Meet Jecko
Edin Dzeko, pronounced ‘Jecko’ was on display last night in a shit game for Wolfsburg against a second string ManU. The team performance really was dreadful, but of course, because miserable muppet Michael Owen gets a goal hanging hatrick, there are now calls this morning for his inclusion in the world cup squad, piffle, he really would be a liability and like Beckham he would be stopping someone else that really deserved it making the squad.
With 3 or even 4 players way better than Beckham such as Lennon, Phillips, Milner and our very own Theo. Owen has Defoe, Agbonlahor, Rooney, Heskey, Cole, Bent and even Crouch ahead of him.
Anyway I saw enough from Dzeko last night with his movement to make me lick my lips with anticipation at what he’d be like in a team with the service we can provide. Add to that his aerial finishing, he could be the complete package. He made the goal look like the headed version of a tap in, and it really wasn’t.
Go and sign him Arsene, yes I know there is a slight possibility that they may qualify if Moscow get banned, but that’s like Ireland getting in the World Cup, remote, and I saw enough of Wolfsburg for them to realise they are going nowhere. So he’ll want it as well.
The Chavs proved how invincible they really are by managing to secure a draw at home against some pub team from Cyprus, and this is after they got done by a team of Arsenal rejects on Saturday, so Arsene, buy Dzeko, it’s not over yet.
Tonight we have 10 teenagers playing against Olympiakos, Bartley will debut and I’m keen to see if he can step up, if he can great, if he looks lost, time to buy a ready made for the long haul in.
I don’t know what to think about tonight except I’m really looking forward to it, I liked watching our kids last year in the youth cup, and I enjoyed watching us beat Liverpool this year in the Carling, but I hated the Man City game, so which team will we see tonight eh?
Either way it doesn’t matter, so enjoy yourself, and dependent on Pedro’s social life, he may be posting a match report tomorrow.
Have a great day Grovers, tonight our young Spartans make their stand somewhere in Greece against a much bigger, much stronger army, heard that somewhere before???
theo needs to play it simple. so he can improve his decisions later.
Merida and Wilshere will play a lot better with better players around them.
Wilshere made a brilliant pass, but Walcott, rather predictably, stopped his run when he would have been clean through.
Someone said they’re confident b/c LPool haven’t won at Anfield since September? Well, hate to break it to you, but we’re usually a team that gets other teams out of a slump.
Boro a few years ago, Spuds last season, City this season(assuming they continue playing like they are)
paulinho he was very good against west brom in the first league cup game too, and for england u21s a few times, though since he came back from injury he looks off his game
Wilshere was great in the Youth Cup run and in both games at the Emirates Cup.
Impressive against West Brom and u-21 as well.
He disappointed against City and Olympiakos though he should have had an assist today if Walcott had half a brain
any news about walcott injury
Ok, A and Gooby. The reason you never heard of those players at the time was not due to a lack of quality but rather to the lack of mass and pan-global televisation. Vela and Bojan are very similar…very good but when it comes to the final push, in my opinion, they are unlikely to be(my definition of) world class.
Balotelli: 9 – Answered his critics with a virtuoso performance. Scored a thumping free kick, created Eto’s goal, and could have scored on three other occasions. Displayed his frightening potential and even behaved himself for once!
MOTM apparently
only time will tell angelos
A, completely agree, growth rates vary on the individual but you can always see the spark in a potential World Player of the Year nominee.
And Didier Zokora is playing mighty well for Sevilla. He looks such a good player. He was decent for Spurs as well, no?
Bojan doesn’t have the power of Vela Angelos, not the passing and shooting (usually).
We’d never heard of them because they weren’t very good at 20, they were in a sub-standard league until they were 22 in Henry’s case, and he was 23 before he showed to potential to become a truly great player.
Zidane didn’t leave Bordeaux until he was 24.
Different players develop at different speeds, there is absolutely no way of knowing now whether Merida and Vela will categorically be world class, but they certainly have the raw talent that COULD result in them being world class.
Angelos at the age of 20 noone would have predicted Henry nor Zidane to be world class. No big side saw anything in them to want them until they were at least 22, Blackburn even passed up the chance to sign Zidane when he was 23!
Pat they really didn’t rate him at spurs
Raw talent my ass.
Bojan was infinitely better than Vela at every level throughout his career.
The reason Zidane didn’t leave until he was 24 was not due to a lack of talent but rather your simplistic comparison between two contrasting periods in football.
The modern game dictates that you snatch up talent at an increasingly young age. When Zidane was playing there was nothing wrong with staying at a club untin you were 24.
