Morning Grovers!
First up… a record! Well played everyone, we nailed 1000 comments!
That is a massive achievement considering all we talk about is Arsenal all day long… It wasn’t so long ago that me and Geoff were high fiving over 17 comments in a day… oh how times have changed!
So well done to Geoff for a great post and well done to the Grovers for making this site the best place to be if you are Gooner!
So, what of the game?
Well, first things first. We’ve had a pretty poor summer Arsenal wise and it was going to be interesting to see how the gates would be affected by the poor start and the exodus of players…
Well, I can shamefully tell you all that the ground was disgracefully empty. Now before anyone tells me the compere said there was 61,120 people in the stadium… Let met tell you that the figure he shares is based on tickets sold. The Grove must have been below 56,000 last night and that is a real shame (Club Level and the normal seats were equally bad).
The starting line up looked a little like this:
Almunia
Sagna JD Gallas Clichy
Nasri Denilson Cesc Walcott
RvP Nik
Not a bad line up and in my eyes and all the right players had been dropped… sorry Ade/Kolo/Eboue.
The most apparent thing about our midfield was the lack of presence, they are like children out there… I originally thought it was just a height issue, but Nasri is 5ft11 apparently? I think it is more down to the lack of bulk. We don’t have and Essien or an Anderson… I hope Wenger takes that into account when signing a player.
The game went pretty much as planned… we over powered them with technical ability and held onto the ball nicely. Twente were a weak team and showed little imagination or interest in chasing the game.
There weren’t to many thrills and spills, so I’ll give you the player ratings and hopefully that will give you a good idea of where we stand.
Almunia: Had bugger all to do all day. 6
Clichy: Pretty quiet all game. He did a lovely back heel tackle in the first half which I though was pretty cool. Other than that, very muted. 6
JD: This guy attacks the ball unlike Kolo and Gallas. He has a major physical presence and a calmness on the ball Big Phil could only dream of… I really rate him and I hope he proves many doubters wrong. Solid performance and even a cheeky half volley to his name. I for one hope the partnership of Gallas and JD is a sign of things to come! 7
Gallas: Ok, I am in a minority here, but I rate him. He defended pretty well today and popped up for a goal after following in a Nikki B shot. He needs to regulate his attitude when things are going wrong, but there is no doubting his quality for me. 7
Sagna: Like his buddy Clichy, pretty quiet but with little to do… why over exert yourself? 6
Nasri: Picked the ball up outside the box, jinked inside, powered into the box and duffed it past the keeper. He also steamed into a couple of slide tackles without any regard for his safety… how unHleb like? Just what we need right! Oh… and incase you didn’t know… Hleb is struggling at Barca… mwhaha! After watching him a few times now, I can safely say this boy is going to be special. He is so much more interested in going forward than Hleb ever was. I love the way he pops up all over the park almost in a Pires like manner. 8
Denilson: Come on… do we really think this man has what it takes this year? Ok, so he set up Nik with a nice back heel… but lets not get all ‘Don’t you remember Eboue’s cross’ about this. He is not ready to take a starting berth. Maybe one day… but not now… buy someone for this century Arsene. 6
Cesc: A bit rusty today, but that is to be expected. Nice to have him back in the team… Nasri and Cesc look like brothers from afar (Geoff and I thought Cesc got the first). It is nice to have the ring master back in the team. 7
Walcott: Geoff said he was great… I said he was poor… Theo said I’ll have a goal and score it right in front of you and do it in a most Thierryesque way. Great goal, great effort and hopefully a sign of things to come. He looked hungry to prove the doubters wrong tonight and I think that goal will take a lot of pressure off his shoulders 10 (<- He is English so he gets a 10 ok?)… Just kidding. 7.5
RvP: Did a whole lot of nothing tonight. Shot wide with and open goal… hit a tame free kick… and that was about it. He didn’t get injured though! I don’t know what is up with RvP, is he trying to play in his comfort zone for protection? Is he low on confidence? Maybe he just needs a goal… come on RvP get it together man! 6
Nikki: Set up 2 goals and constantly tried to integrate himself into play. He even managed to get on the score sheet tonight after latching onto a Denilson back heel. Nik is a player that polarizes opinion… some say he is no more than a Championship player, some say he could be better than Ade. I think he is going to be a good player, lets see! 7
Subs
Ade: Came on to a chorus of boo’s/cheers… didn’t really do much in his limited minutes on the pitch. 6
Song: Played ok… got stuck in, but I’m still unsure of his role. Tonight he played in the defensive midfield role, but Arsene said he’d play CB? Lets see! 6
Eboue: Made a few nice runs, passed well and did ok by his standards. He was played out wide again… be thankful because that means the DM dream has died for Arsene. 6
So in conclusion, we played ok and got the job done. Lets remember though… we did it against a Steve Maclaren team… that is like beating an under 16’s team and bragging about it. I just hope Arsene doesn’t use this game as justification for a weak squad with a massive hole in the heart of the team.
Ade / RvP and Cesc all need to sharpen up in a speedy manner if we are to have any sort of impact on the Premiership. If Arsene signs a player, we need to pray he is a leader and a healthy leader at that.
Lots of work to be done, just be thankful we’ve banked £20million and pray Wenger spends it.
We’re back on track Grovers! Have a great day!
August 28, 2008 at 9:06 am
1
August 28, 2008 at 9:06 am
woooooooooo
August 28, 2008 at 9:07 am
riccooooooooooooooo hahah
morning lady
August 28, 2008 at 9:07 am
Ho choy - a draw, but you are top of the board so take a bow
August 28, 2008 at 9:08 am
now that is spooky - both 9.06 and 9.07….!
