The Superstar has landed!
So it took forever but it has finally happened, just the delayed paperwork to go and it will be official this morning.
Well a day of rollercoaster emotions, he’s signed, no he hasn’t, yes he has, no, wait a minute he hasn’t, Jesus, how tight are we, we could have blown it for a couple of £mil, in stark contrast to the muppets up the road who spent another £43 million just like that.
Well they got someone that had rejected them plus two hopeless players and a crock, well for once and the first time since Dennis Bergkamp we have signed the real deal, the new Zidane, the new Bergkamp, the one and only ‘Andrei Arshavin’ I am so, so happy, at last something to look forward to that doesn’t have promise, he has class, skill and pace, he will be the one that knits this team together, dare I say it, ‘the messiah’ yes folks, I think he is that good!
If this didn’t happen I feel many of us would have not renewed their season tickets, me I have to say, included, it’s about time Arsenal spent our money, I wish we had signed Flamini back or any worthwhile defensive midfielder and a centre back, but hey! I’m thankful for small mercies, I can’t wait for the Tottenham game and I hope he plays.
Wenger will know doubt be crowing and this time I’ll join him because this is where our season begins.
Looking at the full picture, we could have this as our team before too long.
Fabianski
Sagna Kolo Gallas Clichy
Theo Cesc Arshavin Nasri
Robin Eduardo
With a bench of Alumunia, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Djourou, Adebayor.
Now that’s a team that can challenge on all fronts, you notice I left out Eboue , Song, Denilson and Diaby, well I would keep the last two and that’s it.
I know I also didn’t mention Bendtner but I didn’t have room.
People may think Arshavin will take time to settle but I don’t think so, I think first of all he’s from northern climes, he’s mega pissed off and he is a great, great player, he’ll slot straight in, I’ve not been this excited since we bought Charlie Nicholas, I am euphoric, yes that’s right euphoric, way to go Arsenal!
Maybe we can try Djourou as the defensive midfielder, but I still think he’ll try and get the Flamster in on loan, I would, that’s for sure, don’t forget we can get loanies at any time, if you are reading this Arsene, and I know the board do, pat yourself on the back and go out and bring Matty home.
Well done Arsene, well done the board and well done to the fans who brought this pressure on by letting them know how we feel at home games and by not turning up occasionally, it was the only way they would take notice.
Imagine, we got him cheaper than those twats from shite hart lane paid for Palacios, Keane or Defoe, what a bunch of no hopers, let’s show them how good they are by spanking them sideways on Sunday.
Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal!!! (that’s a Song)
Have a great day Grovers, today you’ll see the best looking Russian in history wearing an Arsenal shirt, how can this day get any better? …Well maybe the return of the Flamster!!!
fucking virgin broadband !! been offline for hours so I missed the 5 oclock celebration with my fellow grovers !!
so , a bit late but yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss !!
get in there Andrey . I love the guy already .
“im a gooner now ” , priceless .
I think ge will be good and as well as quick adn skillfull , he being russian is a little toughnut .
no euro poofyness .powerfull little player
pace and power . like we used to have , nice one arsene
Hi and goodbye wolski , catch up with you another time
Gunnerpress . have i missed anything mate ?
Appiah , other players etc ?
Jules – did you also miss Adrian Durham’s slandering of us??
goonerpress , sorry
Burnley 2-1 WBA(HALF TIME)Just seen Andre’s interview on Arsenal T.V,the bloke is already endearing himself to the Arsenal masses by quoting our triple title successes in the 30′s!He stated(in broken English) that he hoped to be fit in a week or so but his visa might be needed to soon for the Tottenham game.He was asked what it was he particularly liked about Arsenal and after talking about Arsene he mentioned that he particularly liked the free flowing football seen lately on our right side of modfield(known as “the golden triangle”)involving Eboue,Song and Bendtner!
yes Irish , what happened ?
George – he seems like a nice bloke doesn’t he? He’ll fit in well. He’ll be threading in some balls for RvP and Dudu to stick away, perhaps even Ade
Jules – No worries mate. Gooner, Gunner. Their both the same
Well I believe the Veloso deal is not an possibility now. Maybe in the summer, but definately not now. Appiah on the other hand has been linked with us today. I contacted his agent and they agreed to call me back. They didn’t so I e-mailed them. Please refer to my post at 8:32PM for the full story. I reckon their could be something in this link.
