My guess is he will put one of the youngsters in the middle to line up alongside Denilson, his choice will be Merida, Ramsey or Diaby, and my hunch is Diaby.
I’m not against it because I’ve always said Diaby is a class act in the middle and Wenger never plays him there so we’ll see.
Ramsey makes the bench and Merida doesn’t so my feeling is he won’t step up, but expect two new faces at the Grove in January, Nacer Barazite to come back from Derby and Traore to come back from Portsmouth and fill that troublesome left side of midfield.
And that is probably that my friends, no new signings, but at least Wenger will still get his no ‘spending the money’ bonus, so at least he’ll have a good Christmas, don’t forget that isn’t a fact, it’s just my opinion.
For the Villa game though I would give them a surprise, go at them from the start with pace but strangle the midfield.
This would be my line up.
Almunia (because we have no choice)
Sagna Djourou Gallas Gibbs
Nasri Ramsey (but we know it will be Song) Denilson Clichy (pace)
Diaby
RVP
I think that may unhinge them, they won’t be expecting it and we may just get a result, they rely on pace and if we put Clichy on the wing it may well confuse their wide men.
Tony Adams has said he is more Graham than Wenger and wants to manage the Arsenal one day, well done Tony, I wouldn’t want another Wenger (Post 2005) in my lifetime that’s for sure.
People will like you more in this t-shirt.
Today we have a competition and the prize is a ‘T’ shirt with the worlds favourite blog emblazoned on it and a hat, courtesy of our mate Avenell. So thanks for that Avenell, it was very thoughtful of you, have a great Christmas because someone that wins your prize certainly will.
All you have to do is answer two questions, I didn’t google these so nor should you.
Who succeeded George Graham as manager?
When that manager left Arsenal which club did he manage next?
Answers on an e-mail (comp@le-grove.co.uk)! The lines close at 1300, the winner will be announced tomorrow!
Have a great Christmas Eve Grovers, tomorrow is the big one!
Hi raif – not especially
you have a good one 
Merry Christmas Rico.
I would love to see more of Vela, especially on the Wing. I want to throw the TV out the window everytime I see Wenger put a CM out of position there when we have someone like Vela on the bench. Hopefully the build up of games will force Wenger to play him and he will have a performance that will make it impossible to drop him.
and to you pat
Have the best day you can Rico!!!
look forward to friday.. Then D. Villa should be here for you next week..
rico. yeah i am. as ive had 3 weeks off work thanks to the little nipper coming along. when it did
his also doing well i just gave him a bath, and his hair is all fluffy now so its perfect for me to give him a Mohawk
raif – how lovely for you all, glad all is now ok, be safe
ave – bless ya, you and all yours have a lovely time amoung the fields, and be safe where ever you travel – i will raise a glass for you tomorrow when i get home, tell your papa that i dont know him, but i wish him well….
kelsey – if you are reading – give that old poorly fella that barks a big kiss from me
Got to go now all, be safe and have a lovely day tomorrow, what ever tomorrow means to you, enjoy the day
TTFN
Hi all
Just checkin in to wish everyone a Happy Holiday time for the next couple of days.
Geoff and Pedro thankyou for providing this amazing therapy 24/7 for gooners happy or sad. We’re certainly going throught the mill at the moment. Looking forward to fridays game – go on gunners smash it please!!!!!
Special hellos to Rico, QOS, kelsey, Big Raddy, avenell, rasputin, wrighty7, bergie, JonJon, raif – new baby and the mummy and everyone else thats been here.
Enjoy yourselves – we’ll be moaning soon enough – lots of love, be safe xxx
Merry X-mas all!!
My Mrs got me some more merchandise which = Buy players with the money she spent AW u cunt!!!
By the way, love the Le Chump that sums that fucker up in one word = CUNT!!!
merry christmas peaches, all the best to you.
Peaches…. thanks for the personal mention it was real nice!!
Merry Christmas to you and the little peaches and all your family!
The Mighty ave
Merry Christmas Rob.. to you and your family.. ave.
merry xmas rob, may your days be merry and bright.
merry xmas howard webb, hope rudolph shits down your chimney you twunt.
Wilshere and Simpson to go on loan to the Baggies, according to rumors.
I have been calling for Vela to play on the wing for ages. What has always surprised me is how often I have been shouted down. The main reason people state is that he is not a winger; even though, he played on the wing for most of last season while on loan to Osasuna.
It seems so obvious that Vela should play there; I can only assume that the word “Wing” is causing the difference of opinion.