Off to read now, and look forward to it
August 28, 2008 at 9:10 am
Guys, John Jensen reckons we will win at least on title this year!
He was super confident and he knows his stuff… look what he did with Getafe!
Well said John!
August 28, 2008 at 9:10 am
lol at all the non-readers….
Agreed we need more bulk in midfield, good choice of word.
8 for Nik B? What were you watching? 7 for effort maybe, but 8 implies he got a few things right, which he didn’t, everything he touched turned to shit, poor lad. But I do rate him and want him to do well for us.
August 28, 2008 at 9:10 am
1st to read a good post from the lads!!
Also congrats on a record day yesterday, needless to say instigated by probably the best post ever written on this blog!!!
August 28, 2008 at 9:11 am
pb.
August 28, 2008 at 9:12 am
great result, lets hope we get a good CL draw, and a player before the weekend.
August 28, 2008 at 9:12 am
Have to agree re JD, He’s 6 foot 3, powerful and qucik and although he looks doppy sometimes, he doesnt mind getting his hands dirty and won’t shirk a challenge even on his own team mates (remember him giving Wee Willy Gallas an ear bashing V WBA?!
-Dont look big next to a 6ft 3 power house do ya willy huh huh?!!!)
August 28, 2008 at 9:13 am
Pedro - great post, good read….
Nikers - 8
I thought he was dreadful, dump him and play Vela! 
August 28, 2008 at 9:13 am
By the way I read it.
Agreed with your recap other than i thought Clichy was better than you did…his pace going forward is awesome.
August 28, 2008 at 9:14 am
Yeah, it was a great post deserving of a great day! Geoff and I appreciate all of your ongoing support for the site!
Seb, Nik set up 2 and scored 1! That is worthy of an 8 in my eyes…
Adebayor looked like a broken man when he came on… anyone else notice that?
August 28, 2008 at 9:14 am
who is this lad?
Link
August 28, 2008 at 9:14 am
What’s going wrong with Robin? He was our worst player last night - he seems to have lost a bit of swagger?
August 28, 2008 at 9:16 am
oh btw Pedro, typo in the title
August 28, 2008 at 9:16 am
I think its time for the booing of ade to stop.
We’re stuck with him and we really need to see him hitting the back of the net again. He strikes me as a confidence player.
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
Robin needs a goal, and a decent strike partner - at the moment he has neither!
Anyone else think Vela and Robin together for Newcastle??
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
lol pedro he didn’t set up 2..
first he was going for goal and gallas just happened to be there…
second he lost possesion and luckily theo happened to be there…
but i have faith in the lad!!!
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
Odub
Great summary of JD20. I think he’s gunna be good
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
Choy - he sounds unproven
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
August 28, 2008 at 9:17 am
I’ve no idea QoS… he doesn’t play like that for the Dutch does he?
I think he needs a goal…
When you hit it as hard as he does, you have to be confident becuase hitting something hard gives you less margin for error…
That is the best excuse I could come up with…
August 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
Off for a couple of hours, but I will be back later to slate old Nikers
August 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
Be just about perfect for us then Mark C….
August 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
Cheers Seb…
Choy… he knew what he was doing… it was an assist
August 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
do you mean Little Nicky
August 28, 2008 at 9:19 am
Set up 2 is a bit rich, 1 certainly (Theo’s), but he was going for goal and nothing else when Willy knocked it in. The rest of the game he made Adebayor look like Hleb when it comes to close control.
But it’s not a day for moaning is it, for once, so I will accept your opinion
August 28, 2008 at 9:21 am
hahah
August 28, 2008 at 9:22 am
Ok… I’ll accept a 7 for him…
August 28, 2008 at 9:22 am
Re RvP, to be honest I would be happy just watching him play and never score again as long as the rest of the team win the match for us. Even when things aren’t coming off for him, he just oozes class on the ball. You can guarantee a few moments of van Persie magic in a game.
I know this sounds stupid, but I can’t bring myself to slate one of our few truly world class players, even if he is going through a mini-crisis. I like to think of it as similar to Bergkamps first few games, where nothing went right - once Robin makes the net bulge, he’ll be fine.
August 28, 2008 at 9:24 am
yeah he’ll be alright seb he has to be.. “form is temporary class is permanent”
so what is this about nasri with the stomach bug.. is he not going to play against the toon army?
August 28, 2008 at 9:26 am
On two players, I think 40% of what Bendtner tried worked - he carried on trying despite constant nibbles/shoves from their number 19 in the first half - and I noticed he was in Nik’s ear and face most of the time too, this may not have cxome across on TV as it was happening off the ball.
To his credit he wasn’t provoked and he didn’t hide - which is the right attitude, so full marks there.
The other player who needs a mention is Djourou - if he stays fit he is a much better bet than Toure, who I suspect will be pushed into midfield if we don’t get a DM, altohuigh the thought of that doesn’t fill me with hope for the forthcoming season.
August 28, 2008 at 9:27 am
Roll on saturday!!!
My first visit to THOF!!!
With Cesc back, we look so much better, even though RVP left his shooting boots at Euro2008!
I also hope we still get a DM because Denilson is not the answer!
August 28, 2008 at 9:28 am
Chary, nice to meet you yesterday!
The chap who was sitting next to me had the same thought on Toure as you… its an interesting idea…
What about song… he played in the hole?
August 28, 2008 at 9:28 am
Odub, are you coming to the S+B?