Heres hoping!
Jules – He said that there was something “untoward” about the way the deal was concluded and hinted it wasn’t done legally. He want’s proof from the PL that it is legit.
Is his face stuck in a wall legit enough??
I am delighted that Durham got his Anti-Arsenal head on, He is such a twat, If I was Wrighty I would have punched his face in by now.
But listening to him earlier, I just thought you sad old ginger twat, no one likes him, not even his mum.
And as for that 4sportsake advert, again Iain Spragg should have got his facts right. They are all so so jealous that their teams have either spent fuck all or spent fortunes on average players
Palacios 14m Defoe 15m Bent 16m Modric 16m Bentley 16m Pavlyuchenko 14m
Arshavin 12m Nasri 12m
Spuds = Easy Touch
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Iy2fwz1Hg
first interview
Even the Telegraph are at it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/4450857/Arsenal-bend-the-rules-to-land-Andrei-Arshavin.html
we didn’t bend any rules FFS
IrishGunner he looks exactly what we need(apart from a central midfieder ofcourse!)he is level headed,with two great feet,experienced and seems to talk more eloquently than some of our squad that have been with us for a few years now!He could be the attacking dimension we have been missing in midfield since Pires left…oh please!
irishgooner – Pay no attention, whatsoever, to Mr.Durham. He’s a worthless peice of shit! Who the hell is he to command proof from the PL!? Infact he can have all the proof he wants as we concluded the deal way before the 5PM deadline. He’s just a scared Chav/Manc/Spud (Whatever he is).
GP – He still has a punchable face. Not that I’d be much good at hitting him but I’m sure he’s a wimp
PTG, think it was actually more like £16.5m
oh I see , the usual anti afc jealous shit
ok , all the paper work , documents ,medical etc went in by 4 .30 pm yesterday , it was the premier league who took all day to ratify it .
so , Durham , shagg or whatever your name is and the telegrapgh ……………GO AND FUCK YOURSELVES !
Andrey is a gooner , …. I think they are a little bothered cos they know he is fucking good !
irishgunner – Yeah, I actually agree with you there. Not with the hitting part but the punchable face part!
. Im sure you could land a nice one straight on his nose. He shat it from Carra, although I do admit many people would shit it from him. Carra should have personally made his way to the station base and kicked the living fuck outta him.
Hello all. So……whats the sca!!
Andrie ‘the playmaking’ Giant (Referring to a past wrestlers name)
Andrei*
We’re going to have Aston Villa complaining like feckers when we overtake and leave ‘em for dust. It won’t matter cos what excuse will they have for Everton finishing ahead of them?
He is a fat ginger wimp Irish,
This will chear you up though, I think this summed up my reaction earlier,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjqkHxvNK0&feature=related
To see how fucking anti Arsenal a lot of the press are please refer to the sad Newsnight item run about 18 months ago that tried to insinuate that we had “dirty dealings”with Beveren…over Eboue!Even David Mellor belittled the research done on this programme as it tried to suggest that no club should have financial ties whatsoever with any other club that they could play in any competition…David Mellor pointed out that Roman Abromovich owned a team that Chelsea had just played in The C.L and the embarrassed interviewer ended the show pretty quickly but the fact the programme was aired or planned at all shows that a Spurs editor can get his way!
Hasn’t anybody ever wondered why David Dein was hounded out of his position at The FA by a Manchester United loving press(particularly The Mail)due to “conflicts of interst”only to be replaced by…David Gill…Rafa being the only one brave enough to bring this hypocracy to light.
Stu – did you hear the news?
irishgunner – Haha. I used to really like Aston Villa. I don’t really hate them now, but do dislike them. But hey, thats what competition does to a person.
George… you must have suspected something was up? He’s not Arsenal quality… yet he keeps getting played?
What does he know?
GP-Me too. Used to think they were ok but now they are getting above their station
I AM KING Says:
February 3, 2009 at 5:34 pm
also i think his chant should be:- TO THE TUNE OF HALLEYLUYAH
the tottenham wanted him to come
but he doesnt take it up the bum
and hes now wearing arsenals red and white
he’ll pass one man then pass some more
he’ll smash a shot a then he’ll score
he loves the arsenal until he dies
oh arshavin
oh arshavin
oh arshavin
oh arshhhhhaaaaaaaviiiiinnnnnn
_____________________________________________
Really original IAMKING, truly original… …don’t know if it will catch on, but nice work.
