Porto in the Carling Cup tonight. Big game little team.

by & filed under Uncategorized.

Ok you could be forgiven thinking we are playing in the Carling cup tonight, Simpson, Merida, Hoyte, Ramsey, Randall, Gibbs and Ramsey all look set to start and the experience of Gallas and Diaby to give the team some bite.

I can’t wait to be honest, I said earlier in the season that the younger kids showed more fight than the older kids and if he plays Eboue the oppressed and Bendtner the big head, he will have two players with a point to prove as well.

I hope they play like they did at Wigan, the cup game not the league one and run at them with no fear. If they do I can see a famous win on it’s way, but this time Niklas you need to take your chances, you won’t get as many as you did at Burnley and I think you are being watched now, on the clock so to speak, so time is not on your side, I’m backing you do prove us all wrong.

I think Wenger needs to have a doctor look over his next signings (If indeed there are any ever again) In the 12 years of Arsene Wenger’s reign I would bet Ethan’s house (again) that we have had more injuries than any team in football history… coincidence???

The other thing that gets me is resting key players; I always thought that top players wanted Champions league football? I thought that’s why they signed for clubs, so I can’t work out why we are resting Ade, why he isn’t gagging for it?

The injury list is impressive, with Nasri, Cesc, Robin, Kolo and Sagna all injured, funny apart from Nasri, they all looked fine to me on Saturday, let’s hope they’re back for the Boro game.

Yesterday we heard of the tragic and untimely death of Stonroy’s sister, Stonroy is a Grover, we were all very sad to hear that, but touched that Arsene wrote to her son and had the team all sign a poster, so Stonroy our thoughts are with you but your team is too. Nice to hear that.

So tonight expectations with a team of kids are low but I am strangely confident, I watched the Chavs scrape through last night, if they can win anyone can.

Remember the motto Concordia la di da di da, translated it means in God we trust, the kids will deliver, tonight is their night, go get ‘em boys – 2 nil the Arsenal.

1,392 Responses to “Porto in the Carling Cup tonight. Big game little team.”

Jump to comment form ↓

  8. Spike

    One intersting point tonight is
    Who will be the captain as Cesc is not playing ??
    I don’t remember Wenger saying who was the vice-captian… (apart from Kolo for William…)

  9. Big Raddy

    It does seem strange that AW is going with such a young team. Surely he knows the importance of topping the league ?

    Hopefully, he will have a bench full of experience in case the worst happens. Or perhaps he beieves Porto are poor, based upon the drubbing we gave them at THOF.

  11. Evo in Oz

    i want to say to Stonroy deepest sympathies mate, hopefully the gooners spirit can get you through in your time of need!

  13. Pedro

    Top post Geoff!

    I read Simpson has been offered a new deal at the club, I’d love to have a good old fashioned English striker playing for the club. It’s nice when a gooner breaks through because you know how much it means to them!

    2-0 to us!

  18. Mark C

    I agree there are a few players with something to prove.

    There needs to be a proper team performance.

    Wenger needs to give the boys a chance.

    Play everyone in they natural positions.

    Yeah I think a 4 5 1 will suit what we need to do.

    We need to have pace on the break so look for some impact play from Vela (if he starts)

    C’mon the reds.

  19. Evo in Oz

    any1 know if Aliadiere is fit and ready to stuff us on Saturday? its the early kick off for us here, so if he is fit and ready im gunning for a resilient performance from us and a pumping of sorts, we really need a morale boosting pumping!

    any1 keen for that?

  20. finestcuts

    Spike, two possibilities, Silvestre or Almunia.
    I hope Cesc recovers for Saturday.
    Can’t wait to see the lineup, score prediction, Porto 0 Arsenal 1.

  24. maqitlarge

    I’m amazed. I just read in the Metro this morning Wenger’s comments about us the fans.
    He was bascially saying don’t boo within the 90 minutes of a game yadda yadda yadda. We’ve all covered that.
    But more importantly he said how lucky we are to have such a young, talented team. No argument there Arsene, however, he did insinuate that we’d be challenging for trophys which in itself says it all. You wouldn’t have to insinuate if it were realiity.

