A Night At The Theatre, I Mean Kit Launch
Jun 16th, 2015 by 'holic
Twenty-four long hours on and it is time to reflect on the new home kit launch at Arsenal. Fortunate to have a media event invitation I arrived shortly after six and before long a string of familiar faces gathered in the Foundry restaurant.
Well aware that such invitations are a cause for comment on social media sites I will point out the motivation for sponsors like Puma to involve bloggers is that unlike the national press our readership consists almost exclusively of Arsenal supporters, not just at a national level but around the globe. In other words we are a direct route to large numbers of their potential customers.
The plus side to accepting the invite was the opportunity to interview one of the club’s players. The handful of bloggers present were allocated Nacho Monreal, and there will be more on that interview in the next post. Based on some of the reaction from elsewhere we had one of the better interviewees. I must admit, I would have liked a chance to quiz Hector Bellerin, the star of the show, as well. The two full backs and Francis Coquelin were definitely the most improved players this season.
Then came the time to wander downstairs and join the already assembled throng outside. A quick check on the phone confirmed the live broadcast was streaming on the blog. Relaxed, I could now enjoy Gilles Peterson in action. The sounds encouraged the masses to at least do a little shuffle, if not dance enthusiastically, to keep warm as the temperature dropped.
We had already heard from indoors the rehearsal of “We’re the North Bank”, “We’re the Clock End”, and the reason for that would become clear later. The lights came on, the show began, and Gilles Peterson was first to be interviewed and he predicted a treble for the Gunners next season. It’s hard not to like that fella.
Next up, with “the words Arsenal legend were written for this man”, Nigel Mitchell introduced his co-host for the evening, Thierry Henry. Titi spoke of his early days when the likes of Tony Adams and Martin Keown would kick him in training to let him know what it meant to play for the Arsenal. He reiterated that he left the club as a fan, and when he returned he spoke of what the goal against Leeds United meant to him as a fan.
The co-presenters set about interviewing a few lucky supporters and before we knew it the players who had earlier been interviewees were introduced in the new kit and quizzed in turn. Large roars greeted Tomas Rosicky setting a target of winning the title next season and Santi Cazorla’s agreement with that sentiment. Hector Bellerin, Danny Welbeck, and Nacho looked more comfortable as ‘models’ and an appreciative audience sang out as proceedings drew to a close.
It has been strange seeing the range of reaction today, more to the event than the kit itself which seems to have drawn critical acclaim from a design viewpoint. Puma know better than to mess with the ‘Arsenal play in red shirts with white sleeves’ expectation. Modern kits aren’t made for old gits with my girth, but I have to say twenty years ago I would definitely have been snapping up one of these.
It is a remarkable phenomenon that so many are enticed to a launch of a product so widely leaked in recent days and weeks. There has been some criticism from those for who this sort of thing is not their cup of tea, but that so many took up their invitations on a far from balmy evening is affirmation of the arrangement of the launch. There is an audience for events like this and the participation of all present last night was great to see.
Puma have pumped millions into the club for the right to hold promotions such as this. In a world of twenty four hours a day social media they are efficient ways of spreading the message to a worldwide fanbase in a short space of time. The smiles on the faces of those in attendance confirms there is a market for interactive events between club, sponsors, and supporters. That market will be continue to be served, and very professionally if Monday night is anything to go by.
72 Responses to “A Night At The Theatre, I Mean Kit Launch”
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Bing!
Glad you enjoyed it ‘ Holic’ and I hope you got home in time! You make a good case for Puma and as someone involved in marketing I understand the business case. But another bit of me says the whole thing is bollocks! I love this club and realise the new business imperatives but I also reserve the right to opt out on the new kits. We know like London buses another one will be along in a minute
Sounds like a grand day out, ‘Holic. You really are becoming mainstream — in a good way.
Ttg, I understand it riles many (often just because they feel more deserving of the invite!) and more than you might imagine. There are another group of people who genuinely believe it is all bollocks, and I totally get that thinking. However, the game, whether we like it or not, is changing.
Years ago the big European clubs would fill stadiums when new signings were introduced. We aren’t at that point yet, but Arsenal will get there. We have supporters who love to feel involved like that. In the past we loved the fact that we could interact with players in the pub. Those days are gone.
Events like this are the new ‘meet players in the pub’ for this generation. Let them enjoy it.
