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Win Tickets to Arsenal Legends v Milan Glorie Match

Aug 23rd, 2016 by 'holic

Hello ‘holics,

We’ve teamed up with Arsenal Football Club to offer our readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to ‘Arsenal Legends’ v ‘Milan Glorie’ at Emirates Stadium on Saturday 3 September.

The star studded encounter will see a host of football greats on show for both sides. Some of the Legends that are scheduled to play are Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Filippo Inzaghi and Cafu.

To be in with a chance to win, please answer the question below:

Which of these Arsenal Legends has a statue outside Emirates Stadium?

•             Thierry Henry

•             Lee Dixon

•             David Seaman

Please send your entries to competition@goonerholic.com by midnight UK time on Sunday, 28th August. Include your name and email address so you can be contacted in the event of you winning the tickets. There is no cash alternative for this prize.

If you want to make sure of your place in the stadium on the day tickets are now on general sale for this fixture and are priced from £20 adults and £10 concessions (16 and under and 65 and over) here.

Good luck to you all.

Posted in competitions | 271 Drinks

271 Responses to “Win Tickets to Arsenal Legends v Milan Glorie Match”

  1. on 23 Aug 2016 at 9:41 pm1Gary battman

    Thierry henry

  2. on 23 Aug 2016 at 9:47 pm2Duncan Ekechukwu

    Thierry Henry.

  3. on 23 Aug 2016 at 9:52 pm3bathgooner

    Herbert Chapman.

  4. on 23 Aug 2016 at 9:54 pm4SomeFan

    Isn’t it Thierry Henry

  5. on 23 Aug 2016 at 9:55 pm5North Bank Ned

    Tony Adams, too.

  6. on 23 Aug 2016 at 10:10 pm6Yussuf

    Thierry Henry

  7. on 23 Aug 2016 at 10:28 pm7Rabiata saidu

    Thierry Henry

  8. on 23 Aug 2016 at 10:31 pm8North Bank Ned

    Chippy and Ttg from the last drinks: Fine memories. There are still plenty of us around for whom fourth in the league would have been unscalable heights. We only finished above seventh once in the 1960s. The ’70-71 double sort of came out of nowhere. We’d been 12th the season before and knocked out the FA Cup in the Third Round, beaten in a replay at Blackpool in Terry Neil’s final game. Highlight of that season was a 7-0 Fairs Cup pasting of Dinamo Bacau at Highbury with Charlie George, Jon Sammels and John Radford all getting braces. I remember seeing that and the Liverpool game four days earlier from the upper tier of the old East Stand as a friend had somehow got us in there for nothing. Different times indeed.

    Also worth remembering that in the double season, we didn’t get our first win until the third game.

  9. on 23 Aug 2016 at 10:33 pm9North Bank Ned

    Or is that clutching at straws?

  10. on 23 Aug 2016 at 11:12 pm10Goonersince54

    Ned/TTG/Chippy
    My Dad took me to that Leeds game,as he did all mid week games,even though there was school the next day.
    It was a cold miserable night,and as a typical child,i was whining about why we had to go to the game,particularly as we were having a horror run.
    The Old fella told me to stop complaining,and said this is what being a Supporter means,turning up in good times and bad,and the players need our support now more than ever.
    Whether that was true or not,or whether he just wanted to spend time with me,and the Arse was as good an excuse as any i don’t know.
    But given he lived in a Children’s home from the age of 4 to 16,and never had a childhood of his own,i suspect it was probably a bit of both.
    It certainly helped shape my perspective of what it means to Support your Club.

  11. on 23 Aug 2016 at 11:37 pm11Kurtis Powers

    Thierry Henry!!!

  12. on 23 Aug 2016 at 11:45 pm12Goonerholic

    Send it to competition@goonerholic.com anyone who hasn’t.

    How are you all?

  13. on 23 Aug 2016 at 11:47 pm13Biscuitbum

    Henry, but Pires ought to have one, and also Gilberto (not the gorilla) if only to see his lovely smiling face again.

  14. on 24 Aug 2016 at 12:22 am14TTG

    Lovely memories Clive and Ned. It was a lot different then. I don’t think we signed anyone before the Double season!

  15. on 24 Aug 2016 at 12:43 am15Chris

    I bet Baresi could still add some much needed steel to our defence, if we fail to land Jonny Mustafi or whoever … and at the other end I hear Wolfsburg have released TGSTEL. ‘Released’ being a polite local neologism I assume.

  16. on 24 Aug 2016 at 12:45 am16Chris

    Clearly we didn’t need to sign anyone for the Double season, TTG. Clearly today we do.

  17. on 24 Aug 2016 at 1:18 am17Goonersince54

    Thnks TTG
    and no we didn’t sign anyone.
    But i do remember Charlie George getting injured at Everton in the 2 -2 opener to the season,and he didn’t return till the Man City league game at home in early Feb.
    The rest of course is history.

  18. on 24 Aug 2016 at 4:15 am18Chris

    One jumped out of the cuckoo’s nest…

    Which will be meaningless when the post previous to this is expunged of course. 😀

  19. on 24 Aug 2016 at 4:19 am19Chris

    Here’s a gentle echo of the past as a soothing balm in these troubled early days of 2016-2017 … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6hrNwhJ_18

  20. on 24 Aug 2016 at 5:47 am20Chris

    For those who mourned Russian dopers at the Olympics…

    Sing to the Motherland, Home of the Free!!! / Bulwark of Peoples in Brotherhood strong / Partiya Lenina!, Sila Narodnaya! / To Communism’s Triumph Lead Us On!!!

    National anthem of Russia recorded by Igor Ugolnikov in 1991 (the year the Soviet Union crumbled) featuring popular Russian performers of the day. After the fall this anthem was replaced with a new one, Mikhail Glinka’s Patriotic Son. However, most Russians hated it and a government commission was set up to explore the options. As a result the original anthem was reinstated and the old lyrics (above) rewritten by their original author Sergei Mikhalkov, becoming…

    Glory to you our Free Motherland / Age-old Union of Fraternal Peoples / Ancestor-given Wisdom of the People! / Glory to You our Country! We are Proud of You!

    After which I dare say Putin had them all shot.

    (and you thought your anthem’s words were embarrassing)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49iLCK4p0w4

  21. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:55 am21Steve T

    Already got my tickets for me and my two so won’t try and be greedy. Looking forward to this one and the chance for my two to see some genuine legends. Anyone else making the trip?

    Clive, I’m interested. Did The Ramblers ever have these difficulties in strengthening the squad, or did they just treat the transfer period with their normal gay abandon type approach?

  22. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:22 am22Goonerholic

    I’ll be there Steve. Usual haunt pre and post match. 🙂

  23. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:32 am23Steve T

    Good stuff H. Won’t be able to bring them into the pub but will try and catch up either at half time or through the railings.

  24. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:11 am24TTG

    A quite superb piece on Arseblog about Kroenke. It says it all much better than I’ve seen it said before. Not happy reading
    http://arseblog.com/2016/08/stan-kroenke-problem-will-probably-get-worse/

  25. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:53 am25can't be arsed

    howdy ‘holic
    howdy ‘holics
    .
    ned and clive ?
    .
    chris ?
    .
    .
    anyone that’s going to the legends game
    ya fuckin lucky bollixes
    ?
    hopefully it’s taken as a welcome tonic by most
    and not just more fuel for the boos the week after

    .

    UP THE ARSENAL

  26. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:00 am26Chippy

    TTG,
    Arseblogs a great read but he was massively supportive of Kroenke over Usmanov at the start, so his words ring hollow with me, Anyone with a basic understanding of American sports knew what Kroenke was about but it seems he and many others glossed over it – Think I said at the time to many saw it as Russia = Bad where as US = Good far to simplistic, And now we are reaping what we sowed.

    NBN @ 8 + Goonersince54
    Great Stories keep them coming – One of my favourite parts of this great bar is the stories from yesteryear,

  27. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:49 am27Steve T

    “Well, we’ve all got more than one finger, and while there are many reasons to be critical of Arsene Wenger, maybe we should think about pointing one or two upstairs, and another at that Texas ranch, because if you think Kroenke isn’t part of the problem – and one that could potentially get much worse as his influence grows – you’re very much mistaken.”

    Interesting read TTG. How many years have I been saying that now? Until the football side of the business is made the most important aspect of the whole entity then things will not change. We are Stan’s cash cow and customers to his cause.

    The whole article is a very interesting read.

  28. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:52 am28Countryman100

    Is there any reason you don’t mention DB10 in your piece ‘holic? The website stills claims he is going to play. For many of us the main reason for watching a friendly.

  29. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:29 am29Cynic

    @ 26 the Kroenke thing was understandable, given all we had been told about Greenback and the lack of any real knowledge at all about Stan.

    I think now, I’d take Usmanov any day over the Yank, but in reality I’d like them both to fuck off.

  30. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:30 am30bathgooner

    Blogs is bang on the money today. Very depressing. Thanks for the memories, Arsenal.

  31. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:34 am31Joe

    Football is big business now – and sadly, thats just a matter of fact, irrespective of what club you are, or who owns it.

    I remember Trevor Francis being the first £1m transfer many moons ago. Today Pogba is worth £100m. And Wenger is right in saying the first £200m player is on its way.

