So if we’re skint, what are the Mancs?

April 10, 2009

Today the Daily Telegraph, that’s the only paper that actually tells the truth, says that the Mancs are £700 million in debt, pay annual interest of £68.8 million on a pre tax profit of £66 million giving the parent company a £44 million loss. The loan is structured at 14.2% as well and with the banks increasingly looking to pull out of debt laden companies, they really are deep in the shit. Oh, ha, ha, ha. Good move letting the Glazers in!

If you compare that with us we have a debt of around £250 million, and that is covered with the sale of the old stadium, now whilst that is taken in it’s simplest form, it’s about right, so when you look at Liverpool, and Chelsea, they are all in the same boat as United, not as huge, but still in the shitter, so apart from ManCity, we are looking like the only team that will be able to buy players in the summer, we won’t of course, but at least we can!

I thought you should all know that.

Onto tomorrow, we’re playing Wigan, the team that is run by ‘Manc butt kisser’ Steve Bruce, the same fat bastard that complained that the big teams get the decisions, ‘always have, always will’ he says, whilst conveniently forgetting he played for a big team for most of his career, and his trophy cabinet is full of medals he won on those dreadful refereeing decisions. So why don’t you give them all back then you bastard hypocrite?

So like all the other English managers that lie, steal and cheat, he has now proved that he too talks out of his oversize arse. He also quickly forgets how our leader has supplied him with most of his talent for the last 5 years, and with Wilson Palacios, most of his money, but that’s part and parcel of being one of the whinging brit managers these days, no class, no brains and sure as hell no memory.

Anyway, the way the league is shaping up we need to win, but we then have to face Villarreal and the Chavs in the space of the next 7 days, so I hope we don’t go in jumping out of tackles, I could understand it, but hell, we knew this would happen and we know that with success comes a shit load of tough games, so maybe in the summer we should plan for this, go back over the last 5 seasons, look at the injuries, and then work out how many world class players you need, that’s not rocket science, it’s common sense. We can’t blame bad luck every year, there seems to be a pattern emerging here.

It’s funny though how only the great players seem to get injured!

Have a great day today Grovers and don’t forget what you’re on holiday for, it’s good Friday and you all know what happened on good Friday don’t you???

If you’re thinking it’s something to do with Bob Hoskins you need to google.

485 Comments | New Review | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

So it’s Barca in the final, revenge is a dish best served cold

April 9, 2009

So for all the schoolboys that have been blogging on Le Grove this week, what that means is, the best type of revenge is the type you have waited a long time for to dish out, Barca was 2006, so that’s long enough and cold enough and I for one am ready.

So last night the chavs surprisingly beat the scousers, who surprisingly beat the mancs, who we beat with our academy team, so I have in my own mind discounted them from getting to the final, any of them, in fact I expect us to play Porto in the semis and not the mancs. That then leaves the route clear to face the big boys Barca in the final and have our revenge, the dish that tastes best cold.

That is of course once we have got past Villarreal… but should they still be in it? If they had come to the Grove and be bombarded with missiles I have no doubt that we would be close to forfeiting the game or such, it seems to me that sides from outside of England can do what they want, I mean there is a national enquiry as to whether or not our captain spat on the floor somewhere near Hull City’s assistant managers feet, this is after their manager lied about our manager never shaking hands! What a complete joke!!!

Anyway someone needs to get our manager a new set of contacts as he said he clearly saw coins or boxes thrown at Cesc! Well Arsene, there is a bit of a difference between a coin and a box, which one did you see!

Of course to the students out there that are reading, that was in fact irony, I didn’t really mean it and I’m sure that what he said was lost in translation, and yes I know if I could speak French as well as he can speak English I would be the worlds richest, humblest and most clever man.

Sorry all but this week we appear to have had a lot of AKB’s coming on calling us names, it only happens during school holidays, so we know who they are, the internet gives them a vehicle where they can be naughty and get away with it, well children, not on here you can’t. So please, go away, you’re not welcome.