Pat – yeah
let’s all have a party la la la heh la la la heh
Im gunner say it now (see what i did there)
…AA for player of the year nexy season!!
So it’s Burnley at THOF in the next round of the FA Cup when we get rid of Cardiff, PAYBACK
Look, the fact is that the FA are all Manc loving wankers. The Press are also all Manc loving wankers. We are hated because we play football, as it should be played? We are hated because we don’t spend shitloads on players? We are hated because we make a lot of money? There are many reasons for which we are hated. It is true though, we are hated! It is all jealousy, every single bit of it. I personally don’t give a fuck. Arsenal FC is not for them, its for us.. The Gooners!!!
Hey I dont care Gambon, At least we paid what is probably valued at unlike Palacios, Bent etc
gambon – I do agree with you there. But lets not get carried away just yet. Anything can happen. Let the little man settle in and get used to the surroundings of a big club and big atmosphere. He will make it, 100%!
quality Patthegooner !
The thing that makes me laugh is that they crucified this club for bringing in a “foreign” manager and “foreign” players yet which club isn’t owned by foreigners??? – That would be us
Well I feel like I have been shagging my best friends wife for years and it’s finally out in the open!
R E L I E F !
currently I would go for a
———Almunia
Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Clichy
Arshavin-Nasri-Denilson-Vela
——–RVP—Nikki
but my money is on
———Almunia
Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Clichy
Eboue-Nasri-Song-Arshavin
——RVP-Adebayor
seriously the time has come for Eboue to play in the fucking reserves, no?
the thoughts of the best team are a tough one as we still need a keeper, cb and defensive mid to be a top team regardless of when all our super super signings get back.
If I still played Champ Manager;
——–Fabianski
Sagna-Toure-Gallas-Clichy
——–Denilson
—–Cesc——Nasri
Walcott———-Arshavin
———-RVP
Subs: Almunia, Djourou, Vela, Ramsey, Rosicky, Bendtner, Eduardo
oh and sell Ade, Ebo and Billong
I used to quite like Villa back in about 1980 when they won the league and spawned the Euro cup. They played decent football and Tony Morley was a great player. They also had Gary Shaw, who had the perfect wedge haircut for us Casuals!
Now, I cannot stand them, as they have basically lived off that and have won nothing of note since, maybe a league cup! Also, their fans have the most annoying accent in the world (Brummy) and they have often been particularly naughty when we have played at Villa Park!
So I will be happy to overtake them hopefully!
Almunia/Fabianski
Sagna JD Gallas Clichy
Arshavin Cesc Song Nasri
Ade RVP
It’s difficult though, how do you fit all the attackers in the team when there are not enough defenders?
Troll, Oneday and Hatchet all complained that they had uneven squads… …thank fuck they don’t manage us!
Guus Hiddink would be aiight though!
Why do people suddenly want to leave Djourou out of the side and go back to Billy and Bunter at the back?
FUCK THE DIRTY FUCKING MANC JUNKIE SCUM. sorry to shout
Pat, Nasri has not got the pace for the wing although with a half decent player on the right (including one that plays in his position) might take the double and triple defenders he faces around the box
Fuck that, leave Djourou at the back with Gallas and turn Toure back into a CM.
I Like the sound of this
Fabianski
Sagna, Djourou, Gallas, Clichy
Arshavin, Nasri, Toure, Vela
RVP, Ade
Pretty experienced with the RIGHT balance of youth. That team could get us at least 4th.
Some will say no to Toure at CM, but who would you prefer Song or Toure. At least Toure can tackle, pass and make surging runs
zorrO, because AW thinks they can play together, even after saying they cant!
I don’t know really, I would have preffered to hav shed Gallas, but he does have that never say die attitude even though he is a shite defender.
I think Kolo and Djourou are a good enough team.
As long as we are name=ing teams then right now i’d go for:
Fabianski
Sagna – Toure – JD – Clichy
Denilson – Diaby
Nasri
RvP – Nik – AA(when fit)
Crap, I forgot about Rosicky. Lets try again.
