So Arsene Wenger wants to extend his contract beyond it’s date of 2011, he doesn’t want to retire and he doesn’t want to manage another club. All good news indeed.
Arsene says he likes the freedom he has to run the footballing side of Arsenal and that was indeed a factor of him not wanting to go to Real Madrid, the club he supported as a boy, the other factor was he made a promise to this current crop that he would see it through.
He also said judge him in two years, that I think is 2011, so if he extends his contract now, he will be here way past 2011 and that must mean he knows he’ll win some silverware otherwise he wouldn’t be extending his contract, so if all that happens, good times are ahead!
Fragile Theo is now concerned about the world cup, Theo, I have always said you will be the saviour of England, I still believe you will be, but if you are going to be concerned about anyone, it really should be the club that pays your wages, I don’t just want to see you making cameo appearances for us this season as a warm up for the world cup. I know you got clattered, but I think you need to toughen up.
Alkmaar are a team managed by Ronald Koeman and remember he cost us when Taylor was manager once, he knows how to hurt, but frankly if we can’t beat a team that lost to FC Twente at the weekend, then we should be playing in the Europa cup with all the other shit English sides, no offence Villa but it is a shit competition.
I hope we go out and attack, I hope if he puts Eboue in, it’s at right back, we have plenty of players that can play wide left and wide right, we don’t need to play a right back out of position, we can play Wilshere, Vela or Ramsey out wide, even Traore but please don’t start how you almost finished against Birmingham.
Here’s the team you should pick,
Mannone
Eboue/Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy/Gibbs
Wilshere, Cesc, Song/Diaby, Ramsey/Vela/Traore
Arshavin, Robin
Play a 4-4-2, we’re away and 4-4-2 can be our old 4-5-1, I even included Song and Diaby in there for some of you that think they ought to play week in, week out so you can’t complain I don’t listen.
They will try and hit us early, well they ought to if they’ve done their homework on us.
So Arsenal, you need to stay strong and hold on for the first 15 minutes, probe them for weaknesses and then rip out their necks, just like those Raptors did in Jurassic Park, the first one, not the follow up, the follow up was a bit silly because they all started breeding, and if that were true, the flying ones would have got off the island and started nesting in Madison square Gardens like Godzilla did. And we all knew that was bollocks, don’t we!
Mind you, if Godzilla had bred with a Pterodactyl, imagine what that beast could do, if we had an army of them, we could rule the world and that means we could win the ECL, because we could eat the competition. No doubt Platini would find something wrong with that though, as he is the biggest dinosaur in the world.
Anyway, wherever you are watching it, have fun, drink your cheaper than Arsenal beer and lets see if we can close this team out tonight so we can rest easy in the next ECL game.
Have a great night tonight Grovers, after this we have West Ham then Liverpool, then the Spuds, and then Alkmaar again, wow what a run!
Well at least we can rinse Mittal for as much as possible if they want to sign Simpson.
Amen to that Franchise… moaning about the moaners… Zzzzz…
When you’ve been blogging here for longer than a week, you know what the drill is over here!
Mind you, some people are getting their knickers in a twist over a 1-1 draw.
David, Wenger can’t win. If he’d brought on a defender to shore up the back… people would have said we’d invited and attack… if he brings on an attacker, people moan he should have brought a defender on.
Give me the attacking option all day… Diaby should have dealt with the header better. He’s a professional footballer and 6ft 4… he should be winning regardless of where he likes to play.
Gambon
Really? Jesus, they are in the shit aren’t they.
Diaby is not defensive in any way!
This Eboue proving defensive cover shite has gotta stop. The guy was roaming around tonight like he thought he was Luis Figo. Shame he literally has zero end product and runs into dead ends.
Pedro you gave Eboue MoM playing right side of the front three before.
He’s better at RB, but he ain’t pants anywhere else. Not too hot tongiht granted…but c’est la vie
Pedro or Geoff please DO NOT be soft on the team tomorrow!