Thanks Ned, but actually nights like last night confirm blogs are far from ‘mainstream’. But we have a toe in the door, and the sponsors and club are starting to understand we exclusively serve their customer base.
Christ, I sound like a marketing bod now. 😉
Just send ’em out in some dirty old t-shirts with “Kill Tottenham” scribbled across the front. Let it be known that a particular corporate entity sponsored those shirts and I will buy their product.
Glad you had a good night out Holic. The well known blogs ( you are at the top end of such ) have a large following and thereby have some effect on mind set of dedicated Arsenal supporters. The modern clubs are customer orientated and thereby seek to take advantage of such a following. No doubt in my mind the ’71 classic takes some beating more than 40 years on from its original launch
good for you, ‘holic. considering the island of sanity you create for so many spread so far, you should have gotten to do as you like with the interviews (knowing, as they would, they’d be put here in such fine fashion in the coming days…for which i can’t wait!). these kinds of marketing things are pretty standard today, and i for one appreciate the money they bring in, even though they’re a bit of a put-on and overkill for bringing out a uniform…
so glad rosicky was given a good response.
the new kits are ok, i am thinking i will get and wear a yellow 1971 cup final top with 11 on the back if it is charlie george giving the legends tour 🙂 thanks for the offer, too.
for anyone who hasn’t been to THOF (new or old), i can tell you, i feel like a kid on christmas morning.
The nicest, cleanest, most styley new kit I’ve seen in years. I particularly like the collar and the sox.
Excellent, and will photo especially well when holding the trophies aloft!
Öskar
‘Holic@5: Blog audiences comprise self-selecting, highly qualified and engaged relationship buyers with a core shared value and brand alignment allied to strong word-of-mouth. What’s not to like for a marketer?
Oh Ned… 😉
Nice one Holic. I hope they gave you a good ‘goody bag’.
Holic
Fine point well made. I’m just a bit of a curmudgeon about some aspects of modern football like the obsession with transfers, kit leaks and endless and misleadingly titled blogging to get hits. But you can’t be King Canute so perhaps I will order the 3 XL as a present to myself! Even that might be a bit snug!
Just in case anybody has not seen them yet, we could solidify a few good points at the start of next season.
Enjoy!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11677835/Arsenal-fixtures-2015-16-Gunners-host-West-Ham-on-opening-day-before-trip-to-Crystal-Palace.html
By the way, that kit launch seemed awesome!!
Seen clips about the place and it makes me wish I was there.
Ned@10….a perfect summation of a football club in 21st century 🙂
Season kicks off with Spammers at home followed by Palace away, Mickeys at home and Geordies away. Let’s now wait for the TV companies to change the day / time.
Talking of TV companies, I’m not happy BT got the rights to the CL games.
This list shows all teams: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fixtures
Look at all those fixtures at 3pm on a Saturday! What a loverlee prospect!
Oh! 🙁
If only bath, to both posts.
Nice piece Guvnor, and it sounds as though you enjoyed the event.
Once more, i find myself very sympathetic towards ttg but not quite foursquare behind him. All the razzmatazz does nothing for me and I’d rather it wasn’t there, but if other people enjoy it – and they seem to – I’ll happily ignore it.
In other news, four pointless posts. Lord alone knows what he’d do if anyone actually engaged with him. Ill try yo consign him to the “Vaguely annoying razzmatazz” bucket.
Plonk
COYG
“Vaguely annoying razzmatazz”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9HP7ME70Xg
Don’t do it, TTG. These Puma shirts are skin tight and if you have anything like a gut, you’re going to look like a polythene sack filled with over ripe tomatoes that’s sitting on the reduced to sell shelf at Tescos…
Like me. 🙁
Tizwaz?
The Okay man! Wow that’s taking it back.
No, to skin tight tops.
Like me 🙂
Excellent write up, Holic,
putting a bit of perspective on the TalkSpite (I know, I know) attempts to ridicule the whole thing – but they would, wouldn’t they.
I guess I fall naturally into the ” bit bizarre just ‘cos we’ve got another new shirt out” camp but, as you say, the game is changing like it or not.
If this sort of event generates huge shirt sales around the globe and allows us to sign the likes of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez then who’s complaining ? Not I.
