Eddie Murphy once told a joke about how women use sex to keep you interested… I can’t remember how it went exactly… but I remember him saying how pretty women don’t put out for the first 6 months you start dating, leaving a man hanging… then when they actually do buckle… it’s like a starving man receiving a plain cracker… and it being the god damn tastiest cracker he ever did eat…
Is Arshavin our plain old cracker? Have we been starved of transfer action for so long that we truly believe this man is going to come over from an unproven league and cure all our ills? Honestly… I think we are in for a disappointment.
How many players come over from outside the league and settled immediately? How many players could be creative in our current midfield? It takes ten minutes to move the ball up the pitch… half the time the eventual pass to a creative man is misplace… and even then, our strikers struggle to finish. Jeez… even Cesc could only manage 3 assists in 15 games this year.
Today’s team was short of ideas, short of drive and short of quality. There is no way of sugar coating the performance, because it was no different to the last ten games. Loads of sideways movement, loads of misplaced passes and loads of shot shyness. Long gone are the days of a busy Mr Green… he could have pulled up a portable DVD player and watched his movie of choice for an hour and a half, knowing he’d only have to get up once or twice.
I’ve got no passion for today’s match report (Well, that’s a lie… but you get what I mean)… because I’ve written it 15 times already this season. There is no anger on my part… just acceptance that we aren’t that good, and the coach isn’t really that fussed. Acceptance that the board have become so complacent… they also don’t really care, so long as they scramble 4th. Instead of trying to work out how they can increase gate numbers next year, they are looking at ways of softening the blow… and it’s all a bit disappointing.
When did we stop becoming a sports club? When did we decide that making money was our only objective?
I might as well go and support Microsoft or Coca Cola… they have the same goals as Arsenal… maximise revenue even if it is at the expense of the end product… get by doing the minimum.
Negatives:
Eboue:
A disgrace to the Arsenal shirt. He makes my blood boil… I really was chuffed to bits to see him get taken off because you know he didn’t really injure himself, don’t you? He’ll be back for Cardiff. For the 35 minutes he was on, he lost the ball nearly every time he was in possession… he started playing up front despite being right midfield… and he was feigning injury again.
Never, have I been so repulsed by an Arsenal player.
Diaby:
Ok, he hasn’t played that many games in the middle… but the games he has played, have been nothing short of terrible. For someone so big, he lacks any sort of power… which does make you wonder what he does in his spare time when injured. He seems to lack football intelligence… he receives the ball in a great positions, and doesn’t let go of it for an eternity (Or until he is dispossesed). I really thought he was going to give us a creative edge…
He is no solution for me… I’d like a player who is ready now… not in 3 years time.
How many times this season have we put forward an idea, only to be disappointed when Wenger actions it? Rambo, Eboue, Song… now Diaby…
Adebayor:
I used to love him… he was average from technical perspective, but he had heart. Where did it go? Where has his drive gone? At least when he was rubbish and poor (He only used to get £35k a week don’t you know?) he put it in for the team… now he seems to want everything gifted to him on a plate. He’s not being given the same service as he was last year, but that is no excuse. He has to try harder… if he doesn’t, I’d replace him with Nik.
Positives:
Nasri:
He looks a little fat to me… but hey, I’m no fitness expert. He is slow, but he does work the ball around very well. He tried his socks off today, and that is all I ask for as a fan. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the middle with Denilson.
Denilson:
I started the season wondering what he was all about… and now I am beginning to understand. He clears up defensively very well, he is a good basic passer of the ball and he has an eye for a cross. With the right players around him, he could become a very good player… and I do love his effort.
RVP:
Why he was started on the bench, I will never know… it was a weak decision… Ade should have been there. Robin is fast becoming Mr Arsenal and I love it… the fans love him and he loves us. If he continues on the same track… cult hero status is sure to follow. He was the only player to come over and acknowledge us at Goodision, and for that, I have the utmost respect.
Vela:
What! VELA! In the positives! But he was largely ineffective?
Indeed my friends… he was… but he hasn’t played for a while…
Give him the same chances Eboue has been given and I think you might find he is flying in a couple of weeks. How much worse can an off form Carlos Vela be compared to Emmanuel ’30 games, no goals, no assists’ Eboue?
Be patient guys… he could blossom!
There are clearly some positives… but by ignoring the negatives… Wenger is once again lining us up for a disappointing end to the season…
I love the guy… but I don’t feel he has any excuse for what is going on at the moment… West Ham came and played without fear… a familiar trait these days. Arsenal aren’t a pleasure at moment… and everyone can see it… when Arsene says we are only 2% away from competing dominating, I wonder if he is seeing the same glaring problems as we are?
