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Rampant Young Gunners Signal They’re Ready

Oct 3rd, 2019 by 'holic

We weren’t too far out with the starting eleven in the preview. Dani Ceballos got the nod over Mesut Ozil to start in midfield with Lucas Torreira and Joe Willock. Rather than Nicolas Pepe there was an opportunity for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to play in his desired role alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson. Hector Bellerin captained the side on his return.

Three minutes were on the clock when Nelson tried hs luck from outside the box but he had the Gooners in the Clock End ducking to avoid being struck. It was a confident start by the young Gunners who were spraying the ball around nicely. Kieran Tierney’s cross was grasped from the head of Martinelli by the Standard goalkeeper, Torino loanee Milinkovic-Savic.

We were spared an embarrassment in the twelfth minute when Emiliano Martinez failed to claim a corner and we just about scrambled it to safety. A rare warning, perhaps. We went straight up the other end where the exciting Martinelli grabbed his third goal in two starts with a cute header from a wonderful Kieran Tierney cross. That was the future of The Arsenal, right there.

The Arsenal 1-0 Standard Liege

It was just two minutes on before Martinelli had his fourth Gunners goal with a class finish from Nelson’s left-wing cross. It’s so hard not to get excited by this lad. A brace in each of his first two starts and most of this match left to complete a hat-trick.

The Arsenal 2-0 Standard Liege

Tierney laid another one on a plate for Willock who contrived to make a real hash of a great opportunity. This rampaging young Arsenal side bears no relation to the safety first Premier League side. Are they ignoring Unai Emery and enjoying producing samba football? In the twenty-second minute Willock made amends when Nelson, teed up by Tierney, saw his shot blocked into the path of his friend. Willock finished with aplomb.

The Arsenal 3-0 Standard Liege

If the sting deserted us for a while it was still a joy to watch the lads knocking it about with confidence, and whisper it, even out from the back. Six minutes from the break Martinez made his first save, a straightforward block from a near post snapshot by Gavory. As the half approached we were denied a blatant penalty when Nelson was brought down in the box by Milinkovic-Savic.

We started the second-half with Martinelli and Nelson high pressing enthusiastically and the former was inches away from his hat-trick with a right foot curler from just outside the box. When the visitors attempted to respond Torreira was usually around to do just the job he was brought to do. This was absorbing to watch. Martinelli was inches away from another Nelson set-up. Surely he would get the third goal his performance thoroughly deserved.

Dani Ceballos got off the mark for The Arsenal courtesy of an amazing improvised chip into the goalmouth by, you’ve guessed it, Martinelli. The North Bank roared their approval for both players.

The Arsenal 4-0 Standard Liege

On the hour Martinez was forced into another near post save from Mpoku. Standard hadn’t quite given up but must have fully understood the meaning of the word futility at this point. Tierney’s cheeky back heel freed Nelson to cross for Martinelli to glance a header just too close to Milinkovic-Savic.

Twenty-five minutes from time Maitland-Niles was replaced by Nicolas Pepe. Could he strike from open play? He was almost immediately denied a penalty when possibly brought down by Cimirot as he dribbled into the box.

Seventeen minutes from time things didn’t look much better for Standard when Matteo Guendouzi supplied fresh legs in place of the excellent Willock. What must they have been thinking? Ceballos and Torreira saw successive efforts blocked as the Gunners attempted to match last week’s five goal performance against Forest in the Carabao Cup.

I’m not sure why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was risked for the closing eleven minutes. Nelson departed the action, another to have enhanced his reputation on the evening. Bellerin went close with a rising drive from an angle as we continued to assert our superiority. Another scrambled block denied Torreira before Vojvoda saw yellow for a pointless chopping down of Martinelli. That horse had already bolted you clown.

Ceballos powered a header straight at the goalkeeper as a fifth was threatened and Aubameyang flicked one marginally off target. We were finishing as we started, very much on the front foot.