Thierry Henry???
“the 1997–98 season, he was instrumental in leading his club to the UEFA Champions League semi-final, setting a French record by scoring seven goals in the competition. By his third season, he had received his first cap for the national team, and was part of the winning team in the 1998 World Cup.”
@A
Henry, youre right about Henry, definitely wrong about Zizou. For him it was more of a case of him not wanting to leave his clubs and the conundrum of playing him, a conundrum similar to Riquelme.
With Zizou you have to build the team around his strengths and weaknesses. He doesn’t really have pace, he holds up the ball for long periods (something Henry hated) and he didn’t do much defensive work. Good as he was that limited the amount of teams that he could play for. The risk was too great to build the team around 1 man.
Bloggers on here are seriously over exaggerating it’s not even funny.
So wait…because the Blackburn manager wanted to sign him and an ignorant chairman decided Tim Sherwood was better after seeing Zidane 0 times that somehow justifies your point??
So… we could be facing any of these in the next round: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, FC Porto, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart.
Who would you guys prefer?
Different time, different world A. Just because Vela is relatively well known at 20 it doesn’t mean he was better than Thierry or Zidane at that age. Dust up some VHS’s and take a little trip back.
People, Walcott is not good enough and will never be for us. He keeps proving that every time he plays. I would sell him in a heartbeat. The funny thing is he would probably excel at a lesser club.
Angelos the point is if he was showing the talent to be the world player of the year Blackburn wouldn’t have gotten near to signing him ahead of the top clubs in Europe, and certainly wouldn’t have turned him down!
Henry at 21/22 was very good for Monaco, and ok for France. I would expect Vela to be very good for Mexico in the world cup this summer at the same age.
I don’t think Vela will become Henry, nor Merida Zidane, but I expect both Vela and Merida to be thought of as two of the top players in their positions in Europe
Oooby, have to agree.
His best moment for Arsenal was coming on against a tired Liverpool team and going on a run.
Spare me.
Angelos the difference now is the internet and TV coverage meaning that people ignorantly watch kids, and think that because they aren’t all that at 20 and make mistakes they therefore will never be all that great, whereas 10-15 years ago noone had heard of players until they were at the top, so they weren’t in the spotlight whilst developing, and having their mistakes picked up on etc
@Ooby
Like when Gilardino left Milan for Florence
the thing u guys dont realise is that if you are good enough you are young enough
a lot of these youngsters you are debating are in the team to provide reliable back up. they are expected to deliver a certain level. vp and eduardo are our only strikers over 21 yrs of age, if vela bendtner and theo are as good as wenger hyped them to be in the summer (the reasons he isnt replacing ade) then we shouldnt be too panicky over VP injury as he is the only long term absentee (CF)
vela, theo has got talent no doubt im just weary that now that we need them they arent ready to deliver
Some unbelievable crap being written on here tonight.
Its nice that everyone has at least one Arsenal player they hate. Gives off a warm glow it does.
You need to stop with Zidane because it’s frustrating and doesn’t make any sense.
You can expect as much as you want A, but don’t expect me to believe that Vela and Merida will be Premiership stars.
Vieira came into the team and made an impact at a young age, so did Fabregas, Anelka and Van Persie. Vela has shown less than half their promise.
I’m not going 2 defend Walcott 2 much as I’ve already said his football brain is weak that is clear 4 all 2 see. But what I will say is this Walcott is more likely 2 be the player we all hope he will be if he play’s in the centre (his best position) I’m not going 2 write Theo off I still think he can be the next M.Owen (in his prime) he just needs 2 try and avoid injury have a full season in his best position and of course he still needs 2 work on his technique and all round game.
the team i would prefer to play in order
Stuttgart
AC Milan
CSKA Moscow, ,
FC Porto,
Bayern Munich,
Lyon,
Inter Milan,
I’m quite happy to have a go when I don’t like something but it must be awful to watch a match and enjoy NOTHING WHATSOEVER AT ALL!!
Vela needs a goal, you could see that tonight, he was a handful but lacking in confidence.
Did people really expect to win?
A, It’s not even about their mistakes. What have Merida or Vela actually done?
A couple of chips in the Carling Cup and a long range strike…again in the Carling Cup.
I told you…Ramsey and Wilshere have got the quality to make it big but Vela and Merida?? Not so sure
Angelos what do you mean it doesn’t make any sense?! You mean there’s no rational argument against it therefore you don’t want to address it?!
