody PRE-SEASON fixture might be coming from a few non-gooners having a laugh and trying to wind other drinkers up.. but if they are all gooners, then they are entitled to their opinions though i suppose no matter how radical. only time will tell who’s right. have patience lads
I really feel the solution is a very simple one and it is just that no one has found it. Huge problems have always have the simplest of solutions. Maybe Wenger needs to think out of the box.
Our defence and GK need a signing known as ‘confidence’. That would surely bring about a marked improvement in performance.
Wenger would do well to remember this quote
Einstein
‘ Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Look, I found an great Arsenal blog with a Tottenham drinks section!
It’s unfortunate that such a sensibly written blog like the ‘holic’s still gets trolled by the Anyone but Wenger clowns.
Sure wouldn’t hurt to buy a keeper though…
I’ll have what blogs is having.
what i am glad abt is that more and more fans are entering sanity and realizing their true situation …the situation that i’ve been moaning about ever since players kolo toure/senderos were the rubbish inheriters of manning the defence….
what has remained are bloggers Like these who artificially inflate the percepetion that we are world beaters…
glad that you bloggers are losing your credibility
AND SOME WOULD SAY ” OH THIS IS JUST A PRE-SEASON FIXTURE” …
Ya right…THE LAST PRe-Season fixture with just 7 Days to go to Anfield !!!
Knock knock.
It’s a frigging EXHIBITION!
Rewind: Because Legia thinks we’re a great club worthy of the inauguration game for their brand new stadium, when we bought Fabianski they asked us to play in that game. Note that Legia is not asking for a friendly as they’d rather not jinx the sparkling Legion stadium with a 5-0 drumming or a drab 0-0, they want a memorable game. On our side nothing less than a win would be acceptable and we don’t want any injury at all, we’ve got enough already. One week before the Anfield game we cannot afford to take risks. Now Legia asks: “how about 12-11?” to which Arsenal replies “6-5, take it or leave it”. Once there’s an agreement on the outcome we sketch the scenario together. Big lead, great come-backs etc. We agree on the PR, “11 goals thriller”, “rain of goals” etc.
It’s like wrestling or a tennis exhibition. The outcome and scenario represent the best interests of all parties. Now if the players are careful to avoid injuries and if there’s 11 goals to be scored, the defenses will gave to be very lax to say the least, it’s not the kind of scenario that will make them look good, it’s not the point. Anyway again it’s a staged game which is not even reported in the media.
Once you keep that it mind the reactions are fascinating.
Spot on Matt even though
SSNews decided to report on it! If itWas 6-0 to us would a word of been mentioned? very much doubt it. Ce la vie or whatever it is in French!!! It’s 9 am time I went to bed nite all . A sneaky nightcap of Gentleman Jack please ‘holic
Blimey. Looks like I have missed a right old dust up.
Any scoreline like that is totally Mickey Mouse. Have not seen any of the game but we all know where our weaknesses lie. AW in his prog notes back in April said he was talking to and looking at definite targets. Not a lot has happened since then. I have said before on here that i feel we should have had our squad in place by now. Mr W needs to wave his magic wand fast.
I have noticed a large increase in the doubters, possibly because this is the first season that there appears to be few financial constraints. I must admit that the knives will be out if the players do not come in and we fail again.
Come on Arsene, don’t let us down.
Massive over reaction to letting in all those goals – but we did win.
The game was a meaningless, pre-season friendly and one can never read to much into those whatever happens on the pitch.
We DO need to improve defensively and not just the back four or five players, everyone must play their part. Some of the players must also learn to play just as hard without the ball as with it. Of course AW knows that he needs to strengthen the defence – he has said so often enough – but it isn’t just a matter of popping into Tesco’s and picking a central defender, goalkeeper and defensive midfield/holding player off the shelf. The players he buys have to be better than the players we already have, they have to be available to buy from their current club, they have to want to come to Arsenal and they have to be at a price we can afford. I for one do not want to see Arsenal incur the massive debts that most other clubs seem to have done, I want our club to remain solvent and in a healthy financial position with a secure future and not just dependent on the mood or current infatuation of some oligarch, sheikh or chinese businessman.