Spare the hype, don’t heap the pressure on I saw said in some quarters. I’m sorry, normally I would concur, but twice in ten days we have seen the future, maybe of English football, not just the Arsenal. This team looks that good. Marks out of ten? Seven for Martinez, eight for everybody else bar Tierney and Martinelli, nine!

Posted in match review | 66 Drinks

66 Responses to “Rampant Young Gunners Signal They’re Ready”

  1. on 03 Oct 2019 at 9:53 pm1ATG

    1st??

  2. on 03 Oct 2019 at 9:56 pm2North Bank Ned

    But not as ready as the Guv’nor.

  3. on 03 Oct 2019 at 9:56 pm3ATG

    Get in!.. Now to read the post!

    Great game from everyone tonight out midfield was well-equipped and proper fullbacks made the difference indeed.

    Shame Martinelli couldn’t get his hat-trick. Pepe still needs time I wonder if the young Brazilian should be considered for the PL game at all. I would say definitely yes!

  4. on 03 Oct 2019 at 9:58 pm4Mark Earle

    That was fun!

    We have a very bright future, the kids must be pushing.

    There is a real feel of ‘team ethic’, belief and dare i say an Arsenal way.

    Thanks as always Dave.

  5. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:02 pm5can't be arsed

    given up here

    look after yerself ‘holic
    yer important
    keep thumping

  6. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:02 pm6ATG

    Super quick and spot on report Holic you never disappoint that’s for sure!

    Pepe wasn’t fouled it was a bit of a dive if you ask me. However Nelson was definitely fouled in the first half and should have been awarded a penalty 100%

  7. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:06 pm7Rampant Young Gunners Signal They’re Ready – Arsenal FC News

    […] Original article: https://goonerholic.com/2019/10/rampant-young-gunners-signal-theyre-ready/ […]

  8. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:08 pm8Gunnersaurus Stunt Double

    Really excellent report Boss. Cheers.

    Tierney looks brilliant, although I’d be surprised if he starts at the weekend and my guess is that’s why he got the whole game tonight. Same with Hector.
    Martinelli looks so exciting.
    Lots of good performances (although the ref denied Liege a blatant corner in the second half which would have won me a bet, so he gets marked down)

    The Belgians were really poor but we took complete advantage of that. Lots of credit to the players and Emery tonight. And it was a lot of fun to watch!

  9. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:11 pm9bathgooner

    Excellent night of football. Standout performances from Tierney, Holding, Ceballos, Willock, Martinelli and Nelson. Everyone else meritorious. Loved the way Ceballos ran the midfield. I hope he can start to do that for the first XI. Now to read the Guvna’s pearls.

  10. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:15 pm10bathgooner

    The Guvna nails it.

  11. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:20 pm11OsakaMatt

    Thanks for a lightning
    quick report Guvnor.
    Lots of positives with
    defenders coming back,
    a nice cross field ball
    from Mus to set the move
    going for the first goal,
    Willock, Nelson and
    Martinelli all lively and
    some fine entertainment
    for the home support.
    Didn’t think Liège were
    that bad really, we just
    played aggressively and
    Martinelli killed the game
    with 2 great finishes in
    the first 20 minutes.

  12. on 03 Oct 2019 at 10:31 pm12arsenicDaemon

    Good ebening.

    Thanks Guvna, spot on review. The 2 down sides were Martinelli not getting his deserved hat trick and the continuation of Maitland-Niles’s poor run of games.

    The only reason I think Aubameyang was thrown in was the golden boot, Emery wants him to pile them up before the quarters.

    As regards Pepe, I think he should be coming in as sub in the first team for anyone of Martinelli or Saka. His price tag is definitely weighing him down. Martinelli deserves an opportunity now with the first team in the EPL. I wish this team played on Monday night, I reckon they’d have brought the “full bacon” home.