If as you claim you can tell at the age of 20 that a player has the ability to be world player of the year or not, and Zidane did, then I don’t get how no big clubs came in for him, Blackburn had the opportunity to get him, and when he left Bordeaux he only cost £3.2 million at the age of 24?!
The point is you absolutely cannot write off a player at 20. Vela imo has shown at least equal to the raw ability that vp did at that age. Just because he’s not on form at the moment doesn’t mean he’s suddenly become shit, and the performances for Mexico and in the league cup, and for osasuna were all flukes. Whether or not he does it in the end is open to debate, but he has the raw ability and promise to be a top top player
vela can get a goal from every position, he is a deadly finisher and thinks quick.
It is about mistakes Angelos. Vela and Merida are still developing, as the likes of Zidane and Henry were at that age. If they’d been playing for us at that age then they’d be slated because of playing the wrong passes, and not doing much etc.
I don’t think Vela and Merida will be world player of the year, but they have the talent to be amongst the best in Europe.
Play Vela in a 442 off Bendtner or even a 443 with Bendy and Theo and I think they’d be incredible.
What makes you think Walcott’s best position is CF? He has played there a total of 2 times to my knowledge since joining Arsenal.
And at any rate, when is that CF position going to open up for him, RVP Eduardo and even Bendtner are ahead of him there.
As for Owen, I don’t think its fair to think of Walcott in his class, not least right now. Owen is very intelligent even now and has been said by MG, Walcott’s football brain is very small. Pity we couldn’t find him at age 8 or something. He lost some crucial developmental years playing other sports.
everybody seems to have forgotten diaby
Walcotts runs tonigt didn’t suggest he had no football brain, some were very well timed indeed.
A, seriously. You’re not listening to me. I have not written Merida or Vela off. I’m just telling you they aren’t on the road to becoming world class with the little that they’ve shown.
The Zidane thing is pure sillyness and that’s why I can’t be bothered to talk about it. I’ve told you it was a completely different time with a different mentality towards youth. The fact that he was snatched up by Juve at a relatively young age during that period tells you something…regardless of price.
Theo is an incredibly intelligent footballer, the no footballing brain thing is ridiculous imo!
Angelos Vela has hardly started games of course those players made more of an impact but not in 6=7 games but throughout the whole season why would u compare a player who’s started what is it 4 games 2 players who’ve started 30+ games would’nt u say that logic is ridiculous.
Angelos there wasn’t a different mentality towards youth though, there was just a different (much more limited) exposure that the youth players go, that’s the point!
How could 24 be a relatively young age?!
Angelos you seem to be suggesting that if Theo and Vela do not become as good as Zidane then they are worthless.
Thats a pretty extreme position to take.
ramsey apart,the rest i have no hope for
A on the ball he’s lacking off the ball he still needs 2 improve.
Ditto Gooby
Both are very young players, they show glimpses of real ability. There isn’t another player outside of maybe Messi or Henry in his prime that could have made that run vs Liverpool like Theo for instance.
Give them time before you write them off.
I was there the day BBK said something positive about an Arsenal player!
I might get a t-shirt made.
I can’t agree that Walcott is INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT. Up to now acouple of classy goals, and the Anfield run aside, Walcott has shown himself to be a well mannered Jermaine Penannt. He has a long way to go yet.
A, I mean it’s not about mistakes FOR ME.
Of course everyone has bad games, moreso when you are young but look at Anelka at the same age, Van Persie as well they were actually making a difference. With Vela and Merida the game just flies by and I wonder why??
Ramsey has two Premiership goals to his name a Champions League goal, Fa Cup final run and I actually stand up and take notice.
If you think they are going to be world class then fine, I can’t change your mind but you’re only deluding yourself.
we don’t have time,we need to deliver now
is Abou the next zidane?
And Walcott’s okay BTw. On Arse.com
Baxter Wall…no I am not suggesting that.
Just saying they are not as good as people think.
This is getting tiresome…at the end of the day I don’t think Merida and Vela will be world class…some of you do…fair enough. Let’s leave it at that and wait and see.
Goodnight kids
Anyone here fancy Milos Krasic?
Angelos what is you’re definition of world class and please feel free 2 be specific. And it’s how u’ve answered the other questions but refuse 2 answer mine.
i think he could come in and replace rosicky,franchise
Metal Gear…sorry if you feel left out. To me, world class are players who have a chance of, at the very least, being in the running for the shortlist for the player of the year awards and are major contributers to their side winning trophies.
Generally, the top bracket. It’s tough to fully explain but it’s just a feeling I get about a player.