    The income from Season tickets is no longer the main stream of income for clubs with income from TV deals and commercial sponsorship surpassing it. And it won’t be long before fans can have a virtual real-time interactive match-day experience anywhere in the world by plugging in your goggles and tuning in live to the Ems from the comfort of your sofa. And believe me, these type of developments are in the pipeline: see Facebooks 2Bn acquisition of Oculus, which would suggest that the level of commercialisation is just going to continue to spiral.

    It comes as no surprise to me, to see people like Esso questioning it all.

  32. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:02 am32can't be arsed

    indeed joe

    no doubt with the extortionate in app purchase
    of a 3d printed snouts ‘n’ arseholes hotdog
    rising out the arm of yer la-z-boy

    “mmmmm snouts”
    ©Homer Simpson

  33. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:07 am33Chippy

    Cynic @ 29,
    Sure it was but most of the news articles that were so pro Kroenke were funnily enough written by people that enjoyed his hospitality – The Ones against Usmanov were certainly written with an Agenda – That’s not to say hes not as shady as shit mind but im pretty sure we didn’t get much balance either !

    As i say you just needed to have a look at kroenkes sports folio to know most of his sides were shit 🙂 You think weve got it bad hes moving the St Louis Rams to LA so things could be worse ! Shit hope i havent given him any ideas 😉

    Im with you tho I wish they would both fuck off !

  34. on 24 Aug 2016 at 12:16 pm34bathgooner

    Chippy, you’re quite right about how Kroenke was portrayed as a white knight in comparison to Usmanov. It would be interesting to know exactly why PHW changed his mind about him and why DD jumped from the Kroenke camp to Usmanov.

    However neither is likely to be going anywhere else in the foreseeable future if their limited public statements are to be believed. It’s far more likely that we the fans will drift away from a progressively degraded product before they sell out.

    The positive aspect of Usmanov’s bulky presence as that he remains a major obstacle to Kroenke taking outright ownership of the club and having his way with it entirely for the benefit of KSE and himself.

  35. on 24 Aug 2016 at 12:56 pm35Solid Gooner

    Joe
    Telepresence has always fascinated me and to think it’s about to be commonplace has me all sorts of excited.
    Virtual Reality is coming to football but I pray not just yet. Nothing however beats the sights, sounds and smells of an honest to God stadium on match day.

  36. on 24 Aug 2016 at 1:16 pm36can't be arsed

    bath i know fuck all about the corporate world
    proper fuck all
    so stupid question alert ( sorry thunder T )
    how come stan the tache’s boy is on the board
    yet the tubby uzbek isn’t

    how does he effectively throw his not inconsiderable weight around
    with his nose pressed against the boardroom window

    as i say i don’t have even a rudimentary business understanding
    but it just seems strange that he owns a third of the pizza
    yet isn’t in the room when the rest of them are ringing up for it

    apologies for what i’m guessing is a right turnip of a question

  37. on 24 Aug 2016 at 1:41 pm37bathgooner

    Why Usmanov isn’t on the board is not a silly question, cba. However I am not the man to answer your question as I am as unaware as you of the rules of the boardroom. We must await some insight from others, perhaps TTG?

    What is clear from the state of affairs at Arsenal is that owning a hefty (but less than 50%) slice of the shares does not entitle you to a seat on the board. What is also clear is that our two major shareholders are incapable of sitting in the same room to discuss and agree the best interests of the club – Kroenke is clearly a man who likes a compliant board rather than an atmosphere of ‘creative tension’. I do know that by sitting on circa 30% of the shares, Usmanov prevents Kronke making any structural or major changes to the business of Arsenal FC Ltd without his consent.

  38. on 24 Aug 2016 at 1:49 pm38Chippy

    Bath@34
    Great Question

    “It would be interesting to know exactly why PHW changed his mind about him and why DD jumped from the Kroenke camp to Usmanov”

    But one I fear we may never know the true answer to – Think in the cold light of day Dein was a naughty boy and went behind the others backs but they found out before his full plan could take effect and he ended up getting shafted – From what I can tell the likes of Nina regret the decisions they made, But at the end of the day they were handsomely rewarded the only ones that got fucked were the fans as per normal,

  39. on 24 Aug 2016 at 2:04 pm39can't be arsed

    indeed bath
    i thought thunder T would be the very fellow

    over to you m’lud

    or
    judging by the big hitting nature of a goodly portion of ‘holics
    ( jeez , not least yerself )
    there’s likely other captains of industry drink in here

    .

    speaking of which ‘holic
    how the fuck did you attract such a loada this lot

    did you hang around universities , big corporations and hospitals
    handing out flyers in an Arsenal scarf
    with a knowing guinness look about ye

    .
    quite remarkable

  40. on 24 Aug 2016 at 2:17 pm40can't be arsed

    (it’s not often ye get to talk to the medical hierarchies without requiring bits of ye to be falling off or in danger of for the privilege , never mind talking about the mighty Arse to them or calling them rude names with relative impunity – the big headed shower ? )

  41. on 24 Aug 2016 at 2:40 pm41North Bank Ned

    Bath, cab: As with any company, Usmanov would have needed to be voted onto the board by the shareholders. He could never command the necessary majority of the votes to overturn the unwillingness of the existing board to have him as a fellow director. And, for at least as long as Kroenke is the controlling shareholder, he never will.

    As a shareholder Usmanov has a right to see only the company’s published reports and accounts and any other financial information that is in the public domain; he has no right of access to internal financial reports or forecasts that he would see as a director.

    The key level of shareholding is a 25%. That stake as that allows the shareholder to block special resolutions. These are required by law for corporate actions that include taking a public company private, amending the articles of association, fiddling around with the capital structure, eg, through a shares buyback.

  42. on 24 Aug 2016 at 2:42 pm42North Bank Ned

    Apologies, cba. Usmanov-fattness of finger above.

  43. on 24 Aug 2016 at 2:45 pm43North Bank Ned

    A song in penance: https://youtu.be/a5rCc2bzFAs

  44. on 24 Aug 2016 at 3:02 pm44can't be arsed

    aaah pish tosh ned
    cab cba close enough for rock ‘n’ roll
    .
    (great tune – will plague the family with it later on ? )
    .
    thanks for the corporate info
    really appreciate it
    my lack of knowledge in that department
    only matched by my inability to find answers
    to questions i really don’t know enough
    to ask google for
    if that makes any sense

    .

    and
    cheers again for the Arse reminiscences

    showing yer age
    ?
    did ye used to be called Laundry End Edward ?

  45. on 24 Aug 2016 at 4:05 pm45can't be arsed

    sorry ned
    old jokes are corny
    tune by way of recompense
    .
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dvWwUT-mfc

  46. on 24 Aug 2016 at 4:48 pm46can't be arsed

    but yes

    as
    – a Professional Elbow Bender and occasional Radio Listener

    sometimes i fall short of the tight regulations
    i should really fall closer to
    and for that both i
    and my brother
    – an International Singing Sensation and Last Can Stealer

    apologise

  47. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:07 pm47bathgooner

    Love both those musical links. Keep ’em coming fellas.

  48. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:32 pm48can't be arsed

    typical doctor
    .
    no !
    .
    yer probably only in from
    drinking beer
    eating lard laden plates of …. yeah you know

    lard

    and counting yer (some would say well earned ) wealth

    tend to the dead an dying i say
    ya veal juggling foie gras yo-yo-ing
    so an so s

    it’s not like we rely on you

  49. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:37 pm49can't be arsed

    ok

    just fer yoo baff

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvLikiVraHE

    ?

  50. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:47 pm50can't be arsed

    woo hoo
    half ton

  51. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:55 pm51can be arsed

    Shut yer hole numpty

  52. on 24 Aug 2016 at 6:58 pm52North Bank Ned

    cba@47: You’re thinking of my cousin, Washboard Sam https://youtu.be/XnxeyOV0u38

  53. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:00 pm53North Bank Ned

    I meant @44. Getting confused at my age 🙂

  54. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:22 pm54TTG

    Ned
    A very helpful piece thanks .
    The first time I posted on this board some years ago I had one of the regulars jump down my throat because I suggested that Usmanov might be a more popular owner than Kroenke.
    That was in the period when Hill- Wood and Fiszman embraced Kroenke ( Dein’s old mate) because he was seriously against Usmanov ( Dein’s new mate) . Once Kroenke was here , given his mindset and approach he was never going to fail to seek control or sell it. He has never sold anything in his career. He accumulates mercilessly.
    The concern about Usmanov was partly rooted in the fact that he was thought to be of dubious moral character, partly because a lot of people thought he was a rich man’s Abramovich and would not give us any moral superiority over Chelsea and partly because it was thought demeaning to blue- chip Arsenal to have an Uzbek in charge.
    The only reason that Kroenke would invite Usmanov onto the board is to ensure he is in the tent pissing out rather than embarrassing the board regularly as they fail to develop the club , especially on the field.
    They are fundamentally different. One is an entrepreneur who makes his money out of sport and one is a very rich bastard who appears to like football and would see owning Arsenal as a brilliant way to join the British establishment.He makes money in many ways and is much richer even than a man who married into Wal- Mart( a love match I have no doubt.) The fact is that Arsenal is a very profitable business ( I think profits are understated because the cash reserves have built up so massively) . At the moment I have some misgivings about Usmanov , mainly because I know nothing about him. But at the present time despite this he is a much better looking owner in my eyes than Kroenke. Probably.
    Remember the old Arsenal board loved the club but weren’t very ambitious. That’s how Dein bought in because PHW saw his investment as dead money. Arsenal chose an American over an Uzbek because it seemed the safest deal. Events are suggesting it was a decision we will all come to regret possibly for a very long time

  55. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:37 pm55can be arsed

    m’lud
    any chance ye could say something stupid
    please

    my captain and tennille of industry joke
    is burning a hole in me cheesecloth blouse

  56. on 24 Aug 2016 at 7:46 pm56Steve T

    I don’t know how many years I’ve actually been trying to get this across to people now but Stan cares about one thing. That is him. This is all a business deal to him. A way of making money. He does not and never has cared one bit out the club, it’s history, the traditions or the fans. The club now makes a small fortune and rewards him handsomely. How do you think he felt after a goalless draw at Leicester? Do you think he actually knew the result? Why would he? As long as his investment grows then nothing else matters.