I’m refusing the accept the injured players coming back line… big clubs have big competition for places. A kick up the arse is what most of our players need… and the kids coming through need to start learning off great players.
P.S. I briefly mentioned this in the comments yesterday.
Reading headlines like, ‘I hope we fail so the glory hunters go elsewhere’ is embarrassing.
If you asked a neutral who was worse… the fan who moaned because they wanted success so badly, or the fan who wanted failure for his club to stop the moaners… you know who they’d say was worse.
By failing, we would lose a chunk of our huge fanbase (Forget the Asian fans), lose all the trappings that go hand in hand with being a Champions League club (TV Revenue, shirt sales, seeing the best players in the world at the Emirates), we’d lose appeal amongst players, the next generation of Gooners and we would put our whole future in jeopardy… but hey, at least we’ll lose some of those glory hunters on the way… Hanging out in a half empty stadium that we’d struggle to afford, with people who were happier in the eighties sounds like a great laugh.
Any supporter who wants the above is in actual fact, not a supporter…they are an enemy of the club, and should be ashamed. Their is no room at the Emirates for failiure hunters…
Arshavin jets in for Gunners deal
Sun 01 Feb, 11:00 PM
Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin has reportedly travelled to London ahead of his proposed move to Emirates Stadium.It is believed Arshavin travelled by private jet from St Petersburg on Sunday night and is now waiting for Arsenal and Zenit to agree a fee before he undergoes a medical.
It is understood Arshavin did not want to miss out on a transfer to The Emirates for logistical reasons and decided to travel to London as a precaution in case a deal is agreed on Monday.
Zenit had previously said there was no change in developments after Arshavin left the club’s training camp in Dubai on Saturday.
The Gunners and Zenit have yet to agree a deal but Arshavin’s movements indicate a confidence that he expects a deal to be done before the closure of the transfer window on Monday.
Good one AK
Sounds like he is keen to get down to business. A brace @ spud park would be a nice intro to the Arsenal faithful. Chamone
Chamon indeed Gnarley…….
So i hear 5pm ure time is the end of the transfer window?
I doubt then arshavin is on his way
Gnarley: yeh we’ve got a heat wave over west too… BDO yesterday was killer, too fucking warm for it aye. and i was stuck in the -2 to 5 range for 2 weeks just 3 days ago..it’s kiling me.
And how many times have we heard via various news sources that Arshavin is flying into London, like every day for the last 3 or 4 days…i’ll believe it when he signs.
Or try this version:
Arshavin misses Arsenal medical due to London traffic jam
By 1970’s Gooner
Arshavin is in London and doing well.
There has been a lull of information coming out of either camp with the on going saga of Arshavin’s transfer to Arsenal. Some journalists have even questioned whether Arshavin has actually made his way to London to undergo his medical and sign the transfer papers.
Arshavin was not on the plane with the rest of his Zenit teammates when they returned from their winter tour of the Arab Emirates. He took a different route but with the same destination: The Emirates in London…
At the arrivals hall at Heathrow airport he was met with the Arsenal representatives but once they boarded the Arsenal mini bus they were stuck in the traffic jam around the airport and elsewhere in London, so the Russian press is reporting.
This meant that they were a number of hours late for their various appointments inclusive of the rigorous and lengthy medical check up that all football players have to go through.
But the good news is that everything is expected to be completed in time by tomorrow Monday 2nd of February when the transfer window closes.
Posted by Arsenal Analysis at 10:02 PM
Or his is expected to land today,but England is cut off from Europe due to blizzards,snow and ice and he can’t land
Andrei Arshavin is currently aboard a flight from Dubai heading for Heathrow airport, he is expected to land around 2pm. The reporter from Dubai, David Livingstone confirmed my observations earlier last Saturday, that Arshavin failed to play in any of the friendlies played by Zenit against Uzbekistan National team and he missed another game yesterday.
Arshavin checked out of his hotel at around 0630 Dubai time, and the flight will take a few hours but no doubt he will spotted hopefully making his way to London Colney for a medical and then the signing? When the details and transfer are completed and ONLY THEN will Arsenal Football Club formally post the announcement on it’s website. The conclusion of the deal within hours of the end of this transfer window must be a relief for all concerned. the player is rumoured to have given in to paying back 2.5 million Euros to Zenit St Petersburg, who’s reputation will have suffered because of the games they have played. When the supposed auction lost the interest of Man City, and Tottenham didn’t come back after their failed bid in the summer, Zenit had to swallow the harsh reality, accept the deal or lose the player under a webster in the Summer.
