Cesc Fabregas says that the William Gallas spat last season is now behind the boys, though Arshavin says no-one is allowed to sit near him on the team bus, he really is a complex character is our Billy, but I think he’s having his best ever season in football, which I think proves my point that centre backs don’t come of age until they reach their late 20′s, so in theory we have got many years left of watching Vermaelen.
The centre back situation is a little worrying, as we only have Senderos and fish head to come back, I’m not sure when Djourou will be ready but I think he will make it, so we have him, but the young guns are too young, so should we have a little look see in the window?
I would have said maybe he would put Song in there if needed, but I don’t think he’ll move him from the midfield in my lifetime, the one thing that cost us last year was losing Gallas, I think we missed him more than we missed Cesc.
I also think Cesc this season is a different player, I believe adding scoring to his game has given him a new dimension, remember Hleb? When we had him, how frustrating was the team to watch when no one had a shot, we’re a bit different now, what with Vermaelen having a pop from anywhere and Arshavin and Robin doing their thing, I think we only have three outfield players that haven’t scored. Happy days!
So the chavs beat the mancs, well we spanked the mancs so we have nothing to worry about, if the mancs had a goalscorer in their team they would have been 4 up at half time, next up for us, Sunderland, next up for the chavs, Wolves, and John Terry says it’s a tough game. We’ll see.
On the Ashley Cole injury, I’m hoping he’s out for the game, but then at the same time, I’m looking forward to booing his every touch, tough decision that!
Have a great day Grovers, it’s strange being talked of as a contender again, let’s hope that lasts eh!
London,
how much do you bet then?
London;
I think Madrid played the likes of Alonso, Arbeloa and Benzema in the 1st leg mate and Gitti too. Hardly the resrves and yutes buddy…
David;
Come on mate, let’s be nice. You wouldnt catch me starting any fights on here…ahem…
Copa del Rey is supposed to be the king’s cup (as far as my shit Spanish goes) and RM is supposed to be the king’s club – I think they played their first team bar Benzema and injured prancing poof…
Really A?
Higain is a bit slow and how is his link up play?
Mang you won’t find anyone play their full team until the final, it’s like the league cup. It’s only us who plays the entire youth and reserves! Casillas, Ramos, Alonso, Benzema rested today, Kaka wouldn’t have played if it wasn’t for the 4 goal deficit
He’s quick David…. And his link up play is exceptional, it’s only his finishing that used to be questionable, but in the last 18 months he’s totally turned that around, quality player imo, would be perfect for us, very intelligent, creative, good technique
A;
I know how little the Liga sides take the Copa del Rey, it has been a piss poor trophy for years..
What I was saying is that, due to the Medridistas not wanting Pelegrinni about any more and the pressure put on him by Peres, this game has taken a lot bigger importance than usual.
Plus Barca winning it on their way to the treble kinda sticks in their collective throats too!
Yeah true Mang, although I’m sure Pelegrinni won’t get the sack after this, it’ll be a bit longer yet – still a massive humiliation losing to a side like that regardless of the competition and side put out!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw&feature=player_embedded#
Werder Bremen insist they are keeping their ‘cool’ over reports linking Mesut Ozil with a move away from the club.
The latest links have claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is lining up a bid for the highly-rated midfielder.
The 21-year-old has less than two-years left on his current deal, but Werder are insistent they are not worrying about this latest batch of speculation.
“We have to deal with all rumours regarding Mesut’s future,” Werder’s general manager Klaus Allofs told Bild.
“I am not annoyed by them, we keep being relaxed on it. I just hope Mesut and his agent keep cool, too.
“It would definitely be better, in fact, if his contract would be a longer one.
“But up to now there are no further talks and also no agreement when to pick up contract talks between the club and Mesut Ozil
IMPORTANT!!!
(I took a picture with Joan Laporta (Barca President) at a Friendly match they had in Seattle during the summer). I was wearing my Arsenal shirt.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=8265465&id=535415141
Mr B;
Why did you post that?
You a Reptilian Repulsive Republican???
Please don’t get me started on politics dude…
“I think the complaining is a measure of how spoiled we’ve become,” he said. “When I started going they hadn’t won anything for 17 years, and there was nothing between 1971 and 1979, or ’79 and 1987.