August 28, 2008 at 9:28 am
good stuff. anybody got a whiff of the de guzman story?
August 28, 2008 at 9:29 am
Anyway, onto today’s draw - who will we get out of this lot?
Pot one
Scum
Chavs
Bindippers
Barcelona
ARSENAL
Lyon
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Pot two
Bayern Munich
PSV Eindhoven
Villarreal
AS Roma
FC Porto
Werder Bremen
Sporting Lisbon
Juventus
Pot three
Marseille
Zenit St Petersburg
Steaua Bucharest
Panathinaikos
Bordeaux
Celtic
Basel
Fenerbahce
Pot four
Shakhtar Donetsk
Fiorentina
Atletico Madrid
Dynamo Kiev
CFR Cluj
Aalborg
Anorthosis Famagusta
Bate Borisov
My preferred group would be Arsenal Juventus Panathinaikos and CFR Cluj.
Juve - we will murder any Italian side imo, plus bit of glamour
Pana - chance to give Gil a proper goodbye
CFR Cluj - never heard of em, dont know where they’re from, sounds a bit like Clunge, probably at least one easy win for us.
August 28, 2008 at 9:30 am
draw is tomorrow seb no?
August 28, 2008 at 9:31 am
Pedro, i agree about ade… he didnt look too interested, although being brought on at 3-0 (5-0) aggregate, hardly breeds ergency!
a couple of goals and a bit of love from te fans and he’ll be good as gold
August 28, 2008 at 9:31 am
Pedro,
I am indeed, Steve’s coming as well, we’ll meet around 3. Think DDM’s making an appearance as well.
August 28, 2008 at 9:32 am
no choy, today 1700 UK.
August 28, 2008 at 9:32 am
I thought NB was crap last night and would give him 4-5. Nothing went his way and his goal was set up by Denilson who also had a crap game; 2 metres out he just managed to slide it under the GK!
Almunia didn’t excel when he did come into play late in the game and looked a nightmare on a couple of occasions so El Tel will be on looking for his head later!!!!
De Guzman the latest connection: we’ll see…………………………………possible!
August 28, 2008 at 9:33 am
choy, 5pm today mate
August 28, 2008 at 9:34 am
Which is why I thought bringing on Ade was a bit daft!
We know he doesnt work well with NB
We know what he can (or cannot do)
Why not bring on Vela instead and play him with NB?!
Strange substitution.
August 28, 2008 at 9:34 am
Tonight at 1700 live on talkshite!
August 28, 2008 at 9:34 am
oh ok thanks seb.. so some more excitement later…
where the hell is our new midfielder?
August 28, 2008 at 9:35 am
Odub… just to show him that he was dropped, not rested.
August 28, 2008 at 9:35 am
Went racing yesterday so could not go to the match.
My son text me last night saying Eboue was booed yesterday so he gesticulated (hope spelling ok) to fans.
True or false?
August 28, 2008 at 9:39 am
Chary - AW has said that Toure has not got the stamina for CM role.
August 28, 2008 at 9:39 am
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is chasing Feyenoord’s tough-tackling Jonathan de Guzman as the ideal midfield foil for playmaker Cesc Fabregas. However, the Canadian-born 20-year-old will cost up to £12m. (The Sun)
August 28, 2008 at 9:41 am
on the game, I also thought NB wasnt good, why on earth Vela, ilshire and Rambo wern’t given a run out I don’t know, or at least brought on as subs, what was the point in bringing on Eboue and Song?
Still, good result, Geoff got it spot on with the 4 - 0, and the bindippers almost didn’t make it, they had to rely on luck (again)
August 28, 2008 at 9:43 am
Wenger On central midfield…
“I think Denilson had a good game tonight. We have as well Aaron Ramsey - for me he will be a very good player - and we have Alex Song and we have Abou Diaby. Even Nasri can play central but we have to see.
i like the ‘but we have to see’ bit, hopefully theres somthing going on
August 28, 2008 at 9:44 am
A wee bit off topic, but something you mention in the post Pedro that reminds me how frrustrating it can be to get to a game. I used to go week in week out man and boy. I left London 10 years ago or so, around the time Arse first introduced a registration scheme.
I was home 2 years ago and really wanted to take the wife to a game, turned up at the Emirates one day to try my luck at a ticket for any game…was informed i had to pay my 30pounds to become a red memebr if i wanted the right to buy a ticket….my wife would also have to pay up if she wanted a shot at a ticket…tough when you have a budget. Am home in a few eeks for a month and again am having a crack at sorting tickets for a game (any game)…i know it probs wont happen….then i hear Pedro say that there ere empty seats all over the show last night…yet still folks like me self can’t get in….just sad thats all….gripe over. Looks like we’re going to Charlton anyways…the missus will still get to enjoy a live game and dodgy half time pie.
Well done last night lads….both to the team on a fine CL win and Le Grove on the 1000 mark
August 28, 2008 at 9:46 am
Pedro
Sorry but I thought Bentner was awfull , first touch is poor .Bergy would give himself a yard of space with his first touch , Bentner gives a yard to the defender with his !!
Anyway , we are linked with DE GUZMAN
ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM ??????????????
August 28, 2008 at 9:46 am
i think he brought on eboue & ade … to try and get them involved in the win… to try and banish the fulham memory and replace it with this one
August 28, 2008 at 9:48 am
jules.. he’s about 5.9 that’s all i know about him.. read somewhere that he is like owen hargreaves and essien.. a mix of both..
news for all of you.. bitchslap is 6 weeks away from his debut.. from young guns
August 28, 2008 at 9:48 am
The steward next to us told us there were 49,000 people there last night. They get an update of the actual numbers for health and safety reasons apparently. A very knowledgable bloke who sits the near the missus said the club were waiting to qualify before committing any further funding to strengthen the team. That may be the intention - but will he or won’t he? Will the real AW stand up and give us a straight answer for once.