  13. on 03 Oct 2019 at 11:45 pm13iBtM

    The long promised hurricane wind whistled unexpectedly through East Herts and blew me straight onto the North Bank. What a thoroughly entertaining night it turned out to be in the stadium and Holic’s report covers the whole thing nicely. Only one correction Tierney, Martinelli AND Willock nine.

    Good to see Hector back but on tonight’s evidence it will be a while before he’s ready to start in the PL. Holding and Tierney on the other hand are good to go and some. Holding looks to have gained the pace that Hector may not yet have recovered.

    This is a good time to be a Gooner. A very good squad with a tonne of potential. Unleash it in the PL please Mr Unai.

  14. on 03 Oct 2019 at 11:52 pm14TTG

    I posted at half-time so my enjoyment was evident. This was a very enjoyable evening very well described by the Guvna.
    I have been getting increasingly excited by the plan taking shape with Sanllehi and Edu and the difference between the ‘first-team’ and this team is significant. Holic alluded to it. This team played with freedom and some great movement I just don’t see from us normally . It was exciting and despite our tendency to overplay at the back we had a coherent team plan.
    In my view Martinelli ought to start ahead of Pepe , Willock and Ceballos should join Guendouzi in midfield and soon Hector and young Tierney who is a thoroughbred left back in the great Arsenal tradition will be at full-back. I would pair Holding with Sokratis. Neither Pepe or Nelson are enjoying the best of luck or form and AMN made a few mistakes but when we brought on Guendouzi and you realise Saka didn’t play and Nketiah is on loan and we have Saliba coming in next year the future and maybe the near future at that looks very bright.
    I was astonished we risked Auba when 4-0 up in a game like this on a wet pitch but hopefully he came through ok. Lovely game to watch .

  15. on 04 Oct 2019 at 12:41 am15North Bank Ned

    Many of the youngsters have been playing together for a while up through the age teams and it shows.

    Have only seen highlights but on the basis of those Tierney does indeed look a thoroughbred, to borrow TTG’s description. Auba and Laca on the end of the quality of crosses Tierney seems able to deliver is a mouthwatering prospect.

  16. on 04 Oct 2019 at 12:58 am16OsakaMatt

    I thought Nelson kept trying,
    which was good. Whereas Pepe
    is looking a bit forlorn at times.
    It’s just one game in the Ropey
    League and we need to persevere
    with both this season

    Bringing Auba on was just
    asinine. A mulish unwillingness
    to recognise a reality that
    differs from your own.

  17. on 04 Oct 2019 at 1:08 am17bt8

    +9

    Arsenal’s goal differential with Spurs this week. Just give us a month to flush it out a little.

  18. on 04 Oct 2019 at 8:17 am18ATG

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49928987

  19. on 04 Oct 2019 at 9:02 am19OsakaMatt

    They had to bring Gnabry and
    Malen at the end.

  20. on 04 Oct 2019 at 10:00 am20iBtM

    I didn’t think that Auba should be in the stadium last night, OM, never mind on the field. I wouldn’t swap him for any other striker in the PL, he’s at the peak of his predatory power right now.

    If the worst happens and he and Laca should both suffer the curse of the ARR! (Arsenal Rehab Room), Martinelli, with a different approach, won’t disgrace himself in the PL.

    I have to admit that I never saw (or even heard of) Malen. I was a very big fan of Gnabry and saw him at 17/18 as a key component of our future – as I do Willock and Saka today.

    After he bust his knee and went to Mordor under Pulis, he returned to Arsenal. Steve T and I went to see him play in an U-23 game at the Emirates. He was overweight and a pale shadow of his former self that night and I had my doubts about his ability to recover fully. Wenger knew better and offered him a deal. Serge knew even better and felt that a new start in Germany was his best option and who can now say that he was wrong? Good luck to him. Hopefully Arsenal learned some lessons but you can’t win them all.