“Most teams don’t win anything most years. Why do West Ham fans buy season tickets? Or Everton fans? Because they love their team and they like getting out of the house of a weekend to watch a game.
“We’ve had two finals and four or five semi-finals in those four years, and one of the finals was in the Champions League, and though losing those games was disappointing, it still meant that we had something to play for at the business end of the season.”
He added: “In the end it’s about whether you enjoy going or not, and anyone who hasn’t enjoyed watching Arsenal in the last few years, especially at home, can’t really like football much.”
ManG….earlier I said its not just about winning shiny things didn’t I.
Every time I hear ’4 years without a trophy’ I roll my eyes…and wonder how so many Arsenal fans have fallen for that media driven fucking shite.
hi choy
Apologies friend my PC was acting up!
Yes i read the news today (I assume the Bendy news)
I even went as far as reading some Daily mail news Article about how Bendy is a big loss.
Last time I will read the Daily Mail again.
A,
Ive seen Higuain lose out a foot race with Puyol and Thiago Silva isnt the quickest defender out there!
Sharkey what would it be about then? Playing “pretty foottie”???
Is fabregas also part of the “media driven bulshite”?
I get wholeheartedly laughed at on here when I say that I was more proud of our 2006 CL Final defeat than our FA Cup win the year before.
I once asked (respectfully of course!) if being obsessive about silverware made someone a glory hunting c**t…
I never got an answer to that one….
Thanks for your two questions David…
I hope asking them has added to your enjoyment this evening. No honestly, I really do.
there is a programme on More4 in 4 minutes which will tell the story behind Eduardo’s celebration vest sign if anyone’s interested
Sharkey,
yes, it is about trophies, club like ours does not play to come second or make the top four…
the better if these trophies come without compromising out 100 mph style Tru Globetrottah style…
‘Rock’n'rolla wants the fucking lot’
Another typical AKB response.
I wish the world could share your low standards of what “success” and “genius” is.
Ultimately you are judged on silverware.
Thats how football works.
I have no respect for people who are just happy to clap their hands and cheer when we dont win shite year in and year out than to look retrospectively at what might have gone wrong…
but then again.
Fabregas who says is all about winning trophies is a glory seeking c*nt….what does he know.
Suga3;
Yes, thanks, I would be interested, ta…
Sharkey;
I think peoplem assume that, if you dont go all ape shit monkey or Joe Pesci in Goodfellas about the lack of silverware, then you dont want the team to win, are an apologist, or whatever…
Boring, puerile, childish bull shit if you ask me…
Of course the players will try their best to win stuff this season and they have made a great start. I actually think we will win a trophy this year and I will be effin chuffed about that, especially as I have had to endure the shite dished out to me by my United supporting mates!!!
But, if we don’t, I will be gutted, of course, but shit happens and what are you gonna do???
Well, hopefully a few doomers will top themselves!!!
Joke!
MG,
I just recall a few games last season when they just came out looking like they did not give a fuck, which resulted in getting beaten by Hull, Stoke et al…
I am happy to see players putting in a good shift, but I think we could do with one more player – Monsters’R'Us like purchase will do for me…
Yaya?
*drools*
ManGoonian re your united mates
Its pay back time, chamoneeeeeeeee
Suga3;
I hear ya. last season I witnessed some of the worst performances under Wenger. There were times each weekend when i had no confidence we would win a game, who ever it was we were playing. The Hull game, the spud 1 at the Grove and Fulham and Stoke away, of course (shit! I posted on here, when we played Stoke for everyone to put their mortgage on a Stoke win and Ive never done that before!)
Why did that happen? Well, maybe due to 2 bad influences i the dressing room that are not there any more??
The turn around this season is huge. Not just the goals, but the hunger and desire shown by the team, in EVERY game, not just the so called big matches.. hat for me is fantastic and now I fully expect us to win every weekend… Not saying that’ll happen, but you get my gist…
As for the monster… I like many was hoping/expecting at least 1 or 2 signings… That didnt happen and we have doen OK, so far. I still would like a signing, basically because of our record with injuries.. We shall see in jan.
says dont knock a scouser off a pushbike, its probably YOUR pushbike
and a few ridiculous selections did not help the matters either – after the FA Cup semi against Chavs I was like ‘WTF?’
they were just sooo beatable on that day…
real shame it dented the confidence in Wenger and resulted in the ‘geriatric’ blast – not directly, but still…
Suga3…thanks for the tip, I’m recording the 11pm showing.