    But I’d feel a whole lote more lucky if he used some of that money we give the club every year to BUY SOME FUCKNIG EXPERIENCED PLAYERS IN POSITIONS WE NEED THEM IN, WHO AREN’T FUCKING INJURED!!!!!!

    He also said the Eboue thing was the media’s fault.

    ARSENE, ARE YOU HAVING A FUCKING LAUGH???

    Did the media make Eboue cheat, dive, feign injury, tackle team mates and pass to opponents as well as be an al round odious SOB??!! No they didn’t. You didn’t either but you’ve clearly done nothing to change him. AND ITS ALSO YOU WHO KEEP FUCKING PLAYING HIMEVEN THOUGH HE CONSISTENTLY UNDERPERFORMS. Anyone would think you’re running a child care department at a local council!!! (Not far off actually – haha)

    Arsene, give us the players we fucking deserve mate, then feel lucky.

  27. arsenalised

    Hey guys had an argument with a manc friend of mine and he says rooney is a better player overall than ade and i told him ade is the better player because rooney will never outscore ade,they are both strikers.

    what does rooney have that makes him more valuable than ade?because i dont see it

    my question is would any of you take rooney and discard ade.

  29. gooner 2

    let’ s hope that rambo can get some time to show we need him on the pitch more often, that djourou shows he is the one and the others can battle it out for the place next to him, that vela shows he is scoring so often he can’t be overlooked much longer, that eboooe shows he got the message in a big way, that jackie boy gets a half our to delight us once more

  32. Franchise

    Pedro i was just going thru the posts ystdy and it seems like naijagunner launched an attack on me. what was it all about? im keen to find out

  33. Mark C

    I just read the article from the telegraph

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/3699633/Djourou-leads-Arsenals-Champions-League-campaign-with-impressive-record-Football.html

    All our players are out injured.

    I thought Fabregas, Sagna, Kolo, Clichy, RVP and Adebayor were all being rested, but only Adebayor is being rested.

    RVP for a few weeks?

    Hope not we need him against Liverpool.

    The squad we have taken is the strongest we have according to Wenger except Adebayor. God help us.

  36. Pedro

    Franchise, his comment after I blocked him was:

    am an akb
    am an akb
    am an akb
    am an akb
    am an akb

    You don’t need to take a moron like that seriously…

  37. PDT (easier to spell than PRoDarTee)

    Stonroy, heartfelt condolences. Hope the team puts in an outstanding performance to cheer you.

  41. Evo in Oz

    yep fire up the TVU for the live stream if you have the time! i would be if work wasnt getting in the way on this occassion. Just use the usual sites for the streams!

  42. kelsey

    good mornig all , and condolences to stonroy’s sister above anythinh else.

    i quote from our manager

    Arsène Wenger says he would feel “guilty” if Arsenal did not win Champions League Group G and ended up with a tough draw in the Knockout Round.

    So the buck is firmly with him,and i also don’t believe all our regulars are injured except nasri.

    Attack wise we are lightweight and i would like to see simpson start with vela and bedntner on the bench(but that wont happen)Porto are no great shakes but what we saw at the emirates will be different on their home ground.lets hope for a win,a drwa more likely and a loss unthinkable.

  43. Rasputin

    Morning Grovers – excellent post Geoff

    I’ve been very positive about our results recently, but I fear we will lose tonight. I’m sure we will put on a good performance but they will be strong at home and want to make a point after the drubbing received at the Emirates. It wouldn’t be the end of the world as all the teams left in the CL will be strong and I can’t see much of a difference between those like ly to win their groups or come second. I hope I’m wrong but it’s a bit like losing in the CC game -I’d swap it for a win in the prem at the weekend.

  45. PDT (easier to spell than PRoDarTee)

    I hope we win big in style tomorrow, so we can talk about the potential of this team and who will make it to the first XI next year…..

  47. stonroy

    Thanks everyone, it’s very much appreciated by all of you. It is a special thing to belong to such a family, even though we go through these tough times we should consider ourselves extremely lucky to be with the Arsenal. My nephew receiving such a heartfelt letter from AW was even more special because my other nephew is a Man Utd supporter (god knows I have tried to change his mind) they responded with nought! Nothing! Except a list of requirements that you have to do in order for possibly something to happen. It shows me that when the trophies have come and gone our club is a family and we stand for more, and because of that I think we will always be a powerful force. Sounds dramatic, but I believe it to be true. Have a great day Grovers.