Arsene Wenger has been wonderful for Arsenal and he doesn’t deserve the kind of abuse and vitriol that is being heaped upon him by some so-called supporters and fans. He deserves our respect if nothing else. Disagree with him by all means but be polite and civilised (as he would surely be) in that criticism.
I am concerned for the coming season and I do want to see at least one more signing – a top class central defender – a goal keeper as well would be nice, but get the defence sorted and the goal keeper becomes less of a problem and looking round the premiership there are seem to me only four or five keepers who you could say are definitely better than Almunia. If however these signings don’t happen we must still get behind the team and support it because subjecting it to a barrage of criticism will only make matters worse.
Brilliant post Matt – I love it!
Holic – you are a genius sir, another top post.
Well, further to some of the earlier promises by some posters, I did get drunk last night, only to wake up this morning remembering I need to come into work today. So, hangover in place, huge desire to be back in bed, sat here contemplating how I am going to manage my deadlines, thought it would just be nicer to read and comment on your blog!
I am hoping that we can’t read too much into yesterday. OK, so Koz and Verminator need a bit more time to gel (hence another run out yesterday), I think this will come good, so no worries there. Full backs don’t concern me, two corkers in each position and Clichy appears to have worked on his crossing (also let’s not forget Sagna and his 20yd rocket!).
The defence could have done with more protection from midfield and I guess the toll of however many first team games from a standing start has taken its toll on Frimpong, but I think Wenger is just trying to give him as much as possible knowing he will be rested for a while from now on.
As for goalkeeper, well we all know we have problems there and I am sure Wenger is not blind to it. If we start with Almunia against Liverpool, it’s not great, but I would prefer to Flappy who just needs a year on loan to work out if he can turn all those great training sessions into a full no shitting his pants 90 minutes. I still think Chesney looks good, but given his lack of pre-season game time he is clearly not going to be thrown in.
At the end of the day, if we score 6 every game, then we aren’t going to lose many!!!
Think of it, this is hilarious:
– 1st goal: TV and LK turn away from the ball and LF throws himself toward the net once the ball is in.
– 2nd: LF throws himself on the ground.
– 3rd: TV makes a comical kunf-fu kick to avoid the pass/cross
Eboue’s goal: the GK drops to the ground before the “goal machine” shoots.
Gibb’s goal: the defender keeps backing off to leave Gibbs enough space.
The most comical: the defender that tackles JET behind him.
@SteveT: I’m thinking the angst, anger and resentment shown by some here can be felt in many places. It’s not specific to Arsenal I’m afraid. Wherever we live our societies are not in a good shape at the moment.
No over reaction from me here as i still see us short in 3 positions. Keeper is so obvious its untrue. Fabz as well as being mentaly shot down he also gets the defenders nerves jingling. Kos is the exact same type of defender as Vermaelen, and i mean exasctly the same. Kos has to be Verms backup – id be happy with that but only if Djoutou is also backup to a similarly built defender less prone to injuries. And the third position is one Wenger said he wouldnt strenghten but i feel he needs to – a defensive central midfielder. Im a fan of Song but when hes not there its obvious. Look at yesterday, no cover im midfield for the defense – Frimpong is too inexperienced yet.
Did I miss something? Did we win a game? Splendid.
@140: I looked at yesterday, it was sunny and 30+ great actors gifted us with quality entertainment.
Morning Matt, I would love to confirm your take on things, but I’m afraid that isn’t how it was. I am astonished however that people are using this game as a stick to beat people with. Players would not have been risking injury for sure, and that explained the half-hearted nature of any attempted blocks I think.
Sadly one cannot avoid putting Fabianski in the spotlight because of his position, but large question marks loomed over a couple of midfielders, both of whom had played well until yesterday, but who both, frankly, had shockers in Warsaw.
At the back we know one defender is struggling to come to terms with those around him and what is expected of him. Sometimes it takes time to settle.
My fear is that we only buy one central defender and are exposed again by any injury. I would be looking at two myself, but I thought last year we needed a goalscoring winger and we did fine without.
As a rule of thumb I don’t think you can go far wrong with ‘Arsene knows’. A lot more than all of us, anyway.