I honeymooned in Rio a few years ago so I’ve a thing for all things Brasilian especially favela life and the economics and politics of poverty. City of God is the film you need to see if you haven’t already.
Re the silverware, lets agree to disagree, your champions in May then its back to square one in August. Other than that ManG has pretty much covered it all for me.
Don’t get me wrong I’ve been at Highbury on title winning days and loved every fucking second of it…and then the parade as well.
But I’ve also been there and had the news come in that Tottenham had collapsed after leading at OT meaning we were now losing the title.
You gotta know that some of us sung ‘We love you Arsenal’ just as loud as if we’d lost..not in the same spirit of course..but thats support…thru thick and thin.
Ask ManG about the Wolves fan on Saturday.
Not having a dig Sug..just trying to explain it a bit
Suga3;
I think we should’ve beaten the chavs anyways. A couple of individual mistakes did us in, as we were the better team… Arshy should’ve played though, in hindsight of course…
That Brazillian documentary is effin intense, really good mate, ta for tellin us…
yeah, I am watching, some hardcore stuff…
Dudu must be one of these ‘not gangster or scumbag’ types
Back fellas, peace love and harmony as usual I see!
Sharkey, I agree about the champs lge loss being better than the FA cup win by the way!
SharkeysSure
On the point of wolves fans. Did I here them singing @ the end “4-0 then you fucked it up”
Gnarley, G’day! Yeah I heard that too, not exactly worth it as a cuss I reckon! Give them credit for hanging around to the end I suppose.
playing Arshavin there was a no brainer really, given the circumstances, his form and the fixture list…
I think I just saw a fella wearing Arsenal-like top in that documentary
Fair point ZorrO, They are a club with some history. I saw Robert Plant in the stands, trying to give wolves a whole lotta love
Mang I don’t believe that it’s possible to say that Arshavin should’ve played in hindsight.
I raised my eyebrows as did everyone else, and because of the result, people claim it’s therefore categorically wrong, but I disagree, and consider the facts to show arguably the opposite.
Firstly we couldn’t pass the ball for shit, neither could Chelsea, neither could Utd the following day, the pitch was an absolute joke, and a massive hindrance for technical players like Cesc, VP, and for Arshavin when he came on.
Secondly we totally nullified Chelsea, and absolutely matched them and competed physically. We lost because of individual errors, not because of tactics. Arshavin being on the field wouldn’t have any bearing whatsoever on Fabianski deciding to run out of goal, nor turned Silvestre into superman able to keep pace and strength with Drogba.
wow robert plant
A,
but we would be in with a chance of scoring more goals, no?
A;
I kinda said all that fella! The Arshavin thing, was in hindsight!
ie; coz we lost! In hindsight, it means, that something different shouldve happened…
Gnarelygeorge;
Yeah, cant wait to see my United mates feelin the pain of an Arsenal title and me on my own, on an open top bus, with a plastic Premier league trophy in my hand, in an Arsenal kit larging down Sir Matt Busby Way, past OT in May 2010!!!
The cup final was embarassing but ultimately funny because we robbed the mancs and scholes missed. And paddy scored to lift the cup with his last kick of his Arsenal career. I was proud about the CL final but that didn’t make up for the disappointment of losing.
The Wolves fans sining got louder, the more goals they shipped! At 3-0 we thought they were gonna fuck off, but to their credit, they sang their little black country hearts out!
Wolves used to be a big club and I am sure their fans back then, whenever it was, thought they had a devine right to win shit… Things change and fortunes change too… Otherwise, the likes of preston, Burnley and Sheff Wednesday would be in the Champions league…
goonermichael;
I larfed my knackers off when we beat the Mancs! It was hilarious! Especially given the way the scousers had robbed us the previous year…
MG. It was funny, but ultimately we were shite that day, very defensive and I personally did not enjoy that win as much as I felt proud of the boys in Paris the following year.