August 28, 2008 at 9:49 am
MBA… that is what annoys me.
People pay for the ticket and they’d rather leave it vacant than give it to someone else.
If you are a big company… give them to the lesser mortals… if you are a normal fan… give it to a mate.
I agree, it is unfair on the people who can’t get tickets through the normal avenues…
So much for the ticket exchange?
August 28, 2008 at 9:50 am
Morning all, I think Ade needs to apologise to the fans, until he does he’ll get booed, I think it will get worse.
August 28, 2008 at 9:51 am
Good Morning Pedro,
I asked earlier about NB,to me he always looks sad or miserable but that’s not really the point,to me he isn’t an out and out striker.I said last week Ade couldn’t care a fuck now he is on 80K a week.RVP was to good a player,give him time,one goal and he will be off.Nasri looks the business,reminds me a bit like Sagna the way he has slotted in from day one.I agree we are still a bit physically lightweight,and finally Vela.I saw a lot of him last year,he will only get cameo roles at present,he is no wonder kid.Newcastle will be a test,I hate 5.30 kick offs,look at our record on games at that time,let’s hope things change..
Well done everyone for over a 1000 posts,and all done for love by Pedro and Geoff,amazing.
August 28, 2008 at 9:51 am
Arsenal used to count their crowd on people attending, not tickets sold, they must have changed their policy.
August 28, 2008 at 9:52 am
Great site, i’ve just discovered it and find the blogs extremely insightful and well thought out when compared to other blog pages!
I was at the game last night and thought the Reds did very well against a 20 team that offered very little. The wide boys played extremely well and i think this is where our attacking potential will be focused this season.
A bit concerned about RvP tho, put in a lot of efffort and you can’t fault some of the tackles he put in in the middle of the park, but everything he did infront of goal lacked composure.
Lets hope its just rustiness!!
August 28, 2008 at 9:53 am
I think Clichy was a 7 1/2 personally.
So it’s a S+B early sesh on Saturday then? Happy days. I might get cunted, the squeeze is taking the kiddies out so no chores when I get home.
Did anyone hear that Harringey council have refused Tottenham permission to build a new ground at Northumberland Park?
They said that having a fairground twice a year was acceptable, but a circus every other week was out of the question.
August 28, 2008 at 9:54 am
Cheers Choy
Maybe the Alonso thing is now off as Barry is staying so this the next rumour ,
5.9 .. uhmm not that big !! But I guess nor was the Flamster
August 28, 2008 at 9:54 am
I would stil go 4 johnson of mancity.i remember we have been linked with guzmun before. But why o why put eboue on in nasri place?when u have a vela on the bench
August 28, 2008 at 9:55 am
hey just had a thought, if we get Marseille in the draw we will have the pleasure of watching Lorik Cana eat Denilson alive!! that would be ironic…
August 28, 2008 at 9:56 am
Geoff, if Ade puts in a few good performances and scores a few goals it’ll soon be forgotten. It’s a bit like having the hump with the wife. Steak and chips and a quick blowey and you forget all about it
August 28, 2008 at 9:57 am
How about Johnson for 10 mill and SWP for 8 ????
WE would look like a squad then Would rather SWP on the right than eboue ,
Guys ,isn,t THeo much better cutting in from the left !!?? Henry style goal !!
August 28, 2008 at 9:57 am
according to wenger vela is busy globetrotting.. he’s off to jamaica next week!!
August 28, 2008 at 9:58 am
Nice Joke Steve
August 28, 2008 at 9:58 am
lol Steve!!!
August 28, 2008 at 9:59 am
It seems Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is not too happy with taxes in Britain. Asked what he would do if he became Prime Minister, the Togo international said: “I would try to keep down the tax. In London I would like to change the congestion charge.” (The Sun)
Prime minister?????
August 28, 2008 at 9:59 am
lol steve !!
August 28, 2008 at 10:01 am
Interesting point about CL qualification before splashing the cash. Could it be true?
August 28, 2008 at 10:01 am
Welcome aboard Jamie, nice one Steve. I’d have Johnson and SWP but I’d sooner have Cana or Toulalon, what the fuck does Wenger look at???
Just buy someone that will make a difference.
August 28, 2008 at 10:02 am
Morning people!!
4-0…..spot on Geoff…..Well done!!!!
Congrats on the 1000 posts!!!
De-Guzman is 20!! How is that an experienced signing???
August 28, 2008 at 10:03 am
Geoff
I would love Toulalan , but doubt that will happen . 6.0 quality.
August 28, 2008 at 10:03 am
i meant he is 6 foot
August 28, 2008 at 10:05 am
I don’t think Johnson has the physical presence we require personally. I’d like a big ball winner to look after Cesc. Flamini wasn’t big but he certainly looked after his teammates.
August 28, 2008 at 10:05 am
Steve; you just inspired me to have a barny with the wife. Steak and Chips sounds great!
August 28, 2008 at 10:08 am
Also, a point that seems to have been overlooked is how shaky we still looked last night defending corners and how sterile we were in attacking corners. How many goals do the likes of Chelsea and Manc Ure get from set pieces compared to us.
August 28, 2008 at 10:08 am
kelsey that was pretty random!
August 28, 2008 at 10:08 am
lol Morrow.