I see Vela’s role for Arsenal as that of Henry’s at Barça who, as we know, is part of a three pronged attack: Henry on the left Etoo in the centre and Messi on the right. So to get where I am coming from just change the three names for Vela, Adebayor and RVP, simple!
Nasri, albeit an excellent talent, is not fast enough to play on the wing and it was no coincidence that from being anonymous out there last week against Liverpool he came to life when forced to move more centrally to help cover for the loss of Cesc.
Now, unfortunately or fortunately injuries and suspensions are dictating that Wenger now has no choice but to play the speedy, goal hungry Mexican.
If we want fast flowing football we need our fastest most talented players on the pitch.
London, this season, Pep is using Messi right behind the strikers. He’s more central now.
Simon Mchahon,you refer to shandy drinking wankers who didn’t know what Arsenal was like pre Wenger;well here it is in a brief summary as far as I remember;
1980-1986 Under Don Howe we achieved fuck all although we did manage to get to 3 F.A Cup finals in a row 1978-1980,when we won 1 under Terry Neil.We played some shit football from 1981-1986 and never looked like winning the League…..oh and we got 14,000 against Coventry at home which was nice(I was one of the few that attended).So I certainly don’t want thos e days back.
1986-1992-these were very good years to be an Arsenal fan as George blended a mix of excellent defendinf with an exciting,attacking midfield and we won the League(amongst other trophies) twice in this period.
1992-1996…absolute shit football produced by a manager who should have used past successes and money earned from it to guide us to become the biggest club in England,instead he knicked the dough and we got fucking Ian Selley,Morrow,Jimmy Carter and many many more average players.
So please don’t insinuate that those of us who trust Arsene to produce have no idea what we are talking about because we “didn’t know what the old Arsenal were like”…Merry Christmas!
thanks peaches – you too fellow girlie, stay safe and enjoy the holiday
and i am definately off now – catch you all real soon
Pat
So would you say that Messi is playing just behind Etoo?
Messi drifts from left to right, wherver the action is. I also remember Pep saying that would be Messi’s role.
Evening Grovers!
Hope you all have a great Xmas!
Thanks Peaches hope you have a great xmas.
Merry Christmas to all my fellow Grovers!
I like the 4-3-3 formation.
Almunia
Sagna Gallas Djourou Clichy
Diaby Denilson Nasri
van Persie Adebayor Vela
Use this team while Cesc is out!
merry xmas wrighty mate
Hows things QoS?
merry xmas QOS
Hey Jonjon,
Have a good one matey!
What do you think of that team?
london, pat,
merry xmas
wrighty merry x-mas m8
jon jon merry x-mas m8
BBK, have a good one matey!
u 2 wrighty
Theres nothing but PURE Xmas love on Le Grove tonight!
Ha Ha
Merry Christmas everyone!
http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/December/24/arsenal-youngster-wilshere-to-join-west-bromwich-on-loan/
i was talking to a friend of mine earlier and he suggested a 433
that team would do a job easily, but will the stubborn one play vela??
i wish he would, a three pronged attack with the class of rvp, the unpredictablity of ade and the pace and goal threat from vela and we would be unplayable to most defences
id have rambo in for diaby though, that boys gone down in my estimation
Merry Xmas Pat!
BBK
merry xmas pal
im feeling it wrighty
I think that Diaby could become classy but he is no Vieira.
He only looks like Vieira!
It’s everywhere Jonjon!
Wishing a merry xmas to Song and Eboue as well!!
no disrespect to song and eboue but i hope santa drops alonso and ribery down our chimney and takes those two with him
How do you guys feel about Arshavin. He’s an immense talent, but I don’t think he’d do well in the PL.
arshavins a bit of a puzzle to me pat,
in that game against holland he tore them a new arsehole, but then he went missing the next game.
hes got ability, but can he do it in the PL game after game, 20mils a big big risk
and hes 27, i cant see wenger doing it for that price for a player who he’ll probably let leave on a free when hes 31
He’s looked good in the CL. He doesn’t guarantee goals. In Russia, he doesn’t have a great scoring record. BUT, he could carve open any defense, much like Hleb. And in all honesty, thats all we need. I think we have really good strikers(Ade and RVP), but at times this season, our midfield failed to create.
Dennis Bergkamp was 27 when he signed and we broke or equalled the British transfer record for him, we need to learn from that!