`Holic, would you care to specify which parts you disagree with? Look at the goals again. It’s not half-hearted blocks at all these are deliberate moves to let the goals in.
Come on, you don’t believe it was a “may the best win team” kind of friendly, do you?
We won. Start judging after next weeks game. All the huff and bluster aside, yesterday’s game was pretty meaningless. I agree with 133 Matt.
Jebus, there have been a few posts here. What is going on? Not sure we saw these sort of reactions to some of our league defeats last year.
I’ll have one of those mint cocktails to freshen the pallet for the day ahead please.
Wenger answers his critics:
http://img814.imageshack.us/img814/2963/screenshot20100808at104.jpg
Avid reader of your blog ‘holic but never felt like commenting before, until I read some of the comments above. Jesus wept, get over youreselves, it was a pre-season friendly ffs and we won, yes we won.
Will the same people, be on here next week if we beat Liverpool 4-3,
OMG we conceded three goals, sack the manager.
Bit early in the morning so I’ll just have a double Powers and a pint of plain porter please!
But what fans want to know is whether Lukasz Fabianski, Manuel Almunia or a new signing will be in goal at Anfield.
Wenger added: “The situation is that we have the goalkeepers we have. Fabianski conceded three goals in the first half and you could not especially say that he could do something about it.”
“and you could not especially say that he could do something about it.
Laughable.
Rest here http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/901998/CESC-IS-NOT-THE-NEW-CRISTIANO-RONALDO.html
Whoa! I upgrade my iPhone 3G to a 4, experience a bit of downtime, comeback to the bar and it’s all kicking off – a royal mash up!
‘Hols – surely you meant dissapointed or disliked? “Hate” is a word solely reserved for cunts like Van Niselroy? 🙂
I haven’t seen the Legia game, but some of you are suggesting that Woj made some decent saves and was organising the back line? That’s exactly what any keeps should be doing – communicating and reassuring the players on front of him.
I have said previously that If we are going into the new season “as is” then I would consider Woj as a starter. Ultimately it’s about temperament non? The ability to comeback after a wobble.
At the moment Fab and the constant spotlight that he finds himself under is not helping him or the Club. Let’s build his confidence up and then I am prepared to fully pass judgement.
The only way to do that is remove him from the spotlight and loan him out. If he returns and plays shite then heh, let’s call a spade a spade eh?
Up the Arse eh pals?
Fine taste buds you have there, Tipp.
touche, see my comments about not signing players in this international friendly week. I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect Almunia to start at Anfield. That doesn’t mean he has the job back, just that he is the pick of what we currently have, and that’s no reason to give him dogs abuse before the game.
I think that a lot of the negativity is born out of frustration. For years we have suffered with financial constraints. This is not the case this year. AW said at the start of last season that we were to judge him in May. Well perhaps that is what we have all done. His prog notes in April stated that he was identifying and speaking to targets even then. That he hoped to have all of his business completed by the world cup. But here we are. Same flaws, same weaknesses and the same potential problems that we all identified 18 months ago. But this time the start of the season is only 7 days away.
We can not rely on the same old excuses. We have the money. The young players should now have the necessary experience and in footballing terms should not be considered that young any more. We were told that this generation were set for a decade of world domination. Well, now is the time to deliver.
We need at least 2 new signings. I would also want another experienced holding player. I believe we are that close to realising the dream. It would be such a shame to fall just short again when the solutions are there for all to see.
All I can say to everyone is “keep the faith”
No, that wasn’t what i was aiming at, at all. I don’t excpet Arsene to publicly criticize Fabianski, but surely that part at him not being at fault for any of the goals, is stretching it out a bit too far. Now i don’t want to play the blame game, obvious as it is, but this situation could easily be avoided, by not commenting on blame at all. I don’t even know why he gets any chances, bear in mind, he fucked up everyone he got. Remember the last game with Fabianski in goal, he didn’t do a terrible mistake? Me neither.
I don’t even want to start the hate parade after preseason friendly, but it’s fairly obvious where the frustration comes from. Firstly, correctly recognizing our shortcomings at the start of transfer window, and doing nothing about them. Second, losing experienced players in key places and not replacing them. Third, pattern of goals we concede. Same old, same old.