When everyone is fit:
Almunia
Sagna JD Gallas CLichy
Arshavin Cesc Toure Rosicky
Ade RVP
Bench: Fabianski, Nasri, Eduardo, Wilshere, Song, Vela, Denilson
And although I am sure we are not in for him, i would take a punt on Appiah, what do we have to lose.
I know Wenger will say that he would not want to stunt the development of Song, but come one, Song could play the next 14 games and still be just as shit, it is hardly development.
Get him on a 6 month contract pay as you play, let him earn a permanent contract.
We’re playing Burnley in the FAC if we get past cardiff.
Pat – You said when everyone was fit and no Silvestre?
Pat, I think Gallas would make a better DM than Toure as he always likes to bomb in the box anyway which is what leaves our defence always overexposed in the first place, cause the wing backs have to cover.
anyway we could just play this innovative formation;
———–Fabianski
—-Toure—Djourou—Gallas
Walcott-Fabregas-Rosicky-Nasri
————Arshavin
——-RVP——–Eduardo
could be interesting? I know I know CLichy and Sagna
I really wish we could get Flamini back in the summer…
hahahahahaha who is better? Nasri or Rosicky???
Gunner8, we’d be winning or losing games by 5-4 scores!!
l8ers
I say Rosicky. He’s the most intelligent footballer we have, I think.
I love his game and I hope he can get back to where he was when he got injured. It was after his injury that we tied/lost 5 games in a row.
Pat I Know I Know!
but it would make the games more interesting at leGrove… …I miss jumping about with my mates
nightol
Couldnt agree mor Pat. My mate thinks Nasri is ar better but then again hes a pool fans so…….
I wouldnt mind Flamini back because if Rosicky can get back to fitness and when Cesc gets back then it would be more or less the same midfield as last seasons.
Thing is, both Billy and Kolo have not been on form defensively, but, Billy has notched a few goals, which Kolo lacks.
Realistically for next season……
Fabianski
Sagna – Kolo/JD – Chiellini/Hangeland – Clichy
Arhsavin – Cesc – Flamini – Rosicky
RvP – Eduardo
But that depends on whether or not we get the CL, if Wenger actually wants to solve our problems and whether or not he can swallow his pride in getting Flamini back.
I reckon Flamster will leave Milan in the summer, but not sure if we would bring him back, shame though as he is still a good player and it would cheer Cesc up.
WG gets goals becase he spends more time in the box than our strikers, whether it be roaming up there in open play or taking an age to go back after a set piece.
Our defenders need to have a clean sheet as a priority and not second to grapping a goal themselves. I would certainly rather have no goals and not be at fault for one than have to score in making up for conceding one.
Gallas typifies this. The vast majority of his goals are just making up for his own fuck up in defence.
How much would Milan look for Flamini though?
Flamini was actually wanted by Napoli but chose to stay and fight for a place (on the bench). He should have realised that players leaving Arsenal in unfavourable circumstances never replicate the form they showed with us.
Irish, Wenger would never buy Flamini back…
Pedro – I know I’m just curious though what ye think his market value would be?
irish, if Ade doesn’t improve and show more heart, then he might go for Flamini + cash, hopefully.
If Ade could start playing like he was beginning of this season/all of last season, I’d be happy.
Rosicky is also a pretty fast player. I remember, against the Mancs, he kept up with CR even though he had a longer distance to run.
Never say never!
For me a fit Rosicky is vastly better than Nasri.
One thing is for sure with a fully fit squad we have the best attacking options in the league.
If we sort that defence out (by defence i include DM & GK) then we will be awesome…(but i dont think we will sort the defence).
I love Rosicky – so sad he’s out that I barely wear the shirt
a few more weeks 
That’s an awful team you put together so who protects the back 4 or have you’ve forgotten how important that role is if you have just look at the PL table that should give you a sharp injection of reality. AA and Fabrgeas in the middle together have you lost son?
We had the same defense/gk last season.
Once we get our flowing, attacking play back, the defensive issues will be less severe.