  49. PDT

    I am looking forward to seeing the midfield of Wilshere and Ramsey firing tonight. I hope he starts Vela and Bendtner in a 4-4-2 to play for a win. Porto will come at us from the start and that will give our kids the space to play.

    I don’t know if I am a hopeless optimist, but I know I could use some cheering up.

  50. Queen of Suburbia

    Wenger has done this before and its come back and bit him. You’d think the manager who went on long winning streaks and an invincible season would understand that winning is a habit to be nurtured whether it’s the Carling Cup, the FA Cup, the Champs League or even the after training Pool tournament!

  54. dennisdamenace

    Let’s be honest here, the only person or persons who should be boo’d are the fecker(s) who are making/enforcing this ludicrous transfer policy, whoever they may be……..

  57. Arsenal Tom

    morning ddm, spot on mate… or whoever the mental case is that agrees with wenger when he says ‘i think this squad is strong enough’

    im hoping for diaby to put in a real vieira performance tonight in CM.

    porto only need a draw to qualify to so i reckon they’ll take it easy, finishing 1st/2nd doesnt look like it’s gonna make a huge difference this year with who you can get

  59. Franchise

    More crap from Arsene

    Arsene Wenger last night urged Arsenal supporters not to boo their own players in the wake of the Emmanuel Eboue affair.

    But the Gunners manager risked controversy by blaming the media for creating the ‘scepticism’ which saw Eboue hounded by his own fans in last Saturday’s win over Wigan.

    Confirming the Ivory Coast player will start tonight’s Group G tie away to Porto, Wenger said: ‘He’s completely in the right frame of mind.

    But turning his thoughts back to Saturday, he added: ‘You want your fans to be behind the team for 90 minutes. After the game, everyone is entitled to have an opinion. But no matter what happens you still want your fans to be behind the team during the 90 minutes.’

    But Wenger, whose side have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, then insisted the media had to share the blame for Eboue’s treatment, saying: ‘They [the fans] have been swayed by the scepticism from the media which has affected their belief, which can have consequences on the team.

    ‘They’re lucky to have a young team with a magnificent talent who can do extremely well.’

  61. gnarleygeorge9

    When was the last time anyone saw The Arsenal players absolutely fucked/spent/exhausted after a game. When the final whistle blows they are usually about the opo players etc swapping shirts & having a good old time.

  64. Pedro

    … and those young players are lucky they are given a chance to play at 18 at a top 4 club and get paid extortionate wages for the pleasure!

  65. Franchise

    The fans have been swayed by the scepticism from the media which has affected their belief, which can have consequences on the team.

  66. gnarleygeorge9

    …….I want to see or here of players lying on the ground after giving their all, or throwing pizzas in the tunnel @ the yobo opo.

  67. maqitlarge

    Arsene Wenger last night urged Arsenal supporters not to boo their own players in the wake of the Emmanuel Eboue affair.
    But the Gunners manager risked controversy by blaming the media for creating the ‘scepticism’ which saw Eboue hounded by his own fans in last Saturday’s win over Wigan.

    Confirming the Ivory Coast player will start tonight’s Group G tie away to Porto, Wenger said: ‘He’s completely in the right frame of mind.

    But turning his thoughts back to Saturday, he added: ‘You want your fans to be behind the team for 90 minutes. After the game, everyone is entitled to have an opinion. But no matter what happens you still want your fans to be behind the team during the 90 minutes.’

    But Wenger, whose side have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, then insisted the media had to share the blame for Eboue’s treatment, saying: ‘They [the fans] have been swayed by the scepticism from the media which has affected their belief, which can have consequences on the team.

    ‘They’re lucky to have a young team with a magnificent talent who can do extremely well.’

  68. Franchise

    Arsene is beginning to loose it mentally that is the worst Ive heard from him in his 12 years at Arsenal. 100% bullshit

  73. kelsey

    thought for the day

    One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a
    well. The animal cried piteously for hours as
    the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

    Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the
    well needed to be covered up anyway;
    it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

    He invited all his neighbours to come over and
    help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began
    to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the
    donkey realized what was happening and cried
    horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement he
    quieted down.