What I witnessed tonight was just pathetic and I can’t pick one stand-out performance! We did not play good, however we had chances to finish it off (by not being selfish!), yet we didn’t.
So frustrated atm.
Liverpool have lost 4 in a row, probably 5 come this weekend
Hey guys do you think that Rafa will play Gerrard/Torres if fit against us in the CC?
Do you think he will get that desperate that he will go after the Carling Cup?
Surely he would not be so stupid….he can still make a come back in the league especially if they drop out of the CL…..
That maybe a blessing in disguise for them so that they can focus on the league/FA cup only….
What do u guys think?
Pedro
We need a Defender not just for those situations.
But we kinda need one for many reasons.
Why blame Diaby?
Should it be only Diaby going for the ball?
The thing we have to worry about is our ever present injury list.
Eboue is basically our 5th choice RM, behind Rosicky, Walcott, Nasri, Bendtner
The fact that all four, as well as Denilson & Djourou are out is unbeleivable, something isnt right in the way these guys train.
with the 7 wins since the city loss, this team has shown that it can do well this year.
we should however learn to put teams away as early as possible
it would allow the fringe players to get more game time and the regulars a breather
if i remember the freak birmingham game of 07/08 we came back from a goal down and went 2-1 up then we decided to coast the game until everything went sour. it took us 6 games to recover cos we refused to get into 2nd gear to destroy a 10 man birmingam team
comon arsenal u r better than this
David, for someone who’d probably blame Bendtner for tonights loss if he was in the crowd… you are very forgiving to your favourites.
In answer to you question; yes, only one player should be challenging for that ball. That’s basic football… call for the ball, so only one of you goes for it.
What situation would you expect two players to go for the same ball?
Pedro – “Mind you, some people are getting their knickers in a twist over a 1-1 draw.”
Is that not you moaning about the moaners then..??
But if you are here longer than a week (8 days) and say that people on LG moan a lot you tell us they don’t and tat different opinions inspire debate.
People moan, others moan about the moaners (MATM).
For me its only the extreme views that I pull people up on…if thats MATM then yeah I’m guilty as charged.
Oh fuck…is this me moaning…
I’ll take Eboue over Bendy everyday of the week.
Sharkey, considering Eboue has played about 70 games for us in right midfield… one MoM is a pretty poor showing.
I’m over slating him when he plays there… he’s a right back. He shouldn’t be there… Vela, Jack or Rambo should be stepping in if Rosicky is injured.
Sharkey, triple moaning is my specialty.
Bullshyte.
I havent and didnt blame Bendy for anything except being shite which he is.
Are you kidding?
Long ball from midfield and only one player should go for it?
Wow…I must not know basic football then.
gambon Says:
October 20, 2009 at 21:55
Paul,
Why should Wilshere be starting vital away CL games? Last time he started a game at this level he looked well out of his depth.
Hes 17 FFS, let him ease his way into the team & stop trying to make him our saviour.
————————————————
Spot on, also a tactical point of view, they 8 6ft players to our 5 so putting in wilshere would have been stupid unless the team is already well stocked in height. It also emphasises that we need NB fit for set-plays, as Koeman was sticking in giants taking out his 5ft 8 players, it would have been perfect to have Theo to penetrate with 1 ball thus Keoman would have been more cautious in sticking them on.
As for others saying we should buy defender with height, then we might give away technique for starting attacks from defence http://arsenalcolumn.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/thomas-vermaelen-represents-a-sweeping-change-to-arsenals-backline/
If we win the 2 next home games, we win the group.
I think some people are being too blase about this goal. Our defence had time to set themselves. It was just 1 long ball str8 down the middle. We should defend that easily.
Jaguar 22:14 Fucking hilarious cop out that !!!
I won’t trouble you any further.