This AA fee/wage dispute has all been a smoke screen from Wenger and the board becuz if AA was sign earlier e.g. the first week Wenger would have been under pressure 2 bring in a top notch DM but becuz he is a stubborn and arrogant git he wants’ 2 persist with Denilson so he can prove he was right 2 play him. But onto the positive we have AA which I’m very very very happy about but who plays where do we play Nasri in the centre and AA on the left and Walcott on the right or do we play Fran Merida in the centre 2 replace that lump of shit Diaby and move Nasri on left and AA on the right while dropping the overrated shithead Adecantscore with Vela, Eduardo or Walcott as the replacement. And the next question is who protects the defense I guess that’s the Denilson who is are best out of the few we have even though I think he is awful for a club trying 2 challenge for honors.
Agh its nice to flick down through the Arsenal first team on Arsenal.com and see Arshavin there
£6-7 million I would think.
Metal Gear – or else Zenit were stubborn feckers and were whoring out Arshavin to get more money from other clubs.
Why can some people not just smile for 2 minutes ffs
Pat, no we dont have the same defence. we have no-one protecting the back 4 and covering for the full backs.
Last season our defence proved too weak anyway, it needed strengthening in the close season, Wenger admitted this.
defensively we are way short for the league.
Metal – sorry I stopped reading your post before you got positive LOL, I want to be happy going to bed and be glad of what we got instead of what we didn’t get
Anyone see Law and Order? I think one of their writers is a PL fan, possibly.
It was about russian criminals. The detective is mr. walcott.
The 3 russian gangsters they’re after are Abromovich, Pavlychenko, and Alex Arshavin.haha
We could afford £6-7mil
not that it’ll happen
Metal Gear, sometimes it is best to get a feel for the article before posting.
It is tongue in cheek… Geoff doesn’t like Song and Denilson.
Everyone else seemed to pick up on that…
Well Irish read it again you’ll will pick up the fact that I was ecstatic about the signing we were tight about the whole thing we could have easily lost out on him and plus we need a DM so pardon me If I’m not happy with Denilson and co being the guardian of our back 4 we’ve been losing midfield battles for months so of course I was hoping for a DM .
… and if you think Arsenal longed out the transfer proceedings to the last day to reduce the pressure on Wenger, I think it is you who needs the injection of reality.
What a crazy thing to say…
And Pat, Ade has been relatively poor since last christmas. He wasnt even a 1 season wonder, he is half a season wonder.
We shoudnt have stopped at Arshavin and should have raided Zenit. They sold Tim, their DM, to Bayern. Tim isnt his full name but i cant spell it so i wont even try. We should have bought Denisov, Pogrebnyak and Zhrianov(sp). and swapped our shit players for them.
Pedro my bad I was thinking this 1st 11 is odd but apologies all round and Irish I am happy I just Wenger doesn’t persist with deadwood.
Metal – I did see later post
Stu – Couldn’t do swap for our players with Zenit. They wouldn’t take Song and Eboue if they were world class cos they are black!!
Stu,
You mean Tomyschuk? great great player and exactly what we need.
Pedro you think that’s crazy you mean like when Wenger was asked if he will be making any signing’s and he responded with ‘’ I’m too busy right now’’ please don’t give Wenger that much credit.
Metal Gear – What’s wrong with that ?!
Metal Gear, do you really believe Arsenal would be irresponsible enough to let a transfer collapse… to reduce pressure on Arsene?
Would Zenit have offered Arsehavin to other clubs on deadline day… if we were in cahoots with them over the deal?
No way… Logic\Business wise… that theory is a no go.
I think it is safe to say there was no cahooting of any sorts going on between Zenit and Arsenal
Keyser what’s wrong with that? It was such a arrogant and dismissive thing to the fans who were worried about the players who had not been replaced that’s what’s wrong but I don’t want to go on and on about I am very happy about the signing and hopefully we get our top 4 status back starting with a win against the enemy.
I start worrying if AW starting telling the truth – he’d start looking cuckoo like Rafa. Managers lie to everyone – even themselves!
Metal Gear – Eh ? He said transfers is about 2% of my time, we’ve had 3 games in a week and he was asked on the day/ or the day before an important game, forget transfers there’s others to deal with that he should be concentrating on the game.