Yeah Mang but I don’t agree with that! Everytime you lose a game, you can’t say that the tactics or team selection were wrong. With exactly the same team and tactics, against exactly the same team with the same tactics, in exactly the same situations, you could win or lose easily. One day someone will fluff a shot over the bar, another time in identical situation he’ll smash it in the top corner, in really tight games regardless of tactics and team selection they can go either way, depending on the rub of the green.
Something being wrong in hindsight means that you wouldn’t make the same decision in the same situation, imo everything that was dependant on tactics in that game worked, so I’d play exactly the same team and tactics, and we’d probably win next time!
so you would play Diaby over Arshavin then, A?
A. I salute you, as a man who is NOT ‘fooled by randomness’
A;
Have you forgotten to take your anti-pedantic pills today fella? Jeeeeez! Knock it on the head already! In hindsight basically means doin do,ething different to attain a different/positive outcome…
Now… LEAVE IT!
something different… Thats what I meant anyways…
Diaby didn’t play over Arshavin SUGA – VP did….
There isn’t a situation now which would be the same, we no longer have Adebayor at the club, the Wembley pitch isn’t as ridiculous as it was then.
Going back to that game, I would’ve decided between Arshavin and Theo, but Theo has much more pace, and does more work defensively, and Ashley Cole is good going forward, so there are definite reasons why Theo would’ve played rather than Arshavin
Arshavin was on fire back then and would wreak havoc in Diaby’s place – Diaby was piss poor in that game, slowed us down by taking ages to release the ball and trying to dribble his way through: with Arshavin we’d see more snappy one touch football and besides, which of the two is more likely to bang in a screamer?
Fuck it, this Brazilian documentary has given me a cravin for drugs, booze and loose women… I am sooo glad I recorded that early this afternoon…
Sorry Mang – people always talk as if that was proven to be a mistake, which is just gibberish in my eyes! You wouldn’t be any more likely to reach a more positive outcome by doing something different, as you would by doing exactly the same!
IN HINDSIGHT (check me out baby!)
I wouldnt have played Eboue….
tah darrrr!
well, I would still play Arshavin instead of Diaby – AW tried his way, it clearly didn’t work out, so he should have subbed him earlier, but no, we needed to build up his confidence ahead of Manure game, in which he was as shit…
SUGA3 if Arshavin had played in midfield we would’ve been well and truly raped. Noone could wreak havoc on that pitch, no other of the 40+ players managed that weekend, Arshavin wouldn’t have been able to either. If he’d played in midfield and Diaby hadn’t played we would’ve been completely outstrengthed, bullied, and overrun, rather than giving as good as we got against a very physical and powerful chelsea midfield
Just been catching up with a wolves mate (english ex pat) who reminded me they scored more goals on Saturday
I spose technically they did 
err, no…
if you repeat the same flawed approach you are more likely to get the wrong result once again – it is not a balance of probabilities thing really…
SUGA3 it’s not a given that the approach was flawed…. The approach was spot on, literally the only thing you can say in hindsight would’ve changed the result for the better would be putting in a better keeper, and quicker centre back rather than silvestre
Diaby had a shocker that day – losing balls, and getting pushed out to the left side of the pitch where he was exposed to be single footed player…
did not really make any use of his size either – take this into the account and you will see my point
Playing on a pitch that made it impossible to play quick passing football, we had to try and compete physically against a very powerful chelsea midfield. We played a team designed to compete physically with Chelsea, and we managed to do that better than I thought we’d be capable of, but lost because of individual errors. It’s like saying we lost to UTD earlier in the season because of tactical deficiencies, which isn’t the case
He made very good use of his size SUGA, and did very well in the midfield battle, and more than held his own against Chelsea’s midfield. Even if he wasn’t great going forward he played a very big part in preventing them overpowering us in midfield.
Suga3;
My main memories of that game were a big mistake by Eboue for the 1st goal. Fabianski a bit slow off his line, although others have told me it was more Silvestre’s lack of pace, or willing to chase the ball and Drogba for the 2nd.