Ade’s goal is being hailed as the best ever by Theo, well best ever in the champions league anyway, Cesc is slowly returning to form and Andre Arshavin returns for the Wigan game, so Samir Nasri gets another rest, I put his lethargy down to his bout of flu, I think he will be as good as Bobby Pires in time so we should cut him some slack I think.

Still no news on Rosicky, I think he was lost in the African interior when watching Kolo in qualifying last year and Arsenal are spinning us a line, so for all our African readers out there, this is for you.

PLEASE FIND ROSICKY, HE’S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE

I was being ironic again children, forgive me, on the site we often do that!

Have a great day Grovers, 3 more points to play for at the weekend, the we start the countdown to the Yellow submarines and that dish we best like cold.

P.S. Pedro is out of tickets again… so if you can’t make any of the following games, drop him an e-mail… apparently he has a new spread sheet to cope with demand!

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Posted by Geoff

Thierrybayor strikes in a game of two halves + Player Ratings and review.

April 8, 2009

The road to El Madrigal shot by Geoff yesterday.

The road to El Madrigal shot by Geoff yesterday.

Don’t ask how that Photo was taken… just accept that it was at about 1400 yesterday afternoon… hail stones in Spain! About as likely as seeing Adebayor score a bicycle kick to draw us level in the Champions league quarter finals I guess!

Almunia

Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

Walcott Denilson Song Nasri

Fabregas

Adebayor

Nasri slotted in for Arshavin and the rest of the team was the same as the City line up. For me, it was the best team the coach could have put out and everyone was pretty revved up for a Man City type mauling…

Were we as fans slightly guilty of complacency? I believe so…

Arsenal didn’t start particularly well… there was a lack of fluency and pace in our passing, there was little creative edge and to be fair to the Spaniards… they did a fine job of nullifying us.

It didn’t take long for the dead lock to be broken. Senna picked up the ball about 25 yards out, clipped his nails, made a cup of tea, read the first chapter of War and Peace… then picked his spot and buried a perfectly placed bullet into the top corner. It was sloppy defending from Arsenal, not the type of goal you’d expect to concede when you have two defensive midfielders in the side. Senna should have been shut down immediately and he should never have been allowed to get that shot off…

Things got worse for Arsenal… Shortly after the goal, Almunia decided an earlier challenge from Rossi was actually quite painful… so on came Fabianski. Questions over whether he was focussed enough were soon answered when he saved another pile driver from Senna, jumped up and saved the second shot powered in by some Spanish looking guy.

Oh… then it got even worse… Song cut across Rossi just outside the area… as he chopped him down, Rossi fell onto William’s knee and crunched him… Willy went off on a stretcher… then came back on… we nearly conceded… Willy decided actually medial knee ligament damage couldn’t be run off… Cheerio Gallas… season over. It’s not often I scream for the whistle to blow… but today I did… I was worried a lightning bolt would wipe out the team or something equally as unlucky might happen… as first halves go, it was a bit of a shocker!

The ref blew up… half time talk was of bringing on Bendtner to partner Ade… and it looked like Wenger was going to do that, but he changed his mind just before the game kicked off.

The second half started in a more familiar manner. Arsenal started to believe in their game, players headed forwards and we began our search for the elusive away goal. Nasri should have shot but instead over hit a pass to Theo who couldn’t get any power on his effort back accross goal… Ade headed just wide after one of those really neat chipped crosses from Theo (Did I say neat, I meant ineffective)… Kolo jinked into the box, played a cheeky cross accross the area, but no one was there to finish… were we ever going to get a goal?

We needed some magic…

Cesc picked up the ball about 40 yards out, looked up, played a perfectly weighted ball to Ade…. Ade, with his back to goal, chests it up… changes the angle of his body and hit the most outrageous overhead kick into the far corner!