I’m glad you enjoyed the event and I can’t see how anyone could begrudge you the invite. Scant reward for running a brilliant blog on a voluntary basis.
The shirt looks really good actually despite having white sleeves AND shoulders.
If only Andre Santos was still in the squad there might even be one
to fit !
It was good to see Tomas Rosicky featuring in the new kit launch. Hopefully it means he will still be here next season. Despite having reached the almost geriatric age of 34, he brings drive and urgency to our game that is sometimes lacking, especially against less good opposition.
Arsene Wenger always speaks highly of him and it’s a bit of a mystery to me why he is used so little, particularly at home where he would seem a better option on the right wing if Aaron Ramsey is the other option for the position.
Better still on the right wing would be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and it’s disturbing to read that the chavvy scumbag Mourinho is demanding him as part of the Petr Cech deal – if there is such a thing. (Sorry, Pangloss, even I can’t resist occasionally).
If anyone is desperate to read stuff about our players, over on dot com Santi Cazorla reveals – “How I became so two-footed”.
Incredibly, the gist of it seems to be –
“After training I would stay an extra half-an-hour and kick the ball with my weaker foot”.
Well I never ! Damned crafty these modern coaches. No wonder UEFA badges are so hard to get.
And Mesut Ozil claims – “I aim to have a surprise effect”.
He explains –
‘I sometimes see spaces because I’ve already looked to see where players are’.
Damn ! There you go, Oskar ! He does it by actually looking to see where people are.
Who’da thunk ………
Has the football started yet …….. ?
PL schedule is out. We start and end the season at home. Hammers and Villa, respectively.
A few big matches at home early in the season.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150617/arsenal-to-host-west-ham-on-opening-day
Hopefully we will be traveling to Etihad in the penultimate match with the league already wrapped up and players like Chuba and Hayden will start the match and we will still win, keeping the seniors well rested for the upcoming CL final.
Moderate in my optimism.
Oops, sorry GT and bath, didn’t see your posts about the fixtures. Apologies.
No worries DF. I am just hoping we can capitalise on a not so tricky start! 😉
‘Holic@11: Marketing-speak just rolls out like wallpaper. And the words can be run in any order without changing the meaning a jot…. 🙂
Interesting that the fixture list has a relatively easy run-in for all the big four. All of us only have one game against any of the others in the last couple of months. I seem to remember that the fixture list used to be laden with lots of ‘big games’ towards the final weeks. Of course, we should also be playing the likes of Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juve in those couple of months as we power towards a CL triumph so being able to rotate against the likes of Sunderland and Norwich may be no bad thing.
Full list of fixtures (date only certain until Sky decides to f-around with broadcast times):
Sat 8 Aug West Ham (H)
Sat 15 Aug Crystal Palace (A)
Sat 22 Aug Liverpool (H)
Sat 29 Aug Newcastle (A)
Sat 12 Sep Stoke (H)
Sat 19 Sep Chelsea (A)
Sat 26 Sep Leicester (A)
Sat 3 Oct Manchester United (H)
Sat 17 Oct Watford (A)
Sat 24 Oct Everton (H)
Sat 31 Oct Swansea (A)
Sat 7 Nov Tottenham (H)
Sat 21 Nov WBA (A)
Sat 28 Nov Norwich (A)
Sat 5 Dec Sunderland (H)
Sat 12 Dec Aston Villa (A)
Sat 19 Dec Manchester City (H)
Sat 26 Dec Southampton (A)
Mon 28 Dec Bournemouth (H)
Sat 2 Jan Newcastle (H)
Tue 12 Jan Liverpool (A)
Sat 16 Jan Stoke (A)
Sat 23 Jan Chelsea (H)
Tue 2 Feb Southampton (H)
Sat 6 Feb Bournemouth (A)
Sat 13 Feb Leicester (H))
Sat 27 Feb Manchester United (A)
Tue 1 Mar Swansea (H)
Sat 5 Mar Tottenham (A)
Sat 12 Mar WBA (H)
Sat 19 Mar Everton (A)
Sat 2 Apr Watford (H)
Sat 9 Apr West Ham (A)
Sat 16 Apr Crystal Palace (H)
Sat 23 Apr Sunderland (A)
Sat 30 Apr Norwich (H)
Sat 7 May Manchester City (A)
Sun 15 May Aston Villa (H)
Hi ‘holic et all,
Just seen bbc online whiçh says that Nigerian oil magnate and long time supporter is interested in buying the club, ‘to change its direction’. Have checked the date today!! , and it appears genuine
Stand by for the “Hello Arsenal supporter, I need your help to get at gazillions of dollars and will pay you millions if you allow me to use your bank details” emails.