    A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
    looked down the well. He was astonished at what
    he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his
    back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
    He would shake it off and take a step up.

    As the farmer’s neighbours continued to shovel
    dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it
    off and take a step up..

    Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey
    stepped up over the edge of the well and
    happily trotted off!

    Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds
    of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well
    is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
    our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out
    of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
    never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

    Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

    Free your heart from hatred – Forgive.

    Free your mind from worries – Most never happen.

    Live simply and appreciate what you have.

    Give more.

    Expect less.

    NOW …………

    Enough of that crap . … The donkey later came back,
    and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
    The gash from the bite got infected and
    the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

    MORAL FROM TODAY’S LESSON:

    When you do something wrong, and try to cover
    your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

    You have two choices…smile and close this
    page, or pass this along to someone else to
    spread the fun.

  76. maqitlarge

    because we’re so stupid we think what the media tells us.

    Nothing to do with what we’ve seen with our own eyes concerning Eboue over that last few years.

    Wenger has to be VERY careful here! If he’d rather stand by these sub-standard players than than the fans then’s he’s in dangerous waters!

  80. kelsey

    Last night, my Red Hat friends and I went to a Ladies Night Club. One of the girls wanted to impress the rest of us, so she pulled out a £10 note.
    When the male dancer came over to us, my friend licked the £10 note and stuck it to his bum cheek!

    Not to be outdone, another friend pulls out a £20 note.
    She called the guy back , licks the £20 note, and sticks it to his other bum cheek.

    In another attempt to impress the rest of us,
    my third friend pulls out a £50 note and calls the guy over, and licks the £50 note.
    I’m worried about the way things are going, but fortunately,
    she just stuck it to one of his bum cheeks again.
    My relief was short-lived.

    Seeing the way things are going, the guy races over to me. Now everyone’s attention is focused on me, and the guy is egging me on to try to top the £50. My brain was churning as I reached for my wallet.
    What could I do?

    The woman in me took over!
    I got out my ATM card, swiped it down the crack of his bum, grabbed the eighty quid, and left!!!!

  83. PDT

    Richard Williams in the Guardian…

    “We have all cursed players by whom we feel let down, sometimes on a regular basis. But as long as they are in our colours they remain our players, and it seems stupid to comfort the opposition by making public our internal disaffection. The behaviour of the Arsenal fans, however, appeared to be driven by something more than old-fashioned frustration. It was the self-expression of the new breed of football fan, with his £1,000 season ticket and his increasing sense of entitlement.

    What they did to Eboué is not as bad as filling a plastic cup with urine and pouring it on to the heads of away fans in the lower tier, or throwing coins at the opposition’s best striker, or engaging in pitched battles in the streets. But it is nasty, and it needs to be stopped.”

    Hmm…..

  84. dennisdamenace

    Comments like that are only gonna fuel the alienation that many of the Arsenal faithful feel towards Wenger. Rather than having a sly dig at us and blaming the media he should look at himself…….

  85. choy

    1. Manuel Almunia
    21. Lukasz Fabianski
    10. William Gallas
    18. Mikael Silvestre
    40. Kieran Gibbs
    41. Gavin Hoyte
    27. Emmanuel Eboue
    20. Johan Djourou
    17. Alex Song
    15. Denilson
    16. Aaron Ramsey
    47. Mark Randall
    2. Abou Diaby
    43. Fran Merida
    19. Jack Wilshere
    26. Nicklas Bendtner
    12. Carlos Vela
    50. Jay Simpson

    what is the team going to be grovers? from the above squad?

  86. Evo in Oz

    throwing pizzas in the tunnel is fine by me as long as it is at the right persons head! Soup inlcuded!

    surely that couldnt have been the food they served up on the day?

  91. Cesc Is God

    Did you think Ade was totally comitted at the weekend. I was there and I thought his attitude stunk at times. He still scored 1 and hit the post though, so it is easy to forgive his attitude.

