OK Grovers, my hot tip of yesterday didn’t come to fruition …yet.
Don’t give up on it regardless of what you read in the red tops, if he was going to Liverpool, I would have thought he would be gone by now.
Still as a way of making up for the sin of speculation, today I will give the two angry commenters of yesterday what they want, a factual post, with no speculation in it.
We’ll see if you like it and if it’s a success I will do it with more regularity and be like Arsenal.com and some of the other blogs, it’s your call Grovers, so here it is.
Arsenal signed a French 17 year old called Coquelin and thinks he will be good, Lyon and Nantes were also after him.
Aaron Ramsey could be the answer to our central midfield woes, even though he is only 17, Wenger thinks he can do the job this season.
We haven’t bought Gareth Barry, Miguel Veloso or Xabi Alonso.
We won’t be buying a center back as Arsene Wenger believes we’re okay in that area, so no Richards, Lescott, Kompany or Zapata.
Arsene Wenger doesn’t want to KILL the youngsters by bringing in new and established stars, so we won’t be bringing in new and established stars. Killing Gilberto and Pires was okay though as they had reached 30 years of age and when you get to that age you smell like wet newspaper and it upsets the kids.
Arsenal will have sold more players than we bought, like last year so we will again have a budget surplus.
Season tickets unfortunately have gone up due to market forces and the cost of the new stadium we moved to in order to compete with the big boys, so hard luck, and please keep spending.
Robin Van Persie is injured again, but we are renegotiating his contract to keep him at the Emirates, so please don’t worry and keep them crossed he can manage 3 consecutive pre-season games.
I didn’t mention Rosicky though as by the time he’s fit he’ll be 30 and we’ll sell him.
One question that was asked but no answer was forthcoming was …if we can lose Hleb and Flamini and not replace them, why did we have them in the first place?
Please don’t forget to buy the new away kit as soon as possible, continue to hate Usmanov and Dein but you can like Kroenke, he signed the lock down and will now do what he’s told.
We owe everything to Arsene Wenger, we were a small club before he arrived and don’t forget, we are Emirates cup and Amsterdam trophy holders and we are determined to keep them in our otherwise empty silverware cabinet.
I hope you all found this informative and respectful, I hope you enjoy watching the game on Setanta sports or Arsenal TV today, we could win if our teams parents allow them out to play today, are they allowed competitive football at 17? I don’t know what the rule is!
None of this was meant to sound sarcastic by the way, I am only reporting the facts. Okay, okay, the Rosicky one was down to me, the rest was straight out of Arsenal.com
Have a great day Grovers, tomorrow the season begins and we will have a school report, sorry I meant a match report!
Le Grove is now smart phone compatible!
Pedro
Geoff
First!!
An excellent and factual post!
You are so factual you could work for Arsenal.com…
Actually, don’t they lie as well?
‘No one is leaving’
‘We’ll sign all our players in 3 weeks’
‘Arsenal fans will be reassured’
Good post though Geoff, I enjoyed it!
So… first game of pre season, shall I get that Le Grove shirt signed today Geoff?
Oh no… as I thought yesterday…
“Overall he can play wide, he can play centrally,”
“I think in the future he will be a central midfielder. How is down to him and down to us on how well we work with him.
“In my mind though there are no restrictions on his development, because he has played a lot already.”
Geoff, that was an absolute classic post, exactly my sense of humour!! Unfortunately the KIDS won’t understand it.
Absolutely brilliant!!
If intended in earnest, informative, and if intended ironically, quite funny. Good post.
Ramsey played a lot already!!!!!! He must be talking about those 20+ appearances he made for Cardiff, he must be classed as a veteran.
Geoff….. i’m happy you have made your point….
but I prefer the old Geoff.
lets hope he returns before the weekends out.
I prefer the speculation and antcipation….
The FACTS are just so depressing.
Geoff, write whatever you like, however you like, as long as it’s what you want to write about.
There will be punters who will have opinions to the contrary, but so what?
We here on Le Grove have been on the transfer trail for a while, and we had Coquelin and Nasri marked down as near dead certs since there was enough feedback to confirm rumours, Laval’s director of sports was gutted to see his star youth footballer leave, but Wenger donated a million euro compensation for his education which will probably pay the wages of their entire first team for a year which is not as much as they would have liked but still as hefty bit of v0oluntary compensation.
Nasri was talked about by Wenger himself before the Euro’s and once you hear a snippet of info straight from Wengers mouth regarding a possible transfer, it looks more likely than not.
Geoff, keep it up, if they don’t like it, they don’t have to like it!
True Finest… if other sites want to play the…’I wont speculate until it’s on Arsenal.com’ that is cool, but it wouldn’t have given us much to talk about this summer!
Another record yesterday! 690 I think? That says it all…
So what do you all think about heading into the season with Ramsey as our favoured centre mid?
I’ve been out of the country for the last couple of months, can someone tell me who have we signed and who they are please?
Thanks guys, there were a few people yesterday that don’t understand hope, speculation or irony, this was for them, laced with a little sarcasm!
Midoco, turn around and go back, you’ll be less depressed!
Morning Grovers,
As much as your post gave me a smile Geoff, I too prefer the way you usually author you super duper posts –
Anyone know what is wrong with Vela, he is now not in the squad for later, replaced by Coq-au-Vin…..? Suely he is not injured already…
Really, I was in Afghanistan!
FC, where did you hear that Arsenal had paid an education fee?? Last I saw, Francis Coquelin had been released & Stade Lavallois said that any future club didn’t have to pay any education fee because nothing more linked Coquelin with MFC!!
Brilliant, Now can we get back to what we actually think!!!
I saw the Ramsey story and just pray that it is Wengers long term aim and not next seasons.
I live in Swansea and used to work down near Cardiff so know a lot of Cardiff fans who think he is an excellent prospect for the Future……..The Future not the 08/09 season. They were also pretty happy that he has come to Arsenal but like me they do not expect to see much of him next season, he rarely played for Cardiff last season, he has a lot to learn still.
Wenger MP’s Kill the Youngster statement is sadly a mirror image of what happened last summer
End of 06/07 Wenger MP stated that he would be bring in Super Super players, yet we went into the Emirates cup and the Season minus Henry, Ljungberg, Reyes/Baptista, Aliadiere but had brought in Sagna and Eduardo. Sagna has proved to be Super Class, Eduardo has not, yet looking at those players leaving it left a massive gap on the wings. Wenger later comes out with the ‘I believe in the youth in this squad, they have belief and desire’. No more Super Super class players then!!!
End of 07/08 Wenger MP admits that we lost the league due to In-experience, he says that this will be addressed in 2-3 weeks and he is sure that the fans will be re-assured by what they see. 8 weeks later we have Nasri and a couple of kids but have lost Flamini, Diarra, Gilberto, Jens and Hleb. Wenger then comes out with the comment regarding not re-assuring the fans as it may induce parents to write complaint letters to PHW that their kids are coming home from training in Tears because Samuel Etoo or Gareth Barry has been picked ahead of them on Saturday
So basically in Summer 07 we stripped the experienced attacking options and replaced them with Vela, Theo and Bendtner (I know they are talented but they need a mix of Experience and Youth)
Summer 08 we stripped the experienced CM to be replaced with Denilson, Diarra and Ramsey (I know they are talented but they need a mix of Experience and Youth)
GROUNDHOG SEASON all over and I am still seething with it. He needs to sort it out
Speculate, I love it, and like most of you out there, will continue to get excited no doubt when we get linked to ‘Big Players’ – the difference is, I wont believe any of it to be true until a formal announcement ‘somewhere’ – which is usually before it gets on AFC.com.
After All, if we believed everything we heard, we would have all listened to Ade’s 1st interview, switched the television off thinking – Good he has come out, declared his love for the club, say is is staying for three years at least and gone off quite content…
Not realising the Tosser, a couple of minutes later, he says he could be off – What a pratt!!
Ramsey Playing in CM has not “reassured!” me in the slightest.
Ok he has the potential to be the next Stevie G or Shrek, but wouldn’t you like to ease him in knowing that he could learn from an old head, such as maybe ( dare i say it) Barry.
Throwing him to the wolves next year also could potentially ruin him as a player.
He never put Walcott straight in the team, and to be fair he started with Eboue-Ache all last year.
Maybe Walcott will get his start this year, and as for Eboue-ache well, there is a nice DM slot up for grabs…. I shudder at the thought…. but does Wenger!?!?!
Pedro – Migt as well update your silly season list now we have signed another player.
Apart from signing Nasri, who I rate higher than Phleb, who hav we signd that will help the team? Last time I checked signing a known player over the age of 24 doesnt kill anyone, so Wenger, stop being a paranoid git and sign someone! You wont be arrsted for murder! Hell, if anything it will have the reverse efect and will encourage and teach the younger players…
Rant over, Nice change Geoff, will be looking forwrd to more of the usual tho!
GMR, re: million euros
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/coquelin-wenger-key-reason-for-arsenal-transfer/
FC- thanks for that. Its the same site that reported what I had said above about there not being an education fee payable!!
Whilst I think its a nice gesture by Arsenal especially as Stade Lavallois weren’t asking for anything, I find it somewhat strange that with Arsenal crying poverty all the time they donate a million when it wasn’t required!!
Grovers, don’t forget today is AKB day, the weekend when all the school kids are allowed on their PC’s I tailored it that way!
That’s where our money goes, he does it all the time, if you added up all the kid fees, we could have bought a Barry.
GMR, he said he had cash yesterday, but upsetting the kids was his problem…
Geoff, Of course every AKB will tell you that Coquelin joined us because he was so impressed with Arsenal & the fact we give youngsters chances, but those same idiots won’t believe its anything to do with the fact he’s earning 10 times more than he was offered at any other club, including Lyon!!
You mistake quotes for facts – they are not the same tthing.
Besides WEnger never actually says he will play Ramsey centrally this season – he just says at some point is his career he will end up as a central midfielder.
Pedro, yeah he said that yesterday. That just confirms his spending is over, the rest of the time he cries poverty & we have all the idiots come to sites like this & go on about the Stadium repayments, when anyone with the smallest amount of brain cells knows the Stadium repayments are nothing compared to the overall income!!
I hear that Arsene is very interested in buying old fetuses . He wants to get them while they’re young and care for them so in 25 years time with the proper encouragement and bed time stories they could possible be emotionally ready to start playing football
There you go everybody, RomfordPele was the reason I wrote this post and he still finds it factually incorrect, welcome to the weekend!
Does he honestly believe that people are going to continue to stump up for the most expensive ticket in World Football whilst we continue to strip experience and add kids
I am not renewing my membership as things stand. I will watch on TV but I am not spending the money to travel to London, Ticket, food etc whilst this continues.
I know it looks pretty but Swansea play pretty football at a 1/10th of the price (I am not about to start watching them though it is just a point)
I think Wenger has lost sight of his responsibilities to us the fans and to the shareholders who surely cant be happy with this.
Eduardo & Rosicky will definately miss the start of the season!! RVP is injured & if his past record is anything to go by he’ll be out for weeks or months. Vela is also possible injured, it seems strange he’d just be pulled from the squad after Wenger named him in it.
Depending on RVP & Vela’s injuries our squad already looks stretched!!
I don’t see what there is to look forward to. Its going to be another continual long struggle where every defeat is met with the “We lacked experience & maturity” quotes!!
“In my mind though there are no restrictions on his development, because he has played a lot already.”
That says to me he is going to use him this season.
‘I think in the future he will be a central midfielder.’
The future isn’t defined Romford… so that could mean in a month.