I have watched an interview with Szczesny just before they boarded the bus to the aiport on a polish TV station he said:
It’s rather embarrassing for a club like Arsenal to leak in 5 goals with a team from Warsaw. Manager wasn’t happy at all and he made sure we were aware of it.
Not sure if this has been mentioned in this session, but anyway:
Arsene Wenger interview by Amy Lawrence
Anyone who reads that interview and still claims that Wenger doesn’t understand the need for a new goalie, well, then I guess that person never will.
Lars@155
Wenger can say all he likes actions speak louder than words.He has had 3 months to sign a keeper.There is no excuse why the two clowns are still getting games at Arsenal
Hello Arthur. Great to see you again. I must admit I was thinking of you as some of the more extreme stuff was being spouted yesterday. Hope all is well.
I remember going to plenty testamonials / exhibition matches in the past and we used to predict the score beforehand – always close results and perhaps the home team winning by the odd goal in 7 or 9! They bore no reflection on how well the team did that season at all! Looking forward to the season ahead
akinfeev wouldnt go a miss though!
Looking at the game whenever they had a free kick or corner in the first half they had half their team standing on fabianskis toes and in the second half they werent even in the six yard box- could this be because szczehny was shouting really loud barking orders commanding his box mmm!!! Take note fabianski !!!
@TONY: I never said there were any excuses. I was only contradicting the common view that Wenger somehow does not not understand the need.
Arthur – what’s your take on our two Poles?
Ceers Holic,
I was on a really long holiday, motherland and all that, only got back on friday. I did read your posts but with limited access and time I didn’t post back.
Players from Warsaw played their hearts out yesterday and got a deserved score line but we should have played with more spirit. Silly mistakes from midfield, back four and Fabianski showed we are maybe still short, however it was game that we didn’t want any more injuries as we already have few so there lets wait for the real thing ah?
The problem we face with Fabianski is that team from Warsaw knew how to expose him from set pieces and corners even pundits on Polish TV said so. They even mentioned that he yet again let Wenger down. It seems every team will do the same and for me it’s too much of a risk for us. I would in this case keep Szczesny and send Fabianski on loan. For some reason I also feel that Wojtek has got more balls and will do better than Lukasz.
Wow, some drinks you’ve gotten here ‘Holic. Enough has been said already, so I’m keeping this short. We didn’t play the game of the year, and it looked like the midfield was trying to impress Wenger in the “easy” way, that is, being attacking and creative (they do know what he likes!) instead of sticking to their roles. I think we underestimated the opponents and we almost paid for it (as much as you can “pay” for a losing a friendly). Worrying signs, yes, but hopefully a sign that will be heeded.
Still, we did outscore the opposition and we missed, without speaking about the forwards, the whole midfield (Cesc, Song, Diaby) plus the first backup (Denilson) that would have screened a relatively new and untested center back pairing. Say what you will about a few of those players (and I have mostly positive stuff to say about them, meself!), even the worst of the negative fans here can’t think they would have let in five goals. Two perhaps, who knows, but I don’t think we would have this reaction to a 2-6 game. I’m not Almunias biggest fan (except when it comes to the guy himself, seems to be a nice bloke!) but I think with him in goal and our midfield back in action this game wouldn’t have ended as it did. And, given time, Kos will find his feet as will his partnership with Vermaelen.
I wouldn’t say no to a new goalkeeper and an extra center back but hey, even the team we put out against Warsaw was somewhat close to our best players we still lacked key personnel in key areas of the pitch. Midfield does have quite a bit of importance to a team such as Arsenal, no?
This can only get better, and I’m sure it will.
what the …!!??!!
That’s a strange article to put on the official site. Unless it means …
See link below
“Sagna – Saphic is good enough for Arsenal”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/sagna-spahic-is-good-enough-for-arsenal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
Bah, spelling errors and strange sentences in my post, as usual when I write on my phone. I hope you’ll forgive me for it.