    C’est La Vie as they shrug in Paris; Das ist Das Leben as they opine in Munich; or Oh for F*cks Sake as we sigh on the East Neuk.

    And ‘I’m a more handsome fucker than anyone’ as they say where cba holds court…….or at least one handsome fucker does.

  21. on 04 Oct 2019 at 10:21 am21TTG

    Although he missed a cross early on ( in swirling wind and rain) I felt Martinez has developed his presence as a keeper and will put serious pressure on Leno ( who I also like). Those are two good keepers and we have a number of good young keepers coming through to rival Macey as third choice .
    I must also praise Mustafi for a steady game but more especially for the superb long pass that set up our first goal . Credit to him for keeping a positive attitude. Luiz is worth looking at in the DM role and we could do worse than pair Chambers and Holding . Until Hector is fully fit I think we might play Chambers at RB . With Smith Rowe and Saka not used last night we have multiple options out wide . If only we had a defensive midfielder. Sheaf plays that role but may not be PL class. Bielik might have been but Emery didn’t agree and he saw him up close . I wouldn’t expect too much action in January unless we have injuries

  22. on 04 Oct 2019 at 11:14 am22Countryman100

    I nearly didn’t go last night. The weather and the fact I’d be going alone almost put me off (my son’s back at University). None of mates fancied a Thursday night Europa game. But I did go, and I’m so glad I did.

    The midweek team are far better to watch than the first team. It’s going to be great to see as one transforms into another.

    Tierney is the most exciting left back we’ve had since Ashley Cole. Seen him twice now and he didn’t disappoint. We seem to have found a gem in Martinelli. Willock looks ready for weekends. Nelson had his best game yet. Hector needs a few more games. In truth the centre backs had little to do but Holding is surely now ready to be first choice.

    Good comments above from TTG and BtM.

    I am really, really encouraged by the direction the team is taking.

    Oh and I really don’t care about Ozil. He’s gone. If truth be told I miss Santi far more. I’ll tell you this. Ferguson wouldn’t be playing him.

  23. on 04 Oct 2019 at 11:29 am23Cynic

    I hope the elevation of Xhaka to club captain was merely a combination of player votes and the manager needing to give him confidence after a fan hammering. That it isn’t a sign he’s going to play every week, because even allowing for the opposition we looked much better without him.

    As for Ozil, when your manager tells you kids deserve to play over you (he was spot on there, and got the result that proves it) and you’re the by far highest earner in the club, you should get the message.

    It might also be a message to the transfer team as well. Get shot.

  24. on 04 Oct 2019 at 2:18 pm24Devon Stu

    Including the two young keepers and Saliba who will arrive next season I reckon we have 18 young players with experience of first team football, 16 of whom are 24 or under. That’s not counting Ceballos either. The future does indeed look very bright.

  25. on 04 Oct 2019 at 3:02 pm25OsakaMatt

    iBtM,

    I only remember hearing when
    Malen left and nobody seemed
    too bothered at the time.
    Good luck to him of course.
    There’s so many young players
    through now that some are
    bound to slip through I think.
    As the link from ATG said earlier
    Martinelli had already been
    passed over by a couple of
    clubs before we signed him. No
    idea why as he looks the high
    potential part now.

    Still to be honest what do I
    know? I saw Gnabry play for
    Pukis’s mob and he was poor.
    I wasn’t bothered at all when
    he went!

  26. on 04 Oct 2019 at 3:27 pm26TTG

    It is worth remembering that we have three very good young strikers- Nketiah, John-Jules and Balogun and a midfield prodigy in the U18s Azeez. Additionally Smith- Rowe comes into the picture. These are riches most clubs would be envious of. My sense is that Freddie Ljungberg has played a major part in the development of these attackers/ wingers. He may well be a serious candidate to be the next Arsenal manager.
    Bouldy has not found a similar cache of defenders in his own image but the switch to elevate Freddie seems to suit both men.
    I was told we were going back in for Zaha at Christmas but that appears totally unnecessary now.
    One nice thing is that Scruz will be in London for the Vitoria game and may see some of the young talent in the flesh . I’m thoroughly looking forward to that game but haven’t watched the group games in the last two seasons .