Thanks for pointing out that quotes and facts are different things…
All I know is that each morning i wake up the first thought in my mind is, have we signed someone today? With that i don’t count players ready to play in the next half of the century. Each day i am disappointed. It is not a great situation, in fact the situation is the scariest shite situation you could possibly have. Though loosing Keane and Berbatov on the same day WOULD in fact cheer me up, nothing else other than QUALITY signings will do. Away with the embryos in with the men.
so manure in for berbatoss , chavs in for kaka , and we ……………………. sign a 17 yr old .
losing the faith .. like you say pat . 2 / 3 weeks , centre half then not , super class , . fans re assured etc etc etc . i actually feel now Wenger is a liar , i never thought i would say that but so many mixed messages and contradiction . its appalling .
A ‘quote’ in The Sun, which is not to be taken as fact,
Keane and Berby have made it very clear they want to leave for ‘Pool and Maunre respectively –
The problem is, with the money they will get for them – they could buy two awesome strikers, and probably players we have been linked with…. I just hope any such player doesnt want to go to them!!
Villa?
Hunter?
we now are worse , thinner squad than last season of which our bench was a joke in comparison , then to re assure the fans wenger comes out with this not killing the kids bullshit . what the fuck !!! so no more senior signings arsene , is that it !!!!!!!?????
See so this season Denilson, a kid we signed 2 seasons ago is up for the defensive midfield role, but he’s not good enough is he? so Coq-au-vin will be Denilson in 3 years time, oh what a look to look forward to.
Thing is Rico
You just know that if the Spuds do sell those two they will spend the money on players that are ready to play. Juande is a bit better at picking out talent than Jol so we cant bank on them wasting it all on a Darren Bent
Hopefully Sky or Setanta will get an interview with him today and ask him the questions that Arsenal.com won’t
I tell you what Wenger is Killing
My belief that he will ever win anything for Arsenal again.
We’re all hoping for a good result against Barnet. Any score predictions? I’ll go for 2-1,
Barnet will be itching for a home goal but we should have enough goals to finish with a win.
Geoff – your last comment frightens me,
Surely even Song (ha ha evensong!!) or Diaby are a better option – and they aren’t strong enough IMHO –
Get real AW, we need TWO, just TWO at the moment, you tell us you have money, F-IN well spend it then…. sorry, rant over
Rico,
Those quotes come from the spuds website. Levy has said Berbatov & Keane have been unsettled & want to leave, hence why they have reported Man Utd & Liverpool to the Premier league.
The thing about the English league, especially in midfield, is you just cant come in running. In fact you need time to get used to the physicality and pace. I have to be honest and say i will be happy with a top three this year and holding onto Cesc. Hoping and praying that the next year will be the year. You never know, there is still time, I can be proven wrong.
Morning Grovers,
First of all I personally would like to say that as all other mushroom Arsenal fans why are we stiffling our youngsters ??? surely its better to learn from more experienced players like in the past how much do you think the kids learned from DB10???
The current crop of more seasoned pros like Gallas whats he gonna show them how to be overpayed inconsistent and spoilt.
As for the rest of the defence why didnt we go after TA6 he would be able to help personally I think Senderos would have benefited most of all learning positional sense and concentration….. OH WELL
Cant help but wonder were we all go from here maybe its time AW changed his polocies as 3-4 place is just not good enough.
Wenger said yesterday “I do not want to kill the youngsters”.
Well i have 4 kids and it fecking kills them when we win nothing ;/
Pat,
Don’t hold your breath. Yesterday sky even admitted that they along with the written press have an understanding with the managers not to ask them awkward questions when it comes to signings.
Thats why Sky were so happy to report on Ferguson’s press conference in South Africa yesterday, because as the sky reporter put it “their journalists aren’t subject to the same understandings/agreement as ours & will ask the questions people want to know”.
Typical Manyoo hypocrisy, as long it’s them making approaches towards other team’s player it’s OK, but when it happens to them it’s a great injustice.
GMR – what you doing on that Spud site – you naughty man
Yaya and Alex – what would that cost us? Alex cant get a game at Chelski, and haven’t Barca bought a midfielder that will possibly push Yaya on to the bench…
Its not rocket science – is it??
Good post geoff ..
would prefer the straight forward’ both barrels’ approach myself ..
mixing words has never been my forte, but dry witted humor at its best none the less …
Fuck giving out stats and talking about a persuasive argument, im past the time for that …
I think most of us almost smelt the bacon last season .. If it wasn’t for our youth choking and the inexperience at the end of the season , it might of had a happy ending ..
The feel was we needed several (3/4) Experienced players on the bench/in the team to really compete with our direct competition (manU chavs)…
Since that time ,we’ve lost 5 maybe 6 1st team players and replaced them with x2 -17 yr olds and x1 20 potential star .. add to that vela and we are still worse off than last season .. (ticket price hikes ..oh goody goody ! your season tickets might as well come with a packet of salt to rub into the wounds!)
then you weigh up promises re-neged, and statements like im giving the youngsters a go ahead of signing NOW players .. ( AND BUY MORE OF THEM TOO!) you dont need to be a rocket scientist to see this is what we will be dealing with for fucking years to come ! (and even after he’s gone!)
The truth is you cant really tell how great a player is at 16- 17 .. to invest in him at that age could be throwing away serious money for years on end … some WILL make it most do not .. or leave , or get home sick , or hate the weather .. or aren’t French enough!
Im sure wenger gets off on buying a kid for 500k and selling him for 20 million …
yes that would be good if it ever happened ! you cant get by on the anelka feeling anymore wenger .. we are a selling club and with wengers little experiment we will be
one for many years to come ..
geoff . was the barry thing a serious rumour / possibility ?
Someone yesterday suggested that Manure and Pool get docked points – I think it is time that ‘tapping up’ is taken a bit more seriously – and the only way to hit big clubs is by points deduction -
And why are we not reporting Milan for their tapping up of Flamster and Mr Whippy?
Barca for Henry – last season
Barca and Real M every year for Cesc….
We need a bit of back bone bought into our board, Stan the man is a shred business man, mybe once he is on board things might change a little -
Blogger Eva yesterday mention that agents were at the club – was that true or a wind up, anyone know please?
Definately prefer the speculation Geoff. I might not always agree with it but it would be pretty boring it you did. Have any of you seen the poll on Setanta’s site at the moment? It asks “Who has had the best summer of spending so far?” And with 26% of the vote, Arsenal are leading!
Rosicky still isn’t ready which means Nasri goes straight in.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3837539,00.html
Almunia
Sagna, Toure/Senderos, Gallas/Song, Clichy
Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby/Denilson, Nasri
RVP, Adebayor/Bendtner/Vela
My predicted first 11 for the start of the season.
I have just read AW has more cash due to the Emirates stadium why not go and spend the f*cker then.
My son who is 9 is playing for Notts Countys youngtsers and believe me he could show AW a thing on spending.
Is there any news on Ade I have noticed his face has gone of the promo for the new kit on Arsenal.com as its only Ces now????
geoff ??
I don’t mind the idea of signing youngsters but we really do need some experienced players too. Jam tomorrow is all well and good but we need at least a little taste today – and the youths need good examples to learn from.
I’m not saying that Arsene needs to go out and sign lots of established players, because I do believe we have some talented youngsters that can step up, but just one or two more experienced players in the squad would make a world of difference imho.
finestcuts
id go along with that ..
eboue on the bench ….
1 step in the right direction at least ..
thanks to sagna and theo for that !
A supposed insider saw Barry at the training ground Jules and decided to post their hallucination on here.
I read Le Grove from time to time, but in light of the tag line at the top of the page – ‘A blog where you can have an opinion, not get one’ – it seems to me that it’s just the opposite. As long as you agree with Geoff’s opinion of Wenger, ie that he has fucked Arsenal up and we will never win while he continues to buy kiddies (or something like that anyway), then it’s fine. If anyone has a different opinion, they are shot down or mocked within minutes, eg at 9.41am romfordpele *has* an opinion, but at 9.47am he *gets* one from Geoff.
This blog was a nice idea initially, but unfortunately it has largely become populated by sycophants who agree with the author; anyone else is hung out to dry.
oh i see finest ,cheers , won,t be signing hin then !
Yes Jules
I heard it on good authority.
really geoff , i hope so . im not sure bout diaby there , he is so casual at times .
i really hope you are right .
Not at all Seb
There are a lot of very different opinions on here, I think that Romford Pele missed the point of the post, it was supposed to be a humorous jibe towards those that complain that we just debate speculation
top post geoff all you teeny weeny akb’s please read it and take note,
the fans who actually think for themselves are seriously pissed off,
THE ONLY THINK THAT SEEMS TO GET KILLED AW ARE ARE EXPECTATIONS .
SORT IT OUT!!!!
simon . the point that bugs me most is the lack of ambition . the board publically state that they are happy to finish in the top 4 and win nothing , ie as long as they get c l revenue thats ok . is that it ? is that good enough for THE ARSENAL ? NOT FOR ME ITS NOT
If that mentality comes from the board , where does is filter down to ?
the manager and the players perhaps !?
mlsnet.com
Wenger said:
“It is important you fight for the championship and to win it. All the other trophies are more of a consolation than anything else.
“The team is performing well, but the target of a top-level sportsman is to always improve and I believe we can be more clinical, we can score more with the chances we create.
“I will try to achieve my best to develop the players, to fight in every game. I am more motivated than ever to achieve that. ”
He knows he is under more pressure than ever, and he is more motivated than ever, you lads are all absilutely right, we must win and Wenger knows it!
The problem with wenger is what HE says, he said the fans would be re-assured, he said he would sort out central defence, he once said he would sign 2 super super class players. he said we would add experience to the squad, all lies. we fall for it and snap up the season tickets and new shirts. wenger than makes exscuses and because he is untouchable at the club he gets away with it every year.
I just wish he was honest and says “we’re skint so dont expect any big signings”, that would at least stop the fans getting there hopes up.
seb
if i dont agree with a post i will tell them .nicely but i tell them … if i do AGREE
i commend them ..
however if you think rompele and you were having an opinion and not giving one
i think your both mistaken .. both sound like attacks if it must be known .. digs at the very least ..
Also of course a blog attracts bloggers who agree with the author , i haven’t met too many
bloggers who come here every day because they hate it ! .. its like saying why else would you go to macdonald’s if not to get a burger !
Nicely put Ethan! Big Mac sounds great!
jules
you hit the nail on the head ..
i said the other night it would throw the cat amongst the pigeons if the spuds or man shitty
stole our C.L spot .. It might just take that for them to get out of there’mediocrity comma ‘ that wenger and the board are in !
micheal , you forgot the ” im here at the euros with my cheque book ” one
next week , it s not big enough !!!! im sorry but how pathetic . why say it in the first place .
don’t believe it geoff, i had one an hour ago and now i have a gut-ache…
cheers ethan , absolutely .
No more medicine spoon “Oh but Ramsey shit himself when he had a one on one with Makalele” or “We’re down to the bare bones because XYZ”, it’s all been said, the transfer window is for making re-inforcements should such situations occur. If you’re tolled up and ready to hit the pitch Wenger, so be it, we have to agree to disagree because you’re trhe manager, but you have to prove the fans wrong and really win. And yourself.