August 28, 2008 at 10:08 am
morning all, fair game last night, more comfortable than saturday,. i hope we sign some one but i cant see it happening, Liverpool will keep Alonso as Gerrard needs an op so he’ll be out for 3 weeks,
on ticket front, this is the first season i haven’t been a member/junior gunner or something, i have given up on getting a ticket for a proper match, and seeing the stadium half empty really pisses me off, non of the proper fans can get in to improve the atmosphear
August 28, 2008 at 10:11 am
vela has just got back from international and is off to jamaica to play another 2 games in a week or so!
johnson isnt the answer… he’d be a good squad addition but not what we need, id take him but we need a flamini as a priority
August 28, 2008 at 10:11 am
Steve, agree mate.
The corner situation has to improve big time.
I mean we send RVP and Cesc out each time, and delivery still leaves a lot to be desired. What is the point of having 2 of them over there anyway?!!
August 28, 2008 at 10:12 am
Phil’s comments from AC Milan official site:
MILANELLO - With already a good knowledge of the Italian language, Philippe Senderos today gave his first few declarations as a new Milan player before the afternoon training:
“I am very happy to be able to play for a team like Milan, for me it’s like a dream come true, everything went very quickly, in a week. Here everything is incredible, the people are very simple and I can say they have made me feel right at home.”
Philippe Senderos then talked about all his personal successes but for him the dream isn’t over:
“In the past I have achieved some satisfactions, like winning the European Championship with the Under 17 team and then of course at 18 my passage to a great team like Arsenal. in London I learned a lot, it was a life school and Wenger helped me, but today I can certainly say I have reached a superior level after joining this club. I want to give one hundred percent and improve myself every day. This team wants to return to the Champions League and I will do my best to help. When you will see me on the pitch? We’ll see how my condition improves, I still have to undergo some tests and then after the first league match there will be two weeks to work, we’ll see.”
So we have become a ‘life school’ for young players, who then bugger off to Milan. great.
August 28, 2008 at 10:15 am
Geoff
Do you think there is much in this de guzman thing or is it the press latching onto someone saying they would like to play for a certain club ie us ?
We are running out of options ! Also do you think Inler turned us down or Wenger
turned him down ??
Any inside info ?
August 28, 2008 at 10:16 am
Pedro, what proof do you have that Hleb is struggling at Barca???
August 28, 2008 at 10:18 am
Good morning, it’s nice to win 4-0, there are plenty of positives to take from the game.
But lets deal with the opposition first of all….Twente…..massive underdogs as McClaren himself said before the game. We were expected to win, and we did. Twente tried to match Arsenal’s game, wrong tactics McClaren, if it was to try and get some honour out of the game by ending with a draw, or holding out for a counterattack, it’s a complete waste of time at the Emirates, Twente should have thrown caution to the wind and had a go, play their own game not ours…..maybe a few long balls with a few good finishers charging into the box. But I’m not interested in analysing Twente’s performance, it’s ours that interests me the most. To belittle Twente would be unfair, they gave us a good game at home, Steve McClaren stuck on a few freshers in to give them a taste of playing in the Champions League while saving his best for his bread and butter game at the weekend. McClaren went for the happy go lucky option and didn’t really want to take risks…
Arsenal were back to playing good football, finally we see Johan Djourou getting the game he deserved, and once again he put in a good performance. Gallas chipped in with a goal again, a sign of commitment to the team, credit where it’s due….I’m still concerned about his Premier League performances….hopefully his form won’t dip dramatically again, a good response from Gallas, but we need to see a whole string of good games from him. Fabregas as expected made a tremendous difference and it’s good to see Wenger giving Song a chance in midfield.
We have a team for Newcastle…..same again please Mr. Wenger, the winning attitude is there….the team didn’t settle at 2-0 and try to lock it up, they kept playing and that was good to see. Sometimes you need to go for the lockup option but when you’re 4-0 up on aggergate….keep playing, it’s too late for them to score 5.
Please keep Djourou in….he’s a good defender, he has earnt his games, just because Toure is back doesn’t mean we should put him straight in…he’s not match fit, and….just keep Djourou….he’s good!
If we’re going to use Eboue, as a sub thanks very much, so no probs there. Adebayor will be feeling the heat for some time to come, if he’s ready to suck up to Milan and Barca in favour of our club and give us the “gimme the money treatment” he will piss the fans off. If he leaves and someone pay 35 million for him….thank you very much.
What will become of Bendtner? He is already a good striker and he will get better, don’t worry about that, and the lad is fully committed to playing for Arsenal.
De Guzman…..I can dig up a post many months ago when I talked about him….and this fella is a very good player. Wenger’s thinking out of the box…..everyone is calling for a central midfielder…..but Nasri can play there is necessary. So who replaces Nasri in that situation? De Guzman. Who can replace Walcott or Rosicky. De Guzman.
De Guzman could be the answer to all our problems…..if we get De Guzman that’s better than just getting a central midfielder. Oh and De Guzman is like Nasri….he can play anywhere in midfield. Super solution. He scores goals as well.
August 28, 2008 at 10:18 am
kenny, he made a plea in the press the other day for the fans to be patient with him…
nasri has already scored the same amount as we’d have gt hleb this year so fuck him
August 28, 2008 at 10:18 am
I read an article this morning that said we are getting £5.2m now for Senderos, but with a clause that we can but him back next summer for a third of the price. So by my reckoning that would equate to a loan deal worth nearly £3.5m for the season if we want him back. If true then it’s top business.