  27. on 04 Oct 2019 at 3:29 pm27OsakaMatt

    On Ozil I agree the situation is
    ridiculous and we should loan
    him out in January as it’s a
    distraction and UE is obviously
    not going to play him.

  28. on 04 Oct 2019 at 4:14 pm28bt8

    At last. Someone to challenge cba for most handsome ficker.

  29. on 04 Oct 2019 at 6:03 pm29Countryman100

    Interesting point made by TTG about Zaha. It seemed in the summer that he was desperate to join us. With all of our wide options, including the possibility that our record signing will come good, why would we spend the thick end of £80m on Zaha? If he comes in, then there isn’t room for Saka and Nelson. Martinelli prefers to play as a left winger as well.

    Does anyone know what the Auba and Laca contract position is? I hope we are planning to give them new contracts soon. They have both been superb.

  30. on 04 Oct 2019 at 6:57 pm30Countryman100

    Our own Amy Lawrence on Ozil

    https://theathletic.com/1267562/2019/10/04/ostracised-omitted-overlooked-ozils-place-in-arsenals-future-has-never-been-less-certain/?amp#click=https://t.co/YIKIU8xAPx

  31. on 04 Oct 2019 at 9:45 pm31scruzgooner

    thanks (last drinks) for everyone who strung along with the rope puns.

    ttg, yeah, i was watching the first half excited as hell about three weeks hence. if they play like that for my first time out at the grove, i’ll be even deeper in heaven. i might even look like an ugly cba.

    let’s just stay away from zaha, please. no room, no need.

  32. on 04 Oct 2019 at 10:42 pm32Goonersince54

    Watching the youngsters against Forest and now SL,play a vibrant exciting technically proficient brand of football,that puts a smile on the supporters faces,is great to see.
    They should now all be able to play the rest of the EL group games through to December,and also be given the chance to play at Anfield later this month in the League Cup.
    Along with TTG and BTM,our interest in the youngsters at under 18 and under 23 level is well known in the Bar, and the pleasure we get from watching the potential stars of tomorrow progress through the ranks to the cusp of the first team is palpable.
    Add in the quite superb import,young Martinelli,and we could be seeing the next Golden generation of Arsenal footballers unfolding before our very eyes.
    The class of 20/21,and 21/22 is coming over the horizon very quickly.
    Thinking back to a young Charlie George,Paul Davis and Rocky,Ashley Cole,to name a few homegrown gems,it has been a long time since this old fossil felt so excited about the clutch of young players that are going to be at the forefront of the Club’s success for years to come.

  33. on 04 Oct 2019 at 10:42 pm33Pangloss

    I am massively encouraged by recent results that the club has achieved on the field.

    I must apologise for any lowering of the mood. With due acknowledgement to the poster above @23 who has not sanctioned my use of the term, I am somewhat cynical about the openness of people’s communications.

    I may be the only one in the bar who notices drinks that start by saying something supportive and non-controversial but morph into the complete opposite. Sadly, for me, I tend to make a mental note of the authors of these contributions and approach their subsequent pieces fearing more of the same.

    I recall some drinks late in Wenger’s time saying that the manager had ultimate responsibility and that while it might be that errors might have been made by his subordinates Wenger had made the appointments, retained accountability for the consequence and should go. “Fair enough”, I thought, and go he did.

    I believe that Emery’s performance should be assessed on the same basis.

    Finally, it should come as no surprise that I’m a long-standing fan of Mesut Ozil. I’m sad to see his continued non-involvement on the pitch. If there are medical reasons for this, I can see no advantage to anyone in keeping them under wraps. I take no pleasure in saying that it’s probably time he left. Farewell Mesut, thanks for the good times and good luck for the future.