“Is it anger, is it aggression, or is it a desire to be successful? Would I compromise my princi-ples? On occasions, yes, as first and foremost, I am a winner. But long-term, that’s not my attitude,”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2414151.ece
Jules your right i forgot the cheque book one, its like an exscuse a week with wenger, maybe le grove can do a blog on all failed promises and contradicted quotes le boss has spouted over the years.
jules… i know…. that was a crazy crazy statement!!!
he’s been making a couple of them lately!!!
wenger ffs sort it out!!!
finest… makele’s off… but i get your point….
hi ethan,
do you think that if we did finish 5th (or below god forbid) the board would actually get rid of aw?
they’d certainly be knocked out of their “happy to be in the top 4″ complacency but my guess is they would still be as loyal to his contract as he has been to his.
i guess they could just use all the unused transfer kitty to suplement the loss of CL income…
Here is the real intention of the current board. Not spend any money and clear debt – be the best and highest valued club in the world – sell out at maximum value. Dein clashed as he wants to win trophies and spend money. Wenger is slienced and agrees with things as he plays good football and can just sign obedient french kids and will get a big slice of the money from the sell out and go and manage france in 2011.keep on paying the money to them every week and if youre very well behaved you will even buy a flat at highbury
finest , “the other trophies are just a consilation ” . Oh like the champions league and the f a cup , WHAT !!?? So in other words we won,t have the squad to compete on 4 fronts , ( again ) , excuses already and the season has,nt started .
finestcuts
wenger is a good manager and up until the past season or so i did stick up for him ..
but the longevity of mediocrity cannot be ignored any longer ..
Our board only give a shite about the money sides of football and have faith that wenger can continue on the same old road he has traveled down for 10 years , yet fails to recognize himself since chevski injected hordes of money into the game , the actual game itself have evolved and became more high profile than ever , with a whole new set of parameters to compete and remain competitive ! liverpool – spurs- manU and the chevs all invested because they want to compete ..
His ideas are now outdated ..
we need a change !
Ethan, we need to achiieve our aims and ambitions which is to win the Premier League and perhaps additionally a trophy or two. From what I understand, Wenger is saying that if we do not win the Premier league, any other trophy is just a consolation which is really going at full throttle.
Wenger has clearly stated that his aim is to win the Premier League, the office bods are satisfied with a top 4 finishes, not Wenger, the players or us the supporters. We’re the front line for Arsenal as well, we take all the shit for being Arsenal fans from opposing fans and anyone else that is anti-Arsenal, which is why if we win, we win together, if we lose, we lose together.
Rico, I wasn’t on the spuds site thankyou very much!! Skysports news were reporting the spuds website article on tv last night!!
parlane
with only 2 years left to run
he has nothing to lose !
if he fails this season(5th+) then he will all say
‘this is the 1st time ive fell out of the top 4′ !
(not so long ago top 2 !)
he has one year to run after this season and the young players are another year older , im sure this season with some injury luck and them having another year under there belt’s we will regain our top 4 placing for the 09/10 season ..
(A.W If your reading .. feel free to cut and paste this out save it and use it in 12 months
)
I’ll be waiting your apology, what a bloody cheek!!
This comment is a joke by the way!!
agree totally ethan.
gotta run.
see you at the next 666…
Honestly I am dreading the interview after the game and I can see the question about ‘whether or not he will add any more players to the squad’ will really depress me
I am on the verge of losing confidence in him altogether and whether or not I do lose it depends on what he does between now and August 31st
Like I said, I am not renewing my membership, I am not buying any new shirts, I am not going to any of the friendlies and I am not putting one penny into Arsenal football club until things start happening. My pennies may be small fry compared the amount that goes through their black hole but I think more and more people will start to do the same if it carries on. I am not a fickle fan that will dissapear, I am a very passionate loyal one that is fucked off with the current situation
I enjoyed the post but it seems to have started the most negative day I’ve seen on here for a while.
Wenger is contradicting himself anyway when he says that buying players stunts the development of the young players.
After all when he buys a 17 year old like Coquelin & tells him he’ll be playing reserve team football, then he is taking the place of another kid who would’ve been playing reserve football. So in effect he’s then stunting the development of a 15 or 16 year old who may be a better player!!
But as usual nobody is allowed to question Wenger (or God as one article referred to him yesterday).
The more the teams around us spend the less wenger will spend, he is on a one man mission to prove he does nt need to buy big to win the league, Arsenal has become his experiment, his train set. He is now more stubborn then ever and he believes in his own invincibility, the more the fans say “not another 17 year old” or “surely we will replace hleb or gilberto” the more wenger digs his heels in and does the opposite,
apparently , VELA is out for todays game ,FUCKING TYPICAL,
replaced by coq au vin ,
so a striker out replaced in the squad by a defensive midfielder ,
sounds a bit like last year wonder if coco can play upfront?
Just so you don’t get us confused my name starts with a small m (there’s 2 michaels I’m the 5 year old gmr)
finest
i agree we know pretty well how to lose together .. we’ve had plenty of practice ..
recently ..
also i will say what do you expect wenger to say?? the EPL is our bread and butter , and wenger after 10 years knows the fans are hungry to beat Man U and the chevs
,he is just feeding the fire .. its to be expected .. His secret aim is to get C.L football every year 1st priority (the facts and figures prove we have a excellent record in the comp for a reason)
MONEY !!!!!!!!!
I actually sort of want TT to stay now
Not because I have forgiven him (Never) but more because it is better the devil you know and even if we did manage to ship him out he would be replaced by another kid.
Why doesn’t he just swap places with Liam Brady?
Geoff, honestly speaking did not like this post at all……
why bother for some when you have most on the other side.
if they like facts ask them to have a look at arsenal.com and other such blogs.
Reading yesterdays posts feels much better, even now, even when we have not signed barry…
hope to see you back posting stuffs which you like to post and we like to read.
ethangunner
I’m sure you are polite with people who you disagree with, I wasn’t commenting on specific individuals. More that the apparently intended ethos of the blog was that everyone can have an opinion rather than being given one, yet those that have a positive opinion of Wenger are often ridiculed by others, including the blog’s author.
If that’s the way things are around here, then fine. Personally I prefer some honest open debate and exchange of opinions rather than mocking someone who thinks differently. But then again maybe Geoff just wanted a thriving blog full of likeminded people. Again this isn’t an attack, I’m just trying to work out how you can go from ‘A blog where you can have an opinion’ to somewhere where opinions can be ridiculed.
I guess many of you who don’t like the direction the club is going in have had your own opinions smacked down elsewhere, for daring to criticise AW. So perhaps now you have found a haven where you can express yourself freely. Fair enough. The point is it’s all just opinion – is the glass half full or half empty? Have we won fuck all for the past three seasons with a team half full of children, or have we finished top 4 for the past ten years and won three league titles four FA Cups and reached one CL final? The truth is both are valid points. The danger is not being open enough to see both sides.
Anyway enough waffling. I would express my own feelings about the direction of the club, but I’m not sure this is the best place to do it. Good luck to you all, here’s to a good season ahead.
well done pat
join the ethan club
however im still going to pay for my cable tv ESPN ,all 10 games live per week !
it wouldn’t be life without it ! Being upset with the runnings of the club doesnt make you fickle , it make you despondent, not fickle .. I had enough of last year watching ade fuck up consistantly , when a goal finally came ,it was more like a relief than joyous ! his play stifles any good flowing football on show ! its not class finishing watching someone as 1 dimensional as him .. I totally agree with your boycott . but alway remain a fan !
Being an arsenal fan is like being in a family ,
you cant pick your family
Ethan I agree to certain extent about ade. Personally I’d like to see him fuck off. I think we’re stuck with him though so the best we can hope for is that he raises his game (if it’s in him) to win us all over. Not holding my breath though!
Ethan
I cannot agree more with you about Ade. And one other thing that gets up my tits is how 8 times out of 10 he does not challenge for a header and runs behind the defender in the hope that someone like John F*** Terry will miss an easy header.
Seb, best you go to arsenal.com, for you to make the comment you just did it’s apparent you don’t read this site very often.
We always debate, but you’re right about one thing, we are like minded.
It’s incredible, even when I write a post that should have the AKB’s in raptures I still get people like Seb having a moan, well Grovers, back to what gets us 700 comments a day tomorrow, we’re not here to please people like that, so why bother.
michael, am I supposed to care which one you are??
is an AKB as bad a s a spud?
Tough call michael, neither have a mind of their own.
GMR yesterday you had a go at me so I didn’t want you to have a go at him thinking it was me. You seem to take every thing I say the wrong way. In no way was Having a go at you or implying that you cared which one I was.
Michael, GMR is having fun with you!
love the post guys, i love sarcasim, i some times get in trouble though because of it!
even on here,
fyi those hoping to stream the match today mighth be dissapointed by the stream quality, (illegally)
spend teh 3.95 of hit teh pub guys
*spend the 3.95 or hit the pub
Very good report but you forgot to mention the birds team.
I just sign up to Setanta, it took an hour and cost £14 up top and £12 a month, I couldn’t help myself!
GMR – I took your comment in the same vein as mine was sent, just good old humour……..
Love it
Been washing!!!!
What about them doublegooner?
That must be my team….
seb
dont go .. i think you’ve got it wrong .. we do have all sorts of discussions on here !
AKB = blind faith in wenger .. its a minority .. ARSENE? I personally admire the man .. i think over time he has been inspirational for AFC , but then again so has gilberto .. both are getting older and soon will leave .. I think wenger needs to give up his long term youth plan . and thats what we are all pissed off about ..
It has too many drawbacks too a man with less than 2 years to go on his contract..
1. no one ever stays there whole life at 1 club anymore ..
2. most youths we sign we will never get the best out of .
(better to buy players at there peak! NOW)
3. young players in todays football have very little loyalty ..
4. a large % of wengers youths have failed and have been sold ..thats proof enough ??!
5. we pay over the odds for youth to get them to sign on .. can you imagine the salary they want if they actually do make it ? !
6. 90% of our youth get old too quick and never really have the amount of 1st team experience needed to make it as a top flight player, and then are just sold ..
the revolving door principal ..
Off out, be back for the game – cant wait :0
michael, seriously, I forgot about that argument yesterday!! It wasn’t even you I was actually annoyed with.
See you later i’m back to work.
insidealbania – michael – pat ..
yes ade is as frustrating as hell to watch , especially last season .
will he be better this season ? i doubt it .. if he was that good AC wouldn’t be the only mugs interested .
If Eto’o goes, barca might be interested but not at 20 mil ..
If he was as good as most people prior to him wanting to leave used to say , im sure there would be more clubs with there hat in the ring for the cunt NOW ..
And pat i personally dont want him at the club even with the ‘devil you know theory’ ..
Id rather see Theo – vela- RVp- Bends-dudu get more time !!!!! they have foot skills and share a common bond that ade doesn’t have ….
SKILL !
our midfield might not produce as much this season with 2 out of 4 gone from the roster , i have a feeling that will greatly expose a player like spoon fed ade ! ..
If Kaka goes to Chelsea, will that give them the cash to buy Ade?
Then we need to get the cheque book moving again.
Are we only supposed to talk about facts today sorry Geoff.
Them= AC
to buy villa david, with our new found funds?
I wont get into the ‘Is ade any good debate’ we have gone over it too many times and the result is always the same.
Also I can’t stand the guy so feel no desire to stick up for him.
Get used to him though as he is going to be an Arsenal player next season. Like you said no one wants him although I think that may be down to his personality and Ego. Ade would only ever move to Barca, Real, AC, Inter or Man Ure or Chavski, because he believes that is the level he is at. I think Barca would take him but I think we would have to take Etoo, I would love that but Wenger would not entertain it which shows the sad state of affairs that we find ourselves in
Honestly guys given the events of last week, do you honestly think we will buy a ready made replacement for TT25 even if we did sell him?
pat
he will be gone .. care to have a wager
?