  92. Arsenal Tom

    almunia
    JD, silv, Gallas, Gibbs
    Denilson, Song, Diaby, Ramsey
    Vela, Nik

    thats just being realistic. we need to be strong at the back first… if we dont concede we cant loose!!!

  93. Queen of Suburbia

    Ade clearly thinks he’s a star. You can see it in how his workrate and attitude has changed.

    To be fair, with Henry, attitude turned very good player into an exceptional one so maybe a bit of arrogance isn’t always a bad thing.

    But win something first eh Ade?

  95. dennisdamenace

    Also, after having it on very good authority (again) that AW has no money, is SERIOUSLY pissed off with things at the club, with the way that board members are lying to the press/us about the money and is only still here because of the affinity/loyalty he feels towards his young players…………Well i say resign then! Surely just the threat of a resignation would ‘suddenly’ free-up funds for him. Even this fucked up board have to appreciate that only AW can get enough outta this average bunch of players to get the club into the ECL to top up the cash reserves……………Personally i don’t know what to believe, but i believe that’s exactly what the board wants, confusion and uncertainty, that way nobody gives then a hard time, AW takes all the flak……….

  97. Pedro

    Love it:

    ‘Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue is on the brink of quitting the club after his barracking by Gunners fans.’

    Followed by the real reason…

    ‘But the Ivory Coast international, also frustrated at his lack of starts since the signing of Bacary Sagna at rightback last season’

  99. Arsenal Tom

    choy… i forgot all about the pass master!! criminal i know!!!

    maybe him at RB then… or RM with denilson getting a rest and ramsey on the right, he’d at least add a bit of pace in the midfield if he played

  101. Queen of Suburbia

    I can’t see us playing 4-4-2 Tom.. I suspect he’ll line up with 5 in the middle but perhaps with Vela wide left?

    My head is telling me he’ll play:

    Alum
    JD, Gallas, Silv, Gibbs
    Song
    Denilson, Ramsey, Vela
    Diaby
    Bendtner

    Sort of like a Diamond formation?

  105. Geoff

    Good news at last then! Morning all. All this we are lucky shit from Wenger shows me he now firmly believes in his own publicity.

  107. Arsenal Tom

    DDM, all good in the hood mate, u?

    if what u said about funds is true then he should call their bluff… if they say fine go, then he says to the press and fans ‘im sorry but i cant do this job with no money and its not fair you are lied to’ then he’d get everyone’s respect back straight away. the board would never let him go and if he does want money then he’d get it.

    he’s got too much respect though so it’ll never happen

  109. Franchise

    the other day he comes up with crap like he wants to make £30 million profit again this season. How does he want to achieve that by selling his best players again. Im findind Arsene increasingly strange. I dont get him anymore

  112. Mark C

    AT re the prices for the FA Cup.

    I think Plymouth have asked us to keep the prices high, as they take 1/2 of the gate money.

    Spurs did the same last season in the CC Cup.

    GREED.

  113. dennisdamenace

    “The fans are lucky”……….yeh right, that’s what i tell myself every fucking time these overpaid, overrated prima donnas lose to the likes of Hull, Fulham etc and we watch our EPL title hopes go down the shitter…………fuckwit comment No.437 by our glorious leader!

  114. rico01

    Morning All

    Good post Geoff, and my heart goes out to you stonroy, your sister will look over you and look after you, she will never be far away……

  115. Franchise

    we all know the media or most of it anyway hate arsenal but my skepticism is not caused by the media. Denilson in RM, Song as a starter, loosing five league games 2 to promoted sides 2 at home, Flam+Hleb+Gilberto+Diarra departure, zilch silverware since 2005, plans to make more profit from player sales, lack of spending, reduction in the gulf in quality between our side and the likes of villa, everton, mancity etc etc etc that is what is creating my skepticism

  116. Queen of Suburbia

    We’ve got money – we know there is an option of around £70m as a loan for signings should we need it.

    That provision was made public.

    We also know he tried to sign players on deadline day – why would he do that if we had no money?

  117. Arsenal Tom

    QofS… id like to see vela get a run out however we play, he shouldn’t have a problem with porto cos he’ll be used to their style from playing in spain.

    you forgot the pass master aswell!!! great minds and all that!!