Logic/business wise you mean like when they allowed Flamini 2 run out his contact even though he wanted 2 sign a new 1 at the start of the season but they told him 2 earn his new contract which he did and then when he established himself as Arsenal’s most consistent performer they refused 2 cater 2 his demand even though it was origanlly there demand very illogical I would say. I could go on and on Perdo these people are capable of anything that thought would never have crossed my mind but these people……
Time for sleepsville. No worrying tonight
The lad speaks fairly good english already, i think thats important.
We went from Overmars to Pires, now we have a cross of the 2!!!
Metal Gear – It sounds like you’ve let the bullshit blogs and the likes of SkySports get to you, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on here or anywhere else.
Oiche maith Gaelige. Ach Ta se beaganin lua don leaba nach bhfuil?
Little rusty but that should be about right.
Incompetence… maybe…
But you’re not talking about are you? You are saying they were fully aware of what they we doing last month.
Keyser he did not say that or maybe he did in another interview or even the same interview but he did say he was 2 busy. Listen I’m still worried about that midfeild all I can do is hope that Denilson improves even more. I dont get 2 excited about just 1 signing.
night all… sleeping pills just kicked in!
Stu – going to watch a DVD in bed so no really going to bed lol. The Gaeilge ain’t too shabby
What DVD is that Irish? From what genre?
Oh and nighty night Pedro.
Stu – now now
“The IT Crowd” – its a series from the guy that did Father Ted, very funny.
Anyways I’m off now a happy Gunner
Keyser trust me I pay attention 2 SSN and there stupid debates and topics once in a blue moon I have my own mind I honestly believed the board would have wanted this 2 drag on. Pedro maybe it’s just me but in my opinion the board seems extremely cynical like last season where they were like we have 70 mil 2 spend which was around the time 4 fans 2 renew tickets. And dont get me started on this season.
Just asking Irish. Night so!
Getting pissed off at the fact that so many blogs, newspapers and new sites are talking about the late deal and how ‘angy’ other teams are going to be. So far, nobody from a single club has said anything about the transfer. Someone from United or Madrid would have been first, wouldn’t they? I think what these news-people are trying to do is alert all clubs and maybe start a little campaign against our Arsenal. Their trying to generate the most hate they can to sell their papers and to get everyone against us yet again. FUCK THEM!
Where did everyone just disappear to?
Is it true tht we can still get players on loan ya?
Metal Gear – Thats my point, you pay too much attention, it seems like you’ve picked up on the bullshit conspiracy theories that you get plastered all over the place and it’s made you paranoid.
The board didn’t want to buy anyone, so they bought a player and stretched it out long enough so it seemed like they didn’t have enough time to buy another ?!
It just doesn’t make sense, we haven’t needed a defensive midfielder in recent weeks we’ve needed someone to help break down teams and to take Eboue’s position on the right, if we’d bought him earlier he’d have been fit for games like Everton and West Ham and arguably we would have been doing better than we are now.
Zenit were always going to wait till the end to try and drum and up interest and to get the most money they could from us or any other club interested in him.
GP, I bet all the jornos ask other managers opinions on the late conformation and pass the answers off as complaints etc.
GREAT NEWS! Sky have been awarded 4 or 6 packages for all live UK premier league games between 2010 and 2013.
So that should mean about 20 arsenal games if we are lucky…
Sky have gone shit imo and Setanta have the better games lately. Defo a lot more of arsenal on Setanta.
Keyser I thought about it I don’t pay attention 2 bullshit but I do agree what I said does not make sense I thought about what Pedro said and it’s true it’s over the top but I must stress it’s not paranoia I just got 2 a point with the board where I just feel there capable of anything no matter how absurd it is I just cant trust them anymore do you understand what I’m tryna say?b I’m sure I’m not the first nor the last 2 come up with conspiracy theories involving the board becuz I feel they just toy with our emotions so now I think some of the things they do they do deliberately.
Stu – Agree with you there mate. They are real fuckers!
Regarding Setanta, not many people are happy with them. I don’t know why as personally I don’t pay for anything anyway. I watch all the matches online so there must be a difference between TV and Online viewing. But in terms of TV viewing, people are saying Sky are much better.
Metal Gear, everyone’s upbeat because we signed Arshavin. This does not mean that any of the fundamental issues have gone away. We have only applied some tape to hold the crumbling edifice together for a few more months.