Joining Arsenal might get the best out of Arshavin. I say go for it. Things can’t get any worse than they are.
if wenger could strike a deal for him, say 10mil and bendtner then yes id take the gamble on him. 20mil no way.
but there was a rumour that rosicky was set to return mid to late jan,
i just hope wengers not relying on that as an excuse not to buy.
whether its arseshavings or anyone, we need new midfielders cos in the space of a year the most devastating midfield in the PL has disintergrated.
JonJon, where did you hear that? Arsenal.com said he was out till April at least, didn’t they?(regarding Rosicky)
i heard it about a week ago pat,
i posted a link on here at the time and the rumours were still circulating around for a few days after.
arsenal.com also said he’d be out 2 weeks and that was almost a year ago so i never really take anything they say as law either
Arsenal have been boosted by the news that midfielder Tomas Rosicky has returned to light training this week.
The Czech Republic ace has been struggling with a problematic hamstring injury but after undergoing further surgery in Germany, he is now on the road to recovery.
The midfielder still has a long way to go before he returns to first-team action but boss Arsene Wenger says he is moving in the right direction.
“We have to assess him to see how he has progressed and he should start training slowly again this week,” Wenger revealed. “First it will be a build up of his strength to get him outside and run a little bit at the beginning of January if it all goes well.”
“It’s a very rare injury so I think this will not happen again. I was very unlucky because I got a kick exactly on the place where the tendon joins to the bone, and then it came off the bone. They could see what had happened only when they opened my leg up in an operation, before that it was clear because on the scans it seemed that nothing had changed. I would try to come back and always break down so there was no option but to operate to see what was happening,” explained the twenty-seven year old who also says the frustration of the injury was unbearable.
“It was very strange because I tried to come back three or four times and always at the same point when I tried to sprint, I couldn’t. I’d try lots of other things like resting and various other methods but it didn’t work. It’s a pity it couldn’t be diagnosed before, but that’s life, and it’s not an injury that should give me problems in the future.”
For Rosicky, the rehabilitation with the Arsenal medical team has gone well since surgery and he has been able to start ball work earlier than he would have thought possible, which he says has been a bonus even though he was a little apprehensive at first.
“I’ve been doing some very easy work with the ball recently to get the feel for it again. When I saw the surgeon he told me that mechanically the leg is fine but it needs time to adjust.”
When Wenger analysed why Arsenal’s promising Premiership campaign faltered from March onwards last season, it was the Frenchman’s assertion that a combination of “bad luck and injuries,” came to prevent the Gunners claiming a fourth Premier League title. Rosicky was one of the casualties, as was Robin Van Persie and Eduardo. Van Persie had a good Euro 2008 with Holland and has already netted seven times this season. With the Eduardo return scheduled for later this month and Rosicky set to feature in Spring, the Gunners will feel they can be back on track and fighting at the top of the Premiership for another season insists the Czech.
“I think we must continue what we started last season. A lot of people are saying we have lost players, but we have (Samir) Nasri here to play a similar role to Alex Hleb for starters. I’m not too concerned, as it’s also a chance for people like Theo (Walcott) to push on as well. I don’t see a reason why we can’t do extremely well. I’ll be coming back, Eduardo will be coming back, the squad will be strong so why shouldn’t we challenge for the league again.”
Wenger will be hoping a fit Rosicky will boost a midfield that appears to be lacking in strength and that he will be able to improve on his seven goals scored last season. Alongside William Gallas, Rosicky will be one of the older players in a very young Gunners side, but says the midfielder that will be an advantage.
“ I’m quite a senior figure in the whole team now, I’m relatively old,” he smiles before adding: “I’ve been out for a long time and even when I’m back I must be physically to the top level. My experience can help the team, of course I’m aware of the responsibility that brings.”
The title run in could be pivotal for both Rosicky and Arsenal’s push for honours.
I hope we don’t get embarrassed at Villa
Pat;Merry Christmas,it seeems a while since we have had some positive news re injuries so let’s wish Thomas a speedier recovery than previously expected and it’s nice to actually know what the exact problem was.
paulinho i never had you down for watching the pickup artist
obviously none of those stupid twats on the show had ever heard about pattaya
well Merry Christmas lads .. im up 5.50 Christmas morning here ,30 minutes before the children laying down all the proof bearing signs that Santa’s been here !
Santa is probably still stuck at our international airport because of government protesters so i apologize in advance for any present delays you may experience .
drank the milk ! laid out the presents !
all traps laid
ANY NEWS ?
merry xmas ethan.. hows it going
Portsmouth are eyeing an �8 million swoop for France Under-21 ace and Arsenal target Blaise Matuidi.