(knowing full well every time ive said this ive won
)
i do agree with you there pat ..
but ive said it all along .. hlebs and ades money will disappear into the arsenal stadium black hole ..
the way it works is arsene says he doesn’t need the money ,he believes in his young players .. they sell the players , the money disappears ..
next month we are skint again !
Ethan I hope you are right but he is fast running out of options
Barca are trying to get Drogba at the moment and if that door closes as well then who else will take him? we might want to sell him but the big clubs don’t have space for him
I agree with you on that, I honestly thought he would have been gone by now, but we played poker and lost with AC Milan and now we are reluctant to take Etoo so Barca remains a closed door. I know you mentioned Man City but no way in the world would Ade go to Man City, he believes he is above that.
Cut down and edited, and slightly updated lol….
I certainly lost interest in the Club as well. Supporting a bad manager and team with atrocious lies, propaganda, deceit and utter lack of ambition and bullshit. Sooner Wenger and the board of directors fuckoff, or possibly Wenger alone, then I can go back to the way I use to feel about them. Hard to feel passionate about cunts. As much as it pisses me off, I like it when they do lose, proves what cunts they totally are.
The Club’s a laughing stock. Sooner it goes tits up, and Arsenal learn the hard way, the better. The more cunts who re-new their season tickets etc and yet still complain, is the reason the board and Wenger get away with it continually. Like a drug addict, if he refuses help, the only way they’ll learn if they do, is to fuck themselves up and learn the tough way..
People might claim that doesn’t make you a “true” supporter. Well, it might sound like that, but it does. Looking after the Club’s best interests.
Fucks me off something chronic when diehard idiots defend Wenger because he changed that, because he changed this. Errrr. One major flaw with that. What has a successful past got to do with a shite present?! Brian Clough bought success to Forest then got them relegated. Prime example of making and breaking a team. If Arsenal win nothing much within the next 5-6 years, you’d still get wankers defending Wenger because he changed the dietary methods 20 years ago, and won league titles 15 years ago lol. Remarkable.
I used the same scenario once before. If your married for example of 20 odd years and your wife has bought you so much happiness and changed your life etc etc, and one day you found out she was fucking other guys recently, you gonna defend her and keep ahold of her because of the happy past? Or are you gonna consider the present and cut your losses? Maybe you’d work something out, well, Wenger has had 3/4 years. Plenty of time to deliver but hasn’t. In football, you judge someone in the recent past and present to be fair. And Arsenal’s last 3/4 seasons have been in general, shit and trophyless.
Oh, and maybe stability breeds success. After-all, look at the incredible success and trophies Dario Gradi bought to Crewe after so many years of being manager!
People also wonder why on earth Wenger plays Diaby (on the left) and Eboue etc all the time, and call the man a genius. Answer is, the bloke is an idiot! Why would a genius make the same old simple mistakes eh? Bunch of Wenger asshats. And does a so-called genius go a total since they have been at a club of around 6-7 years without a trophy?! And does a genius who has had such wonderful, world-class players at their disposal have such a shit general record in Europe and never won a CL and back-2-back league titles?
Bloke wants to admit defeat, gain respect by fucking off to Japan or France and take the board of directors with him. Prove how “good” he is by building a young/youth team with a small club over there for peanuts. Then if he makes them world-class, then we can say he is a genius. What a prick.
Thinking theres’ a conspiracy against Arsenal also is typical of being a cunt and decisions etc go against him. Should take a long hard look in the mirror and closer to home. Always someone elses fault.
It amazes me why people continue to defend this man to the death. He is seriously fucking up Arsenal, to a point, if he did leave, no world-class players would want to join Arsenal anyway. You lot must like seeing United/Chelsea etc win the league and stuff and/or be crowned European Champions. Get used to it. Won’t ever change under Wenger. All true and the truth hurts. With a French git who speaks such shit and thinks the World is against Arsenal. That is why I dislike Wenger, not just because of the lack of success recently, it is the refusal to learn from the ultimate, simple alot of the time mistakes, and the constant “bigging” up of his team when they aren’t good enough, and the repetitive shite he continues to spout. Whatever he once achieved at Arsenal is history. He will be remembered as the maker and breaker. Most successful manager, but also the most underachiever. Fact!
Plus, although I am not particularly bothered by the lack of British players in our team/squad, BUT, Wenger goes on about how wonderful our foreign kids/team is, well, what have they actually won eh?!
Maybe I was quick to jump the gun by slating Wenger in 2006. But in 2007, and 2008 same old shit. Slating is justified. Nuff said.
Wenger said in the summer of 2005, when he sold Vieira, he had a “Masterplan” and “Trust me”. I guess that the plan and the trust in him, was to finish with fuck-all 3 seasons on the trot, whilst watching your fiercist rivals sweep the lot between them. How wonderful. The cunt’s ego is writing checks his body can’t cash (lmfao “Top Cunt”) and he is a skinny fucker too. Starved of success. Whilst everyone else involved with The Arsenal (mainly the fans) has to suffer.
Seeing United/Chelsea etc win shit, you’d think would agonize and make Wenger etc more determined to do something about it.
Wenger apologists always point out we were “shit” before Wenger came along and were a “mid-table team”, which in parts is utter shite, because it was only around twice (1993 & ’95) we were mid-table.
So, where’s the people who are gonna try and shoot me down with facts I have proved about us being a mid-table team prior to Wenger eh? 1993 and 1995 was the only real time in recent years prior to Wenger we were mid-table. Yet, in 1993, we still won a cup double which was a first in those days, so not at all a bad season and was a fantastic triumph when the League Cup meant something back then. So in fact, 1995 and 1996, was only 2 shitty seasons we had until Wenger came along. In fact, Graham himself, only finished outside the top 4 like 3 times in his 9 seasons or so he was at Arsenal. And 1995 would of been different if it wasn’t for a certain cunt named Nayim from the halfway line.. Could of been the first team to win back-2-back Cup Winners Cups and another successful season.
People are also quick to harp on about how we wouldn’t even be where we are today without Wenger. Damn right about that!! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Same people, however, aren’t as quick to notice that the past 3/4 seasons, which have been shit, are also thanks to Wenger. After 2004, it is sure shit to be an Arsenal fan. But hey, of course, why shan’t I go support the Mancs or Chelsea, or even Liverpool eh?! Maybe as well, we don’t have the funds to get players in because the new stadium etc. Well, if that’s true, sounds like a right hash job and not thought through enough, with crippling debts. Might be good for the future, but by then, probably be a lower division side. Yet again, you can blame Wenger, seeing as he was the one behind the new stadium and the one with the vision.
Thing is as well, I wouldn’t want someone like Mourinho at Arsenal, but Arsenal fans speak shit anyway. If we had him or some boring cunt like Koeman, and we won titles every season etc, NO-ONE would complain because we were winning things. Then again, some idiots would probably say they didn’t want trophies playing less attractively and would rather win nothing under daddy Wenger. Any successful or top draw manager (i.e. Rijkaard) could probably finish 4th at worst, whereas Wenger can only finish 3rd or 4th at BEST.
Brilliant times tho eh? After we won the FA Cup (undeserved playing negatively and shit something Wenger hates and slates other clubs who do that against us whom we struggle) in 2005, we have had to watch Liverpool win the CL, FA Cup, Chelsea back-2-back titles, an FA Cup, and Man United back-2-back titles, and also being crowned Champions of Europe in the same season. Twice in less than 10 years!! What a wonderful place to be in. And people reckon us Arsenal fans are spoilt lol. What the fuck does that make United fans then eh?! Them not wanting a takeover from the Glazers probably been the best thing for them! Dominated the 90′s, and now the 2000′s and probably do it all again next season!
And who can forget Avram Grant, reaching his first CL Final in only a few months, someone who is in-experienced and might not even have the right coaching badges etc. Something Wenger has taken a decade to do, and still not won a Champions League! Wenger also says the English dominance in the CL won’t last forever. Just a sore loser and jealous in which he won’t do shit about. Guess by him saying that, is no dominance writes Arsenal out of winning it lol. Such a cunt that bloke. Speaks so much shit. Moans at Chelsea for having un-limited funds etc, but Man United ended their dominance of 2 successive league titles by spending less. And thanks to their takeover from the Glaziers who all the fans hate. Don’t hear them moaning about them now. And Wenger is against a takeover. So it is his fault for not having funds (though we all know he does but refuses to spend because he is scared of doing so). Then again, he knows full well, he’d be out on his ear for not winning nothing. Wenger doesn’t even need to break the bank anyway. He even said himself he wouldn’t spend 100 million if he had it!! And if the club is broke, Wenger is the bloke who’s to blame for wanting to move to the new stadium.
SACK THE BOARD AND WENGER!! It is the only way forward if Arsenal are to win trophies. They’re both fucking cunts. Lie to the fans. Just because Wenger wants to do it his way and bring on shit kids and basement buys just to save a few bob, who are too young and not good enough, then blame the lack of success on “Lack of maturity.” A self-inflicted repetitive wound..
360 million in debt is a hell of a lot. But not if you put into consideration Highbury being sold, overpriced season tickets, matchday revenue, merchandise etc, new flats being built. Absolute fucking joke. Plus, you pay off for loans with a small amount each month, probably what Arsenal make in one or two home games. Total disgrace and lies. Man United might be in debt, but at least their trophies and success will go a hell of a long way in paying it off. Campbell, Wiltord, Edu, Kanu, Pires and now Flamini all on a free and gone. A potential of at least 20 million lost inside 3 years due to the way this cunt of a team is being managed and controlled. All spin and lies and propaganda, just like the government. 25 million on one player nowadays certainly for a big club, should be the equilavent of 7-10 million 5-6 years ago.
Probably why Edelman was booted out as well, because if I recall, he was the one who last year or so, claimed Arsenal were in a fantastic position financially and had 70 odd million to spend if wanted. Hill-Cunt and co, probably thought it blew Wenger’s cover and booted him out. In order to protect Wenger on his fucking shit policies and lie about having no money so Wenger has the perfect excuse when they come up short season after season.
And people defend Wenger (Arsene knows brigade and apologists) stating the board are letting Wenger down in regards to transfer money. Wenger is the fucking man behind it!! He wanted to move to the stadium and do things on the cheap and brainwashed the board to the point they are now BOTH to blame. Wenger wouldn’t even spend shite loads if it was all good and wouldn’t effect the debt at the club.
Plus, Wenger said success can only be measured in time. Okay then. Have it your way:
7 trophies in 12 years not bad. But add up a total of 6 years of not winning anything, no back-2-back titles EVER, no Champions League EVER, 3 league titles in 12 seasons, and no title for 4 seasons, and a trophyless 3 seasons on the bounce.
Overall, shit ratio. Well done, Arsene!
Once Fabregas goes, which will probably be next summer, seeing as the team is built around him, Wenger will fuck off, and the Arsenal board because daddy left, leaving it someone elses’ problem to hire a new manager and leaving the club in the shit. Probably end up Arsenal having the best stadium in the Coca-Cola Championship lol. With sad fucking Wenger cunts with banners sat there saying “Arsene Knows.” “Bring back Arsene.” We are shit. Fucked. Finished. Back to mediocracy like the 80′s until Graham saved us and turned Highbury into practically a full house and not just 20,000. Out of the darkness, into the light….
Funny too, how people say Ferguson is a “chequebook” manager and Chelsea “bought” success etc. True in parts, but still bullshit in regards to Ferguson inparticular, because he is a totally quality manager and a winner. Buying players doesn’t guarantee success, look at Real before they won titles recently etc. You telling me that Man United and Chelsea’s first eleven are better than that of Arsenal’s 2004 winning team for example?! NO! It isn’t. My point is, Wenger has never been good enough to win a title after another and also a CL. So trying to be-little Ferguson’s achievements because of cash is bollocks. Remember he also won stuff with kids without spending big at the time. You still need to know what your doing. Plus, I bet if we splashed the cash and won title after title etc, what Arsenal fan would moan about that?!! NONE!