Rumours are the stuff of many deals, but it is hard to understand why this particular transfer generated so much heat and light. Arsene Wenger remained tight lipped throughout until the final days when he gave the first indication why Arsenal needed this Russian star.
“He’s a guy who can go past people in the final third,” said the manager. “He can have the key, individually and collectively.
“He is an experienced player, 27, a good age and we are a very young side. We will not have Fabregas in the next six to eight weeks, we will not have Walcott in the next five weeks, Rosicky in the next eight weeks.
“You can see with the replay of the FA Cup we have the desire to do well in every competition and one more body could help us.”
Even with 48 hrs to go before the end of the transfer window Arsene denied in a press conference that the club had applied for a work permit
Fucking heatwave, we’ve had about six inches of fucking snow here
I think the loose ends are being tied up now.
All parties involved have spent too much time on this for it not to happen.
We’ve been paying for it the most. It needs to end NOW!!
DDM yeh i came bac a couple of days and am devo to miss the snow coz i aint een any in like 6 years…altho i get the feeling that after about 2 mins i’d wish i wasnt in the snow…
ssn said in their paper review that a mystery prem club has come in for veloso. does anyone know what paper the article is in?
ARSHavin ARSEne ARSEnal ..
everyone has been talking A LOT OF ARSE this morning .
and may it long continue !
Chamone indeed !
Arshavin or not……….I still want a DM
iceman
id like wenger to stop being a retard and play kolo in that position !
give him a run there .. i think it would really add a spine to the defense ..
MERRY XMAS EVR’Y ONE!!!
LET IT SNOOOW , LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOOOW!!!
Just had confirmation from the Boss not to bother showing up at work so thats the best news since the Invincibles!!! lol
he wont do it thou .. as it will stunt the 3 or 2 blind mice ..
song – diaby and not including denilson . as he has promise but still isnt quite there ..
but if we used toure- denilson in rotation ,i dont see what the problem is !?
Ethan: i concur, Kolo should get a run at DM alongside Denilson. RVP and Vela playing right and left wing with nasri playing in the hole behind Bendtner/Adebayor.
Just a final word on the debate we had last night about the real truth about our finances.
I think the quote by Fizzmann that money was available meant yes we have money but don’t spend it arsene if you can manage with the kids,rejects,and injury prone older players.
benno
im sure way back then he was purchased as a DM ..
wenger just converted him so he got game ..
now bert-flamsters gone , he should come back into
the top of the defense and give him a run , eventually along side cesc .. its adds a bit of experience ..
and he doesnt need to be lightning quick if he is central , i think its a perfect way to solve a serious problem . and without cutting corners more importantly ..
Imagine if Arswaxin did score the winner this weekend
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, no work today whoo hoo….
LG might be quite busy today,as I just spoke to my son in London and nearly all schools and trains and buses are closed and people have been advised not to go to work,or literally can’t get to work.
anyone see on SSN that the Arshavin Rep’s approached Citeh to see if they wanted to make a last min bid?
This guys are a nightmare to do a deal with…
kelsey i concur completely ..
and you would be mad to not bankroll all available funds
and have them on ice ,in the event highbury does not sell as quickly as the board are saying they are !
because they know until theyve sold 100% occupancy
there is the potential to be left high and dry ..
Snow day on the transfer deadline day.
He may not support Arsenal anymore, but there is a God!!!
Snow?
Geezz it must be cold over there. Hope it stops by Tuesday so the Cardiff game isn’t postponed.
i just think if we had both Kolo and Denislon holding in a cm/dm position then it would give us more cover for the Sagna and clichy when they bombard forward and also if we get countered against, plus it would also allow more freedom to Nasri, RVP, Vela and Ade/Bendtner because they haven’t got to worry about defnding as much and can focus on creating chances.
And as you rightly say it adds experience to the spine of the team.
Ethan if he does that then his beloved Song doesn’t get to play.
Someone mentioned Sidwell not getting the chances that Song etc are getting….
He could have been like Flamini…..Sigh.
I hope for a major overhaul in the summer…..
snow ?
well its 37 degrees here and blue skys, mind you its like that more or less 365 days a year here !
everyone also stays home , because no one works here also
I don’t know why Wenger doesn’t try JD in midfield, that’s his preferred position, then we can bring in a world class CB
Hope its not snowing between Geoffs bedroom & his PC, the post might not get through either
Sparrow: we’ve finally started looking slightly more solid in defense since JD was moved there, and you want to take him out of the Defense? If we sign a world class CB, then JD should be playing next to him!!
Andrei Arshavin is reported to have travelled to London ahead of his proposed move to Arsenal.
With all the snow,the red & white; & travel reports/sightings, its sort of got a night before xmas sort of feel. Ho Ho Ho
Have the Spuds just re-signed Keane?
yes, iceman, apparently so.