  121. Odub

    THEY’RE LUCKY TO HAVE A YOUNG TEAM WITH A MAGNIFICENT TALENT THAT CAN DO EXTREMELY WELL!!!

    Please give me a minute while I push back my chair, put my head back and laugh out loud!!! :lol:

    The king of spin is back on form!!!

    What a load of absolute BS!

    Lucky?! Lucky?!

    I’ll give you lucky mate!

    You’re lucky to be managing one of the greatest clubs in the history of football
    You’re lucky to have a board that keeps letting you indulge in your yoof experiment
    You’re lucky to have a fan base that has taken this long to lose patience with you!!

    That’s lucky PUNK!

  123. kenny smith

    im not even going to try predict what team wenger puts out tonight because its impossible!!!!!

    So ill give u my own team i would play….. i herd wenger say on an interview on 5 live that eboue will play right back so im going for.

    ———–Almunia————–

    Eboue—-JD—-Gallas—-Silvestre

    LJW–Diaby–Ramsey–Merida

    —–Simpson—-Vela—–

    I know he will start bendtner infront of simpson but after bendtners last performance i cant justify his role tonight.

  124. Franchise

    Keyser its the real franchise. Im not overreacting. I watch my beloved Arsenal and I laugh sarcastically. Statements like i want to make more profit and the fans are lucky to support this team blows things even more out of proportion. We are left in the dark too many a times by Arsene. He is even becoming stranger to understand

  125. Arsenal Tom

    mark.. i think its far too much…my missus wants to go to a game (shes not keen on a late mid-week one) and thought that’d be a good chance to take her to a 3.00pm game without getting screwed for silly money!! stupid me!!

    he wont play the first team and i doubt we’ll have any new signings by then, fuck plymouth what have they done for us? we should let them charge what they want for tickets and so will we.

    maybe im just tight!

  126. dennisdamenace

    ATom – Excellent mate, just got back from NY to a world of angst and pain, all brought on by those who ‘run’ our club.

    Also, i totally agree, someone is spinning us a line. Because this experiment/policy call it what you will is so obviously not working, yet it still goes on. And, if this person is correct Man Citeh are waiting in the wings as AW is their number one target and have offered a HUGE sum for him. Personally, i think he should threaten the board, they’d shit themselves. So, he’d ever stay and have some funds or he’d go and take that fucking slug Song with him. Everyone’s a winnre!

  127. Mark C

    For Arsenal to make a 30 mill profit does not depend on us selling our best players.

    The way we do that, is by increasing turnover, i.e. match day revenue, TV revenue.

    If you win a CL game, you get something like 500K
    Reaching the later stages you also get more dosh.
    Being at the top of the table means you get dosh from TV Companies.

    It is not all about buying and selling. However he does like to develop a player, and then sell him on. We have made a tidy amount with re-sale clauses in Bentley’s contract, Pennant, and Muamba.

  129. Keyser

    Franchise – My Skepticism is not fueled by the media either, it’s just Boy Better Know has actually shown some positivity, he’s still pretty depressing but it seems like you’ve taken his mantle with the sort of aplomb that would make the Old Boy Better Know proud.

    What’s even odder, that this comes after we’ve Won a couple of game, one of them being against Chelsea.

    Hmm very suspicious..

  130. gazzap

    Van Persie could be out for two to three weeks with what Wenger described as “a little stiffness”. How can somebody be stiff for 3 weeks? Poor bloke.

  131. Franchise

    Keyser what is the priority of the club cos its definitely not the CL and Premiership as Wenger keeps claiming. This was the bull shit he came up with the other day

    “I think, in the end, what I’ve done is right,” he said.

    “I believe that the job of a real manager is to try to be successful with the financial respect of a balanced budget.

    “I am proud of the fact that we made £30million profit last season and I will try to make sure we do the same this year.

    “People don’t seem to understand that spending £50-£60million doesn’t make you stable. In fact, it puts you in a financially weak position. Some people say that to win they are prepared to make their club explode.

    “Here at Arsenal we have two important strengths.

    “We have a very young team, which is also very promising and we have a 21st-century stadium and training facilities. We are also in a strong financial position at the moment.

  132. Keyser

    gazzap – Where did you read that ? It says Van persie should be ok for Saturday ?!