The “Official Site” has become increasingly strange as it tries to drum up site visits, it seems to me. They’re masters of taking a quote that consists of a single sentence and creating an article (unlike a good blogger who holds out and reports a full 24 hours of quotes in a single post). So someone asked Sagna about a transfer rumor, he gave a bland, diplomatic answer, and they consider it a story.
I’m so pleased that the season is kicking off soon, and a Liverpool fixture to start things off is brilliant. I really don’t understand the optimism of those who are convinced that reinforcements will be coming in, but my own optimism is perhaps stranger – I think we’ll be ok with what we have.
Clearly I don’t think we’ll have the best defense in the league we the players we have, but I don’t think that they’ll be so bad that we’ll have no chance to win anything.
Also, me thinks, a little hypocritical for the Sagna-Saphic quotes to be on the arsenal site. Given how enraged we all were with Barcelona’s inability to avaoid putting Cesc’s name in the public domain.
Also, me thinks, a little hypocritical for the Sagna-Saphic quotes to be on the arsenal site. Given how enraged we all were with Barcelona’s inability to avoid putting Cesc’s name in the public domain.
Sorry for the stutter 🙂
I’ve read these posts with disbelief. It’s not about the warsaw game. The point is WE’VE GOT NO DECENT KEEPER AND ONLY THREE CENTRE BACKS! And the season starts next weekend! We just let in five goals against a rubbish team. Wenger yet again has let go more players than he’s bought. This self-delusion of “in Wenger we trust” gets worse every year. “Keep the faith” is a very apt rallying cry for all of you poor sods who lap it up year after year. Its a belief with no rational basis. We’re the mugs here – paying the highest prices to the club that makes the most profit and has the highest turnover yet has the 15th highest net transfer spend in the last five years. Soon Arsenal will unveil their new plan for us all to watch a massive mountain of banknotes on the pitch for 90 minutes. Great they’re making huge profits. Now fucking spend it on some players and stop fannying about. And the rest of you get some backbone instead of doltishly supporting aw in his massive eccentic and deluded vanity project
Fabianski has let AW down again, and it was noticeable that Warsaw Wern`t expecting Szczesny to cock up when he replaced Flappy after the interval. Koscielny looks a little under-cooked to me, and may need a number of games before he looks right, and Frimpong, despite AW`s ringing endorsement after the Celtic game,
also doesn`t look ready, but I for one won`t be reading too much into this game. However if we were to start the season with Flappy as first choice GK I wouldn`t give much for out title chances this coming season.
I’m not sure why everyone feels that Wenger never signs anyone. Nasri, Vermaelen, Arshavin, Chamack, Koscielny are but a few of the ones he’s made in the last few years. Nasri is looking very sharp this season, Vermaelen was huge for us last season, Arshavin helped us qualify for the Champions League in 09, and Chamack has a couple goals already in preseason. I accept that we are still short a few players, but Wenger has indicated he is still on the market. If by the end of the transfer window, we have made no more signings, I’ll question him. But for now, give the man a chance.
Cor blimey, what a load of drinks!!! Quite a few drunks too I believe, if some of the posts are anything to go by. 🙂
As I’ve previously posted, I don’t put too much stock into pre-season friendlies and this one looked more like an exhibition match then anything else, both defences and defencive midfields were basically non exsistent. I think our friend’s Matt@133 theory is a little far fetched, but not that wide of the mark. It was a game to celebrate the opening of a new stadium, and what a great way to do it, with an eleven goal thriller. Fans turned up to be entertained and footy is about goals so I think a vast majority of the crowd would of went home well satisfied.
Do we have defencive defieciences? Indeed we do, I’m sure that AW is a highly intellegent man and he is aware of this, but throwing money in the wrong direction to try to solve this problem would be a lot worse then doing nothing at all. Don’t get me wrong, I too would love to see a few new faces with a proven pedigree in the positions that are lacking the quality that we expect, but I’d prefer it to be a long term solloution (e.g TV) instead of a stop gap (e.g Silvestre)
It’s a new season and believe it or not it’s not all doom and gloom, we’re in a stronger financial position then most of our rivals and are only getting stronger. We have retained the services of our capitain and talisman and at the same time stuck our finger in the eye of those tippy tappy tapping uppy fuckwits BastardLoana, sending out a message to the world (in style may I add) that we will not be bullied or fucked with.