Hooray I cheered! Hooray! We had the goal, and the rip roaring gooners were one up! Terrific!

Arsenal continued to push for an winner, but sadly it was not forthcoming. However, our slick passing returned and Villarreal looked pretty demoralised. The ref blew up, the game finished 1-1 and we had the advantage… now all we have to do is keep a clean sheet at home and hope Porto follow suit.

So… how about some player ratings?

Almunia: Could do nothing about the goal, shame he went off. I heard he’s out for two weeks. 6

Sagna: I thought Sagna had a solid game today. He made some crunching challenges and went forward with a bit more conviction. 7

Gallas: I thought he played quite well until he went off. I was a bit shocked he was sent back on when he was quite clearly in pain… that could have cost us, thankfully it didn’t. He looks set to miss the rest of the season. Bad luck Willy, you’ve done yourself and the team proud over the last few months. 7

Toure: I thought he stepped up quite well when Gallas went off. I was a bit annoyed he was out jumped at a corner, but other than that, he did ok. 7

Clichy: Zero input attack wise in the first half. He and Nasri don’t seem to click at all. I think he worked well with Rosicky because Rosicky released the ball quicker… Nasri holds onto it and tends to move into the middle. I thought he was better in the second half, he went forward more often and linked up in a lovely move in the last minute. Needs to work on that cross. 7

Song: I thought he had a poor first half. I thought he was slow off the mark to close down Senna, which cost us the first goal. His sloppy challenge cost us our best centre back and nearly cost us a penalty. Thankfully his game picked up in the second half and he made some good challenges… his passing has been better of late, but by Arsenal’s high standards, I feel it is pretty sloppy. 5.5

Denilson: I thought he was pretty impressive today. He is much more efficient than Song and he allows our quick passing game to flow. I think playing him and Song is over kill… it crowds out the middle of the park a bit too much. Denilson would be my first choice going into the next game. 7

Nasri: A bit like Robinho isn’t he? Very good at home… anonymous away. I thought he was very poor in the first half… i said earlier in the year that he doesn’t seem to have the drive to make things happen… I think he needs to work harder to create magic, like Arshavin does… he needs to take more risks. I also think he holds onto the ball too long. 6

Theo: I wasn’t impressed. He runs up too many blind alleys, he rarely runs at full pace because he’s thinking about what to do for ten minutes… and I hate his silly little floated chip crosses. They are rubbish. Theo needs to sharpen up… Eboue is fit and ready to take his place. * I was impressed by some great tackles. 6.5

Cesc: Wasn’t his best game… he looked a little rusty and I’m not sure whether playing in the hole suits him as much as playing a bit deeper. However, that pass to Adebayor was a little bit special. The freekick was a little dim, but I appreciated the ‘risktakingness’ of it all. Oh how we’ve missed him… 7.5

Adebayor: He was taking a lot of flak at half time… he wasn’t having his best game, but I think it’s pretty difficult to look good when you’re playing up top on your own. However, that goal was straight out the book of Thierry. Magical, majestic…unbelievable… pick your superlative… because the chances are it would be too modest! Goals like that are great for Ade… he thrives on confidence… so hopefully he’ll bang a few more in during the home straight! 8

Subs:

Fabianski: This was a big moment for the young Pole, could he come on in a crucial game and impress? Could he contain his nerves? Could he show us why he should be number one? Emphatically yes. Within minutes of entering the field of play he pulled off a remarkable double save. He commanded his box pretty well, bar a few communication lapses when coming out to clear the ball. Overall, I thought he played a blinder. 7.5

JD: Again, brought on at a difficult time against an extremely able team. There were a few moments of madness, but overall, I thought he did his first team credentials no harm. There have been some doubts raised over his ability to step up to the plate… but I am confident he will demonstrate his ability for us till the end of the season. 7

Eboue: A game just isn’t complete without the token appearance by Eboue. In fairness, I was still pretty awe struck by Ade’s goal to make a sound judgement on Eboue. From what I remember, he didn’t do to badly… so I’ll give him a 6.5

Conclusion

The important thing to remember is that form goes out of the window when it comes to these games. Everyone raises their game and I think the only criticism that can be levelled at the team was the lack of urgency to press Villarreal at the start. We more than made amends in the second half and I have to say, I’d be pretty upset if we didn’t make it through to the next round where we’ll be playing FC Porto.