@ 32 Yeah I saw it. I don’t think the majority shareholders will give up their shares. Although this fella sounds determined. He mentioned that he’d already drifted away from the idea previously. So his current intentions remain to be seen. It sounds like he’s waiting for other events to help him trigger an offer.
Oh wow, the old email trick? You too?
Dammit Cynic I had just started that email and was working on the address list and you’ve gone and spoiled it
Can’t wait for the photo opportunity if he buys the club. Holding up a shirt with his name on it and the number 419 😉
Shirt looks better than the last season though i admit as Giles the DJ said, i am away kit guy.
Fixtures present the first tingle of nerves towards the new season. A good start is imperative and i believe we can get the campaign the due sustainability with a good start.
Ox in a swap deal for cech??? mou flash news , you can keep cech thank you, we will not give anyone from our team except maybe flamini and that too if you pay.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere has been fined £40,000 by the Football Association and severely warned as to his future conduct after admitting to a charge of misconduct.
—————
Scandalous….!
wolfie would heartily approve
of
big lumps o fellas
arguing the toss
bout collars on shirts
an socks on feet
.
.
ooohhh 😉
.
.
ned
top shelf as always
.
ttg ?
a marketing magistrate ?
jeezirlou
yer not selling yerself well
who does yer marketi. . . . ?
.
🙂
aaaahhhhhh the big four oh
well in me
can’t remember me 40th
dunno if dull or shitefaced
or if i went out
or didn’t
memory is ruined
probably sat in the house
bunions baying fer attention
or not
likewise 50
🙂
.
anyhow
anyhoo
how you
UP THE ARSENAL
Arturo Vidal crashes his Ferrari. Bad news for transfer tattlers and echoes of TGSWEL.
I happened to catch the Dangote interview on the BBC Africa Service. It was a more speculative expression of interest that has been reported by the popular prints, albeit a less speculative one than when I last head him interviewed on the subject a year or so back. It went roughly along the lines of (and I paraphrase wildly):
‘I been following Arsenal since the 1980s; I had a look at buying some shares back in the David Dein days, but didn’t have the time or money to devote to a bid; now I’ve finished adding an oil refinery to my business empire I might have some more time (he is a notorious workaholic), and I have the resources (he is, after all, Africa’s richest businessman) so I might take another look if the owners are interested in selling.’
I think I posted this link back when Dangote’s interest last came up: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101581305
He also came up on the wrong side of recent Nigerian election, so that could mean any of (i) he needs to focus on protecting his Nigerian interests, (ii) he will have a lot more spare time on his hands now; or even (iii) that he needs to get assets out of the country.
One discordant note, to my ears, in his BBC interview was that he said Arsenal needed a strategic change of direction because it is a ‘selling’ club. That suggests he is not 100% up to date on Arsenal matters.
We don’t want his sort here, thank you very much !
Just to be clear, I have absolutely no intention of selling my remaining shares to anyone.
It is well known that I now only have a very small holding which, incidentally, Lady Nina has been desperate to get her hands on since transferring her own interest to that nice Mr Kroenke.
My holding is so small these days that it attracts very little interest, either publicly or privately. The yield I get from it is now infinitesimal and even that is only once a year.
I did consider upping my holding but have decided in my advancing years that I can no longer manage it.
C’est la vie, my petit choux fleurs, as Arsene says.
C’est la vie ……….
A £40,000 fine for Jack is a joke. The FA’s standard fine for misconduct is £5,000. You can be racist or homophobic at that price. Who know being Spuddist was so much worse? You can even call a referee a cheat for £10,000.
Perhaps one of our learned friends might like to weigh in on the question of whether the FA has contravened Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights in this case. Jack was expressing his opinion, as was the crowd that responded to him — an honest opinion on a matter of public interest, which is safeguarded under Article 10’s freedom of expression provisions. Just because the FA makes its own rules, and its member clubs and their players have a contractual relationship with it, that doesn’t mean any individuals concerned have abrogated their rights under the Human Rights Act.