    COYG

  34. on 04 Oct 2019 at 11:51 pm34Silly Second Yella

    Ozil and good times?

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

  35. on 04 Oct 2019 at 11:59 pm35TTG

    Pangloss,
    While I agree with you about the positive future the club may have which is primarily due to a strategy that is clear, intelligent and strongly applied emanating from Sanllehi in the main I am a little perplexed by the other comments you make and disagree about Wenger.
    Let me explain – Firstly it is impossible to take a fixed view on football. It’s highly emotional, volatile, cyclical and a game where opinions can be influenced by all sorts of often random things. I may feel something today that is changed by a performance on Sunday.
    To give you an example I was a huge fan of Emery at this time last year and when we beat the Totts at home in the League I thought he was an extraordinarily good reader of the game. Subsequently I’ve shifted my opinion because I’ve watched virtually every home game live and many away on the telly and events have called into question a few aspects of his style. I won’t repeat them here. But should Arsenal prosper in the league and he uses the excellent squad to full advantage we will all be delighted and I will be proved wrong.
    But to conflate his situation and Wenger is to misunderstand what has happened at the club. Wenger was the finest club manager in the world in 2004, a visionary and a remarkable man of principle. Because he was so successful those who ran the club ceded him almost total control of everything to do with the club at a time when others either absorbed and developed his methods or took them further. Other teams had financial resources he was denied because we were building Ashburton Grove . But to give him absolute control with no checks was a mistake and over the years we slipped behind the best teams in England and fell out of the Champions League. He criticised strongly exactly the sort of structure which has given us such hope now.
    If we succeed it will be because we have rescued the chaotic financial position he and Gazidis left, created clear pathways for our best young players and got rid of most of the deadweight in the squad . Sanllehi has provided Emery with a great opportunity. Edu has supplied him with prospects like Martinelli and his job is to weld them into a cohesive unit.

    Wenger did everything and needed to be reined in much sooner but that doesn’t diminish the fact that we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Stan Kroenke , Keswick and Gazidis all failed to manage him properly if at all and his last contract was a mistake .
    Emery must prove he can deliver on the excellent foundations he has been given but his brief is much narrower than Wenger’s

    I think you are probably the most risk-averse of the regular posters here and that may not only be a shrewd position it may be in keeping with our club philosophy. I’m more hawkish partly because I’m very involved with the club in different ways and because my expectations are probably greater. I want Holic , Clive and I to see us win the Cup with big ears before we segue off to celestial pastures. Nevertheless I’ve respect for your views and know you only want what is best for the club. That’s the position of all regular posters here.
    Finally I’m very fond of Ozil too and don’t like the way in which Emery is handling him

  36. on 05 Oct 2019 at 12:38 am36can't be arsed

    i remember
    four and more dozen years ago
    when i thought
    do you know what – i think i might be falling for this team . The Mighty Arsenal .

    Little did i know

    It’d involve dribbling alongside long winded blowhards
    ?

    .
    .
    .
    moooooooooooooooooooooo
    ?

  37. on 05 Oct 2019 at 8:18 am37OsakaMatt

    Some very good posts to
    read through and points
    well put.

    To disagree with both, I
    wouldn’t judge AW & UE
    in the same way. AW had
    through his many successes
    deserved the gamble of his
    final go. Loyalty only looks
    like a mistake, it has other
    intangible benefits like
    showing our values as a
    club. UE has not merited
    that loyalty with his
    achievements so far. I hope
    he does in future of course
    as it will mean we’ve won
    trophies.
    As for Ozil, I’m another
    admirer of his play and
    regret the current situation.
    The comments about “others
    deserve it more” are just
    subjective bollocks meaning
    UE doesn’t like him as a
    player. Proof of that only
    and nothing else.
    I’d loan him in January as
    it’s 50/50 on UE improving
    the team given his cautious
    approach and favouritism.
    If he goes next May then
    Ozil would be a useful asset
    if the next manager is more
    able to utilise his talents.
    Just my tuppence worth

  38. on 05 Oct 2019 at 10:23 am38Cynic

    You may be forgetting, with Ozil, that his scandalous wage means he will be offloaded whatever happens, because he’s into the last two years of his deal and there’s no way on this Earth he is going to be offered an extension on anything like the sme money.