First, Arshavin will not play for a few weeks (my guess is his first game will be off the bench against Fulham). Then, we will see him get into the same challenges that Denilson and Diaby are facing (not that Arshavin is in the same class as those two).
Arshavin and Nasri can’t break down defences by themselves. We need Cesc back to control the centre. Arsh is a good addition, but we still need Cesc.
ALso, in some of these games, we will concede3 and early goal. Our defence is still a farce and we don’t really have a strong CB pairing, though we are doing OK at present. Once we concede, the pressure will be high and we have to wait and see if Andrei can find the killer pass under those circs.
So, I agree with you. Unless the board starts coughing up more cash and Arsene starts signing more world class players, we still don’t have a good team. The nay sayers will say we have Walcott and Cesc and Dudu and Rosicky back and they are like new signings. Yes, but none of them are defenders.
Not being pessimistic, just realistic.
Stu do you know if the deal is more or less £ than the current one, which was much bigger than before??
That’s one of the advantages of living in the Far East, Stu!
Football isn’t an individual game. One Arshavin doesn’t make the world a better place.
Gambon, dont know anything other tha that. Just saw it on SSN.
GP, I prefer Setanta because i hate sky, only because they hardly ever show us and they all love United. Also I hate everyone of their commentators, especially Andy Gray.
Agree with you PDT,
Our fundamental weakness for years has been defending, Arshavin doesnt make that go away.
With everyone fit we will be bullet proof from an attacking viewpoint, we just need a worldclass defensive unit to compliment it.
We need our own Cech, our own Vidic and a big, strong DM.
For all you Flaminiphiles – he loves his money and so long as he gets paid, he will be happy to stay warm in the dressing room in Milan. He doesn’t even have to be on the bench. What fun – no pressure, no having to deliver every day, just take it easy and watch the money roll in.
Just watch – he will suddenly get active two years before his contract is due to run down. We have seen this same story twice already.
So don’t expect him back. This guy is worse than Cashley – at least Cole gave us several good seasons and was honest in his desire for money.
PDT
I have to disagree. One arshavin may not make the world the best place but he does make it better. I agree about the defensive quality (or lack of) of our squad. Having another creative player who’s quick has to be a bonus. We’ll have to wait til the summer to see if we sort out the defence. I think we will cos gallas wil be gone.
PDT thank you for understanding where I was coming from and yes our defence is a joke I tell you a signing that would have made me more excited than the AA signing and that is a defensive coach.
Everyone agrees that Ade is crap. He gave us just one good season. So did Flamini. Just one good season. Why does everyone love him so much? He isn’t an Arsenal great and wouldn’t have been, even if he had stayed at Arsenal.
His only claim to fame is being Cesc’s friend (like Hleb).
finally got my new avatar to show! had to clear the cache…
just hope he’s worth all the fuss now!
Metal Gear – Because it makes no sense it sounds like paranoia, I don’t belive the board are half as bad as people will make out, everyone has their own agendas, look at the way we’re being portrayed in the media right now and The Daily Mail are trying to make the most of it.
GM – yes, he makes our squad better and I am happy we are buying finished players and not kids, but AW hasn’t strengthened in the area we need to be stronger in. Look at the league table. In scoring, we are on par with the top three, but we let in more goals than them. Our big problem is at the back.
PDT I think it’s a case of people wanting 2 replace Flamini that why he is kept in high regard becuz he was not replaced and we’ve missed his presence so he has become almost like the hole in the team.
Seb I was going to have that avatar. I’ll have to have something else now
GM, i too hope Gallas will be fucked out in the summer but Wenger is a big admirer of him and Gallas even said himself he wants to stay and run his contract down-so he can leave on a free and we get fuck all for him too.
I would actually sell most of the defence. They are all easily replaceable, but obviously it would cost a bit and it wont happen because Wenger doesn’t buy good defenders.
ANYONE SEEN HIS PRESS INTERVIEW ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7831046.stm
I love him already ethan. He said he’s a gooner!
I just don’t get what happened to the defence. It was great last season until Kolo left for the ACN and shit ever since he came back.
Surely he cant have had such a huge influence on how the other defenders perform, could he?
So what is it? Its made up of all the same defenders…well basically.
Silvestre for Senderos is the only change apart from Fish is constantly injured and Senderos rarely played more than once a month.