Ja, I don’t think so… those two are made of glass, losing them to us would be unthinkable! Especially in the Carling Cup!
the way we seem to pick up endless injuries is really worrying. Al, Fabianski, JD, Rosicky, Denilson, Nasri, Eduardo, Bendtner Walcott all out tonight.
back to the bad old days wen we turn up like big time charlies believing in our own hype thinking we.ve won the game already.Lazy football,no respect for the other team and paid the price in the end. that is the big flaw in this team and wenger cant seem to get rid of it. its cost us in the past and has,nt gone away.Wenger should have hauled diaby.arshavin and clichy off for their shocking performances and gave a good dressing down.
1. Expect the tapping up to intensify of Barcalonely for Cesc. All those chaps who big up this big fish in a little pond spanish club would be running for cover now
2. Great to see the European nights @ Anfield turn into a nightmare. No Gerrard to arse out a result this time. Also, an overrated team IMO, &
3. Song I can tolerate, Eboue as a right back, but Diaby in the same starting 11 as those 2 is a luxury. Oh well, I hope Le Gaffer learns now about this factor, than later when The Arsenal play better quality teams.
Pedro…my reference point for Eboue at RM is this season so far.
You’ll not get too much disagreement from me about last season.
Diaby isnt my favorite. Ive said he is shite many many many times.
David, if you think two players from the same team should challenge for the ball… then you don’t know much about football.
Do you play for a team out of interest?
Sorry if that seems rude, but that really is basic football…
also worrying how we always struggle with a big humped ball through the middle
Right that is me for the night.
Not great but not the end of the World. We will win the group.
And for those Gooners out there, that will struggle to sleep tonight, as they are analysing where we fucked up and who fucked up, spare a thought for the Scousers in the Red half of Merseyside, have a chuckle and have a good night sleep…….They Wont.
David,
Diaby cost us 2 points again, as putting in a shift at the end of the game is just beyond him…
4-4 agaist dippers? 2-2 against Villa? shall I continue?
Right, I’m off for the evening.
See you tomorrow for the review!
Pedro – I’d wanna punch any player who jumped for a ball I’d already called!!
I’ve had teeth knocked out by dozy fuckers who jump without calling.
CARDINAL SIN.
Yeah thats in fucking caps !!!! FFS. FACT..what else can I put for emphasis…..?? Oh yeah – I used to play CB for Lewisham Borough in the Kent County League
Nite Ped, nite all,
I’m offski too…
One player going for the header is as basic as you get David. Its called communication and only one player is supposed to go for it.
Thanks for clearing that up Pat/Sharkey!
Night!
Wenger told Sky Sports: “We feel frustrated because we felt superior to this team.
“We had a good performance and couldn’t take advantage of our chances. And in the final minute we got caught. That’s the Champions League.
“You need focus for 93 minutes. We made maybe one mistake and we paid for it.
“We had the opportunity just before to score the second goal but got caught offside.
“Then we had the ball in the box. Away from home sometimes you get these kind of goals.”
Wenger also pointed to an incident in the second period when Carlos Vela went down in the AZ penalty area but was not awarded a spot-kick.
He added: “I think yes, that looked clear because he was in front. It will be interesting to watch again.”
so any news on how nasri got on for the reserves, i think i heard he got an around an hour…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHKPxL-P8K0
Heh, a draw and the expert pundit blog types are out with all sorts of reasons for the metaphorical loss, end of title challenge, knocked out of all competitions analysis.
We could’ve had a penalty, probably should’ve, away to Alkmaar, we didn’t play all that well and still were coasting to a victory that we deserved.
We’re not going to win anything without key players, and with a squad full of injured players, but with two losses under our belt we’re still in a pretty strong position.
Yeah the numbnuts will try to derive satisfaction from this having waited for a draw after 7 wins, but thats for miserable gits, hopefully we’ll get a bit of a rest until we play on Sunday.
So what a 1-1 draw away from home is a good europeon result in my book,the team played shit and still never lost so whats the problem?