So… what’s that… 18 games unbeaten now?

We’re turning in a bit of a run, aren’t we!

See you in the comments!

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Posted by Pedro

Into the Madrigal we must go, all guns blazing, the spirit of 59!

April 7, 2009

So this is it then, the quarter final of the Champions league, the sort of game that the spuds can only dream of.

This time last year we screwed up at the Grove by having all the possession, but no killer instinct, granted the ref helped Liverpool, but we have to expect that, we have to play our own game and go for an early goal, if we do that, they will panic, because we have an away goal and they will come out.

The best way of ensuring qualification is to win both games, it’s not like we are playing Barcelona or Bayern Munich, we are playing one of the two sides that everyone wanted, tonight we should get a win under our belts and make the return game less fraught.

It seems that we will be starting with Theo out on the right wing and Nasri on the left, that should leave Denilson in the middle with Cesc and my feeling is he will play with 5 in midfield, so that means Song or Diaby, if fit I expect Diaby as he offers a more physical presence, and he knows where the goal is.

The back four pick themselves so that means Sagna, Kolo, Gallas and Clichy with Almunia in goal and Ade alone up front.

So more or less the same team that beat Man City, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. We have to keep it tight at the back which means the midfield must keep possession, do that and let nature take it’s course.

If we keep the ball it stops them scoring, if they don’t score, they won’t win, if we keep possession we can score, we can surprise them by frustrating them, then one killer pass from Cesc and bang, it’s all over.

It reminds me of one General James Wolf and when king George sent him to Canada to kick the French out in 1759, they had an impressive fortress called Quebec, we parked our Navy in the Saint Lawrence river and as they had home advantage they just sat back waiting for us to make the mistake of attacking them.

Wolf took his cannons and his entire army and scaled the impossible heights of Abraham at night and when the French under General Montcalm woke up, the entire British army was behind them, two hours of silly French attacking saw Wolf win the match and Canada was back in the hands of King George, Wolf knew how important away goals were, so he got a bunch of them. He did what they didn’t expect.

For Montcalm read Robert Pires and for General Wolf it’s the dashing Cesc Fabregas, Wenger is King George and Canada the Champions league.

Unfortunately Wolf lost his life in that battle, but his last words were ‘thank God I have done my duty’ this was repeated 46 years later by Horatio Nelson, Nelson so loved the picture of Wolf’s final moments, he commissioned the same artist to paint his own demise, really, that’s all true, he even used Wolf’s famous words.

So the moral of this story is we need to surprise them, do what they don’t expect and attack, attack, attack, attack, attack, do that and the day is ours, and then we can start to think about playing Porto in the semis, so Cesc, go and do your duty and we’ll thank God.

Have a great night tonight Grovers, this will be our day, I can feel it, the Arsenal will go to Spain all guns blazing.

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Posted by Geoff

Arsenal get lucky break against Villarreal.

April 6, 2009

So although the headline may sound a little cruel, Villarreal’s most influential player, Santi Cazorla broke his leg this weekend in their 3 nil defeat, it puts them 24 points behind Barcelona but psychologically a loss before a big European game can be very damaging, so it could be very good news for us, a good time to play them.

It also means Robert Pires should start the game and we know he’ll be fired up for this one. It’s going to be a tough game all the same but I really think we are begining to see the Arsenal play great football again, the spirit is back, the belief is back and the goals are back.