Arsenal’s Jay Simpson is set to join West Brom on loan in January.
Arsene Wenger admits he may be forced to spend big in January. WHAAAOOOO!!!!!!!
Arsenal are set to step up their �10 million pursuit of Swiss international Goekhan Inler.
Jermaine Pennant has priced himself out of an incredible move to Real Madrid as his wage demands forced a �3.5million transfer to collapse last night.
# Lassana Diarra has confirmed he turned down a more lucrative offer from Manchester City before his move to Real Madrid.
# Arsenal have been put on alert after Charles N’Zogbia admitted he wants to leave Newcastle.
all set choy !
merry christmas mate !
Adams, whose side have shipped 15 goals in their last eight games, said: “The change of personnel does not help. The midfield from the FA Cup final has been pretty much ripped out.
“Pedro, Sulley and now Lassie have gone and that is the heart of your team and your protection for the defence. If you ripped them out of any squad they would struggle.
TELL ARSENE THAT FFS !
lets get adams !
please lets get him now !
i would take the risk !
dont let him get settled at pompy !
wenger gone crazy ! hes old anyway !
Adams has a brain ! if you read the rest of the article, i did,and liked what i heard !
and currently he would have to re gutt his team , he might as well do arsenals !
If you ripped them out of any squad they would struggle.
“But I will pick up the pieces, work with the lads here and try to get some results.
“I feel we have struggled with the balance of the squad all season, irrespective of who we have sold and I have been constantly looking for areas to strengthen.
“I would love to play the same XI week in, week out at the moment but that is not the case. I have not played the same team since I have been here and I would like to.
“I would love to have a settled back four, absolutely, the last clean sheet was against West Ham and we need to keep working.
“A settled midfield as well, that is just as important. At the moment though it is not happening.”
Adams believes his players owe it to the Fratton Park faithful to rediscover their winning habit against West Ham following a run of just two victories from their last 10 Barclays Premier League games.
The Pompey boss was left shell-shocked by the way his side started their encounter with Bolton last Saturday as they conceded two goals inside a shambolic opening three minutes.
Adams added: “It was very disappointing last week at Bolton and we need to try and put that right but I thought our fans were magnificent with the way they cheered the team.
“I cannot lie to them, they saw for themselves how badly we started the game against Bolton and it would be wrong of the manager to say anything different.
“I am looking for a reaction. I am looking for a bit of spirit and a positive result against West Ham.”
Adams has resisted the temptation to send promising Irish youngster Marc Wilson out on loan to Coca-Cola Championship Watford.
Wilson, 21, made his full debut for the 3-0 UEFA Cup win over Heerenveen and Adams admits the Republic of Ireland Under-21 utility man is close to more regular first team action.
Adams said: “Marc is too close to the team at the moment to loan him out.
“I thought he did well against Heerenveen and we cannot keep a clean sheet so it would be foolish of me as a manager to let him go out just yet.”
ATLEAST HE WONT LIE TO HIS FANS !!!
i like it !
Ethan, Surely you mean as Wengers no2 because it would be crazy to appoint TA as manager. Some day yes, but wait for him to prove himself at Pompey first. He isnt doing to well so far but hopefully he will turn things around.
12:01 Merry Christmas JonJon.
MARRY XMAS LE GROVE.
Merry Xmas to all at Le Grove
Just finished doing all teh clues to put round the house for the kids main presents.
Off to bed now and see you all after xmas
Cheers JonJon & Ave for the shout! hope ure lot are safe as well!
Sup Choyster!>?
Ive been in the “Mysterious Punch” im on my way to being one merry motherfucker!
MEEEERRYYYY CHRISTMAS LE’GROVE
yes yes BBK. Merry Xmas mate
Male Voice*******
2:08 A M in the Le-grove Comments Section…….
Raif is By Himself and wondering if there is anybody else still up to comment with??
the wait continues………
Big Brother Male Voice Guy***
2:43 A M…. Raif Goes to Bed!!!!!
merry x mas raif m8
merry christmas all
from the Great White North and it be well white at the moment
have a safe Merry Christmas Grovers
New post everyone!
Anyone’s kid get up earlier than 4.30????
Have a great Christmas everyone!!
happy xmas to le grovers,
I might not agree with alot i read on this blog (though if im honest im starting 2 come right around on some points), but its always interesting and opinionated – and it stays arsenal related all day long,
so all the best ………………….feens
col
Arteta or Arshavin?
I will choose Arteta by a million mile.