I raise a glass to all similar minded gooners out there, whatever happens win or lose, I will always be Arsenal through and through, it’s not all sunshine, but that’s the difference between a supporter and a fan.
Cheers Holic and Holics..
Arthur – I’m with you on Woj. Fab needs a season between the sticks to build up his confidence. Teams aren’t stupid. They do their homework and he will be exposed time and time again – not exactly a confidence booster.
Chippy@28, Wouldnt worry about the other Holics getting us mixed up as I’m normally a miserable git in my ramblings 🙂
Blimey if the blog world is anything to go by this season could get nasty if the same mistakes are made, On a brighter note Nasri has been superb this pre season and Chamakh looks to be everthing I hoped for and more, Top notch player. The worries at the back still remain but we all know what needs to be done so fingers crossed it will be, Id still like a top quality aggresive DM brought in as well mind as there is no way Song can protect that back four all season, He will be knackered by Christmas with that task to many fires to fight for one man.
Up The Arse,
I know this has been looked at before…but is it correct?
http://www.transferleague.co.uk/index.php/Single-League-Tables/transfer-league-table-2006-2010.html
(Premier League net transfers 2006-10)
Evening Holic & Holic`s
I missed all the fun !
When I first heard the score I must admit I thought it was a mistake, 5-6 a cricket score for a game of football. I cannot comment too much as I have not seen the game so I will keep my opinions to myself.
We have a complete waste of space which is classed as a friendly a couple of days before the prem kicks off. I hope the FA and their greedy manager are happy with them selves as it is totally ridiculous to arrange this friendly now. Pathetic money grabbing fools. I hope no more than 2 fans turn up.
I am a little concerned that the manager is still sitting on his hands when it comes to transfers, as it has been rightly pointed out be many on this blog the possibilities of any transfers this week are nil.
We need another CB and quick ! Now the poor so and so who comes in will have to build his relationship with the Verm on the field in competitive games which is so far from ideal its not funny.
I know we need a keeper but the scary thing is I don’t see that happening, however I do believe the boss will bring in a CB. If he doesn’t then real questions need to be asked. Ideally I would love to see 3 world class players in GK-CB-DM. We will be lucky to see one of these. To buy a top class defender is going to cost 20m and I don’t see Arsene spending that.
So fingers crossed to having a couple of new faces before the close of the transfer window. Here`s hoping.
For all those doubting it’s an exhibition please come up with an explanation why bbc, guardian etc have not even reported on the game. Even goal.com haven’t and they have reported and given ratings on all our friendlies.
Anyway Guardiola is the only decent man at the club that shall not be named: “I understand Arsenal and I understand [Arsene] Wenger, I wouldn’t have let him [Cesc Fabregas] leave either, I just hope Cesc carries on enjoying what is such a special and competitive league, the Premier.
@Steve T: Frustration is one explanation, the transfer frenzy is another and the fact that apart from Le Groan and a couple of other boards the doomers are consistently swatted away from all the arsenal blogosphere surelly plays a role in jacking up their resentment.
Expectations are sky-high, that does not mean everyone and their dog knows what’s best. The solutions are not there for “all to see”. Getting a DM would be a very costly mistake (that is if we want to keep Song, remember Diarra?) and finding the right CB who”s available in this market must be a huge headache.
Note also that it’s been a few seasons already that the top of the buy-buy-buy list of the ones-who-know-better has been consistently ridiculous. Remember Huntelaar, Matuidi and Melo that they thought were all worth spending 20+ millions?
Matt, that has been bugging me (the score), and the lack of newsprint, however our Polish friend Arthur tells us that Woj was interviewed shortly after and said Arsene was not happy at conceding 5 goals.
You’re right about Pep.
Arsene knows, but he`s also a stubborn old sod, and won`t alter his plans just bcause fans tell him where we need to strengthen. I will be surprised now if we sign a new GK, which given his veiled criticism of Almunia the other week would have been a slight surprise, except that Almunia has performed adequately enough this pre-season to probably convince AW that he can put his cheque book away. I have in the past been very scathing about those who criticise AW, (Feck off to the lane etc.), but when we are just a gnats away from having a team more than capable of winning trophies, his faliure to spend where he needs to is very galling.