The prick also claims this is the best squad he has ever had under him. What shit and a total insult to the players we have had. As if this bunch of shit would compete with the 1998 double and 2002 squad, and that of “The Invincibles” of 2004. What a load of spin and shit. Typical of this cunt! And you got Hill-Cunt defending the man saying he is completely behind him and couldn’t give a shit if we win nothing ever again…Stating too, that winning the CL and title is a difficult thing to do. Yeah, but United and Chelsea seem to cope?
If it is true what Wenger said about how brilliant it is Arsenal qualifying for the CL every season, again, another cunt comment. He once said himself only the Champions alone should go in it, and he has only won the league 3 times in 11/12 years. Shit. The rest have been due to finishing second and of late, 4th (thanks to West Ham), 4th and 3rd. Again, pathetic and not saying much. Particularly as his record as a whole in Europe is crap.
When you got a manager and board of directors happy and content with winning nothing and finishing 3rd and 4th, you are never gonna be successful again.
Wenger has gone full circle. He made Arsenal and made them successful, and now taken them right back to where they started. Although they weren’t as shit as everyone made them out to be prior to Wenger. But as far as league titles are concerned. Sinatra style with Wenger singing – “And I fucked Arsenal……………MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, to be an Arsenal fan. And some pricks claim “These are the best times!” Well fuck me…
“It is unacceptable for a big club to go 4 years without a league title.” – Arsene Wenger on Real Madrid who have now bounced back and won back-2-back titles.
No league title for Wenger for 4 years, and trophyless for 3 and counting…………
pat
ade is a mercenary, he will go where the dollars take him ..
if the move was purely motivated on prowess he might as well stay here …
barca or ac didnt do anything special last term …
but remember from the goats mouth
you only move because of money .. his words not mine ..
I had to put that on, it’s the biggest post I’ve ever seen!
David we can talk about what ever you want mate!
Lol. I posted it a few weeks back on here. Just got rid of some parts and updated slightly. Meant more for the Wenger apologists (AKBs)….
Fucking Brilliant post as well Geoff
I forgot about that last quote regarding going 4 years without a League Title
Awesome Gelbs
Gelbs I haven’t got time to read your comment now but I will later. That must be a record!
Gelbs
when did you start writing that ?
last week ?
some good point in there .. i agree im starting to agree that nothing will change unless
we change the board .. (get a russian sugar daddy ) dein ?
i think wenger lies too much to protect the board and his players ..
he thinks he is the king and the one people listen too ..
he needs to be the arsenal voice ..
i think him sitting in on the board meetings are the problem ..
deal with the shit on the pitch and attract the best players that are available is all that
should be in his mind .. listening too the scrooging and lack of money musicals of the board room has affected his brain .. and thinking…
Lol. I’ve had it on my pc for over 2 months. Just add things/update from time to time. Just want to remind the idiots who defend Wenger season after season the reality and home truths and facts of it all. Sick and tired of them.
Gellbs, Ethan, that’s the problem, AKB’s never listen, that’s why we call them AKB’s!
So do you think if Kaka goes to Chelsea, Milan may come back in for TT
They will have cash coming out of their ears
Right I am off to watch the Build up on Arsenal TV and to get brainwashed by subliminal ‘YOU MUST LOVE ARSENE WENGER AND HIS YOUTH POLICY’ messages in the image
Sky showed the arsenal team arriving at Barnet. Unless they cut to it too late Vela wasn’t even there, so no autograph signing for him. Eduardo last season hadn’t been granted a work permit which is why he was pulled out & could only play abroad. Vela must be injured, the curse strikes again!!
Apparently Wenger said he’d speak to the media afterwards but refused to speak to them before the game.
All of what you say is true and reasonable, Gelbs.
But I just can’t get my head around the idea that there is a person with such knowledge of football (AW) who thinks that Eboue is a right-sided midfielder. What kind of mental block does that require? In all seriousness – troubling neurosis at best.
He was one player away from winning the league last season, but he genuinely didn’t want that player. Maybe he needed someone like Dein to convince him. But with Dein and Edelman gone, there is no more dissent. Now it’s like Stalin’s Russia.
My prediction for the season would a lot of brave performances, finishing 3rd or 4th. That’s a dumbass prediction because it’s what all the pundits will say because it’s what happened last year. But it looks like Wenger is turning us into the new Liverpool. The problem (which most fans can see) is that he doesn’t have to.
Dein is a dick, but him and Wenger made a good duo. Now there is noone to tell AW when he is fucking up. How many 17 year olds do we fucking need?
I’m watching it too but with my Mac on my lap!
Geoff, I thought you subscribed to Setanta to watch it??
This is the first time in a few years I’ve not been there.
anyone got sopcast links for the barnet game????
vela’s out the squas by the way and the new kid coquelin is in… doesnt say why anywhere
I did, my mac is for Le Grove! Groves has said we need a number 1 centerback, Galla and Toure are number 2′s.
He thinks that Diaby can fill the Flamini spot, Vela appears to be in the squad today???
i just read on young guns he’s not playing but no one knows why!?? no links then???
Geoff, I think the reference to number 2′s is because he thinks they’re shit!! lol
Geoff, don’t forget the London masters are on later.
There is no confirmation that Vela is out, but he certainly wasn’t there when I watched sky & it does seem Coquelin has replaced him.
Arsenal Tom,
Have you tried live-footy??
Insidealbania, you aren’t allowed to post those links as it can have serious consequences for Geoff & Pedro!! Thats why I didn’t post it!!
yeah its pretty shabby tho theres nothing for sopcast anywhere!!
Guys just subscribe to Arsenal TV online if you want good quality although remember your money will be vanishing into the Arsenal Stadium Mystery
Otherwise look at
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=14912&part=sports
What is it GMR?
Arsenal Tom, why don’t you just pay £3.99 & watch it on arsenal.tv online!!
i think no.1 CB means one that attacks the ball rather than clears it up… JT is a No.1 type
Ramsey and Lansbury Wide midfield, Theo and Bendtner up front and Nordveit center back, looks good so far.
It better look good, after all this is our first team squad now!
Looking forward to seeing Nordveit seen as he is now our new CB solution
That is so scary GMR but unfortunately true
Is Wilshere Playing?
No Wilshere is on the bench.
just did it gmr!! hoyte at CB??? oh dear
I don’t see the point, he’ll never be our centerback, what a waste of an opportunity!
Very sorry guys, wont do it again
who is playing up front?
Evening all, great post Geoff, solid gold son!
just got home from the pub, the dog is eating his dry biscuits and ive logged onto the ATVO so im prepared!
walcott and bendter i think
Bendtner & Walcott
I just read that long comment. You are really pissed off
Thanks EVO the kids are looking interesting, Randall will never get in the team with that haircut!
Any score predictions??
Geoff, He is a Bentley look alike, I thik he wants to cut that out straight away!!
I’m going for 0-0
pumped for the kick off. setanta OZ have shafted me, so its ATVO to the rescue. i have the golden shark on the bring it home channel!
randalls hari is nothing compared to cesc mullet… that was a real rascal
2-1
denilson as CB, fuck a duck?
Good to see Bacary back
nah….oyte and norveidt evo
oh its hoyte in as CB, my bad…
it was just the way the names were listed in the line up that i thought he was in there…
there goes your prediction mate. Bloody hell
Anyone know why we did not charge that freekick down
gay
they were scared
GMR no that’s Lansbury! Fuck if this is our team we’ll be relegated!
big season for almunia, thats exactly what brought jens undone!
This is poor!!
Ramsey looks like our best player..
Yeah amazing he doesn’t look 17 does he, Lansbury looks shit.
Hoyte should go home.
I quite like the look af Ramsey.. – Denilson can not be our DM next season, he is not strong enough IMHO
this game is boredom central, thank fuck the british open is on
When is Theo coming on????
Oh – there he is….
Nordtveit is shit. he is nowhere near ready for first team action. About 5 more years on loan & in the reserves should do it!!
theo is on rico?
Evo – I was taking the pee – he isnt in the game yet
Ramsey is probably wondering why the fuck he didn’t join man utd!!
bring henry on in the 2nd half, game over…bang
Wenger is clearly completely out of ideas at Arsenal – I cannot wait until the day he leaves, because until he does, we’re fucked as a club.
What’s going on in the Barnet fixture? On holiday, and my laptop has a shit connection.
Denilson is our DM soloution, Some people are having a laugh!
Maybe AW has put Hoyte in the middle telling him to prove himself – if he cant stand big against Barnet (no disrespect) then he can not be considered even as a backup defender. Maybe AW will see this and sell him to Villa -
Wenger’s having a laugh – he has completely dropped the ball over the last five years, and we’ve allowed him to use Arsenal as his personal toy.
He’s a cancer, and needs to be cut out of the club, along with his toff chums in the boardroom.
The only good thing I can see is the weather
To be fair, everyone is piss poor!!
Jimbo – bit harsh on the old boss…..
the beer tastes good
Wouldn’t you hate it , if you were a waiter, waiting on Arsene wenger? The guy is so tight fisted, you are duck fucked (to steal a line from EVO) if you are expecting a tip from the trifty Arsenal coach who hates to spend. A frustrated Arsenal fan.
It is harsh, but it’s been true for years. He went exactly the same way when he was in france – disappeared up off his own arse, and killed the club he was managing because it just became a big ego trip.
The man’s lost control – he’s no longer doing what’s best for the club, he’s only interested in his pet projects.
How’s the barnet fixture, anyone?
Traore has feet like the Winker…..
who is the guy with the yellow boots?
Traore
one day clichy will score…in 2017…
so he is playing LM?
Aren’t these the young kids Wenger doesn’t want to kill. They look killed already. Ramsey looks quality though. Good buy.
ramsey was everywhere…goals were no where
Fuck that was awful
i know it was the 1st 45 mins of pre-season but I tell you what we are lacking
EXPERIENCE
Ramsey is the one shining light of 45 shit mins of Arsenal History
Wenger needs assassinating….
First half round up in one word: SHITE
why on earth was vela left out?! i wanted to see him play, ramsey is the best arsenal man on the pitch by miles
Seriously if denilson is our replacement for Flamini, Gilberto and Diarra, then we are doomed,
I honestly would not begrudge Cesc coming back into training and saying actually boss I think i will leave
Seriously watching that dross has depressed me more than I was already. These players are going to have to make up our first team squad & its pathetic.
You’d expect players that want to prove themselves would really fight even though its only a friendly, the only one I’ve seen anything from is Ramsey, the rest have been awful.
We’ll have even more kids on in the 2nd half & probably look even worse. I really am so fed up.
Wenger needs to promise the players a bike each..
Evo it’s THE OPEN! Bendtner was nowhere, Denilson is shocking, I’m sorry I sign up to Setanta.
Get the fucking cheque book out Wenger.
people its a bit early to be calling for heads, we havent played any games yet…
Ramsey is gona be awesome for us. What the hell is Bendtner doing?? Denilson is no way the answer in the centre. Hopefully we will play better in the second half.
How about our Ade replacement-Bentler??? He was rut as rust can be
gleb…i think bendtner’s the one who needs to be assassinated
Impressed of the maturity of Ramsey though
whats the score people
I am just hoping that AW can see what we all do, this group of players are poor – The balls into Thoe and Nik are NIL
The midfield are not winning anything and are not making the game flow, Ramsey is a grafter and doing ok.