Stu
Wenger doesn’t really buy ready made players so maybe he’s changing. Maybe he will buy defenders
Senderos put in a lot of good performances but there was a feeling he could make a big mistake at any time. Kolo.s first match back was when we got fucked over by the mancs in the cup. maybe that fucked up his confidence.
About Arshavin, I believe hes happy to be here and i am happy he is here too but I dont believe its his dream club because he also said that about Barca too.
Finally that saga is all done and dusted…
Can someone tell me where these Flamini rumours have eminated from? Sounds like paper talk to me…
Where do you play him though when everyone is fit?
———New Keeper??———
–Sagna–Toure–Djourou–Clichy–
——-Fabregas–Denilson——-
—RVP——Arshavin—–Nasri—
————Eduardo————
Bench From: Fabianski, Gibbs, Song, Eboue, Diaby, Ramsey, Wilshire, Vela, Walcott, Rosicky, Bendtner, Vela…
Looking at that a Chiellini from Juve would be nice depending on a senderos return… Also, what do we do with Traore, Lansbury, Simpson, Merida, Barazite, Hoyte & Randall??
Need to bin Almunia also i’m afraid… Of all the top clubs we’re the ones without a proven international stopper… Not the done thing especially after we’ve had Mad Jens and Seaman before him… Almunia isn’t in their league..
Stu – We lost Rosicky and Van Persie before Kolo, Ebway and Song went to the African Nations, we had Fabregas spend a short time out and Hleb got clattered against Villa, forgotten how long he was out for, we were left with Eduardo still settling in with Walcott and Bentdner both raw, it wasn’t just the defense.
We stopped breaking teams down because Diarra didn’t have a clue and Gilberto and Flamini were either too defensive or couldn’t do it all by themselves without leaving us exposed at the back.
GM, I was disappointed to see Senderos go because it was pointless. He left but we brought in a worse player. Senderos was very good during Kolos international absence and is one of Switzerland’s most impressive players because they all love him.
A lot of gooners made up their minds on him a long time ago and IMO that’s whats killing him. He is a good defender and would solve our problems from long balls and (to a certain degree) our leadership problems because he organises better than our other defenders.
Carew took hleb out. We had hleb rvp cesc out when we lost at boro
Keyser, I realise all that but that still doesn’t account for amateurish defending and an increase in individual mistakes.
i’ll agree with you there stu… I’ll have big phil over silvestre, song and djourou anyday…
The sooner Gallas fucks off the better…
I hate shit stirring dross like this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1135402/Arshavin-storm-brewing-Arsenal-rivals-ask-questions-deal-24-hours-late.html#comments
There is no evidence of any wrong doing, no suggestion that Stokes rivals will do the same regarding Stephen Kelly just contrived conspiracy.
Martin O’Neill had the perfect forum to air any concerns at his press conference this afternoon and funnily enough didn’t mention a word.
There’s a reason AA23 was oblivious to the controversy – THERE IS NONE. This is just a ridiculous attempt to generate a response from the competition.
We’re a team, we’ve defended and attacked as a team for years, we haven’t been bad at the back in recent weeks, but when you’ve got the likes of Fabregas, Rosicky and Walcott out, with teams like West Ham, Bolton and Portsmouth sitting back in their own area, not even thinking about attacking, it’s going to be hard to break them down.
The more we attack, the more exposed at the back we are, Vidic standing on the half walf way line trying to chase down Agbonlahor is going to get sent off or roasted, Terry had to rugby tackle Jo because he knew he’s not only got the turning circle of a bus but couldn’t match him for walking pace. Hangeland in his own area is great dealing with crosses, put him up against someone with pace trying to track back and he’s fucked.
Stu here’s my answer to your11:50 question last season are defense was still bad if our defense was solid we would have won the PL easily the difference with last season is that the player we had players we’re the best ball retainers in Europe as a result the opposition rarely had the ball but when we were under pressure for more than 5 mins we would concede every single time.
Thats why a defensive cach would sort that out by making us play a deeper line. If we did have slower defenders (btw i dont thing WG,JD or Toure are that fast anymore) we would sort it out using different tactics. But Wenger doesnt believe in tactics, he prefers 11 footballers (which we know doesnt work)