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/arsenal-2-2-wolves-nasri-assist-on-reserves-duty/
Nasri got an assist…..
cheers zeus
could be worse
you could be a Scouse
eating rats
in a council house…
Or you could be a manc
having a wank
and thick as a plank!
lol, reg
Calm down grovers!
This match was very tough. Credit to Akmar and their coach, they matched us and never stopped probing to score. I hope Wenger will harp o the need to be focussed and professional and the need to give 100%. Diaby, clichy were not in the game and deserve to have been subbed.
Well said Keyser. I’d rather be an Arsenal fan than any other as @ 21/10/2009, 9.16am EDST
Confident,
Wenger had the chance to harp on about focus after the Liverpool game at Anfield last year, or the Villa game, or the Spurs game.
He doesnt care about defence therefore neither do the team.
I actually think we have a chance to win the CL this year…..
Here is why……
1. Barca are not clicking on all cylinders this year..
2. It is possible we can avoid English teams
(a) Liverpool seem like they wont make the knock outs
(b) Manure and Chelsea are weaker than last year
so other teams can knock them out.
3. We can beat all the continental teams with our new 4-3-3
as long as we dont get compacent.
Pedro
Tell me what the fuck is the point in bringing everybody back to defend for a set piece when there is only one player going for the ball?
Rubbish. I was taught if you are in the area…go for it. And ive played right back my whole life.
Derren Brown is one crazy fucker!
David you were taught wrong then, as many on here have said! You bring everyone back because you either man mark, or zonal mark, so you have the number of players back to cover all their players, with a men on the posts, or to cover the designated zones.
If two of players from the same defending team compete for the same ball then one of them has either left his zone, or lost his man.
ah maybe that’s why you really don’t rate bendtner and like ade so much – you’ve been coached incorrectly so you think bad things that players do are good, and vice versa?!
t.b.h if we can’t beat az then there’s nothing there for us
A what do you think of my comment at 23:25?
diaby is a liabilty defendng
last year at porto, united and twice tonight
apart from that we were in 2nd gear
weve had a good start this year and must not forget that, were a point off the top in lge and top and nearly through in europe
were playing very good football (apart from 89 mins tonight)
were scoring goals, and with nasri theo and vela who have hardly kicked a ball all season coming back, the future is looking good.
we really miss roiskcy, the 3 games he hasnt started this year are the only 3 games we havent won, coincidence it maybe but he offers us what arshavin offers us in terms of passing ability and energy, something that neither diaby or eboue have
certain fans on here want us to fail, so they can say i told u so, at the end of the day we cvan challenge for league, we have more match winners in our squad then any other team in league, and yes we do need to add to certain areas for cover. apart from that we are in a healthy position
plastic gooners who have only started watching the arsenal since the invicibless
i wonder if thats wat barca are saying bbk, or inter
lol bbk
yeah i’d agree ja, though i still think our best chance is in the league rather than the champs league. I still worry about our players’ naivety in the big games, always potential for a diaby to head in an own goal
thats nothing to do with naivety, thats because diaby is a pussy when it comes to winning a header, arshavin would do better job man marking on set pieces
Yeah A we are naive….but the English wont dominate the CL this year…therefore if we can avoid them…..I think we have enough to beat the continental teams because alot of them actually try to play football.
I see only Chelsea as a threat in the CL……
Liverpool are almost out……and Manure will get knocked out..they just dont have the qaulity….
If I were Rafa Benitez I would give up on the CL and carling cup….
If he focuses on the league only and maybe the FA cup he has a chance to mount a come back.
Well wasnt that one of the most boring arsenal performances of recent memory. Its probably mostly because of what we hae already had entertainment wise this season but even still…most of the match was a borefest.
The most exciting part was the last 10minutes waiting for the final whistle and then they score and ruin it all..bastards.