Even Sagna and Clichy look as if they wished they weren’t playing this game and I cant blame them. Traore looks not bad, but not good enough for the first team… yet
The new French dish on show now then…. Vela is there……Get your boots on boy
1-0 barnet choy
Looking forward to watching Barazite – I really rate him
uuuhuuu-our new CM coqueliniiiii is onnn
Think some people are being very harsh. I mean, it isn’t like it is our first team almost playing is it?
Oh, hang on a minute…….
why has mannone come on? he’s worse than almunia. i don’t want to accept loss already, and i’ll try not to…
UP THE GUNNERS!!!! COME ON YOU OLD PEA BRAINS!
were getting shitted on
Still shite, but at least the players are fighting back for the ball….. the ball they lost in the first place!!
those kids play like kids
I think Hoyte is better than Hoyte though
im not sure which hoyte you’re on about rico :s
Fuck me – SHOOT!”!!!
The cetre back Hoyte!!
shooooooooooooooooot
HOOOOOOOORAH, a shot on target!!
so can some one fill me in on the subs please?
‘AW would have learned a few things about his players this afternoon…..’ says the commentator..
Yes, they are all S………………………..
first shot-well done
Get in there yeeeeaaaas 1-1
YYYYYYYYYYiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiPPPPPPPeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
That looked pretty good, both the through ball and super finish
what a finish by simspon, he looks like a bit of a beast!
Commentator said Simpson was 17, he has to be at least 19 isn’t he?
comeonnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
AW is all smiles now
FUCK ME GLEBS I THOUGH I COULD RANT,
WELL DONE SOME GREAT AND TRUTHFUL POINTS ,
yea-19 i thing
How typical Arsenal is this game, since the break, lots of posession and not a lot of end product
Guess the reserves really do play the AFC way
we should keep Jay -I like him a lot
Geoff – Simpson will be 20 in December
Wilshere has a confidence as well for a 16 y
After that goal – in the very fist friendly of the new season, after 4 days of training – I’m convinced Arsenal will win everything this season. Before we scored it was obvious to me that Wenger has no idea what he’s doing.
Get my drift guys?
watching the game now, at least its a draw.
and i really am excited about wilshere!
ramsey was good too.
I like Baraziite and Wilshere, but how the fuck can the commentator think Simpson is 17, when the stupid arse works for Arsenal TV, muppet.
2 up!
This is a bit better – great finish
Geoff – he is also probably responsible for updating the website – and the last time he did that Simpson probably was 17!!
kiddos start to look better than the first teamers now:))
I reckon this is our CC squad playing now
Woops!
Guys what’s the score and who are the scorers (if any)? At work and can’t have a live stream whilst on a break…
Good post geoff! By the looks of things people aren’t to happy with what they are seeing?
Broke the news bout vela being left out after i got back last night/early morning…
Sadly, Randall reminds me of David Bentley when he was with us…
Bit cocky and laid back on the pitch. Must worker harder boy, you are not made yet!!
What’s the score? I’m at work
2-1 FT….
2-1 job done, lovely
was it pants? any good points?
First teamers for next season then guys
Barazite
Simpson
Ramsey
Wilshere (??)
thanks btw
yea -not too bad as for 1st game
simpson will go out on loan again or stay in the reserves..
michael.. wilshere looked good…
thats about it i gues.. everybody else was laid back.. defence was crappy as always.. didn’t see the first half though!!!
van den berg has had his contract cancelled, same as gilbert i think… randall will be another that goes on loan
Yeah, untill we return from austria only then can we get a better idea of who’ll be involved in the first team..
Randall is crap, sorry, he isn’t good enough.
well that was hard work watching that
the only shining lights were Ramsey and Wilshire and maybe Barazite
I will easily forget that game, hopefully we get some more spin from Arsene Wenger MP now about if or not he is going to buy some adults for the 1st team
Oh and Nordveilt is not the CB answer, and Denilson and Coq Au Vin are not the CM Answers
I’d rather see Simpson in the first team ahead of Ade. He was voted league 1 player of the season last year at Millwall & he looks quite a beast.
Wilshere is absolute quality & whilst Barazite didn’t have his best half ever you can see the quality. In the first half Ramsey was quality, but all those apart there wasn’t a lot to be excited about.
I don’t see why a million was wasted on Coquelin when he didn’t look even as good as the defenders we already have. If you’re going to sign these kids then buy the best ones, not ones that weren’t even offered a contract at the club they was with!!
Thought coquellin looked quality…far from finished article but he was everywhere…could be interesting!
WE HAVE BITCH SLAP TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YET
GMR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cant wait”"”"”"”"”".
Wilshere should already be a contender for a first team place, of course he’s too young for a whole season but Rooney was playing at 16 & the kid has really talent!!
really = real
Wenger can fuck right off and manage the youth team. I’m with Gelbs, the guy’s clueless. He has no interest in managing at Premiership standard any more, his gig is with the kids. Get rid of him now.
Pat, GMR – what the hell are you guys on?
How can you possibly make a single assertion on the strength of the very first friendly of the new season, after a no more than few days of training. Arsenal fans are losing their minds, I swear.
I know it’s boring to simply wait and see what happens, but I’m afraid that’s all you can do. I hope i haven’t offended you guys, but I just can’t believe what I’m reading on this blog today.
Agreed GMR Coq au Vin I think is a midfielder but seem to play at right back, not impressed.
Good for the future but not for now for christs sake!
We’ve all been here before Gunner. Before we know it we’ll be playing for 4th place.
Gunnar,
The problem with Arsenal is Wenger’s total disregard for the present – we’re in a constant state of flux, because he’s more interested in developing young players than bringing in any silverware.
i agree that randall is crap geoff… He’ll be loaned out again this season.. Wilshire has always been earmakred as something special.. Coq-au-vin? How did he play?
Barazite will start in the reserves and make 1st team appearances after jan if he pushes on…
GMR, sympathy aside Simspon isn’t good enough either.. I’d like him to make it being a local lad and arsenal fan et alll… But Vela, Bentdner, Ed, Theo, Adebayor, Van Persie means there is no space at st team level whatsoever…
I’m not defending or attacking Wenger. I just don’t see how the annual Barnet match proves anything at all – positive or negative. I’m not attacking the blog either. I just want to see a bit of sanity.
The pundits on Arsenal TV said Coquelin was responsible for closing down and tackling in the 2nd half and changed the impetus of the game. Didn’t look that great on the ball but most looked like they were playing their first game…. it was!
The boss says – we can expect new signings!!!!!!!!
Bloody hell, is this the truth….
This has nothing to do with the Barnet match, it’s Wenger’s continual insistence that he has to make the same mistakes every year, over and over again.
This summer has proved that his plan when we embarked on the post-Vieira Arsenal has been an abject failure – what’s he going to do about it? Well, it would seem like the answer to that is ‘nothing’.
I don’t rate Wenger any more – he’s finished as a manager.
simpson … was ok pat …
he looked more positive than theo ..
i think theo needs to stay on the wing …
but pretty hard to say who was class with barnet being a 2nd division team …
We need to preform better , i dont care if it is the 1st game of the year …
they had 11 players and so did we ..
ramsay did look to be MoM …
Barnets free kick was a blinder .. other than that ho hum ..
Get out the check book and sell half of the dead wood !
david !
denilson says he’s Up for it .. Not me ! i mainly said we wont get barry ..
thats my main point !!! And denilson will need to step up or be sold !
one things for sure ramsay looks more class than denilson ..
So Wenger says he’s in the market for new players if the right players come along. Mmmmmmmh!
Gunnar basically Arsene get’s to have a ood look at youth players before deciding what one’s to take with him to austria to train and play with 1st team.. That’s all the training before and game against barnet signify…
‘Gunnar
What the hell are you guys on’
and I should not take offence
well sorry buddy, I have watched this groundhogday season for 3 years nows since he started dismantling the Invincibles (At a time he said he was about to embark on a period of Arsenal Domination) and it fucks me off, sorry if you are happy with how things are
I am not happy one little bit, we have been stripped bare over 3 summer and it sucks
And until Wenger comes out and does something about it, I will voice my displeasure at what is going on.
We are not competing for the Fa Youth Cup, we are playing as supposedly one of the favorites for the premiership title and can you honestly say as things stand we have any chance of winning that?
Its not the Barnet Game that fucks me off Gunnar it is the Whole Arsenal situation
Diaby is getting the nod, denilson is not.. That’s my opinion…
We could yet see another transfer….!!!
Gunnar, this game against Barnet will be the only chance some of those youngsters get to show Arsene what they can do. In that first half the team was pathetic, now I don’t pay any attention to the fact that Sagna & Clichy etc weren’t particularly fussed because they are proven players, most of the others aren’t.
If they can’t even be bothered to put effort in to show their boss & fans what they can do, then they shouldn’t be at Arsenal.
Geoff is that what he said
he’s in the market for new players if the right players come along.
I could not be bothered to stay on Arsenal TV, there were some half-wits calling in.
Geoff, the trouble is there aren’t many BOGOF offers around these days. Of course he says he’s looking for players, but by declaring he has money to spend & also saying he doesn’t want to ‘kill’ the young players it suggests he won’t buy!!
gunnar
that is the most stupid statement ive heard ‘it proves nothing ‘?!
we played sagna – clichy- alumina-hoyte-theo-bendtner-ramsay-denilson
7 of the arsenal 1st team and was down by 1 nil at the half ! against a 2nd division team…
the team unity of the reserves saved our bacon !
they had 11 players and so did we ! NO EXCUSES !
we played poorly and 1st signs confirm we lack experience AGAIN …
you need to get a set of eyes mate ..
So if the right players give him the nudge we will buy them
How about actually managing a football team, recognising we are short on experience and players in certain positions and buying to fill those gaps, identify what is needed, make an offer and actually be a football manager instead of being the Chief Financial Officer
He did Pat, indeed he did! Perry Groves thinks he’ll bring in a centerback. There was nothing on show today that says we have one either.
I hope simpson gets a chance, wilshere looked good (especially for his age), Ramsay could probably walk into our first team now, coquelin did well for first match, our reserve team players played better than our 1st teamers and without a good playmaker to play Walcott through he is either isolated or hustled off the ball, needs a bit more time on the wing where he will get more of the ball and can run at people
Welcome to Le Grove AJB!
From today
I think we need
EXPERIENCED CB, EXPERIENCED CM, and a Striker,
I think Theo needs another season on the wing
Gelbs,well said,you express perfectly my opinions,but with amuch better English!!!!
To be onest,you sound much more clever then wanger and the board!!!
We the arsenal supporters MUST do something in order to save our club.
I started my humble part by flying to London,going to the Emirates,and expressing the above opinions,infront of some arsenal staff,and Charly george,,,and ending my membership in the club’s tv(i don’t want to give my money,to the fat cant of the board!!!
COME ON YOU REAL GUNNERS!!!!!!!
Wenger said Ramsey looked tired, was his seat facing the pitch.
Ethan give Denilson till Jan if he dosn’t improve out him..
Welcome back Israeli gunner, it’s been a while, did you lose your computer or not pay your internet bill?
David, he always comes up with crap like that, its his way of saying he won’t be in the team. Denilson was awful & certainly not the answer, thats not based on one game either but based on the fact he was rubbish last season when he played.
David our season could be over in January
I will despair if we start the season with Denilson playing alongside Cesc.
Arsenal . com have done the match report already wtf is going on??
Just read on another site that Crude chants regarding TT25 were sung at the game, does anyone know if this is true and what were they?