    Arsene is Stan’s dream. A knowledgeable and highly respected figure in the game. A man who secures champions league football every year with the minimum of money spent. For Stan, what is there not to like?

    Our board are a shambles. Whatever happens in the renaming days of this window my opinion won’t change. I mean, what other company has a multi billionaire investing in them to a tune of 30% and does not invite him on the board.

    I would have David Dein back in a heartbeat. Again something that I have said for years now. Whatever his views he is an Arsenal man. But he sold out I hear the cry? No he didn’t. He did exactly the same as all of us would have done. From memory when Usmanov was hoping to take control then Dein was due to be installed as chairman.

    To Stan and the boys we are just a money making machine. We will remain customers and sadly there is very little we can do about it.

    Personally, I hate it with a passion. It’s not The Arsenal I was raised on. Arsenal will always be MY club although I recognise very little of the current structure.

  57. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:04 pm57can be arsed

    “Arsenal will always be MY club”
    .

    can’t do italics or BOLD letters
    dunno how

    .

    i really find it heartbreakin
    way it’s gone recently
    well
    longly recently
    proper season ticket gooners here goin to the games
    either with a heavy heart
    or not at all

    .

    it’s just heartbreakin

  58. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:18 pm58can be arsed

    and
    me
    gooner well over forty years
    and
    not including my infancy

    – looking at you clive

    if i adopted that policy
    i’d be single figures behind ye

    ya number rambler
    ?

  59. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:33 pm59can be arsed

    bound by finance and water

  60. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:34 pm60can be arsed

    me

  61. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:36 pm61can be arsed

    it’s all about me
    ???????

  62. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:38 pm62Steve T

    CBA. Get your arse over to a game this season.

    Just do it….

    First one is on me.

  63. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:42 pm63bathgooner

    Second one is on me.

  64. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:43 pm64bathgooner

    There may never be another season when so many Holics are season ticket holders.

  65. on 24 Aug 2016 at 8:47 pm65Steve T

    Bath, I’m with you. My decision to renew was based purely on the fact that my pal wanted to renew. If I had a single ticket I wouldn’t have bothered.

  66. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:52 pm66Cynic

    italics like this

    bold like this

    Useful, cba?

  67. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:53 pm67Cynic

    But seriously… Text but without the spaces and sub b for i for the bold

  68. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:55 pm68Cynic

    FFS.. BRACKET i CLOSE BRACKET and BRACKET FORWARD SLASH i CLOSE BRACKET without spaces. And b for i for the bold.

    Fucking work this time… *prays*

  69. on 24 Aug 2016 at 9:55 pm69Cynic

    HOO-fucking-RAY

  70. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:00 pm70bathgooner

    Not (b) or [b] or {b} but

    bold
    italic

  71. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:01 pm71bathgooner

    Oh they don’t show ever! So it’s

    less than sign then b or i then more than sign

  72. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:01 pm72bathgooner

    Cynic, which hoo fucked Ray?

  73. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:03 pm73bathgooner

    71 continued….

    then type what you want to be bold/italic then type

    ‘less than sign’ then / then repeat b or i then ‘more than sign to revert to standard text.

    capiche?

  74. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:04 pm74Cynic

    Who fucked Ray?
    No, Who’s on first

    etc

  75. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:05 pm75Cynic

    Alternatively, cba, have a beer and fuck the italics.

    The world would have been a lot better off if the Romans had adopted that philosophy.

  76. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:08 pm76bathgooner

    Steve T, close run thing for me again this year. Edging closer to the exit door. BtM has already gone. Another season under Kroenke’s dead hand and that’ll be it for me.

  77. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:10 pm77Steve T

    BTM was worried he would have to buy a round if he renewed his ticket????

    ?

  78. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:12 pm78bathgooner

    Heh. He told me he had finally given up waiting for you to buy him a beer. 🙂

  79. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:15 pm79TTG

    CBA
    Second one is on me…and the third if you’re a drinking man?
    And I will promise to say something stupid….Tottenham can win the League

    Steve and I are very alike in our views on Kroenke. The Blogs piece this morning made the key point. Don’t say ‘ I don’t mind Stan unless he hurts the club. ‘ He is squeezing the life blood out of this club or at least the spirit. How many happy Gooners do you know at the moment? But the problem is he’s like bindweed. You can never remove him .

  80. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:16 pm80Steve T

    I used to keep him in ale.

    The last time he bought a beer was Novembet 2013, and that broke his heart.

    The only reason he was in club level was that the beer was free.

    ????

  81. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:25 pm81Silly Second Yella

    Forest away

  82. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:30 pm82North Bank Ned

    Here is an old (2007) profile of Usmanov from The Guardian :

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/nov/19/football.russia

    The money quote from PH-W is:

    “Business is murky in Uzbekistan, and that in itself is an argument against him [Usmanov] being involved in Arsenal. I wouldn’t want him to be the owner of the club.”

    (All italics courtesy of Cynic.)

  83. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:34 pm83Cynic

    I used to keep him in ale.

    It made him smell but his hair had a lovely wave to it.

  84. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:36 pm84Cynic

    Forest away

    The Olde English equivalent of “Fuck off”?

    (in a silly mood after a third cup of coffee)

  85. on 24 Aug 2016 at 10:37 pm85bathgooner

    Heh @83

  86. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:07 pm86can be arsed

    i love here ?

  87. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:09 pm87can be arsed

    it’s a positivity thing
    ???

  88. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:11 pm88Goonerholic

    As ever, thank you for the smiles. Arsenal social media has been vile today. Blogs offers an honest appraisal and is ripped by the ‘told you so and you are late to the party’ brigade.

    I hate Gooner on Gooner crap. Turn the guns outwards is really good advice in certain circumstances.

  89. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:20 pm89can't be arsed

    no it’s forward slash big hand minus plus not

    c’mere

    give us a big back slash minus forward

    or a centre half as they were called in old money

    g’night

  90. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:21 pm90Steve T

    Some witty one liners from the Edinburgh Fringe to lighten the mood.

    “My dad has suggested that I register for a donor card. He’s a man after my own heart.”

    “Why is it old people say, ‘there’s no place like home’, yet when you put them in one…”

    “I’ve been happily married for four years – out of a total of 10.”

    “Apparently, one in three Britons are conceived in an IKEA bed, which is mad because those places are really well lit.”

    “I went to a pub quiz in Liverpool, had a few drinks so I wasn’t much use. Just for a laugh I wrote The Beatles or Steven Gerrard for every answer… came second.”

  91. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:23 pm91Steve T

    And one for Stanley…,,

    “I often confuse Americans. By using long words.”

  92. on 24 Aug 2016 at 11:28 pm92Goonerholic

    Steve ?

  93. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:20 am93Chris

    “Wars are God’s way of teaching Americans geography”.

  94. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:26 am94Chris

    “You can’t have everything … where would you put it?” – Steven Wright

    “Take it easy … but take it” – Huddie Leadbetter

    “Join the Army, meet interesting people and kill them”

    “I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize”

    “Half the people you know are below average”

    “99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name”

  95. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:29 am95Chris

    cba … you get italics by putting immediately before the word/s you want to italicise and immediately after. There are similar codes for bold, but I’ve forgotten them.

  96. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:31 am96Chris

    Hilarious! The codes don’t appear in the above, just the fuckin’ italics. Codes were … IF they appear this time…

  97. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:32 am97Chris

    …and of course they didn’t? I give up. 🙁

  98. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:34 am98Chris

    song for you instead … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJEwo_gwO9M

  99. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:33 am99scruzgooner

    flicks it in from the right wing…

  100. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:11 am100North Bank Ned

    Cheeky ton?

  101. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:16 am101North Bank Ned

    This is how to do italics “” italicised word “”.

  102. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:17 am102North Bank Ned

    or not!

  103. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:19 am103North Bank Ned

    <i>italicised word</i>

  104. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:19 am104North Bank Ned

    At last…

  105. on 25 Aug 2016 at 8:11 am105King GT

    Transfer deadline day is gonna be maad next week guys

    Watch this space!!

    😆

  106. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:15 am106bathgooner

    Nice one Ned @103. I failed to achieve that repeatedly.