TGe rumour mill is spinning at 1000mph, the latest on the keeper situation;
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Arsenal-will-try-and-sign-Shay-Given-if-Manchester-City-confirm-Joe-Hart-as-their-number-one-keeper-article547905.html
@164caveat emptor
Seams like someone at the official site agrees with you because the link has been removed.
Apologies for the typos, I’ve had almost as many drinks as there are here, hic.
From the beeb gossip column;
Former Blues boss Jose Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, says there is “no doubt” that he wants to manage in England again one day, but will not be pursuing his interest in signing Chelsea’s Ashley Cole – “when a coach says no, it’s no, and we have to accept that.” (Sunday Times)
—–
He’s obviously not connected with Barstardloana.
‘Holic I must say this is healthy for the Arsenal enterprise that everybody has an opinion about the win in Poland. Good, bad, or indifferent, apparently everybody is ready for the new season and everybody will be watching next week to see if their hypothesis is confirmed or denied. I for one have no hypothesis since I make it a policy not to watch or put credence in preseason games, but I certainly am among those who will be watching against Liverpool. Come on Arsenal!
I find it very sad that one week before the start of a new season, after winning a meaningless game in Poland with a squad desparate to avoid any further injuries, that some “fans” are rushing on here to spit bile at the club’s directors, players and, probably worst of all, manager alike.
The facts about recent financial constraints and injury problems have been gone over enough times.
Nobody who contributes regularly to this excellent blog has ever denied that we need to strengthen in terms of defenders and goalkeepers. It appears now though, that if you are not willing to join the bile-spitters, that you are accused of not going to games, and have no idea of what happens on the pitch.
The people making these accusations and writing this pathetic tripe are doubtless the same ones who, in the season before last, were booing every Arsenal player who made a mistake during a game, and were threatening not to go to games until Wenger was sacked and half the squad were booted out with him.
Well here’s a request for you. Please stay away, ‘cos last season the atmosphere at the Grove was a lot more positive, as those of us who actually go to games would know.
This does not mean that we were not bitterly disappointed at the way the season ended.
It does not mean that we think that the directors and Arsene Wenger are perfect.
It does not mean that we don’t think the squad needs strengthening.
It means that we are used to success and failure, and try to understand the reasons why, when things are less than perfect.
If anyone just wants to scream destructive abuse at everybody, go and join the 300million (or whatever it’s supposed to be) at Chelsea and do it there. Tickets are advertised on the radio every Friday – you should have no trouble getting in.
@1974: At the same time what do you expect them to say? Players won’t come out and say they were instructed to let the goals flow. Interviews from our polish keepers are just promotional material for Legia.
Arsene Wenger also said “You have to be detached from the result”, what more of a hint can he give?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-you-must-detached-from-pre-season-results-
Matt, I think it’s a bit far fetched to suggest they were doing it on purpose but it looked as though it wasn’t a 100% effort out there.
God, can we please, please get a new keeper? I can’t really imagine going to Anfield with both Fabianski and Almunia and if so I’ll be extremely disappointed in AW and Gazidis.
All this work on improving the squad will be for nothing if we don’t get a keeper which is far more important than another CB, cause every corner will be a goal if every team play the Sam Allardyce strategy with Fabianski in goal.
It’ll be just the like the Delap throw ins. Every time Stoke gets a throw in we start shaking in fear and every time ANY team will get a corner we’ll do the same…
i see the ‘Sagna thinks Spahic is a good player’ story has been taken down from arse.com – i hope this means its a no go and hes gonna get someone with a bit more ability
Interesting all of this.
I find my feet in two camps.
I am a big fan of Arsene and the way the club has gone about our business since we firmed up the move to the Emirates. Achieving great things by balancing the books and developing players is – as suggested earlier – one of the reasons why I love our club. I guess I am not the only one to register that the tide is turning with three Arsenal players in the England squad and a fourth (JET) only a year away. (With Lansbury, Frimpong, Bartley, Eastmond all hot on their heels).