Watch and download the goals from the barnet v arsenal friendly match here
srohit.blogspot.com/2008/07/barnet-v-arsenal-19th-july-friendly.html
btw thanks for adding my blog in ur blog roll
We could do with 3/4- CB the rest of the top 4 have at least 3 good ones
DM – at least it looks like wenger is looking for an experienced one (rumours of Alonso, Barry enquiry
CF – we need someone who can create something themselves out of nothing when we have a lot of possession but aren’t doing anything with it- look at Torres and Drogba, tevez, Rooney they have all saved their team so many times
Maybe a GK- Almunia didn’t look that comfortable
Perry Grove (good name that!) said AW will be focussing on a CB & striker. Sounds good to me! Another might be a DFM/GK so we live in hope and anticipation!
Villa, Yaya and ……….?
Do you know when you hear something on the Radio, and you think I should have a sneaky bet on that,
Well on Wednesday Paddy Power offered a refund on any bets on Harrington to win the Open if he pulled out injured. At the time (The day before) he did not even look like starting so his odds drifted out to 40-1
He is now the equal leader with a day to go………Bollocks
Bad news Guys, although I remember him saying this about Hleb
“Adebayor is under contract,” Wenger told Sky Sports News. “We expect him to turn up on Monday and practice with us.”
“Of course,” he replied when asked if Adebayor will be with Arsenal at the start of the new Premier League season.
Anticipation
Wenger has lost Alexander Hleb although the French tactician was anticipating his exit to Barcelona by admitting they planned on signing Samir Nasri as his replacement some time ago.
“He had an opportunity to leave. He’s done three years. I’d loved him to stay but on the other hand he was in a strong position,” he continued.
“We had to accept that and we anticipated that by bringing Nasri in. So that was planned for a long, long time ago.”
Arsenal have snapped up Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff this summer and Wenger has confirmed he is looking to add to his squad prior to the transfer window closing.
He said: “Yes you can expect signings. I don’t know where and how many, but we’re in the market. If there’s a good opportunity we’ll take it.”
At least it was not a ‘I am happy with the squad’ statement
I just hope he delivers
DOnt be fooled guys -AW said that just to make us shit up for a while ..
Amazing his wrist doesn’t hurt now eh?
Although not exactly a priority, but I am not convinced by Almunia, I think a GK is needed as well as CB to challenge both Gallas and Toure (I think they are getting too comfortable) and a DFM to replace Flamster, and if Ade goes then maybe a striker.
That is what is so frustrating, I dont think anyone here realy wants 10 signings, the squad is just 3/4 players away from being perfect, I am living in the hope that AW is doing something behind the scene. Without this hope I will go into severe depression
Geoff did any of the Grovers go today
I am interested in the crude TT25 Chants
I would love to know if that was the general opinion across all the gooners there
I guess the problem is who are these signings
For all we know they are another batch of kids
Yes Pedro and Bud went so I’m sure they’ll let us know Pat.
So why was Hleb in a strong position then? fuck, does he talk out of his arse, why didn’t the reporter say, oh interesting Arsene, why’s that then?
Hleb had two years, Ade had three, how are any of them in a strong position?
your right MH-if I was a manager my first priority would be top-top class goallie , as IMO its 40% of the team. IM afraid Almunia is not top goalkeeper and never will be.
Surely he can see that kids don’t cut it, what the fuck is he looking at? Ok I’m off for a bit.
A little birdy told me that AW was here in Albania looking at some of the youths at KF Tirana. Too bad he did not see much of them because they were on a school trip to LegoLand Albania.
Maybe Hleb had some incriminating photos of Wenger with Eboue
It will tie in with how we allowed him to play RM all Season
Over 27 Geoff -he could trigger his whatever clause there was to buyout his remaining years
Pat
‘Maybe Hleb had some incriminating photos of Wenger with Eboue’
Bloody hilarious
Geoff – just read todays post…….. ha ha ha, brilliant!
The reason I love this site is because its honest, funny and your opinions generally reflect what we are all thinking, and if its not we can say so in the coments section, and our points are generally aknowledged. So, if anybody doesn’t want that, why don’t they fuck off and read something else, somewhere else!
Fair play, and keep up the good work and when the season starts proper, I, and I’m sure a few others, will form an orderly queue at a bar somewhere before/ after a game and buy you and pedro a pint
Arsenaldo Wenger said that wasn’t possible, he said it could take a year to do that and he wouldn’t be playing in that year.
AndyB I’m glad you like it and will hold you to that beer!
Catch you all a bit later.
I have just been around a few of the better known blogs and on some of them, you would not even realise we played a game of football today
And they are usually the people that slate us when we complain
pat – i must have 25 afc blogs in my favorites, but theres only Le Grove and allgooneredup that I ever read, but the latter is only updated every few days so falls well short of this.
thought Simpson took his goal well today, and Ramsey, Wilshire and Barazite looked promising. We still need a couple of big signings though
Regarding Hleb
Today
“Adebayor is under contract, it’s a completely different position to Hleb,” Wenger told reporters.
May
Arsene Wenger insists there is “nothing” in reports that Alexander Hleb is set to follow Mathieu Flamini out of Arsenal. Nikolai Shpilevski, the Belarus midfielder’s agent, was this morning quoted claiming the 27-year-old “is leaving” the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Inter Milan strongly linked as a possible destination.
The Arsenal manager has previously reacted angrily to rumoured interest from the Italians, even claiming he might report them for tapping up the former Stuttgart player. But he insisted today that there was no reason to suspect that Hleb would not be playing for the club next season.
“You cannot stop people talking but at the moment there is nothing [to discuss],” Wenger said. “I believe that usually all the players want to stay, and I expect this team to say ‘let’s make a pact together, come back next year and win’.
“That’s what I expect them to do and my priority is to keep the team together, add what I think can help us to even be better and then see from there.”
He said: “I am confident of keeping Hleb. Nobody goes. It’s that simple. It’s about what is good for the club.”
Yet suddenly he is in a strong position
Andy B
I have roughly the same but solely post here now. Agree with Simpson’s goal but he was pretty anonymous apart from that, I would put him out on loan to a Premiership side,
Barazite looks to me like he already has the physique to compete at top level, maybe a squad player with a period in the reserves and CC experience
Ramsey and Wilshire stood out a mile for me, despite their age they are the youngsters that we should be looking at bringing through. They could both be 1st Squad players especially with 7 subs this season
But we still need some much needed experience in the squad
and with out it we are merely wannabees
Arsene Wenger has said he is “certain” he will sign at least one more player before the start of the season.
And the Arsenal manager reiterated his belief that Emmanuel Adebayor will remain at the club, despite AC Milan and Barcelona tracking the striker.
“Adebayor is a player of Arsenal. I am very confident he will stay,” Wenger told BBC London.
On the possibility of signings, Wenger added that he would make “two maximum but one certainly”.
Wenger has seen midfielders Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto leave Arsenal for AC Milan, Barcelona and Panathinaikos respectively this summer, while Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey have arrived from Marseille and Cardiff.
606: DEBATE
Sell Adebayor to Barca or Milan and buy Santa Cruz and Sergio Aguero
Anonymous000
Ramsey made his debut for Arsenal as they won 2-1 at Barnet in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, with Jay Simpson and Dutch youngster Nacer Barazite scoring in the second half to cancel out Kenny Gillet’s strike for the hosts.
And speaking after the match, Wenger hinted that 17-year-old Ramsey and the squad’s other young players could play a key role next season.
“Ramsey did OK. He looked a bit tired because he works very hard, of course it’s a big change for him, but he did OK,” stated Wenger.
“He is in the plans like all the players today. It depends on the performances and their quality and you could see that some young players could be very close to the first team.
“We had two departures (last week) but two players came in so, number wise, we are level.”
Arsenal have been linked with a number of players this summer, notably Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry and Zenit St Petersburg’s Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7515681.stm
What about this quote?
Wenger said: “For me, nobody goes and it’s as simple as that. Ninety eight per cent of this team will be here next season and the two per cent have already gone. I am confident of keeping Hleb.
2 Departures Hleb and Gilberto
2 In
Ramsey and Nasri
What about what we were lacking last season Arsene and what about Flamini and Jens
For fuck sake
Ok 2 is the bare minimum of players coming in but if this includes Bischoff then sorry but your time is up
We need World Class replacements not some guy that spent a season out injured and only ever featured once in a friendly for Werder Bremen
David fair one
98% my arse we lost Hleb anf Flamini which for me is 22% lost from the 1st team
Of the Squad we lost Hleb, Gilberto, Jens, Diarra and Flamini which is about 33% of the 1st team including subs
Do you guys think that Wenger has not got a clue? The guy watches these players every day.
Well, back from the game and if anything is apparent it is the fact we need a new centre mid!
Some distinctly average performances against shite opposition.
I’ll have the full match report and some extras for you tomorrow!
Have a good one Grovers!
(Wilshere is pure class!)
MeM… we know you are posting under a different name (TT)…
And Gilberto is not a loss. Neither are Hleb and Lehmann. The only loss this summer has been Flamini. We were always going to sell Gilberto and Lehmann. In Hleb, we signed a more than adequate replacement in nasri.
Now we need a defensive midfielder and possibly a winger. A center back would not be too bad.
Any pics Pedro?
Welcome Back Pedro
Heard rumour there were some anti-TT25 chants
Is it true?
Loads… and some brilliant ones you guys are gonna appreciate!
Yes… some about him being a money whore…
Its cool.
Yeah he always gets his figuures wrong doesn’t he? we lost 2 so we’re level, I thought he did economics.
He always leaves Diarra out of his figures and if you remember last August we all said we needed 2-3 more players.
So on that basis we’re still 3 players short at the very least, 1 centerback, 1 defensive miidfielder and a forward, but after today add a goalie, because Almunia isn’t good enough.
didnt see the 1st half .. so cant comment on Ramsey
but let me tell you .. with Wilshere, we have one of the top top prospects in Europe
best technical English player since Gascoigne .. absolutely top class
and before somebody starts accusing me of wearing the wrong type of glasses, I am not English ..
why though we bother with the likes of Rui Fonte, .. I dont know ..
Ok, just respect the other grovers.
Anti Adebayor chants? Why? He is no worse than Van persie.
Welcome back Pedro, you got the night shift, I’m off!
BB… he was amazing… but tiny!
The stand out performer…
I liked Rodgers, Barazite and Ramsey (He wasn’t brilliant, but ok…).
Tell that to the fans TT… a real anger about him.
What I love about this site is it’s well written and the Grovers are ace.
I can accept that there is always a darker side to things but going to the lengths of saying sack Wenger is way too harsh.
Fuck off somewhere else TT, you’re binned!
Some people say sack him, some people say we should keep him… the beauty of this site and the grovers is we debate it out…
And for the record… the authors have never said sack him.
I think ramsey stood out because the regular 1st teamers were shit
was the Anti TT chants across all the fans or just a Minority
It was a chant going on in the terrace part of the stand.
So the hardcore I guess…
It didn’t go on for long though…
Anyway… I am off!
Have a good one!
Look forward to a good post tomorrow!
TT that is such a lame comment
We have already posted our thoughts on Wilshire, Ramsey, Barazite ETC
Get a life you fucking Mong
Barazite looks like he is ready for the 1st team .. we shouldnt put him in the reserves any longer .. he needs to play now ..otherwise we will waste another career..
Pedro .. he looks tiny, doesnt he?? but he knows how to win balls despite his size
geoff remember not only is it saturday but round our way the schools have closed for the summer holidays……..