  107. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:27 am107ATG

    Ha ha nice one Steve especially the Liverpool one! 😀

  108. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:38 am108can't be arsed

    aaahh cracker chris
    love that tune
    now have it zapped to my wee tablet
    for the future enjoyment of me
    and the inevitable irritation of everyone else

    and cheers fellas for yer attempts at 21st centurising me
    what a nice bar

    a friend to the drunken luddite

  109. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:40 am109can't be arsed

    YEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAA

    i feel brand new

    ???????

  110. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:43 am110can't be arsed

    *adds I.T. consultant to qualifications on CV*

  111. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:59 am111Goonersince54

    Steve T @21
    In response to your question re recruitment policy at the Ramblers back in the day.
    First and foremost,you had to either live or work in the Suburb to play for it.
    So if you were a Burnt Oak Bomber for example,you could only switch if you either moved or changed jobs,and provided contact details for cross checking.
    The rules were very strict.
    You had to provide your residing address and/or the details of your current place of work to sign on.
    So on the Open day,around a month prior to the season starting,everyone wanting to play,knew the rules.
    They couldn’t cheat,because everyone was told up front that the info they provided would be checked.
    Once they were approved,they then got invited to watch a trial game between the members of the current Ramblers squad.
    This match was played full bore,no holds barred,boots and elbows flying everywhere.
    Without fail,around 95% of the newbies wanting to join,melted away like the spring snow never to be seen again.!!
    Those that were left we knew,weren’t frightened of a bit of mayhem,so were invited to join the Club.
    It was a surefire way of making sure we only got the mad and the fearless from those wanting to sign up.

  112. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:36 am112King GT

    Lukas Perez looks okay. 😉

  113. on 25 Aug 2016 at 12:12 pm113impressive failage

    Hello Gooner 54
    I grew up in Burnt Oak – I recently discovered it to be the biggest Council Estate in London. My Dad also a Burnt Oak Boy. Fought as an amateur boxer (ABA semi finalist twice)- always described himself as (alternatively) The Burnt Oak Bomber- The Hendon Hurricane – The Watling Whirlwind – The Egdware Express (ad Nauseam) Orange Hill Grammer School Boy — me ? Spur Road Comprehensive. No class – none.
    Live in NZ now — thank fuck…..Should I know you?
    Dont reveal your name…..Might scare me….. so many dangerous people in Burnt Oak… my advise to travellers… dont get off at Burnt Oak Station……..sounds lovely…………..aint.
    No matter how thirsty you are … do not enter The Stag Public House….a fate worse than a fate worse than death….. really.
    Said too much….
    When Arsenal were away,my grandad used to take me to watch Hendon FC… or worse, Edgware Town.
    Havent lived in England for 30 years ( New York , Bombay, Stuttgart, Auckland) … three languages, no brighter….. always drunk at UK breakfast time…. I wish AFC still lived at Highbury….. Sorry about “the North Of Ireland,cba……….cba is Great!…….I like him…..even if he did probably laugh when Airy Neve lost his socks…. teary eyed fool… still think Chris is all wrong about Theo….been wrong meself tho…..Have we signed a striker yet?……that Ray Kennedy bloke looks good…cheeky 100,000 should do it…..wine is REALLY nice…..

  114. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:25 pm114can't be arsed

    drink
    cut a hole in yer head
    let whatever falls out
    stand

    my kinda post

    howdy imp fail
    have a goodun chief
    ?
    but as is well documented here
    i never bring the politics of the north of Ireland
    to the supremo gooner blog in town
    just wouldn’t be appropriate

    (said with complete straight face)

    ?

    glass of swally on the bar for ye fella

    UP THE ARSENAL

  115. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:38 pm115can't be arsed

    does it work everywhere ?

  116. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:38 pm116can't be arsed

    clearly no

    ah well

  117. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:40 pm117can't be arsed

    no more bold italics from me
    it’s childish and unnecessary

  118. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:44 pm118Chippy

    King GT @112,
    Put me on the end of Ozils passing and ill be made to look like Pele 😉

  119. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:46 pm119can't be arsed

    sorry

  120. on 25 Aug 2016 at 1:54 pm120King GT

    Chippy, me too.

    Let’s see how this one plays out. Sounds nice and cheap, the way Wenger likes it!

    Hmm – That sounded a little wrong! 😆

  121. on 25 Aug 2016 at 2:14 pm121Chippy

    King@ 120,
    Hes got some ability that lad 😉

    You know the worlds gone nuts when 17 million is seen as cheap 🙂 !
    He Looks quite dynamic and from reports has a fair work ethic so we shall see, From the small amount of clips available he seems to like to drift wide which could be a blessing especially if we get another 10 goals from out there – Giroud flanked by him and alexis could well work !

  122. on 25 Aug 2016 at 2:35 pm122can't be arsed

    83
    still likely not to be bettered
    for some considerable time

  123. on 25 Aug 2016 at 2:46 pm123King GT

    Chippy, yes I’ve noticed that he does like to come in from the right hand side, but also through the middle and even from the left a little.

    He looks pacey and reminds me abit of Mauro Icardi!

    With the type of service we could provide, he could put all of his qualities to good use.

    🙂

  124. on 25 Aug 2016 at 2:55 pm124can't be arsed

    yes I’ve noticed that he does like to come in from the right hand side, but also through the middle and even from the left a little

    .

    congratulations
    your Ron the Manager Golden Sheepskin Coat award
    is ready for collection

    .

  125. on 25 Aug 2016 at 2:59 pm125can't be arsed

    italics oh yeah

    i’m like a dog wi two dicks ?

  126. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:03 pm126North Bank Ned

    Lucas has scored one goal and had one assist in his one La Liga game this season. He’ll be a bargain if he keeps that strike rate up…

    Career record is 52 goals in 177 games with 38 assists.

  127. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:12 pm127can't be arsed

    Dr Nedenstein

    it’s all your fault
    and any correspondence
    should be addressed accordingly

    ?

  128. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:16 pm128Silly Second Yella

    Welleriana…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b_Aomlo2Lg

  129. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:18 pm129can't be arsed

    Dr Northbankenstein ?

    *takes early retirement*

    trev , i’ll never be

    ?

  130. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:24 pm130Chippy

    Would certainly add some directness as well that wouldn’t go amiss, Certainly seems a oh shit the summers passed us buy kind of buy tho if it does come to fruition – If he was higher up the list youd have to think it would have been done pre season starting due t his small release clause,

  131. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:26 pm131King GT

    NBN – yes, his goal ratio has improved since his move to Deportivo in 2014. 24 in 59 games is not a bad return!

  132. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:28 pm132BB

    McNUtty says :

    Is the Lucas Perez Martinez transfer going to drag on a little longer? Reports in Spain suggest Arsenal’s offer for the £17m-rated striker has been rejected because they wanted to pay in two installments. Still some hope for Everton?

    ————-

    😀

  133. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:49 pm133King GT

    BB – I was just going to report that. Surely not. 17m?

    🙁

  134. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:53 pm134Cynic

    Bold italics is simple, cba. Just do the first thing you for italics, followed by the first thing you do with bold (the open brackets bits) then after your text, both sets of closed brackets

    Like this

    If that doesn’t work I’m going to look a cunt.

  135. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:56 pm135BB

    @King GT

    I’m not at all convinced by the few clips I have seen of him… but at this stage.. will take what i can get!

    Still.. hope there is a back up plan!

  136. on 25 Aug 2016 at 3:56 pm136SanAntonioGunner

    We got jokers in charge of this club. if its true that we are trying to make payments of 16million plus in two installments then I really don’t have anything else to say. WHOA!! I hope its not true though.

  137. on 25 Aug 2016 at 4:13 pm137can't be arsed

    transfer
    TITTLE
    tattle
    drains

  138. on 25 Aug 2016 at 4:20 pm138Chippy

    Seems this ones defo got legs Radio Depor now saying its done at 20Million Euros – They are the ones that stated we offered two payments that Mcnullty picked up on, They say Depor will only get 10.5 whilst PAOk get 6 and The Spanish Treasury get the rest ! Oh to be a tax man 😉

  139. on 25 Aug 2016 at 4:38 pm139Cynic

    It’s a very Arsenal transfer. Talk about buying a world class striker, get linked with really big names, end up paying probably too much for someone nobody else really wants and nobody had really heard of.

  140. on 25 Aug 2016 at 4:47 pm140Doctor Faustus

    SAG @ 136: Think about it this way: we are the toughest motherfucking hustlers in the transfer market. We sell duds at exorbitantly high prices, we buy gems at bargain. Sometimes in the process we end up with not so much gems but more like painted rocks, but hey you win some you lose some.

    I am sure a lot of European club management hierarchy have nightmares about our irrepressible trio of Ivan-Arsene-Dick.

  141. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:10 pm141scruzgooner

    test. just a test, i say.

  142. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:11 pm142scruzgooner

    another test.

  143. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:11 pm143scruzgooner

    unsuccessful, i might add.

  144. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:11 pm144can't be arsed

    well cynic
    in a well trodden path
    wait for

    ‘Ye never heard of so and so’
    ‘Who’d heard of such an stuff’

    “an look what they turned out to be”

  145. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:22 pm145Bayonne Jean

    CL draw underway. Hope Spurs draw Bayern, Atletico, Monaco.

  146. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:22 pm146Doctor Faustus

    @144: Eduardo, Adebayor…

  147. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:33 pm147BB

    What no Barca this year?.. Bring on PSG..!

    😀

  148. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:35 pm148BB

    City gets Barca!