Unfortunately one of the reasons for that is Andre Arshavin, but I also believe much of that is his presence, and if he travels with the team he will be there in spirit, Nasri should be back to take his place and so should Diaby to take over from Song.

To be honest I expect the only changes to the team will be those two, he will play a 4-5-1 and will have 2 of Eduardo, Bendtner or Robin as subs plus the other usual suspects.

I fancied a draw, but if we get the breaks, I can see us nicking a goal or two and that would be perfect, away goals are the real deal in this competition.

The boss has come out and said that he is suspending player contracts until the summer break, that’s when our well paid players get their 2-3 month holiday!

What I don’t understand is why? Robin has two years, so he’s okay until at least next January, Theo maybe needs sorting, Cesc already have a contract until 2025 and the rest it doesn’t matter.

It seems to me that contract talks and extensions are another way of giving the players loyalty pay rises, there money goes up regardless of what goes on around us, they are fiddling while Rome burns. Still that’s part and parcel of the game so I guess we all have to accept it, like MP’s they are different.

As far as Adebayor is concerned, he can go whistle Dixie, he has 3 years of his contract left, but if starts bleating again I would sell him to the highest bidder, he may have scored two vital goals for us at the weekend, but he still hasn’t learned the offside rule.

Shame about the Villa game yesterday, but I have to say I was more worried about them winning than the Mancs, the Mancs were woeful, their new 17 year old Eye-tie that scored two goals looked useful though, how comes we missed out on him then???

On a final note, if we can get past Liverpool, Chelsea and ManU we could start to think about the invincibles run again, it’s possible with the right breaks and the right summer signings!

Have a great day Grovers, tomorrow we’ll see if we’ve got what it takes to drink with the big boys.

766 Comments | New Review | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

Control, complete control.

April 5, 2009

A quick post from me this morning…due to the nature of where I am…on the floor of a chums bar in Tottenham court road!

So yesterday marked an impressive return from the international break. Manchester City are no pushovers, but yesterday… Arsenal made them look like relegation fodder.

The only way I can describe the performance was total control… that has to go down as one of the best performances of the season in my book. Start to finish we dominated. Quality oozed throughout the team… the passing was crisp… the pace we were knocking the ball about was sharp and the creativity was unpredictable.

Arsenal lined up with a 4-5-1, with Arshavin out wide…and Cesc sitting in the hole. It was the first time this season Cesc has been given a role so attacking. I think it was partly due to the fact the coach has more trust in his players now… partly to make sure he wasn’t putting his main man in the firing line so early.

I thought Cesc was cute with his passing and sparky as usual. He looked bigger than he did the last time I saw him grace the Emirates and I thought he played like he’d been in the team for the last 10 games.

Arshavin played like he’d been with the club his whole life. Not only is he armed with Bobby Pires like ingenuity on the ball, he is also gifted with a bull like strength and the typical grit you associate with an Eastern Bloc citizen.

It didn’t take long for Arsenal to open up City. After Sagna was fouled by Robinho, Cesc delivered a pin point cross onto the waiting Adebayor’s head… The Togan duly buried it low and hard.

The second came early on in the second half. Fabregas laid on an inch perfect chip into the path of Ade, who either judged what the keeper was doing, took a touch round him… slotting it into the empty net… or he took a bad touch and finished due to some good luck. Either way… we scored two more than City.

So… the air of optimism is back at the home of football…we’ve transferred our form against weak teams, into good form against good teams. Now all that is left to do is win all our remaining fixtures and make this a season to remember!

Come on you reds!