August 28, 2008 at 10:21 am
Finest, can De Guzman get “stuck in” if needed…..that’s the kind of signing we need….someone who can stand up to the bullies in the league…
August 28, 2008 at 10:23 am
Arsenal tom thats good to here for me that he is struggling but do you have a link to this press article?
August 28, 2008 at 10:25 am
Finest ,
good stuff ,
is de guzzmans primary role defensive midfield ??
I agree that nasri can play anywhere and is also cover for cesc being creative .
August 28, 2008 at 10:26 am
Did anyone notice? Cesc seems to have bulked up a bit during the summer.
August 28, 2008 at 10:26 am
Greetings, over 1,000 posts yesterday driven by an excellent article……
Well the performance was good (taking the opposition into consideration), the result was excellent, the Guinness and Kopparberg were excellent, and Nikki B was average at best, very poor technically, which is more or less what his game is based on……
How can Arsenal announce that the attendance was 59,500 when it was obvious to even telly viewers that it was more like 55,000!?
August 28, 2008 at 10:26 am
I don’t see why hleb is making a fuss, he has been in Spain for a few months now, he should be learning Spanish intensively not speaking for mercy. If you go to a foreign country to live there, even if it is for a while, it is your duty to learn their language and not expect them to adapt to you and your linguistic inadequacies…..learn Spanish Hleb. McClaren…learn Dutch. People in England don’t like it when foreigner come over and can’t be bothered to speak English, same applies to other countries.
I curently liv in Warsaw and used to know this knobend who has been in the country for 2 years and hasn’t even learnt how to order things from behing the counter, he still points at stuff like a retard….or goes to bars and orders in English without even asking if they speak English. Sorry but that’s stupid…..and Hleb, you haven’t learnt the vocab needed for playing football? Stupid.
August 28, 2008 at 10:27 am
Pedro - nice to meet you too (and Geoff/Bud) and I hope the truer test of our recovery will be on Saturday so cheer the lads on and hope for the right result.
Next time We can share a peroni as long as the little chary’s don’t notice !
August 28, 2008 at 10:27 am
i do recommend. amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dFRinVt9js&feature=related
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
Pedro - Board announced 59,500ish at the game….but looked much less.
Club level was poor in numbers for sure.
As for Ade..I agree…he looked down…I think he is struggling with the fan pressure and everyone not loving him as they did last season. The absence of his song is hitting him hard I think. Whilst I agree we need to get behind the team, I think he needs to be trueful and come out with an apology for his role in the summer antics. If he accepts what he did was wrong he may get the fans to accept him again. I felt sorry for him in a way…but……he deserves this….he has up’d his wages to what..80k a week…and he is sulking….and not performing.
Saying that it may give us a chance to see Vela more often alongside RVP or Nik..as i think he could be the creative, goal scoring player we need up there along side the others. Not sure any of the other combinations work.
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
If you read the daily Mail it reads like a done deal at 12million for De Guzman.Here’s hoping.
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
Sarge reckons it was 49,000 DDM!
Mental!
Sounds like a plan Chary!
Back to the meeting…
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
I don’t see how anyone can compare Nasri to Pires. Last night Nasri ran back 40 yards and made a great tackle. I don’t recall Pires ever doing that. The only tackle he ever made led to a goal against Juve if memory serves me correctly. Not critisising Pires here btw I love the fella.
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
Yes De Guzman can get stuck in, he can play anywhere in midfield, but he’s usually used as a winger. He comes from the Dutch “Total football” school of training where they teach their midfielders how to play all over the shop.
August 28, 2008 at 10:28 am
finest
mc claren learnt dutch ! l o l !
Finest can you answer about de guzzelers primary role please ?
August 28, 2008 at 10:29 am
Kenny…
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=832331
August 28, 2008 at 10:30 am
kelsey, if I had a pound for every done deal from Wenger I’d be able to buy the cunt myself.
August 28, 2008 at 10:33 am
Jules, as mentioned above, he’s like Nasri, usually used as a winger, but can play in the middle as well, he’s a total midfielder.
August 28, 2008 at 10:35 am
the de guzman thing is picking up…
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/sport/football/article-1050137/Arsenal-beat-Everton-Feyenoords-12million-enforcer-De-Guzman.html?ITO=1490
August 28, 2008 at 10:36 am
cheers finest
just like eboue then !!
August 28, 2008 at 10:37 am
sorry I thought you said total cunt
August 28, 2008 at 10:38 am
Sort of Jules….but De Guzman scores goals, he has about a 1/4 ratio, similar to that of Rosicky.
August 28, 2008 at 10:41 am
A much better performance all round last night but the opposition weren’t the greatest were they? I was quite shocked by the number of empty seats, maybe the beginnings of a silent protest? As I mentioned yesterday without the fans being there, the club cannot sell its merchandise. I suppose it was the day the worm turned, so Mr Hill-Wood think again before you open your big fat mouth. Without us, youl’ll have nothing.
Well done on 1,000+ posts.
August 28, 2008 at 10:42 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fee_33eVIXo
De Guzman
August 28, 2008 at 10:43 am
He’s still 20 though….. does that count as an experienced signing? Or can we expect one more?
August 28, 2008 at 10:43 am
it’s the usual media bullshit arsenal tom, it’s all on the back of the Sun printing two sentences that De Guzman probably said a year ago. Nothing more to it.
August 28, 2008 at 10:46 am
I’ll be amazed if we sign De Guzman. He looks like Clichy and is similar to Theo, don’t we need a Cana/Toulalon type? Also Finest, in that clip he didn’t look much like a winger.