We were more than a match for them everywhere else, IMO. But I know you have a beef with Diaby…
it was pretty obvious that Drogba will have a field day against Silvestre, wasn’t it?
the why would you put a player on form and unavailable for the next game on the bench? so much is being said about fitness – if anyone was to be rested it was Diaby, as he would have to put in a 110% performance to be reasonably suited for the task ahead IMO…
Arshavin is tough as nails, if I was to bet on the AA23 v AD2 midfield duel, I know who my money is on…
anyway, I’m off, gotta wake up early
play nice…
Yeah SUGA – Diaby would absolutely kill Arshavin, and only someone very deluded would say otherwise!
I’m sorry, but claiming Arshavin should’ve played in midfield is ludicrous. He’s not physically up to playing in midfield, which is why he’s played there for us a massive 0 times, but on a pitch where it’s impossible to play quick football, so the game was going to become more of a midfield battle, against the team with the most powerful midfield possibly in Europe, you reckon he’d be good in there?!
Gonna have to disagree on that one….
I agree, Silvestre was always going to be in trouble if man for man against Drogba, who would you have played there instead?! Or instead of Fabianski?! Or instead of Eboue at right back?!
We lost because of individual errors, by players who wouldn’t have been playing if it hadn’t been for injuries to those ahead of them. Arshavin was not going to come in for VP or Ade, and it’s ridiculous to claim he should’ve played ahead of Diaby, so it’s only Theo who he could’ve come in for, and wasn’t it Theo who scored?
Diaby was slowing our pace on the break a million times – fact, not opinion…
I felt like chucking stuff at the TV when I saw his receive the ball-run nowhere-allow the opposition to come back-pass it back losing the ground routine…
not thinking quickly enough for my liking: we could TRY to match Chavs for physicality and get inevitably fucked or try to have a go and outpace them with a good chance…
about Diaby ‘killing’ Arshavin – please…
AA23 would run rings around him on the form he was on then…
In hinsight I wish this topic hadnt come up again…
MG
just one more thing: the fact that Wenger never played AA in MF doesn’t prove a thing, he played Ebowie in the front three, remember?
OK, I’m really off this time
Didnt Eboue play further back mate? He WAS at fault for the 1st goal…well, thats how I recall it?
But, laters anyways fella
How did Chelsea manage to humiliate us at the Emirates? We should have been 4-0 up. Football is a funny old game
yes the team plays better now because ade isnt the focus in attack .. hence we win!
… when we score more goals than the opposition . load the midfield with creative players and bomb forward on the counter ..
back to the arsenal of old minus 1 togo twat ..
HOLY FUCKING SHITBALLS! Robert Enke has died. Not sure if ye already knew this but fuck! Apparently he commited suicide.
Where are Jimbo and BBK these days?
we should go in for balotelli, mourinho said something about his performance being a zero against roma. I really rate him and wenger really can handle aggressive egos like that…rvp
Mourinho really rates Balotelli though. He sounds harsh, but rumor is he’s like a father figure to him. Doesn’t look that way…
We have enough of proven strikers.We dont need an egoistic cunt.He can rot in Inter.
or not then…
Jaguar,
Jimbo and B.B.K havent been around for a while, they have fuck all to say when we are winning.
couldnt agree more with cloughies view of motd.Hilarious absolutely loving it .
John Motson gets destroyed by Brian Clough – Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqAZsoF-ghw
TOP 10 MOST HIDEOUS C*NTS
1) D.Drogba
2) E.Adebayor
3) D.Drogba
4) A.Cole
5) S.Blatter
6) D.Drogba
7) S.Alardyce
C.Ronaldo
9) D.Drogba
10) D.Drogba
Santino, that video was excellent!
Kenya, you only put Cole and Ade in once, and I think Bellamy deserves a listing, but other than that, good call!
I wonder what Cloughie would make of the football blogging world!
What’s all this crowing been about how AW is so great again!??
People need to wind their necks in! We’ve still won nowt for four, going on five years, and the last time I looked we’ve so far beaten teams we should expect to beat, but lost to the only two sides who are supposed to be any good, so not much to crow about there really, apart from doing quite well in the league and playing some decent stuff again, at last!
Credit, where credit’s due in my book, and that comes at the end of the season, when titles are dished out….
New post!
ManG, Darren Anderton carried on till he was 38…
Knee jerk isn’t making a decision after watching him get injured for the best part of 5 out of the last 6 seasons.
ManG, did you post on Gunerblog?
Venomous…