Almunia: Made a couple of tidy saves. Distribution was first class all day. 7

Clichy: Solid game from our left back. He bombed forward with purpose and looked like he’d forgotten the problems of the last few weeks. 7

Gallas: I thought he dealt well with most that was thrown at him. I was unimpressed when he let City walk through as at one point… that was a bit of a worrying moment… but again, another clean sheet. 7

Toure: A great performance from our favourite African. Some top notch tackles and some exciting runs into the box. African’s clearly enjoy playing in the beaming sunshine… and it showed in Kolo’s performance today. 8

Sagna: First assist of the season… well, kind of… he set up the freekick? I thought he was back to his solid dependable best yesterday. He’s going to be very important for the run in. 7

Arshavin: He is our new wizard… he plays wherever he is needed… floats across the midfield like a butterfly and imposes his game on the opposition. What a signing…. what a player… shame he is cup tied. 8.5

Cesc: Top performance from our main man. The arrogant little Spaniard comes back into the team, thinking he’s all billy big bollocks and sets up two goals… who does he think he is? 9

Denilson: Made some poor passes early on… but more than made amends later on in the game. He was everywhere… pressuring City players and opening up the creative players to do what they do best. 8

Song: Quiet today… just gets on with winning the ball in the air and distributing it to the man next to him. Tidy with his passing and effective. 7

Theo: When he wasn’t on the floor complaining about and injury he was scaring the hell out of the City defence. There was more directness about his game today and he looked more of a threat than usual… lets hope he can stay fit more than five minutes! 7.5

Adebayor: Looked like he’d had a long hard look at himself and his game during his time out. He worked hard, he cut out the poor passing and he looked like he wanted to be a part of the team again. I was very impressed and who wouldn’t be happy with two goals? 8

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Posted by Pedro

A good day to play football

April 4, 2009

So today we play Man city, for the first time we play football in two weeks and boy does it feel like we haven’t played since last season.

I honestly haven’t felt like this since a pre season game! It really makes me want to appreciate what we have left, because it gave me a taste of what we have to come in between May and August.

Yes before any smart arses tell me that by winning the European Champions league, the English premiership and the FA cup our summer break won’t seem so long, let me tell you all how difficult it has been to write 10 posts with no football news.

The only good thing about those summer months is the transfer speculation, the fact that we may sign an unknown African or a 13 year old French kid! Kidding but maybe next season we’ll start to see more of Coquelin, Ramsey and Wilshere, because those three I rate and one day they will all be stars.

On a really bizarre note I was out in a restaurant in rainy Spain last night and a man came up to me and apologised for giving me shit during the Liverpool game at the Grove, I was gobsmacked because he not only recognised me, he admitted he was wrong that day, well done mate, you are a good and honest person, you also have an amazing memory! All is forgiven, come on the blog and meet the real Arsenal fans, we are all top, top people, oh and I’m sorry I made an Arsenal speech to your table, although it was unnecessary I felt I had to do it, there were a few chavs there that needed educating!

On to today, this game is personal, Sparky Hughes has already said that he respects Cesc and that Cesc is one of the world’s best players, good man Sparky, but that won’t buy you jack shit, we will paralise you today, we will tear you a new orifice, today is revenge day, today we get to set the record straight and play the team that beat us on one of our worst days at the Eastlands.

Also today we have Adebayor available again, don’t get me wrong I don’t necessarily want him back, but it is good to have him as an option, like him or loath him, he does give us options, so do I expect to see him today? Yes I do, but I hope he comes on as an impact sub, I also hope we see Theo again, we know Cesc will be back and I expect to see him back to his best, he’s been away a long time, but he has also been rested, mentally and physically, so I expect, Arsenal fans expect and Cesc, England expect, go out their son and give it your best, you owe us, you owe the premiership and you owe the Arsenal.

5 nil to the good guys today my friends, I’m feeling good, sorry about the prediction, but for any doubting Thomas’s out there, you’ll thank me at 5pm tonight!