    Franchise – What’s wrong with that ? Why is it bullshit ?!

  133. dennisdamenace

    So, the manager of a professional football club is actually more interested in generating an obscene profit rather than actually winning some silverwear. Because my friends you can’t have both. But to all our AKB fuckwits out there, having £30m, £70m or £90m in the bank isn’t gonna score the winner tonight against Porto!

  134. Arsenal Tom

    DDM, lol… the slug! if only mate!

    id love to know what goes on behind the scenes, do they say…

    ‘you’ve got 10 mil if u need it but see what u can do’
    or

    ‘you’ve got 30mil or whatever you want, just let us know what or who you need’

    i actually hope its the club holding out on him otherwise i think he’s gone too far and needs to reigned back in. he’s proved he doesnt need huge money to sign good players (eddie, sagna most recently) so it’s a real weird one to try and fingure out

  135. Franchise

    Keyser my fear is that even if we cope until January Arsene would not build on that by signing the players we so obviously need. He might come up with mo bullshit like I told u the quality was there. Then come Feb,March we might be out of contention again

  136. gazzap

    I think wenger will want to play 4-5-1 with Nik lone man. that throws into doubt whether Vela will play at all. if he does it could well be as a winger.

    we have a number of players who could play out wide -
    Diaby, Denilson, Vela, Simpson, Wilshere and Merida.

    Ramsey is certain to start.

    My personal choice would be

    Almunia/Fabi
    Eboue Djourou Gallas Silvestre
    ————Song
    ——- Ramsey Diaby
    Simpson—————-Vela
    ———-Bendtner

  138. avenell

    Morning Everyone..

    Stonroy.. Best Wishes to you and your family at a very sad time.

    I hope those little boys grow up in way that would have made there mum proud.

    and nice story about Arsene, even if people want him sacked. some of the things he gets called he doesn’t deserve, he is a busy man and that was a super gesture..

  140. Maciek

    Hello.
    First of all- Odub You are 100% SPOT ON. He is very lucky to be where he is, and he is arrogant. Let’t face it- he is past his best as our manager. I think we will lose tonight, so 2dn place in our group is a huge possibility. Also- when will the CL draw take place?

  141. Franchise

    Keyser how does he expect to make £30 million without selling his best players again? Also if he signs what we need there is no chance in making a dime. Making such statements is what increases skepticismnot the media. We are the only team in the top 4 that is always in need to strengthen. Wonder why we have never won back to back titles??????? or anything since 2005 FA Cup???????

  142. gazzap

    Keyser thats what the Telegraph says but I think they made a mistake, I think they were talking about Nasri and RVP should be back on saturday. sloppy reporting.

  143. dennisdamenace

    So, he was proud that HE generated a £30m profit last year, funny that i thought that was down to us!! Why doesn’t he just apply for the financial director’s job then, and employ Van Basten to run the football team…………how can he think such a statement is gonna endear him to fans who struggle to find the money to follow their club!!!!

  145. Keyser

    Franchise – So we’re suddenly in contention now ? and that’s left you even more worried ?!

    We haven’t even got to January yet, we don’t know how this team would do, and then there’s a whole month for a Transfer wondow.

  147. Mark C

    Brighty – The Arsenal development company have done very well.

    Apart from the Highbury project, there were a number of other blocks of flats, that Arsenal JV’ed with, and took a good profit from.

    We have sold most of the flats, and we can rent out the ones that have not sold.

    We have plenty of cash in the bank, and plenty more coming in, we are very healthy.

  150. Brighty

    I don’t understand why you people don’t see it. To the old fogies on the board Arsenal is purely a business. The only reason they want CL qualification is for financial reasons. The only passion they have is economic. They couldn’t care less whether it is Lionel Messi running out for us or Alexander Song unless it takes money out of their pockets.
    It’s about time more people started getting behind the take over.
    The whole traditional Arsenal values vs evolution of football argument has tru;y come full circle.
    We can’t move on/compete without a takeover now.

Leave a Reply

    Fill in your details below or sign in here:

    Connect with Facebook

  • (will not be published)

First time commenters will go into moderation.


Jump to top ↑

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title="" rel=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>