    😀 😀 😀

  149. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:43 pm149ATG

    PSG to start with not bad considering

  150. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:44 pm150ATG

    Faulty Basel 😀

  151. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:46 pm151BB

    Spuds have it easy… then again… nothing ever is for them!

    😀

  152. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:49 pm152ATG

    Łudogorec Razgrad nicely done!

  153. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:49 pm153ATG

    Paris Saint-Germain
    Arsenal
    FC Basel
    Łudogorec Razgrad

  154. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:56 pm154BB

    Won’t be surprised if all progress.. most forgiving draw in recent years.

  155. on 25 Aug 2016 at 5:57 pm155Bayonne Jean

    Had hopes up for Spurs when Bayern got Atletico. Ah well, at least they got best pot 4, Monaco.

    Is this first time Arsenal has ever been to Bulgaria?

    Was in Bulgaria 7 years ago. This team is located a good distance from Sofia. Outside Sofia, you’d see horses and carts on the highways.

  156. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:00 pm156Doctor Faustus

    The two ex-Basel boys will enjoy this. If we don’t get all complacent and stuff we should be able to navigate this group without too much anxiety.

  157. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:03 pm157SanAntonioGunner

    Easy draw.. Lets go

  158. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:06 pm158Doctor Faustus

    Have we played by of these three teams in CL before? Don’t recall so.

  159. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:07 pm159Doctor Faustus

    I meant any of these three teams…

  160. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:22 pm160Cynic

    @146 – I’d heard of Adebayor before he came here and watched him a lot the previous year. I thought he was a shit pain in the arse. Which is how he was for us. The only blessing with Adebayor was that he wasn’t Chevanton.

    Eduardo? Hmm… had never heard of him and, even taking the injury into account, I didn’t think he was exactly a world beater.

  161. on 25 Aug 2016 at 6:55 pm161Doctor Faustus

    @160 : I am sure you also saw Pires play for Marseille the season before he joined us and knew all about him, right? And you were following RVP’s troubled times in Feynoord before he joined us.

    Same with Koscielny, Monreal ….

    It’s almost impossible nowadays for the scouts to not know about a player. Lopez was apparently being tracked by Koeman as well as he was by us last season. But to claim that we haven’t been good at identifying potentials that were originally unrecognized by General football watching public is inaccurate.

    Anyway, I realize history gets revisited through the prism of present and Arsene is now not even ever having been good at building careers of relative unknowns.

    I will reserve my judgment until the player signs for us and then plays a decent number of games.

  162. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:05 pm162North Bank Ned

    This data visualization of last season is weird but shows you not to pay too much attention to early results — and that the neighbours bottle it at the end.

    https://public.tableau.com/profile/neil.richards#!/vizhome/premierleague_1/PremierLeague

  163. on 25 Aug 2016 at 7:47 pm163scruzgooner

    very clever visualization, that. thanks, ned.

  164. on 25 Aug 2016 at 8:06 pm164SanAntonioGunner

    I am just happy we are getting a striker. I said this earlier on that we cant afford a world class striker, we just need a good one. A good striker should do well surrounded by the type of players we will have playing behind him.

  165. on 25 Aug 2016 at 8:18 pm165Goonerholic

    Monster preview post coming up tomorrow what with all the comings and goings and the Champions League draw.

  166. on 25 Aug 2016 at 8:38 pm166King GT

    The Ornalce has spoken. Two signings

    Enjoy:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcsport_david?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

  167. on 25 Aug 2016 at 8:46 pm167Silly Second Yella

    Champions League?

    We are 2000 light years from that trophy.

    19 years in a row – 4 QF, 1 SF and 1 F(uck).

    Please.

  168. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:09 pm168Biscuitbum

    I’d seen Eduardo on the box, and he looked more than decent. Who knows how many goals he would have scored had he not been mugged on the pitch and subsequently lost his bottle.

  169. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:24 pm169scruzgooner

    ssy, i LOVE your optimism.

  170. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:33 pm170Steve T

    Interesting comments above but I’m very much with Cynic. I’ve never heard of Lucas Perez, or at least, not before we were linked with him. As a result I obviously can’t really judge him. However, considering the apparent lack of available strikers, if one with a €20 million release clause has not already been snapped up then you will forgive my reservations.

    Dr F. I remember Bobby P from his Metz and France days, long before Marseille. He must have had 30 odd caps before he joined us. RbP was also known to many I would suggest. From memory, when he signed didn’t we already have the likes Bergkamp, Henry etc on the staff? In those days we actually had a bit of forward planning when we brought players in.

    Monster preview H? Setting yourself up there my old friend. No pressure!!! ?

  171. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:34 pm171Porco Rosso

    So with the likely additions of players in the two positions crying out for strengthening, think we can squeeze 2nd?

  172. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:36 pm172Steve T

    For Lucas Perez.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4

    And for others to just enjoy…..

  173. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:41 pm173ATG

    The draw on paper looks easy we said that last season too, I’m hoping we will either top the group or come second! As long as we won’t get complacent we should do well without all the nervy stuff.

    Sounds like Perez is a done deal, he will not travel for their Friday game against real Betis. I have to say I’m excited a little. We all know too well we will not be spending crazy money and I hope he will adapt quickly!

  174. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:46 pm174King GT

    Perez is done!

    Fee agreed medical next!

    Mustafi deal is advanced!!

    This is it guys!! Strap on your seat belts. We’re off!!

  175. on 25 Aug 2016 at 9:55 pm175Chippy

    Steve T,
    Perez is not top top draw but I’m quite excited to see what he can do and I’m all for a late bloomer,one of our very best was such – Always seem to have a little more fire in their belly – I was hoping for a wow signing but the more you look at it the more you think who actually is there not at a top top top club with less funds than us – Griezman and possibly Aubamyang but are they the next level – They are not Suarez or Aguero or Lewandoski that’s for sure, As for Mustafi I hope he’s worth all the hours put in lol ?

    Up The Arse,

  176. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:13 pm176Cynic

    @ 161 – I watched every Monaco game I could the season before he joined us and, as Eurosport were showing Ligue 1 that year (I think it was them) and even showed the French Cup, and were Monaco obsessed I saw them play a lot.

    I also followed that side religiously via the French press for that season before he came here, so I knew all about what he was like.

    But never mind, carry on with your disbelief. Just because YOU had never heard of him, nobody else could possibly have done either. Of course, how cold I be so stupid…

  177. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:13 pm177Cynic

    *could

  178. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:15 pm178Porco Rosso

    I echo the optimism of ATG, King and Chippy.

    Basically we’re not grandstand enough to attract top talent so you have to go for someone on Giroud’s level or maybe even slightly below that. Anyone else decent gets snapped up by clubs with more money and a more proactive approach.

    Either way, is it better to have someone who could score maybe 10-15 and take some of the burden off OG, or just have OG on his own all season long?

  179. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:28 pm179Goonerholic

    I haven’t seen Perez personally but talked to fellas who know the player and the Spanish League well. Last season was his breakthrough. He is known as the Spanish Vardy, but younger. If he continues on that path we have done a good deal, but it’s a big if. He is regarded in Spain as a typical Wenger signing. Could also play wide (particularly on the left), or in the hole, so could play with Giroud. That cheered me up a bit. I’ll happily give him a chance and judge him on his merits. Seems more of a Welbeck cover?

  180. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:28 pm180broglie

    The below is a video showing our new striker’s 17 goals and 10 assists of last season:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLtNFYo_fno

    I like him.

    He looks a pacey left-footer who (unlike our previous Lukas) is also comfortable with his right. Can finish, has good movement and seems like a team player. His assists seem to generally produce some cracking goals as well!

  181. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:38 pm181Steve T

    Has it been confirmed that we have actually signed anyone yet? We are all jumping around as if it’s a done deal? This is the modern day Arsenal don’t forget?

    I would always support anyone that pulls on the famous shirt but I can’t help feel that we are spending money on someone who will spend more time on the bench rather than playing. I just hope he’s not the next Soldado.

  182. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:43 pm182Goonerholic

    I thought you wanted more depth to the squad to enable us to compete, Steve? 😉

    If the deals mooted tonight are completed (yes, I know) we have spent somewhere in the region of 100m euros this summer. That in my eyes is a demonstration of ‘spend some fucking money’.

    Now let’s back them.

  183. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:45 pm183Porco Rosso

    Steve, you sound a sage note of caution there.

    I think I got a bit excited because

    a) almost every rumour up to now has been proper straw clutching and twitter whispers. This one has been picked up by big newspapers and reliable types like Ornstein

    and

    b) look I know he’s not Aubameyang but we all know the alternative is literally nobody at all

  184. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:49 pm184Porco Rosso

    Oh and Holic, that’s a very very good point.

    No one can say he hasn’t spent some blasted money if these two go through!

  185. on 25 Aug 2016 at 10:55 pm185Steve T

    H. The squad is not strong enough, you are right. But I want us to sign players who will be starters. Players of real quality.

    In fairness I had never heard of Perez or Mustafi until they were linked with other so I can’t really judge. As I said, anyone that pulls on the shirt will get my support.

    If both sign then hopefully both will be rip roaring successes. I just hope that they turn out to be first team regulars.

  186. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:12 pm186Cynic

    He is known as the Spanish Vardy

    Not keen on the Japanese?