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Posted by Geoff

Are we in danger of a silent summer + City preview

April 3, 2009

I think there is a serious danger… the question is, would you be happy about it? Let me explain…

Our preparation for last season was extremely disrupted, we lost top performers Hleb and Flamini… we released experienced heads, Lehmann and Gilberto… then we replaced them with untested kids. Our transfer policy last year was a PR disaster, we missed out on a trio of defensive midfielders (Alonso, Toure, Inler) and a striker (Kalou). We also had the on/off Adebayor saga…

The season started off relatively well… the AKB’s were crowing before the fat lady had even got out of her changing room and everything was tickety boo… then the collapse began. Our lack of experience shone through, we lost Cesc Fabregas to injury, Gallas lost the plot and Adebayor couldn’t recreate last seasons form… we started to drop points, we kick started Spurs’ season and by Christmas people were calling for the coaches head and recruits were demanded.

Through January we found solidity at the back… but lacked a creative edge… Crab football was our speciality along with the bore draw. Then £17million Arshavin arrived for a club record … since then, we haven’t looked back. Arsenal progressed in the FA Cup where we await a semi final trip to Wemberlee, we’re through to the quarter finals of the champions league where we take on the Yellow Submarines (Minus Senna woo hoo!)… and we’re even back in with the remotest chance of winning the league!

So, in the past month we’ve found solidity and creative flair… now our injured players are starting to make their way back into the team… and we look set for an exciting end to the year.

Arsene Wenger has even started to roll out the, ‘I told you so’ lines.

So what does this mean for the summer?

Well, if we do the impossible and keep all of our players… we have a pretty beastly squad.

Keepers:

Almunia, Fabianski

I think we’re all happy with these two. Despite the criticism levelled at Almunia, he is the best distributor in the Prem and he rarely makes a mistake. In fact, he is ranked as the second best Premiership goalkeeper according to Actim, the official statisticians of the Premiership. Fabianski has the potential to be a great… given time of course.

Defenders:

Gibbs, JD, Silvestre, Gallas, Toure, Sagna, Eboue, Traore, Nordveit, Senderos

Well, there’s plenty of cover there…. I think ten defenders is more than enough! Gallas is proving his class, Kolo has settled next to him and JD is able cover. Gibbs and Eboue are more than adequate back up for our two full backs and if push comes to shove, the others could do a job.

Midfielders:

Theo, Vela, Nasri, Cesc, Ramsey, Diaby, Denilson, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin, Coquelin

If anything… it looks like we’re oversubscribed in midfield… The DM role is up for debate, but I’ve been very impressed with Denilson in the second half of the season, he is a ball winner and he’s a tidy passer of the ball (Ranked as the 12th best player in the Prem by Actim this year… the boy is clearly doing something right). As for the creative players… well… we have them in abundance now… so we shouldn’t have too many crab days going forward.

Strikers:

Nik B, Adebayor, RvP, Simpson, Eduardo

Plenty of varied striking options as well… I’m not going to read too much into the lack of clinical finishing this year. Looking at the top ten scorers in the Prem this year, you’d have to say it’s been a bad year for strikers in general. ManU, Liverpool, Arsenal, Villa and Everton all have something in common… none of them have a striker with more than 10 goals in the Prem.

So if we’re going to strengthen, where do we do it? You might not agree that all of the above are good enough… but ask yourself this… who would Arsene sell?

No one…!

So… just to recap…

A full squad

+

17 games unbeaten (and counting)

+

Arsene Smugometer heading into overdrive

=

A summer of transfer inactivity

I’d still like to see a couple of quality players bought in… but if I put my Arsene Wenger spectacles on, I can’t see where he is realistically going to purchase. Having a big squad has never been his thing… and you know the saying… you can’t teach an old coach new tricks…

In other, more relevant news Theo, Cesc and Adebayor are back in the squad… but Van Persie, Eduardo and Diaby are out…

So how will we line up? Well I reckon..

Almunia

Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

Theo Cesc Denilson Nasri

Bendtner Arshavin

I’ll be very disappointed if Ade gets straight back in the team… and I’m not quite sure how he’d play with Arshavin?