    If you’re hoping a new manager will suddenly put him into the side and he will do what he has never done for the team (ie play very well week in week out) you’re going to be disappointed.

    They, not Emery alone, have decided he is going because his contract is poor value. Even someone capable of doing it every week wouldn’t be worthy of that sort of money to us and the people running the club aren’t fools. Not any more.

  39. on 05 Oct 2019 at 11:14 am39TTG

    CBA
    The Queen loves long-winded blowhards. I’m hoping to graduate to being a gobshite

  40. on 05 Oct 2019 at 11:48 am40Pangloss

    Thank you, TTG@35 for your full response.

    cba@36 – the drinkers in this bar are a varied lot and have varied views, some of the more nuanced views require long winded (your term of choice) explanations.

    TTG, I’m still a little unclear; do I understand that you believe transfer policy nowadays to be entirely Sanhelli’s responsibility which would imply that you will direct all criticism of any shortcomings in that area solely in his direction in the same way that you are currently showering praise for its apparent successes?

    Thank you for your acknowledgement that I have the best wishes if the club at heart. As to risk aversion, some might describe my attitude otherwise. Long windedness is one apt alternative. I like loyal.

    An especially heartfelt COYG

  41. on 05 Oct 2019 at 12:30 pm41TTG

    Pangloss
    Transfer policy is a shared responsibility but the primary credit or blame should be directed at Sanllehi and Edu. Emery , as I understand it , specifies the type of player he wants – a wide player, centre back etc although that would be in consultation with Edu and Sanllehi and Cagigao sift through the options with Edu and do the negotiations. I understand Emery was particularly keen to get Dennis Sanchez on loan and and Sanllehi backed this much to the consternation of Mislintat. Emery was also very keen to get Tierney as left back so it’s hard to apportion credit or blame precisely but in Wenger’s time up to Mislintat’s appointment he chose most of the players, decided the fee we would pay
    and effectively also carried out the DOF role

  42. on 05 Oct 2019 at 1:13 pm42iBtM

    Lot’s of good stuff, Here.

    cba, concise, pertinent, short winded and spectacular appraisal of long windedness you handsome old, moondog, you.

    TTG @35, good perspective. I’d shade my opinion on the later Wenger years closer to OM’s but I cannae really quibble with you there and share your thoughts on Emery who I too wish to see succeed.

    On transfers, inside track on Tierney from inside the very bowels of Parkhead (and I had to tunnel in and paint myself greener than a shamrock to get it) is that the Tierney deal was done in the summer of 2018. Last minute flaffing and reference back to the vatican on the terms of payment was all that happened this summer past. They’re still a bit sick that they let us have one of the best prospects in the European game for £25M. Send us an orangeman to negotiate with next time, they said.

    Over the years I’ve begged Arsenal to buy 1) Henrik Larsen 2) Virgil Van Dyke and 3) Kieran Tierney. They finally listened, but things could have been so, so, different. “Imagine there’s no Verminator……it’s easy if you try”

  43. on 05 Oct 2019 at 1:59 pm43Countryman100

    Currently Brighton 3-0 Tottenham

    Spurs. Can’t smile without them.

    Brighton chanting “we want seven”

    Poch out!

  44. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:06 pm44BB

    Go Brighton Munich!

    😀

  45. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:07 pm45Countryman100

    What time do Spurs kick off?

    Every ten minutes.

    ???