  187. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:14 pm187broglie

    Steve T,

    The whole world knows that we’re after a striker and a defender. The Guardian reports that we’ve signed a striker and a defender (link at the end). That will do me. 🙂

    I agree with you, in that Perez is most likely to start off from the bench. His development is difficult to predict however, and we may be in for a nice surprise.

    The kind of strikers that would start for us, they seem to be unavailable. This may or may not be linked to our finite budget.

    Mustafi is a German international. The state of our present central defense suggests that he will certainly start.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/aug/25/arsenal-agree-35m-fee-with-valencia-for-shkodran-mustafi

  188. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:22 pm188Cynic

    I’m doubtful on Perez purely because I don’t think (although I don’t know) he’s a Giroud replacement and I would state confidently that most Arsenal fans recognise the need for an upgrade in that department.

    As for Mustafi, I know nothing about him so we’ll see.

  189. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:25 pm189Goonerholic

    I hope Mustafi is a done deal. He was effectively Per’s replacement in the national team. May be taking it one step further, but that deal looks like it is not quite nailed down. Everything crossed here.

  190. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:31 pm190Doctor Faustus

    @176: Actually Adebayor I had seen play in the CL the year before, Ligue 1 was still not available in Tv5 here in US at that time so didn’t see him play in the league. But didn’t think he will ever score as many as he eventually did. Arsene made his career.

    So I didn’t so much disbelieve you rather wanted to highlight that personal familiarity with a player in a given team doesn’t necessarily mean he is held in high regards in general. And inversely, lack of familiarity doesn’t mean he is without potential.

    For instance, my Barca crazy friend thinks rather highly of Lopez. He says he is a typical late bloomer and apparently had a couple of excellent performances against his gods last season.

    As far as transfers go, Arsene gets right significantly more percentage of times than his fellow managers, especially in the upper echelons of European football.

  191. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:38 pm191Doctor Faustus

    Aubemyang , before he had his tremendous breakthrough season, was for quite a few years a wasteful speed merchant without end products. Age wise Perez appears a little too old to have breakthroughs like that, but our very own Giroud and Koscielny are late bloomers. As is Diego Costa or Vardy…

  192. on 25 Aug 2016 at 11:47 pm192King GT

    If you ask me, all players from other leagues (barring Alexis), need integration to the prem.

    My guess however, is that Perez and Mustafi are ready to go!

    Perez will have to work on his link up play and catch on to the pace of the team. The good thing is though, not every player in the team is match fit at present. So Perez can develop with the players as they gain fitness!

    I’m optimistic!

    Mustafi on the other hand is a leader. Just what the team need! Mustafi and Xhaka, can bring leadership to the team!

    We’re on our way lads! Trust me! 😉

  193. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:17 am193Biscuitbum

    Just heard Terry Gibson talking about Perez, and apparently he’s the nearest thing to Vardy we could have bought. Apparently he’s lightening quick, a natural goalscorer and was named in the provisional Spanish squad for the Euro’s.

  194. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:39 am194Chris

    Perez is weak in the air and weak in defence, so clearly not signed as an alternative to OG. More likely as cover for Theo when he gets injured.

  195. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:43 am195bt8

    At least I didn’t give the quiz answer away. 😉

    Greetings, ‘Holic, from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, where the tears are quite sharp.

    I hope Arsenal get in gear by game week four, which is the first time I will be able to see them play on the telly. Just hoping the leading clubs will slow down a bit because the race appears to be evolving very differently as compared to last season.

  196. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:44 am196bt8

    tears = teats. ?

  197. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:55 am197bt8

    Saw a grizzly bear ripping the flesh out of a dead bison in the Yellowstone River a couple of days ago. Reminded me a bit of the way we should treat the Tottnum boys this season.

  198. on 26 Aug 2016 at 12:59 am198Chris

    Perez reeks of desperation. Apparently we’ve looked at him before and decided ‘no’ … http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/08/25/arsenals-confused-approach-to-summer-transfer-window-laid-bare-b/ … all of which doesn’t reflect well on AW (but what does these days?).

    Perez … scored 17 goals last season but never more than 9 before that in a very ordinary looking career. Here’s what Whoscored have … https://www.whoscored.com/Players/135663

    Note weak in the air, weak in defence, does not dive into tackles. Surely that’s the opposite of what we need.

  199. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:16 am199scruzgooner

    and again puts it on a plate for… (Perez?) 🙂

  200. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:25 am200Richard Martin

    BOOM! The Double!!

  201. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:26 am201ecg

    Thanks scruz for the Ozil-esque assist.

  202. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:27 am202ecg

    Oops, wrong name on the goal.

  203. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:28 am203ecg

    Back into hibernation until the end of the transfer window.

  204. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:37 am204'desi'gner gooner

    Chris @198,
    The telegraph article you linked is a lazy piece of journalism. Yeah we might have looked at him earlier in the window and not closed a deal simply because we were looking at other options even negotiating perhaps. The very fact that we had a look at him earlier suggests clarity rather than confusion. He was clearly third or fourth choice in the list of possible striker recruits. It’s not like someone sent a youtube video to Arsene and we suddenly bid for him. The article is a clear negative spin on the transfer which perfectly suits the media’s agenda. And as for your point about his earlier goal scoring record vis a vis last season’s 17 goals and 10 assits, well he was only played as a central striker from around that time so that indeed is a very good record.
    Arsene clearly wanted a Vardy type of player and is getting him in Perez. But just because he didn’t cost gazillions doesn’t mean he is pronounced as a bad player. I would atleast wait until he has played a dozen games for us to form any kind of judgement. But I am really happy and excited that we are signing him.

    It is really amusing that some people were shouting from rooftops earlier that the Mustafi deal must have been completed ages ago and we were not behaving like a big club etc etc. Now when we are about to finally sign the guy, the same people are taking the refuge of ‘oh I have never seen him play so I don’t know if he is any good… ‘ The ability of some of our fanbase to find negativity out of anything and make a virtue of it is astounding!! It’s almost as if they refuse to get happy and excited about anything Arsenal do on the pitch or outside.

  205. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:06 am205Steve T

    As stated before, I have no idea what Perez is like. I do however agree with Chris is that it all seems born out of desperation.

  206. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:20 am206North Bank Ned

    ‘Holic@179: Perez has played across the front line, in the hole and even as an attacking mid. Seems like cover for everyone. Given our crockability that is not to be sneered at.

    Chris@198: what me most need is someone who can put the ball in the net.

  207. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:20 am207North Bank Ned

    me = we

  208. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:39 am208King GT

    We just signed a striker, we just signed a striker, we just signed a striker, we just signed a striker! 😆 😆 😆 😆

  209. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:41 am209King GT

    Wenger in, wenger out
    you shake it all about
    you do the okie cokie and you turn around and that’s what it’s all about!

    oh!

    okie, cokie, cokie, cokie!

    okie, cokie, cokie, cokie!

    😆 😆 😆

  210. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:42 am210King GT

    btw! i’m getting tickets to the PSG match!

    see you down there chaps and chapettes!

    😉

  211. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:52 am211Chris

    Perez is 3rd or 4th choice at best, desi, and prima facie doesn’t appear better than several forwards we already have. I mean, what is 17 goals in La Liga anyway? Suarez scored 40, Ronaldo 35. Yes, they are exceptional, but a dozen others scored more than Perez – in a league where half the teams are rubbish and leak goals like rusty buckets.

    If AW really is looking for another Vardy it’s a sad indictment on how far behind the 8 ball he’s fallen in recent times, missing the original, looking for a miracle doppelganger. Desperate, as I say.

    But if Perez proves the good, what do I know! Let’s hope he does … if we actually sign him.

  212. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:14 am212'desi'gner gooner

    Whether he is 3rd or 4th choice – only time will tell. I don’t expect him to arrive and replace Giroud straight away. He will be bedded in to the squad gradually with a few substitute appearances in the beginning obviously. But he is a different type of player to Giroud and that’s what’s important at this stage. He gives a tactical alternative to us when we need to play a different type of game. A couple of months down the line would be a better time to assess whether he 3rd or 4th choice or someone who can be rotated regularly with Giroud so that neither are running on empty come March/April.
    And as for looking for a Vardy doppelganger being an indictment of Wenger falling behind the 8 ball – well that theory isn’t something I am going to dwell on. He wanted Vardy and bid the release clause. It was Vardy’s choice to stay – simple as that. It is not an indictment of Wenger in anyway whatsoever. If Vardy chooses to play with Mahrez and Drinkwater instead of Sanchez and Ozil – it is an indictment of Vardy’s own assessment of his own ability. It also suggests that he prefers being the main man at Leicester instead of fighting for a spot with Giroud in the Arsenal team.
    And I would like to ask you whether 17million on Perez is desperate or 50 million on Lacazette?? Wenger can be accused of being many things but desperate in the transfer market isn’t definitely one… He would much rather spend less on a lesser known player and develop him rather than spend unnecessarily big on an overinflated one. I don’t think it’s desperate at all. It’s a sensible punt which if it doesn’t work doesn’t harm the club too much at all.
    Just to conclude – any transfer is always a 50-50. It isn’t necessary that an experienced big name signing will always work. Recent years have shown the same in the case of Torres,to Chelsea, Di Maria to Man utd and Pedro to Chelsea. Wenger has bought some duds in his time but he usually gets the big money ones spot on. If he is doubtful, he doesn’t spend big as is the case with Lacazette.