August 28, 2008 at 10:48 am
Geoff, he can play anywhere in midfield.
August 28, 2008 at 10:49 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZlkFSOdcAA
More De Guzman action, I hope we sign him.
August 28, 2008 at 10:51 am
Okay I look forward to what happens next, but I just read that Senderos feels moving to Milan is a superior move, cunt.
August 28, 2008 at 10:51 am
seb, your probably right but i need somthing to get me through the day!!! im sure wenger will come out before long and say he finished his shopping for the summer and destroy us all
August 28, 2008 at 10:57 am
no return after remarks like that Geoff
August 28, 2008 at 10:57 am
In Big Phils defence we shipped him off very quickly, as soon as we had a 31 year old to replace him. I’d be a little upset with the Arse.
August 28, 2008 at 10:59 am
finestcuts does he speak french
I am surprised at the comment from senderos,i always thought he was a decent guy,another cunt to add to the list.
August 28, 2008 at 10:59 am
From the Feyernoord matches I’ve seen de Guzman plays upfront and was often paired with Roy Makaay last season. What we need is a pure defensive midfielder - a Mascherano -type.
Decent match yesterday but would wait for the Newcastle match to see if we’ve turned the corner!
August 28, 2008 at 11:00 am
Wrong De Guzman above…we should looking at Jonathan…
August 28, 2008 at 11:01 am
That why I think Wenger has lost it, we persevere with him for 5 years and tons of mistakes, then let him go to Milan, where he’ll probably turn into a world class defender, why did they want him? and why didn’t we say we’ll have one of yours, is it Bojan?
August 28, 2008 at 11:02 am
Kelsey, he should do growing up in Canada….they’re almost all bi-lingual.
August 28, 2008 at 11:06 am
According to wikipedia he grew up in Toronto. They don’t speak much French there I’ll tell you that.
August 28, 2008 at 11:07 am
I wonder if he gives the youngsters a chance until they’re 23, then says ‘enoughs enough’
After that they become expendable if we have sufficient cover - Hoytey and Phil both axed once big Johan had stepped up. It’s perfectly possible.
August 28, 2008 at 11:09 am
Don’t mention corners Mandada, our defence will shit themselves.
FYI Feyenord’s De Guzman is described as a “midfield enforcer” inThe Daily Mail.
August 28, 2008 at 11:10 am
off topic guyz, but could this be the future for hleb http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/7758458
August 28, 2008 at 11:11 am
Having read the articlees about Guazman I’m with Seb, looks like a nowt story, the guy made a coment about playing for Arsena/Barca would be his dream….not much more than that really…slow transfer gossip day so one paper runs with that, then the rest go with it. Oh well, sounded good for a while, I actually like the prospect of getting him, and by all accounts he is very capable of getting stuck in…and De Gauzman is always good in Champ Manager…and we know thats always the mark of a great player.
the arsenel vs 20 game is being replayed here on ESPN, will se how we played. Laters
August 28, 2008 at 11:12 am
Just found out De Guzman has lived in Holland since he was 12 (Hence his eligibility for the Dutch national team)….so he probably doesn’t speak French.
“So soccer, which Bobby had played back in the Philippines before coming to Canada at age 10, became the sport of choice. Both boys showed promise and Bobby and Pauline hoped Julian could win a soccer scholarship to a big U.S. college. But he had different ideas. When Julian fulfilled his part of the deal and made the honour’s list at Cardinal Newman High School, his father took out his life savings and took the 16-year-old to Europe for soccer tryouts. He was signed by Olympic Marseille and went from there to Germany and then to Deportivo this season.
Having a child cross the Atlantic at 16 was hard on the family. It was even harder with Jonathan. “Mothers don’t want to let their babies go,” Bobby says. There were some big fights; Bobby figured that Julian had made the jump too late.
Ultimately, at 12, the baby of the de Guzman family was sent to live with a family in Rotterdam to play with Feyenoord.
For six years, Jonathan’s game percolated out of the sight of Canadians. He absorbed the lessons in one of the great soccer countries and became fluent in Dutch.
With his 18th birthday in September, Jonathan was finally eligible to play for Feyenoord’s first team.
His arrival caused a sensation. He scored three goals and four assists in his first nine league games, impressive numbers for a midfielder. Dutch soccer great Willem Van Hanegem wrote in his weekly column that de Guzman could be another Zidane. He gets stopped on the streets of Rotterdam for autographs.
“They’re relatively unknown (in Canada). Over there they’re stars,” Bobby says of his sons. “They’re recognized all over. I’m so proud. We’re walking around and kids and fans stop him for autographs and pictures. It’s an awesome feeling.”"
August 28, 2008 at 11:12 am
Nice one Steve.
off topic, could this be the future for hleb http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/7758458
August 28, 2008 at 11:13 am
geoff, bojan is at barca… probably pato your thinking of… i agree tho… u get senderos for a year we get gattuso… thats our midfeild sorted
August 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
Did anybody else read that we’re getting £5.2m for Senderos with an option to take him back in 1 year for 1/3 of that fee?
August 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
But they got Flamini in for Gattuso…..Flamini is better than Gattuso. We need someone as good as Flamini or better.
August 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
Gattuso is as slow as fuck. Flamster had him in his pocket last season.
August 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
there must have been 10,000 empty seats last night. OK so all the tickets were sold but club level, boxes and normal seats has empty spaces all round. midweek game with little riding on it is the reason. plastic fans cant be bothered with the hassle. wankers.
hope we get De Guzman but I wont hold my breath.