  46. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:08 pm46Countryman100

    Bayern and Hove Albion

  47. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:46 pm47arsenicDaemon

    Having seen Brighton demolish the neighbourly pricks, am still crying how we failed to take our chance against them.

  48. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:47 pm48TTG

    C100
    You are a cruel man ?
    I watched the debacle at the Amex. I thought we would see a reaction from the Totts and I suppose we did. They don’t care ! Awful performance and awful body language . I thought about a year ago they were in a much better situation than us but that is definitely not the case case now . #Club in crisis

  49. on 05 Oct 2019 at 2:59 pm49bt8

    There is little in life more comforting than Sperz reverting to form. 😀

  50. on 05 Oct 2019 at 3:05 pm50Countryman100

    Seems like a good afternoon to watch some dancing monkeys

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q7wCfttJVnQ

  51. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:05 pm51OsakaMatt

    melted Spuds is a real
    weekend pleasure 🙂

  52. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:15 pm52OsakaMatt

    Cynic,

    We will never agree on Ozil
    so instead of writing a long
    waffly refutation of your post
    I will just say that I have
    enjoyed watching Ozil play
    for Arsenal and accept that
    you haven’t.

  53. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:47 pm53arsenicDaemon

    The way this Leicester team is playing against Liverpool has confirmed the theory that Emery knows not how to manage our team. Damn! If LCFC loses this game, they did so with their heads held high. We have ‘Pool too much respect the last time.

  54. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:48 pm54iBtM

    Big Bren and his boys doing better than us at Anfield today. They just brought Jimi Hendrix on as a substitute for Maddison! Purple flares all along the watchtowers from their traveling fans.

  55. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:50 pm55iBtM

    Binners get an extra time penalty!

  56. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:53 pm56iBtM

    Jammy bar stewards, very very super soft penalty. Contact followed by a swallow dive.

  57. on 05 Oct 2019 at 4:58 pm57iBtM

    Great punch up at the end of the game after that Binner’s penalty which, because the ref had given it, the VAR boys couldn’t really overturn on the old “clear and obvious error” basis.

    Big Bren has really got Leicester playing with great passion and skill to a clear and consistent strategic plan.

    He’s a braw laddie right enough. 🙂

  58. on 05 Oct 2019 at 5:00 pm58iBtM

    On Ozil, Emery is clearly pissing in his own wellies. It’ll give him a warm feeling at first but will stink more and more the longer it goes on.

  59. on 05 Oct 2019 at 5:50 pm59Countryman100

    Sure it’s the way you tell ‘em iBtM ..

    ??

  60. on 05 Oct 2019 at 6:31 pm60iBtM

    All too soon arrives the dawning.

    I’m taking “On A Wing and Prayer” to my desert island with me, cba. Don’t give a f*ck if you don’t like Gerry.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8rdyWAgOjc

  61. on 05 Oct 2019 at 7:53 pm61iBtM

    Countryman,

    Pre-match Tolly 2moro?

  62. on 05 Oct 2019 at 7:58 pm62Countryman100

    Why not. What sort of time and how will we know each other?

  63. on 05 Oct 2019 at 7:59 pm63Countryman100

    I’ll be there about 12.30

  64. on 05 Oct 2019 at 8:18 pm64iBtM

    Brolly’s at the back. You’ll see the handsomest, whitest hair guy there, You’ll think “He’s so handsome he must be cba!” But it won’t be the old moondog, it’ll be me. I’ll be there by 1.00 latest.

    The Fife accent will be a giveaway.

    It’s Steve T’s turn to buy the beers but he sends his apologies in advance (as usual 🙂 )

  65. on 05 Oct 2019 at 8:28 pm65Countryman100

    Hopefully we’ll hook up. I have a beard and a North Face jacket. I’ll be with my mate the Gashead Bristol Rovers fan.

    If TTGs around we could make it a proper holic hook up?

  66. on 05 Oct 2019 at 10:10 pm66Goonerholic

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

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