  213. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:20 am213devon stu

    Well said Desi @ 204. I can’t wait until the whingeing window slams tightly shut on Wednesday and we can get on with backing the team properly. Time for toys to be put neatly back into the pram at least until it opens again in January.

    By the way, AW is a top manager and the club isn’t bad either.

  214. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:28 am214Naija gooner

    It is funny that we are dragging players with Everyone…. Wenger has so much made Arsenal to lost its spark. We now have players from Leicester City shunning us, this is alarming. How the mighty have fallen. A team like Arsenal can no longer bully Tottenham into selling Harry Kane (hate him or love him we don’t have a striker like him), we cannot poach Lukaku off Everton, we cannot convince Greizeman to join us, we cannot even approach Abumeyang, we cannot take James Rodriguez on loan (because we have Ramsey), we cannot lure Lacazette (French players use to dream of playing for us)……..worst of it all we couldn’t sign Vardy.

  215. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:34 am215Chippy

    And there was me thinking I was a miserable old bastard 🙂

  216. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:42 am216Cynic

    First order of business for Wenger today should be a cheeky phone call to Payet’s agent, after last night’s Epic Fail in the You’re Ropey.

  217. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:04 am217BB

    Have we Really signed anyone yet?

    Still waiting .. at this stage , don’t care if it’s cover or replacement.. just want people in. We are going to need them with all those (inevitable) injuries..!

    Don’t expect anyone we sign to be up to speed in the first few months..so I’ll be happy with them just coming in now!

    😀

  218. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:17 am218ATG

    Chris

    You can’t compare Perez to Suarez nor Ronaldo, look at the teams they are playing in and who they have behind them? I’ll give you a prime example look at Lewandowski for instance, top bundesliga scorer playing for Bayern gives him tons of option and scoring opportunities. However he is a completely different player when playing for the national. Perez can hopefully benefit from the support he gets, no need to be pessimistic about it let’s see him play in the PL judge later. 😉

  219. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:18 am219Chris

    £17m (or whatever it proves to be) is very much minor league these days, desi, and likely to be about right for Perez. Lacazette is probably worth more, maybe £35m in today’s money, but if the French didn’t think him good enough to make their 2016 Euro’s squad why would we want him?

    My point about AW looking desperate chasing a Vardy doppelganger is that, having missed the original, he risks looking like a Steve Walsh groupie. Nothing wrong with that if it works out, but rather sad if it doesn’t.

  220. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:32 am220Chris

    I wasn’t comparing Perez to Suarez or Ronaldo, ATG. I was pointing out that Perez wasn’t among the top 10 scorers in a league where an astonishing number were scored by the real quality (Suarez and Ronaldo) … basically because there are so many average teams in that league. Scoring 17 in La Liga doesn’t look that hard to me.

  221. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:34 am221Chris

    …we need someone who can score 20+ in the Prem, which is at a different level, imo.

  222. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:40 am222Chris

    This is getting a bit silly. IF we sign Perez I hope he’s the second coming of DB10 and couldn’t be happier if he makes Jamie Vardy look like Nicklas Bendtner. We need that sort of luck right now.

  223. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:54 am223ATG

    Chris

    We all wanted a world class player but we all know it ain’t going to happen, I really wanted Lewandowski at Arsenal but hey what do I know. Great strong player would suit our style and I’m sure he would score tons of goals.

    Nevermind I just hope as Steve T mentioned above he’s not another Soldado.

  224. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:03 am224Chippy

    The problem is there is a complete and utter Dearth of top quality forwards plying their trade at the moment and all the top top ones are already at top clubs or at very rich ones, Only two that I can think of that are at a slight level below are Aubeymang and Griezman now are either of them going to walk into the league and become the messiah we all crave at a substantial cost – Never seen enough of Aubeymang but im not completely sold on Griezman and looking at the stats from last season LPs stand up in comparison despite playing for a far far inferior team – I very Much doubt hes 25-30 goals a season but then again I cant think of many that are, If he could chip in with a similar amount to last season that would help immensely,

  225. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:06 am225'desi'gner gooner

    Below is the link to an article Arseblogger attached in his article today. Should clear up some of the doubts regarding Perez.

    https://moarfootball.com/2016/08/25/a-deportivo-la-coruna-fan-on-lucas-perez/

  226. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:10 am226Chippy

    To add a bit of context the richest club in the world bought a 19 year old last summer for an astronomical fee and this summer invested massive wages into a 34 year old stop gap, to me that screams of a lack of available fire power on the market, They found 100 million for Pogba and im pretty sure they would have spent the same if not more on a top quality striker if they could land one

  227. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:26 am227Countryman100

    That piece linked to @225 by desi’gner gooner about Lucas Perez by a DLC fan is simply excellent and fills in a lot of the gaps. I thoroughly commend it to the House.

  228. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:54 am228Scgooner

    It looks like OK business to me so great relief all round (not wishing to tempt fate on the final touches to the deals). But the big question for me remains. Why, when knowing we had a bunch of our best players coming back late, then a couple of injuries, did we have to effectively forfeit the start of our season ? Mustafi was actually over in the country on tour (Bournemouth was it?) and Perez has played in Spain so they were ready to go. Of course we’re going to have bedding in periods where we may not see one or both for a while too. The only two possible answers are a/ If we’re being generous, we were aiming higher, at least for the striker or b/ More likely, it’s yet more transfer dealing incompetence, leaving us under-resourced at the season’s off, making the fans utterly pis*ed off, team morale probably badly compromised and the manager (or else that other Dick, shall we say) running around Europe chasing rising prices and making stupid, condescending comments to that nasty media. Was that really all necessary, of course not. Still angry about it, I should just get over it and say it’s water under the bridge. Looks like we have the bods in and we all thus get massively behind the team. We have a decent squad now. COYG.

  229. on 26 Aug 2016 at 10:56 am229Chippy

    + 1 on that Sc

  230. on 26 Aug 2016 at 11:26 am230TTG

    Desi
    Top stuff and very relevant points re Perez. Given the state of the market he seems a worthwhile buy. Time will tell but he looks to be on the verge of the Spanish side. One asks oneself would Vardy or Kane be rated that highly in Spain based on their form in the Euros.
    Naija
    You are failing to take on board that the strikers you mention are unavailable and most will only move to Barca, Real Madrid and Bayern. Griezmann and Auba are staying put. It’s interesting to see that Perez turned down a whole lot of sides who wanted him including Seville and Leicester and sees Arsenal as a big upgrade on second- tier European sides. I think he sounds promising and he looks like a big contrast to Giroud. He will be above Theo in the pecking order and Theo is due for his first injury in the next few weeks anyhow. I’m going to give Perez every chance .
    Mustafi still seems complicated probably because Valencia are dicking about but a German national squad member top on interceptions by a country mile in La Liga will also come in handy.
    If we can keep this squad fit we should be capable of a title challenge . But that’s a big if as we have a lot of British lads who will miss months of football. But credit to the club for acting and let’s get behind them now!

  231. on 26 Aug 2016 at 11:43 am231BB

    WHen i see those two names on the official website : http://i.imgur.com/3tGGpQX.gifv

    But till then.. it’s grumble* grumble*

    😀

  232. on 26 Aug 2016 at 11:53 am232BB

    http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37194671

    😀

  233. on 26 Aug 2016 at 11:59 am233SanAntonioGunner

    I am just happy we got players in. I am already exhausted and the season has not even started. I really believe Wenger felt the fans frustration this time around. I have noticed one thing with Wenger, he loves midfielders a whole lot and don’t seem to have problem paying big bucks for them ( ozil, Xhaka) but usually don’t like spending same amount when it comes to strikers and defenders. We were never going to be able to afford any top strikers. That’s where my frustration comes in, just get who you wanted in early bed them in and we start the season as strong as possible. At least now we don’t have to kill ourselves next week in regards to transfers. Time to get behind the team and hope for the best. I still feel its time for him to go, still will not change my mind on that.

  234. on 26 Aug 2016 at 2:00 pm234Vinay

    It should have been done before the start of the season, atleast these 2 were not so high profile that there were multiple bids. Yet we are most likely done with them today or tomorrow and we need to hope and pray they turn out to be very good. I do sense Perez will be playing on the left-hand side which could either mean Alexis on the right or is there a danger our Chilean may leave??? Hope not. Lucas is not an out and out centre-forward and reminds me a bit of Eduardo who with Adebayor was excellent. Can he turn out to be like Freddie? score those goals when really needed? If he does, then it is a bargain and a half.

    Mustafi needs a vocal partner. He has Boateng as his teammate in the national team and even in Spain the word is, he is a technically gifted player but not an organiser. So can Kos the boss do the arrangement?

    Time to rally the troops as we travel to Watford Saturday. A win is a must or else we fall way behind with just 3 games gone. Ozil you ready???

  235. on 26 Aug 2016 at 2:41 pm235North Bank Ned

    Chris@220: it might be if you are playing for a side that only won eight games all season and barely escaped relegation for two successive seasons. He looks a bit of a scrapper, which we could use up front.

    Desi, the link above to Depor fan’s blog is an excellent read. I am already enamored with a Vardy clone who turned down Leicester, unlike the original. And if he scores more goals like the one in the clip, we will all be happy bunnies.