Agreed BB
Wilshire is our Joe Cole but potentially a lot better
Geoff I like the way you don’t just remove the comments you tell them, and in a way that if you met them in the street you would say it straight face to face “fuck off”
Thing is TT
We have not won anything in a few years, and when you ask yourself why, you have to ignore Wenger’s god like status
We are in the same boat as Liverpool if not worse. People quite rightly want answers as to why that is, and if their opinion includes questioning the Managers position then so be it. If that includes them questioning Wengers existence as Arsenal Manager then it is as a consequence of Arsene’s actions and their opinion and they are entitled to it
It is not harsh it is an opinion
I am off to watch London Masters
I did not mean the offence TT, calling you a mong is out of order but please tell me why people should not even be considering Wengers position.
Wenger spoke to BBC London, we’re certainly getting another transfer, maybe two!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7515681.stm
Pat, In fairness someone did say Wenger should be assasinated, Wengers position should always be questioned (keep him on his toes) but let keep it vertical.
Finest
Honestly If we sign a couple of players I will be ok, but the last few years have unfortunately laid a precedent for me, What Wenger says does not always happen,
1 Player is not enough, we are short of experience big time and for 2 is the minimum, I personally think we could do with 3-4. They dont all have to be World Class, but they must be able to do a a job NOW not in 2-3 seasons time and that is what worries me. Wenger says at least one. What if that is Bischoff? no offence against him I am sure he is a talent but we need now now later
I think that was a joke David
If anything it show the level of frustration a lot of gooners have with Wenger at the moment
Wenger:
“If you don’t show respect to other clubs, football is moving in the wrong way. You cannot come out like [president Ramon] Calderon has done at Real Madrid with Manchester United and tell them you cannot stop a player from leaving.”
Wenger is in the process of negotiations, Arsenal will not become a club which taps up players.
Masters Update
Arsenal 0 Watford 0
Parlour has still got it
David these people are just blog bullies!
Masters Update
Arsenal 0 Spuds 0 HT
Fuck its like watching a George Graham team
i caught the game on setanta and must say i was impressed by wilshere in the second half, he seems quite strong for his small stature and gets straight back up after a challenge to fight for the ball, complete opposite to the le cunt eboue!
I had heard a lot of good things about henri lansbury yet he seemed quite poor, perhaps just rusty? everyone in the first half bar Ramsey was poor come to think of it
Why dont they get DB10 to play in the Masters
Andy C
Agree I was looking forward to Lansbury but he did dissapoint
It is not gospel but I heard he has a bit of a lad about town attitude, likes clubbing a lot
yeah i had heard the same, he needs to sort that out or become the next pennant!
took a while to recognise him with shorter hair too!
Masters Update
Arsenal 0 Spuds 0 FT
Fuck pleased I watched this shit
Need a Watford Spuds Bore draw for a Penalty shoot out for the final
Wilshire has the world at his feet though
That is the best youth talent I have seen for a long long time and not one that has been bought in
Hope he has a level head
I know todays game was really hard to watch, but the second half was a great deal better -
Barazite, Wilshere, Rogers, Simpson, Steer and even Rue Fonte on occassions showed they have a great chance next season –
Barazite, Wilshere and Simpson are IMHO ready for the first team, maybe not the ‘big games’ but definately against the ‘lesser’ sides (no disrespect meant)
Ramsey shone in the first half, but was that because the others were Shite ??
Coq-au- vin (love that name Geoff) was not too bad, a good pre-season of hard work, and I think he could surprise us.
Gavin Hoyte is better than his brother, and he is a few years younger, if he continues to get better, I also think has a good chance at our club. In fact the defence in general were a lot more together in the second half
I was amazed and so pleased to hear AW say he is looking to buy, and i think that will be what we are all shouting out for, CH and DM
Denilson showed today just how weak he is – he is no DM
Randall – he needs to realise he is not a star, and stop poncing around as if he is one..
I would have liked to have seen Sunu play today, i know he is only 17, but would have been interesting… IMHO
So, as much as I think AW has been a bit of a plonker, I am going to give him a break for two weeks – if no signings,
‘Off with his head’ –
as wilshere is 16-17? he shouldnt be out on the town! he needs to follow walcott and keep a low profile and take his chances as on todays performance he must at least be on the bench for the cc games if not starting
pat – i have been saying that too about our up and coming – just wish they were all a few years older. Sadly though, because AW thinks the same, he is not buying big time, if only he realised they need just a couple more seasons, and we need NOW!!
I have heard that about Lansbury too, many times, if it is true, AW will get rid of him…
He is a fool, you only get one chance and he needs to knuckle down…
Randall “poncing around” brilliant rico, your not wrong though, perhaps the armband went to his head? whats the odds on him being out with lansbury?
andy – i posted earlier, he reminds me so much of Bentley in his early days
Off out for a while
Gunners to recruit elder statesman
by Tom Adams, 19 July 2008
Arsène Wenger has told setantasports.com he is ready to buck his well-established trend and recruit an experienced figure this summer, but the Arsenal boss is also certain that the recent departures of high-profile players will not curb his side’s ambition in the coming months.
It has been a difficult summer for Gunners fans as the club have already seen Jens Lehmann, Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva leave North London, with Emmanuel Adebayor’s future still in doubt despite Wenger’s protestations to the contrary.
With youngsters Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey the only arrivals to date, there is certainly a question mark over whether Arsenal are ready to challenge their rivals for the league title, particularly given Chelsea and Manchester United are chasing players of the calibre of Kaka and Dimitar Berbatov.
Wenger remains a master operator in the transfer market and his success in developing young talent is legendary, but it appears the Frenchman is now ready to sign arguably his first well-established player since William Gallas in 2006 – with reports naming the likes of Gareth Barry and Torsten Frings as potential targets.
“We lost players with experience of course,” said Wenger following his side’s 2-1 win over Barnet at Underhill on Saturday.
“But we can still bring in players with experience and don’t forget that last year, since the first of January, Van Persie has missed nearly six months, Rosicky has missed four or five months and Eduardo has missed four or five months, they will all be back.”
When asked by setantasports.com whether Gunners fans can expect to see a more mature player arriving at Emirates Stadium, Wenger replied: “What do you call old? Yes 25 [and over] is very old at Arsenal! We can get one player with experience, yes.”
On his summer recruitment plans, the three-time Premier League winner added: “It could happen [a new signing], yes, one, maybe two maximum, but one certainly.
“I cannot give you any names but we still think to bring one player in.”
Despite losing Hleb to Barcelona and Gilberto to Panathinaikos in the last week alone, Wenger remains convinced by the quality and depth of his squad as he seeks to end a run of three consecutive seasons without a trophy.
“Very much confident [Arsenal can recover from those losses],” Wenger continued.
“We lost two good players but we bought two players and we have good young players coming through.
“We don’t live in an ideal world. Flamini was at the end of his contract, Gilberto I gave him the opportunity to leave because he was 32 and [was offered] a three-year contract and that was in a strong position.
“There is an attraction to join Arsenal, believe me, because we have more demands than players who want to leave us and I think Flamini was free to leave last year and nobody cared about it, you know.
“He had a good season and then he left. But he was free to go last year and that is part of football.”
and whats with the charlie george style haircut? a long way to go before he can compare himself!
lol at 25 is very old at Arsenal.
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/07/19/Prem-Wenger-exclusive/
goodnight grovers
When asked by setantasports.com whether Gunners fans can expect to see a more mature player arriving at Emirates Stadium, Wenger replied: “What do you call old? Yes 25 [and over] is very old at Arsenal! We can get one player with experience, yes.”
So the weak squad has less players than last season…
It will be a shame if Lansbury and Randall ruin their careers thru being party boys
They should enjoy themsleves but they have a talent and should take advantage of it and not just by pulling girls and getting drunk
For me that is why Wenger chooses foreign stars all the time,
Wilshire though really needs to keep his head, the others are special but he is really top drawer. I saw a bit of him last season and have always been impressed. He really can be our Joe Cole but a lot better.
Ramsey is also a great future signing and maybe both him and Wilshire will make the extended 7 man bench this year.
But we still need more experience though
Wenger saying there will be at least one helps but I think we need another two over that,
I base that on the fact I only consider RVP and Rosciky as bit part players given their proneness to injury
hello lads.
Good post nice and factual with a hint of AKB. HAHAHAHA!!!
did we win today?? and is there anything new to report.
Raif 2-1 Arsenal but it was not pretty
1st team players were pretty poor
Ramsey and Wilshire really stood out
Barazite and Simpson were good too
Wenger has said he will buy at least one more player which is two less than I think we need
Masters Update
Spuds 1 Watford 0 (1 minute in)
Arsenal are out
patthegooner -
thank for letting me now mate. what postion did Ramsey & Wilshire play?
and did the TogoTwat get a run out?
haha.. he is really taking the piss!!!
“There is an attraction to join Arsenal, believe me, because we have more demands than players who want to leave us and I think Flamini was free to leave last year and nobody cared about it, you know.”
nite all.. happy sunday!!!
Raif – The togo Twat is not back in training yet and so did not surface, ramsey played cm with denilson who was pretty poor, wilshere played right wing/mid for the second half and looked tasty everytime he got on the ball
Ramsey played CM but in more of an attacking role, denilson played the Flamini role and was pretty average
Not sure where Wilshire was playing as we subbed 11 players at half time, he seemed to have a free role but was quality,
MOTM for me
excellent. sounds good for them 2. im looking forword to seeing the, play at the emirates this season.
and given the fact there british so that should shut the midea up for a bit.
as i dont like the fact everyone is blaming arsenal for the england team beaing shit,
and the factd theres not much REAL GOOD english tallent in the Prem
its a grass roots issue not a arsenal issue
Ramsey looked really composed, especially as it was his debut. On camera he looked quite nervous before but as soon as he go the ball at his feet he was pretty good. He is no holding midfielder but certainly a cover for Fabregas and maybe his replacement if the current lack of silverware continues
As for Wilshire, you would not believe he was so young. You have to remember it was Barnet not Barcelona so hopefully he will play some of the Emirates/Ajax games to see where he really is. Very Promising though
We all forgot to ask Pedro DID MADD TURN UP?? with his boots..
The grass on the pitch looked at bit long, does the groundsman need a goat?
Pathe
It was the Adebayooor Adebayoor we offered him 60 grand but the fucker wants more… …I still prefer his dad washes elephands and his mothers a whoare
The new Eddy chant was great though yaaar
Almunia was cack and can’t believe he us our no.1
Bendtner was disinterested and Denilson, Lansbury, J.Hoyte, crap
Ramsey was soso
First half players were Nordtveit, Clichy, Traore and Sagna
Couldn’t believe the reserves of the reserves played better but Gavin, Rogers, Simpson and Wilshire seemed OK
Pissed that for 20 quid we did not even get to see Diaby and co. it’s the least AW could do to field a decent side
night night
i fell asleep and missed the 2nd half – thats how exciting it was!
On the possibility of signings, Wenger added that he would make “two maximum but one certainly”.
For me Ramsey is that good hes good enough for the first team but then hes probably not gona pkay next to Cesc cos they are similar players
yeah i get the feeling wenger see’s another cesc in ramsey…hope he’s right?!
skysportsnews says that barca are targetting william gallas and are ready to spend upto 8mill pounds and ade said he would stay only if he was offered 100k a week lol that funny cunt doesnt know his arse has a contract already.
exactly gunner fever
just watched the goals, not bad all round play, both good strikes!
Morning Grovers
Barca want Gallas – I say, Let him go and bring in two – that would be just fab
Woops – already posted, sorry!
Rico’s already under starter’s orders….
We were warned that if Gallas had the armband taken away that he’d probably move on……plenty to discuss on that note in the next post.
I guess Geoff and Pedro are still out celebrating the Barnet win.
NEW POST!