Gnarley I made it in, don’t know how I’ll get back but the post is safe, I’ve never left a post behind, we go in together and we come out together!
Seriously what a joke of a football club…….
….And where the hell are they getting all the $$$$ from???
JUST OFF SKYSPORTS
arshavin is in north london, at the training ground.
hopefully we get him!
day off work snowed in woooop wooooop!
Geoff
You & the post are safe, thats great news, especially on a day that we finally get our man.
iceman
Tel Aviv?
Anyone know who won the Superbowl?
Is Arshavin seriously at the training ground????
Probably Gnarley……
But seriosuly we’re struggling to pay 15m for one of Europe’s top players and they’re throwing cash around for Palacios, paying twice the money they got Defoe for etc…..
WTF!!!
Morning Geoff and All
SSN also said that Bolton wont sign Veluso and a mystery premiership club are in for him .
Hope that is us !!
Lets all hope they are laundering money, get found out and are automatically relegated and they start in league 1 on a negative points total.
thats why 47 years becomes 48 years will become 49…50….51….52…..etc since they won The League
Stu
The lot who won it for the sixth time , some American team
It wasn’t the Arizona Cardinals.
Pittsburgh Stu
27 . 23
Morning Jules!
Thanks Jules, i couldnt stay awake for the final quarter.
just seen pictures of Arshavin in a hotel in Hertfordshire on skysportsnews, theyve talked to him, apparently he’s waiting for arsenal and zenit to agree a fee. once thats done he will hop over to have a medical and it’s done and dusted.
he did look a bit porky tho lol
p.s. morning grovers!
who said keane has gone back to spurs,i read liverpool wanted lennon in part exchange.
anyone confirm that please
nothing about that on SSN kelsey
Super Bowl?
Isn’t that the game that lasts 50 minutes, with 500 minutes of adds in between someone throwing a ball 10 metres to a bloke dressed like the Michelin Man
Geoff,
you will be pleased to know that it has been raining non stop here for 48 hours and we had hailstones last night.
Hi Geoff .
Know anything on this Veluso story mate ?
Kelsey……
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/spurs-clinch-pound15m-deal-for-keane-1523002.html
Well look on the brightside, a spanish team cannot hijack the deal now because all the airports runways are closed & he won’t be able to leave to country, so it’s either a London club or stay at Zenit. Actually I can see the FA having to extend the deadline for transfers due to this weather.
Apparently Arshavin’s advsiors have been desperately trying to get Man City to bid, is that because he does want to go there (would only be for money) or have they gone behind his back?
“I might as well go and support Microsoft or Coca Cola”
I’ve been off the scene for a while lads….the fact is we are all saying what we all knew to be a prblem from the start…”Song in midfield”…”Eboue” “diaby etcetc…we all said what we had to say about all this in pre sason, didn’t need to be a soothsayer to forsee what has happened. We all picked this!
Anyways…just wanted to say the above line really stood out for me….really rang true…..right or wrong this is how Arsenal are starting to make me feel. It’s been 26 long years since my first trip up to Highbury and when i hear my manager say “if we sign him or not, i’m not fussed”…or the chairman talks of how well we have done to beef up the books…..im just fed up and feel let down. I’ll continue to get up at 4am to watch game like this weekends, because no matter what, after AW and PHW i’ll still be here. Sort it out please.
Just seen live pictures of AA in an Hertfordshire hotel on SSN…..
NEW POST!
the baby faced assassin always looks a bit porky , he looks like a typical inbred russian ..
is that racist
?
but as long as he doesnt wear pink boots and can play in snow who cares
MBA
Your back, & so is NZ in the cricket
Sky Sports News’ Bryan Swanson has the day’s first news of Andre Arshavin. He has been spotted in Hertfordshire close to Arsenal’s London Colney training ground, fueling speculation he is closing in on a move to the Gunners. Sky Bet are pretty sure he will be an Arsenal player by the end of the day, rating him 1/8 to move to the Emirates.
GTV a company that has been airing the Premier League to Africa wound up on Friday last week.
They bought 80% of the rights to air EPL with DSTV getting 20% only.
Can anyone out there buy these right and make good money by buying the remaining 2 years.
HAPPY ARSHAVIN DAY TO YOU ALL GROOVERS!!!
Geoff, not to mention Usmanov lost a big chunk of his wealth…
A skint Oligarch wouldn’t have been good for business.
Great post by the way… this is something we should run with!
Haha just read the article about keane signing for spurs If this does happen it would be too hillarious. After signing defoe and chimbonda for more then they sold them who knows maybe this summer they will sign back robinson.