  236. on 26 Aug 2016 at 2:45 pm236bt8

    Happy bunny before the fact.

  237. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:22 pm237Joe

    Could I be wrong in saying that AFC has spent the bones of €100m this window in which we have made 3 first team signings (Mustafi, Xhaka, Perez) as well as 3 players of the future (Holding, Asana, Nwakali)….???

    Looks like a pretty impressive transfer haul if you ask me.

  238. on 26 Aug 2016 at 3:43 pm238Doctor Faustus

    @237: A very efficient transfer window. Also some early decisions around loans — Toral, Joel, Asano; probably Chambers to follow once Mustafi joins in, and likely Debuchy — and clarifications around the youngsters who will be in first team roster: Jeff, Serge, Chuba . We now have a balanced squad that is deep enough without being bloated.

    The key remains our collective attitude week in week out, tactical preparedness and discipline. Can we get better in those aspects?

  239. on 26 Aug 2016 at 4:26 pm239Chippy

    Joe and Dr F,
    I think the only complaint could be how long the Buys took – Its not like they couldn’t have been bought earlier in the window, But overall id say it was a positive window, And you never know if a bargain comes along I wouldn’t be surprised if we dipped our toes in again, A nice polish striker wouldn’t go amiss – Wishful thinking but you can dream right 😉

  240. on 26 Aug 2016 at 5:02 pm240Doctor Faustus

    Chippy @239: Arsene says the last few days will be hectic. Lewandowski or Griezmann are highly unlikely, but I won’t rule out someone becoming unexpectedly available from the madhouse of Real Madrid camp. James Rodriguez is unsettled and depending on how the Madrid squad shapes up he may become available at a price Arsene will find hard to resist. ?

  241. on 26 Aug 2016 at 5:41 pm241Solid Gooner

    Great stuff all around. It’s good to see folks a bit more happy, hopeful and willing to give the team a chance.

    UTA

  242. on 26 Aug 2016 at 5:43 pm242Solid Gooner

    I also personally believe that this could be Arsene’s best transfer window yet and who knows, maybe season.

    COYG

  243. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:03 pm243Chippy

    Solid,
    I just think people need something to get excited about – Good players coming in will always raise spirits, It’s why I didn’t get Arsenes comments to the contrary – I know seeing good players coming in gives me more hope – Saying that I think some are so far down the line that no matter what we do it won’t be seen as enough, That’s not aimed at any on here by the way but at some of the idiots on a certain fanzine board – Thats proper toxic, Always preferred one nil down two one up anyway 😉

  244. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:18 pm244bathgooner

    Top post Chippy @243. Agree with every word. Especially about the much missed zine, One-nil down, two-one up.

  245. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:19 pm245King GT

    DF, Chippy & Co.

    I feel that this window was always going to bring in players in for the required positions.

    We started bidding on strikers and defenders early in the window, but for one reason or another players either rejected or their prices were unnecessarily hiked.

    I reckon the fans reaction over the last couple of weeks, urged the club to possibly put their foot down firmer over the last few days, but lessons I’m sure have been learnt, across the board during this window.

    We now need to bring the harmony back to the Emirates, so that our 12th man, can get what we have, over the line.

    As stated above, our squad is now starting to fill out abit more healthily, than at the end of last season.

    Let’s get the rotation going again and hope that injuries, do not yet again, take it’s toll on our talented team!

    ATA!!

  246. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:37 pm246Chippy

    Bath,
    Shame when that went west had some really good writers amongst the ranks – Was fucking funny too ? The latest edition was always snapped up and read on the journey back to Hatton Cross !!

  247. on 26 Aug 2016 at 6:51 pm247Cynic

    You could always start your own fanzine, it’s dead easy to do and you don’t have to spend a fortune on printing it. Go properly old skool like the old punk fanzines and you’d be onto a winner (or not much of a loser anyway)

  248. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:09 pm248Ochi

    Wenger In or Not, are we ALL backing the team after Aug 31st? (Yes, that includes booing and cheering)

    i know i am, and i will.. KABOOM!

  249. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:17 pm249Silly Second Yella

    Mmmmm…old punk fanzines.

    Must…
    Have…
    Beer…

  250. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:18 pm250scruzgooner

    ochi @248, wenger in or not we all should be backing the team from NOW.

  251. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:19 pm251Chippy

    Cynic,
    Not sure to many would want to read my old bollocks, I know I wouldn’t – I’d have a circulation of one,that one being senior chippy 😉 A good fanzine was hard to find and that was one of the best !!

  252. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:28 pm252goonsterham lincoln

    What’s key for me is that’s we’ve also kept everyone who made any significant contribution last year (with the one exception of Campbell). That means that this year we essentially have all of last year’s squad, plus three new first teamers, Xhaka, Mustafi, and Perez, all of whom should make a positive impact.

    That’s called improving the team.

  253. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:34 pm253goonsterham lincoln

    Would be very surprised if we brought in anyone else. As Tim Stillman pointed out in a recent Arsecast, Perez seems to be a cheaper, stopgap option while we save our bones for a really good striker, whenever one becomes available. There simply wasn’t a reasonable option in this window. Why blow your whole savings on an *ok* striker like Lacazette (who would not only cost an absurd amount outright but would also command a shit ton of wages for several years to come)? Save it for when the right guy comes along.

    Like everyone else I’d love another goalscoring option out wide (Mahrez? James?) but I just can’t see us doing it in the next 5 days.

    Which begs the question. Is Perez going to used primarily as a striker, alternating with Giroud up top, of is Wenger envisioning a front three of Alexis-Giroud-Perez?

  254. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:39 pm254goonsterham lincoln

    Desi, some top top stuff several places above. A drink for you is on the bar!

  255. on 26 Aug 2016 at 7:43 pm255goonsterham lincoln

    And goddammit if, despite all the #madness hysteria, Wenger doesn’t seem to have had a perfectly reasonable plan all along, and to have executed it fairly well all things considered. Would have loved Mustafi to have arrived a bit earlier, for example, but then Wenger’s philosophy with $$ is highly respectable, even if it is also frustrating at times.

    We’re not favorites to win the title with this team but we are certainly in the hunt. Best Arsenal team in over a decade. I’ll take that. COYG

  256. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:29 pm256can't be arsed

    things go
    zoooommmmm
    over some people’s heads
    ?

  257. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:35 pm257New Day Raisins

    Old Punk Fanzines

    Don’t knock ’em…kept me in Beer Tokens in recent years.

    Sold a mountaion if US zine Mazimum Rock An Roll on E-Bay a couple of years ago and an old copy of Sniffin’ Glue juts before last Xmas that went for nearly £40 !

    Must-afi look to see what I still have in the loft…

  258. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:39 pm258can't be arsed

    a fanzine about old punks ?
    or
    an old fanzine about punks ?

    *grammar tut*

  259. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:41 pm259Cynic

    So it looks like Perez is a done deal

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmUlKPthrag

  260. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:41 pm260Silly Second Yella

    Now I wanna sniff some glue…

    Beer? Glue? What to do?

  261. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:43 pm261devon stu

    Good to see a bit more positivity about the place. I would have been happy with Chuba Akpom but let’s get right behind the team and club now.

  262. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:46 pm262Cynic

    We do take our time to get going with transfers, but when we do…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYWOFo6SFM

    ‘Mazing how one signing and a probable second will lift the mood. Feel like I’ve had a sniff of the barmaid’s apron.

  263. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:48 pm263New Day Raisins

    #258

    They are old fanzines about Punk, being sold by an old Punk, probably being brought by old Punks, to read about the Young Punk bands of their youth who are now Old Punks 😉

    #260

    Beer. May have had a couple already.

  264. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:48 pm264Cynic

    So if we add Mustafi that’s four signings?

    I can hear a tune…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMl6HnhFFIA

    (last one, promise)

  265. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:54 pm265Cynic

    (I haven’t forgotten Asano, but he doesn’t really count. He’s just one of those Fifth Beatle sorts of players)

  266. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:54 pm266New Day Raisins

    Or indeed ;

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flMS2gHFOH0

  267. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:55 pm267BB

    Truth be told, I’d rather have Perez than Vardy(That diver..would have won gold if he went to the Olympics!)

    Hope the reports are true then,… and if we get Mustafi..will be over the moon!

    Get it done!

    😀

  268. on 26 Aug 2016 at 8:55 pm268can't be arsed

    them that wants stare at them that has
    everything has a price
    lord knows wee nose

  269. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:23 pm269Goonerholic: Eat, Sleep, Breathe, Drink, Arsenal

    […] reminder to head to the last post to enter the competition to win a pair of tickets to next Saturday’s nostalgic […]

  270. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:24 pm270Goonerholic

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

  271. on 26 Aug 2016 at 9:28 pm271TTG

    I have heard a whisper that we have a contingency account for a mega- signing. Unfortunately it does not appear to be sufficient to buy Griezmann but the whisper is that we may be parting company with a couple of players and looking as Dr. F says at James Rodriguez. The most likely departures are Theo ( West Ham?) , Debuchy( a certainty to leave) and possibly Wilshere ( Citeh?) . Chambers will go on loan but if we could get £15 million it might be tempting to sell him. I’d be happy to go with what we have but a stellar arrival would lift the place. I would guess there’s a 10% chance of another big deal. Make that 5%.
    Nurse it’s time for my medicine?

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