In other news, the coach reckons teams should be rewarded for goals scored. He’s dreamed up some sort of crazy assed new points system. I appreciate the sentiment, but it is kind of like Arnold Schwarzanegger suggesting lower taxes for people who can bench 400 pounds… I can’t see the league implementing a points system that would only benefit the rich clubs… after all, it costs little to purchase a Championship meat head to join a wall of 10 defenders… it does cost a few pence to buy a player who can give you 30 goals a season. So whilst an entertaining idea… ultimately a flawed one.

So, what do you think? Will we purchase? Does the league need to review the points system? What team will he play tomorrow?

Join the debate and the jokes in the comments section!


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Posted by Pedro

No Robinho and no Bellamy should make sure of the points.

April 2, 2009

So Bellamy is injured, and we know that because he didn’t play for Wales and he has always been a thorn in our side so that is great news, but if Hughes drops Robinho that will be a bonus, he tore us a new arsehole at the Eastlands so I don’t fancy seeing him again for a while.

Only two more shopping days till Christmas eh? Well it ought to be Christmas because beating ManCity will see us opening a 6 point gap on Villa, and as I don’t expect them to get a result against the Mancs, I think that will be it, but don’t forget two things, the first is we have to beat City and the second is we still have to play the chavs, scousers and the mancs, so even if we get ahead of villa, we have to maintain it.

The other good news is at least we played Newcastle before they got Shearer at the helm, I think he’s completely useless, judging by his comments on MOTD, but he will have that new manager effect for the first few games, so at least that game is out of the way.

Eduardo scored last night so that was good and there are no new injuries as far as I can see, but we need to get Robin and Nikki B fit and then we are away.

I’m glad Robin came out and said that Arsenal need to match his ambition and sign quality players because he knows we need a centre back and a defensive midfielder as much as we do, hopefully the boss will reassure him with more than Song, Diaby and Denilson. Don’t get me wrong, Denilson will make it and Diaby is classy, but he’s another crock I think and we have enough of those.

Notice I didn’t mention Song, it’s all part of the new impartial me, I wonder when Rosicky is back, surely he must be near fitness, we only have 8 games left and given he’ll take 2 or 3 to get match fit, he’s beginning to run out of time.

Finally it was great to hear Traore saying he wants to be an Arsenal player even if it takes another 3 years, that’s the spirit son!

Have a great day Grovers, Saturday is looming! Our destiny will soon be upon us.

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Posted by Geoff

Sources close to Cesc hint at big money move…

April 1, 2009

Le Grove HQ took a phone call late last night from a source very close to the Fabregas camp. Apparently, long term friend of Cesc; Lionel Messi, is growing increasingly tired of Barcelona’s pathetic attempts to unsettle Cesc.

‘Lionel hates the way Barca do business, he thinks they should show more class in the transfer market, so he’s been putting the feelers out for a new club. Cesc, understands his good friends frustrations. He’s been telling him about how great Arsenal football club is on the phone almost daily for the last few months, he’s pretty confident if Arsenal offer the right deal, Messi could be lining up in the red and white of Arsenal next year.’

Despite some quite dazzling displays this season, all is not well within the confines of the Barca camp,

‘Lionel cuts a lonely figure in the Barca dressing room. Many of the senior squad have grown frustrated with his stellar performances and insistence on playing like he is the best footballer in the world. He walks around the Nou Camp like he is Maradona… people are scared to even look him in the eye at the moment.’

The story seems to carry even more weight when you consider Barcelona’s interest in £35million Togo international, Emmanuel Adebayor. Our source, also a close friend of Barca President Laporta said,

‘Joan was pretty disappointed he failed to land Adebayor last summer, this year he is determined to get his man. If that involves sacrificing a player who doesn’t enjoy the Barca way with the media… then so be it.’

A cash plus Messi deal is being mooted and providing Adebayor’s wage demands can be met, Lionel could be on his way out as early as June.

P.S Tickets are available in Le Exchange —->.

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Posted by Pedro

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