Is the FA not overstepping the mark in suppressing freedom of expression — and providing a heavy deterrence to others to do so by imposing an outsized fine — and what’s more for an opinion that society does not find morally reprehensible as it does racism and homophobia and which you will readily hear tens of thousands people express quite reasonably any week of the season?
PH-W: Good to see you stirring.
Even if Lady Nina has turned her back on you surely you still have options?
The Arsenal Gent was brilliant on the Jack-Spuds-shit issue.
A must-read. 😉
NBN @ 47 : I thought you have more options when the lady turns her back on you.
I hope FA will spend Jack’s hard-earned money on something useful: like fitness training and periodic ophthalmologist visits for its referees.
Erm.. the new away shirt is fucking rank. If the image is genuine that is.
http://news.arseblog.com/2015/06/pumas-new-gold-arsenal-201516-away-kit-leaked/
Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Exactly, Dr F. And with Lady Nina you always know which way is up.
Cynic, we won the FA Cup in 1950 in a change strip of gold, and the double in 2002-03.
I swear Manu Petit scored France’s fifth goal tonight. Provoked great memories.
Named Henry too, bath. Some wallop indeed. 🙂
It looks like one of Noel Coward’s smoking jackets, Ned.
It was that 1950 FA Cup final win that had me claim Arsenal as ‘my team’ when asked, so the gold is okay by me. Less sure about the quilted cushion look though.
Öskar
“He does it by actually looking to see where people are” Trev #27
As I thought, Trev, it’s not magic after all. Now, if he could resist the easier sideways and backwards passes which make his stats look so good and pass to someone more likely to progress the attack, then we’ll all be impressed.
Öskar
So Jack gets fined for saying something we all know is true? Funny world we live in. I’d be tempted to start a collection if the lad wasn’t making more in a couple of months than most fans earn in a lifetime…
Öskar
I’ve been waylaid in Dublin and forced to drink copious amounts of Guinness. Thanks for the health warning Cynic, I’m up to 4 XL now and the snugness of the fit may have significant taste implications!
Now the speculation starts on the bleeding away kits.
Nice to see PHW back- the charming old buffer has been missed . My friend remembers fondly , him padding around the team hotel on European trips in silk dressing gown and slippers. I’m a Sir Chips man having engaged in a deep and intimate conversation with him for thirty seconds at the Christmas do a couple of years ago. But there I go name- dropping again.
Back to the Guinness;)
Morning H
Are their seriously people who get upset and feel they are “more deserving” …. how incredibly petty.
But then a feeling of entitlement is not exactly a new sentiment to SOME of our support….
Hope you had a great day – you deserve anything that Arsenal send your way!
Morning,
Wow, no significant transfer rumours today?
It’s cool how the release of next season’s fixtures brought a holt to all of the rumours by actually giving the journos something to write about.
😆
I
I don’t think there is any need to address City’s bid for Jack. That’s just a waste of time for all party’s involved.
Worry is not about losing anyone, worry is ensuring we do get what we really need to. Cech needs to be confirmed within this month or else i think he wont come at all. DM and rumours about Kondogbia doesnt excite me as much say it were to have been schneiderlin. Geoffrey Kondogbia maybe a raw talent and had a great game against us but i rather have a finished product than a potential. If we are investing in a dm which we should,then that player needs to be world class and replacing coq which in itself will be a tough act.
Striker i do not think so we will buy, i do believe theo will sign the contract and that would mean we have an attacking front of theo, danny, giroud and sanchez which if fit, we should be good to go. If we do lose anyone then yes we need to invest in a striker. If we do buy a striker then how about a punt on hernandez? fox in the box finally????
Hey Vinay,
Interesting synopsis.
I like the look of Vidal. Simply because he’s from Chile and Alexis has already shown us what he can do. I must admit to not seeing much of him, but during the Champions League final he looked ready for the Premiere League in the sense that he is a tough box-to-box type. His manner was a bit like le coq, but with more experience. Although the latter is not really box-to-box.
I like the look of Kondogbia, simply because he gave our whole midfield to forward line a hard time during the CL home tie. I am not sure about his pace in terms of his ability get around. But as a holder he is not too bad from what I have seen.
Schneiderlin ticks all of the boxes, plus he’s french. Age wise he’s somewhere in between the other two and strikes me as a player who would not mind rotating. Because let’s face it, le Coq does not necessarily need replacing in his current form. In fact he was almost faultless last season.