August 28, 2008 at 11:17 am
Agreed Geoff,why don’t we rape others clubs of their players instead of being a feeding ground for others,or you want him from us then we will have him from you.
What’s everyones gut feeling will we buy a player,not a schoolboy or not.i honestly don’t know myself.
August 28, 2008 at 11:17 am
fuck it then… u get senderos and give us flamini back!!! problem solved
August 28, 2008 at 11:21 am
They’ve only got Senderos on loan, and i tell ya, when he comes back from Milan he’ll be ready….
Milan to win the UEFA cup.
Ronaldinho and Shevchenko up front….Shevchenko should get back to his best at Milan, they know him inside out…
August 28, 2008 at 11:24 am
Milan are doing themselves and us a massive favour, they’re going to develop our defender and teach him to defend the Italian way….and they’ve got a Premier League quality defender for a season for next to nothing.
A lot of people forget how well he played against Milan in the CL game and how well he did in Toure’s absence, what better finishing school to send him to than Milan.
August 28, 2008 at 11:24 am
finestcuts, are you a hairdresser or a butcher? Or a mafioso enforcer even?
August 28, 2008 at 11:25 am
So Barry has pledged his future to Villa - surely we must strike for Alonso now. He would have made a big difference last night and Cesc would flourish beside him. Not sure if BEnitez will sell but why not ask. Gerrard’s injury may prevent this now…
I love the idea that we sold Phil and Matty to AC so we could get Pato - that would be great but pretty unlikely…
It is hard to keep your chin up being a Gooner at the mo - well that is until I get to work which is full of Spuds fans!!!!!
August 28, 2008 at 11:26 am
I’m a Le Grove blogger, I can be a shopper now and again, I’m also an Arsenal fan..
August 28, 2008 at 11:28 am
thats if we get him back finest… if he decides he wants to stay there then we better get ready for norviedt in the 1st team squad
August 28, 2008 at 11:28 am
Let me apologise for this in advance….
Victoria Beckham has admitted that she slept with Gary Glitter whilst he was in LA. Glitter has denied the rumours, he claims he was in Brooklyn at the time.
Oh dear.
August 28, 2008 at 11:29 am
Listen if Senderos does well in Milan, he won’t want to come back, plus he’ll feel shat upon, given the incredible signing of Silvestre and the promotion of Djourou, we’ll never see him in an Arsenal shirt again, having said that we may never see him in a Milan shirt either!
August 28, 2008 at 11:30 am
My interest was in your ‘Tag’ finest.
August 28, 2008 at 11:31 am
They only got Flamini because his contract expired, from January onwards he was free to speak to other clubs about contracts.
Senderos is under contract, if Milan want to buy him, same deal as with Adebayor, put a price tag on and see how willing they are to pay it, and Milan don’t get ripped off…..they got Ronaldihno for 16m….what a coup…..they are shrewd businessmen, like Arsenal.
20 million for Senderos, that should make them lose interest. Erm, nope make that 25.
August 28, 2008 at 11:33 am
Steve, I was inspired by a line in Marabou Stork Nightmares by Irvine Welsh, it’s a good book, see if they’ve got it in your local library.
August 28, 2008 at 11:34 am
My point is he won’t want tocome back so Wenger won’t keep him, he’s not really on loan though is he.
August 28, 2008 at 11:35 am
I’m in prison finestcuts. The only literature I get is The Beano and Dandy.
August 28, 2008 at 11:35 am
Just been talking to a Spurs fan with contacts to the Board, who says that Veloso, Corluka and Arshavin are on their way to the Shithole, once Berbs signs for MU. Apparently Spurs are holding out for a large upfront payment.
That Spurs have the money is undoubted - they have a huge positive balance from their summer sales, and another £30 m from Berbs makes them cash rich.
Could this be true ? Well, they have only Dawson as backup CB, and King/Woodgate are severely injury prone. They sold Kachoul and Gardner, so there must be a replacement.
He also says that Pavlyuchenko is already bought, and should Arshavin eventually sign, then Bent is West Ham bound. Apparently Ramos thinks he is rubbish.
I realise this is just rumour, and that the only part of interest to us is the possible loss of signing Veloso. However, Ramos is a man with a mission, and Spurs would not make him the highest paid manager in the world (purportedly) if they were no going to give him the cash to create his own team.
So, if all this is true, (which is highly unlikely) I hope MU refuse to sign Berbs. Now that would be funny !
August 28, 2008 at 11:36 am
You’re allowed to use the net in the nick these days Steve?
August 28, 2008 at 11:37 am
Read my comment at 10.18 Geoff. Arsenal wouldn’t have inserted the clause if they had no interest in recalling the boy.
August 28, 2008 at 11:38 am
Do you believe that though Steve? good joke by the way.
August 28, 2008 at 11:38 am
Yeah, they let me out for all home games as extra punishment too.
Only kidding mate, i’ll give it a try. I’m partial to a good read myself.
Anyway, i’m off to get pissed. Have fun Gooner Grovers.
August 28, 2008 at 11:40 am
I’m off for a while too.
August 28, 2008 at 11:40 am
I suppose you could if you have a phone with the net on, just ask someone to bring it to you on visiting day, it’s a good book.
August 28, 2008 at 11:40 am
It does make sense Geoff when you consider the age of Gallas and Silvestre. Maybe Wenger sees it as a no lose situation.
Anyway, I really must get pissed now. Adios.
August 28, 2008 at 11:42 am
LOL, good one Steve…..I wasn’t sure for a minute, you can get allsorts smuggled into prisons&