Honestly after that match neither team deserved to win but its still hard to take not winning after conceding the equaliser in the 92nd minute. I would have gladly taken a 1-0 win before the match started and am gutted that we didnt win.
Well all I have to say is that the lads looked very half hearted tonight!
Diaby is a cunt who cannot head the ball and is a big pussy, who I would drub into the ground if I played against the twat! He would need a torch so he wouldn’t get scared of the dark inside my pocket! Look at the piss poor pathetic challenge on Pelle for their goal; cunt!
Mind you, Fabregas must look at the fact he let the guy drift away from him to score in what was very poor marking and shite concentration when you know the other team is just going to knock a hail mary into the box!
rubbish mark gooner. anybody who is a bit critical is a plastic? fuck off. people like u really piss me off . ur the plastic. might as well close this site down if everybody thought like u
nn – Heh, do you think that your post there might piss people off ?!
I doubt he was talking about people who were a ‘bit ceritical’, he’s talking about the twunts that only turn up to rub a loss, fuck even a draw in, by swinging their E-sticals around.
They can’t lose, if we win, their Arsenal fans anyway, if we don’t they can rip the other Arsenal fans about how shit their team is.
Fell asleep , woke up 1-1
Just saw their goal on dig1 and skim read the chat
Am I mad? I’ve got it as Vermaelen didn’t context the first header, Song (who the Arsenal Land boys have got as MoM by miles) let the guy go past him and Gallas didn’t close down the shot when he did?
No-one seems to be blaming any of these guys but Diaby is getting slated?
Apparently Nasri played well for 60mins for the reserves (who also conceded from a free kick in a 2-2 at Wolves)
Going back to bed now.
get eboue – diaby and song all together and we just look flat ..
the drops of creativity where far and few between
delivered by cesc and AA , RVP looked like he was up for it but , AGAIN poor selection left him an unloaded gun ..
FLAT – BORING – PLAY FOR A DRAW AWAY MENTALITY .
wenger lost us full points last night ..
i think the goalie issue needs to be resolved in january. a goalie who inspires confidence rather than panic is essential in our occasionally shaky/panicky backline. none of our goalies offers us this, and it is one reason i feel Sagna and Clichy’s performances have dropped. I wouldnt mind seeing Almunia sold, and an experienced, quality goalie joining
I switched to pool’s match and we had gone down when i returned…. my first reaction was ok, it happens away from home etc etc.. But i think we lost the opportunity to build on our winning run, we struggled overall to create chances (except Arshavin who was again class yesterday). The absence of one man Rosicky can make such a change to the flow of play.
But dont think there is anything to worry yet. Seems to me last year’s form in champions league and league have swapped this year, playing wonderfully in pl and quite a few levels below in the cl.
I feel Wenger’s utmost desire to win the cl is adversely affecting the flow of play since he is desperate to win it(and all the fans too). But our strength is our free flowing attacking football, and the moment we mount pressure on ourselves on field, we start to struggle. Not everyone is a Chelsea who practice defending even in their dreams.
Hope Wenger allows the players to play freely, taking the same approach as the pl, and we will rock.
I re iterate, some of the comments are totally knee jerk, no need to panic as much.
BBK at 23:44
You are right mate
If Chavski can’t beat Wigan or Villa
If Manure can’t beat Burnley
If Man Shitty can’t beat Wigan
If Liverpool can’t beat Fiorentina, Sunderland or Lyon
If Barca can’t beat Rubin
If Inter can’t beat Kiev
There is nothing there for them!!!!!!!!!
It is Fulham for the PL and Unirea Urziceni for the CL……….
What’s up people?
I’ve gotta admit, I switched the tele over to the Bindippers v Lyon game @ 2 minutes into injury time just to savour the vision of those stupid scousers in the crowd cringing, then switched back to our game just as AZ equalised. Geoff, talk about bloody karma. It works in mysterious ways
PTG…well said!!
Shhh…they’ll hear you.
NEW POST!