But in conclusion if you were to ask me my preference I would say Vidal. But if you were to ask me who would fit the profile of the team more, I would say Schniderlin. But then at the same time, I wouldn’t turn my nose up to Kondogbia, if he was our only option.
The goal keeper situation just needs to sort itself out, if you ask me. All parties are seasoned professionals. I am sure they can come to some sort of an agreement soon, whatever the outcome.
😉
Many of our key players are getting to the right age to be judged as either reaching their peak, to be right at their peak, or in some cases to have passed it. That’s why I checked their birthdays to see if this season could possibly be one of their last chances to win something big with Arsenal.
Debuchy turns 30 this 28th of July. It is time to re-establish his position as a first team player before his thirties get rolling too far down the track and Bellerin is able to cement his current status.
Mertesacker turns 31 on 29 September. In his prime or possibly just past it after he was caught out last season a couple of times. He had an otherwise solid season but with Gabriel nipping at his heels for a first team position he must stay on his toes.
Koscielny turns 30 on 10 September. Right in his prime so he must excel, avoid injury and be a key player in our push for trophies this season.
Monreal turns 30 on 26 January. After playing his best season at Arsenal with excellent stretches at centre half and fullback he is in his prime and should be expected to turn in another similar season.
Ozil turns 27 on 15 October. Returned from injury stronger and played an excellent second half last season so can be expected to be in his prime this season.
Cazorla turns 31 on 13 December. Played last season in a deeper lying role and was a great success. Should be able to turn in a similar season this time around but could need more rest.
Arteta turns 34 on 26 March. Has slowed down and has still not fully returned from the injury that kept him out for much of last season. He is quite far down the pecking order and his impact this season is uncertain.
Flamini turns 32 next 7 March. Versatile squad player and two years younger than Arteta but his impact is uncertain, especially if we make a big signing in his position.
Rosicky turns 35 on 4 October. Couldn’t have done more then he did last season in the few opportunities he was afforded. Past his prime and will require replacing soon but remains very dependable and can change games with his ball control and energy.
Walcott turns 27 on 16 March. Should be in his prime and gunning to excel after the injury frustrations of last season, and especially after his contract situation is resolved.
Alexis turns 27 on 19 December. In his prime and should be at the center of all great things this Arsenal team can achieve.
Giroud turns 29 on 30 September. Never possessed lightning quick speed but he remains an important focal point of our attack. He will need more resting to keep him fresh and injury free, and to provide different options to our attack.
I decided not to look at anybody younger than that seeing as the younger players still have time to approach their peak but then there is Arsene Wenger who turns 66 this 22nd of October. His time is getting quite short, the calendar doesn’t let anybody dispute it, so in his case this season certainly is a very big one. Come on Arsene.
Interesting. I get it. Makes sense. These players could definately go all the way.
Huh?
Interesting bt8, i didn’t realise Kos, Monreal or Cazorla were quite as old as that, and probably would have guessed Giroud a year or two younger.
I think we’ve got so used to thinking in terms of kids coming through that some have grown older than certainly I realised.
Just one thing to take issue with where you say about Mertesacker –
“with Gabriel nipping at his heels for a first team position he must stay on his toes.”
If he does stay on his toes he will, of course, make his heels more accessible to Gabriel, not less. Try it. 😉
bt8b, You do get the feeling that this team has a couple of season to make its mark, and then that will be it — for AW, too, I suspect. He’ll leave the makings of the next team behind him, but our current first team squad, plus whatever it can be bolstered with, looks like his legacy team. No more building for the future –which is now present and will soon be past.
And on that monkish note…
8 Ball,
I’d be less concerned about the Centre Halves age – you need a good vintage in that position and at 30 I think Kos is only beginning to become the player we all think he’s capable of. I do feel that Per has had a poor season though and in Gabriel I think Wenger has bought a first team player. So I expect to see a swap out in those positions. What Monreal / Kos and Gabriel really bring is pace in defence and there’s a real possibility of seeing alternate formations and maybe even 3 at the back which would be possible with that trio but not with Per. It great to have those options now.
Nice post Holic and thanks once again. Kudos to Snowy too for the previous.
Cheers all. It’s Nacho time now. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>