But I was maddened by the capitulation at the end of last season, with only Sol in truth having the character to dig in when it mattered. I am not in the camp of having to win something – I can live without it if I can see we are truly making progress – whether on or off the pitch. But for all my faith in Arsene’s strategy I really hoped he would add some much needed leadership in the areas of keeper, central defender and defensive midfield. It would in no way jeopordise the youth policy – rather it would be the final piece of the jigsaw to catapult them to being world beaters.
It may still happen. (Although I think we can forget the defensive midfielder – a mistake in my view I am afraid). As Holic suggests, we may be waiting to seal the deals at the eleventh hour. I hope so. And we know that Arsene et al do not mind playing a little poker as evidenced by the deals for Gallas and Arshavin.
I am keeping my fingers crossed.
Matt @179: “Note also that it’s been a few seasons already that the top of the buy-buy-buy list of the ones-who-know-better has been consistently ridiculous. Remember Huntelaar, Matuidi and Melo that they thought were all worth spending 20+ millions?”
Add names like Ricardo Quaresma and Ryan Babel (yes, there was quite a lot of noise about Arsene being an idiot for “allowing” – as if it was him alone who decided it – Babel to end up at Liverpool) to that list as well. And wasn’t there another Portugese chap at the same time as Quaresma that was also the next big thing that never happened?
Good to see a range of views on here, clearly some of us are worried and others are serenely confident in aw and the board’s ability to pull a couple of top transfers out of the bag at the eleventh hour. I am not so sure but I hope to be proved wrong. See goodplaya’s analysis of cesc’s interview in The Sun. I’m afraid I share Cesc’s view rather than Arsene’s but maybe the great old man has one more miracle left in him!
By the way criticising the club on here is not the same as moaning at the matches. I don’t think there’ll be too many arsenal fans avidly reading these posts but they certainly hear the boos and the moans at the emirates and it doesn’t help
@chinaman: Arsene Wenger has said enough times that we’re looking for a CB to be believed. Beyond that it’s only wishful thinking. We may get a stop-gap keeper (not counting on it myself) but I can’t see us buying a DM. Whether that fills you with hope or angst is up to each one of us I suppose.
On the other hand Goodplaya’s post reflects his own personal doubts. We all knew Cesc will leave for Barca at some point for a myriad of reasons (and lots of cash). I’m of the opinion that if we’d won some silverware last season he’d consider the job as done and would have asked to be released the same. It’s case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Now how long will it take for him to stop moping and pick himself up is another concern. You can bet your house that his Barca pals have spent more time talking down Arsenal than selling him a bridge in Barcelona.
@Lars: indeed the list is long 😉
I have never posted here before, so here it is, enjoy its depth.
A welcome addition, bearing in mind a lot of what had gone before, Biggy. Good to see you here.
Hope I am going to bump into you again at a game soon, although having said that my plans have been thrown into chaos by ‘holicdad. Looks like Stamford Bridge might be my next one 🙁
http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/09/2062492/xavi-cesc-fabregas-will-join-barcelona-in-january-because
Wow I hate Xavi so much.
I’ve never been a Mourinho fan more than I am now.
And for all the doom and gloomers – He’s wrong, we will stay in the title race after Christmas.
Does anybody know what the injury to Alex Song is?
Tried to check on arsenal.com but the latest update is from May!!
Now this came right out of the blue: (or perhaps claret and blue)
Martin O’Neill quits Aston Villa with immediate effect
He should never have picked a public fight with Arsene this winter. Everyone who does that loses their job in just a few months, or in some cases even days…
Ha ha, Lars – yes, it’s another one of the Arsenal curses!
200 drinks heavy session :)!!
201 not out.
@179Matt. I do not think it just means buy buy buy. I guess my problem has always been, are we maximising what we have? The answer in my opinion is no, we are not. The balance of the side has been wrong for me for the last couple of season. I do not understand why we let players leave when they get passed 30. I do think we need a DM as well as a centre back and keeper. But I would be far happier now if we were going into the first game of the season having kept hold of Gilberto and Gallas.
There are a big 3 weeks ahead re dealings. I would be quite happy with one of Citeh’s keepers. I feel that we should have our business done ages ago but will reserve judgment until the window closes.