Will Vela ever be at the level of Torres, Van Nistleroy, Ronaldo, Henry, Villa, Drogba?? I personally don’t think so. There’s no scientific proof or set criteria. It’s just the sense I get…but you’re all entitled to believe what you want and I really don’t have a problem with that.
angelos
If you think they are going to be world class then fine, I can’t change your mind but you’re only deluding yourself.
—————————————-
you tore strips off me for bad mouthing our own players .. hmmmmm ade none the less and now your bombing on our players yourself ..
a bit hypocritical !
Ethan, I find that hard to believe since I never particularly liked Ade. The only time I even remember talking to you was in regards to you thinking you were better than Wenger at what he does.
Also I don’t think saying a player is very good but won’t be world class is bad mouthing.
still cannot believe theo took the set pieces tonight, delivery was hocking. also, it is usually shocking. should been rambo for me. cannot see the logic in that decision.
Anyway, while Ethan’s off searching for previous conversations I wish you all a good night. Take care y’all.
yes glad you reminded me !
and yes wenger was so right to not get any new signings , which that conversation was about …
so who was right ?????
ohhhh .. yes ME !
and yes you did like ade !
as you stuck up for him like he was your beyonce on a 1st date ….
Angelos that was not the question I asked u mate. try again
I’m talking about the very first blog at 23:25
metal
angelos is a bit of an argumentative S>O>B …
no real points are ever made just his personal judgment on bloggers/fans/players …
oh and he’s an AKB .. also
Walcott will play well vs. pool…give him a chance…we have seen flashes from him.
Play him in the centre thats what I say Mustard (amusing name BTW)
Colonel Mustard I agree, today he made so many very very good runs, some of which were picked out. I look more at the fact that this system puts him in a position to really utilise his intelligence off the ball, more than the rustiness when he actually got the ball today. He’ll get through a good few times every game with the creativity in our side, and as he develops he’ll score and create a massive number of goals!
For liverpool a team of
fabianski (though it’ll be almunia)
sagna gallas vermy traore
cesc song denilson
theo arshavin nasri
would do me, though maybe if he’s fit eboue will play rather than theo, let theo come off the bench. Or if eduardo is fit maybe he’ll start
Speaking of David Villa, he’s the man I expect Vela to be most like. Similar developmental periods too, at Villa didn’t move to the Spanish top flight until the age of 22, I expect it to be about 2 years before Vela really starts to turn it on for us as well, though he’s going to quickly become a better squad player and make a real impact in the second half of this season.
As I said i didnt think it was a bad game at all.
We were unlucky seeing that it is almost impossible to score with that keeper that they have and they had a very tight strong disciplined defense often times breaking tackles at the last second.
Honestly you lot Calling Walcott shite and Bendtner class are quite the hypocrites if i ever saw one.
What we should be more concerned about is that our most prolific forwards…Vela and Eduardo are not finishing their chances at the moment!
Very Worrying!
one sub,well done wenger,so much for giving the youth a chance,insulting.
Theo was shit today, but I think he can give Insua a very hard time. Won’t change my opinion of him though. I don’t think he’s good ebough
Eduardo yes.
Vela prolific? Not quite mate.
I still think we have enough to beat the bindippers this weeked.
Arsh will be extra motivated
So who do we want in the knockout round?
Bayern, Stuttgart, Inter, Milan, CSKA, Lyon, Porto
Personally, I’d like Stuttgart or Bayern
I have this feeling we’ll get inter.
Can see maureen running his mouth again.
Would give me pleasure if we could knock them out and send him packing…to citeh probably!
I want a reunion with Lehmann and Hleb
A i agree with you on vela , theo also showed signs of what he can do last night ..
but by and large, another disappointing effort..
“Matthias Sammer: Arsenal Disrespect Champions League With ‘Kindergarten’ Team”
Matthias Sammer says:
“I’m disappointed about what Arsene Wenger did.
“It’s the Champions League, one of the most important competitions worldwide, and he plays with a bunch of Kindergarten players.
“The UEFA rules allow him to do so but I can’t respect it.
“You have to pay a bit more respect to the Champions League.”
AA23 says:
Fuck off you boring cunt, no one gives a fuck what you think. Ginger prick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSaj9F0BTMk&feature=player_embedded
sammer is so stupid. i mean wtf do they care, coach can put the players he wants on the pitch as long as they play for the club. again WTF????? WTF is sammer problem.
???
I thought the kids did well last night, good football, the only thing that was missing was goals.
I thought Vela should have had a hatrick.
Isn’t that a really important part to miss though?
It is of course but I think had Bendtner been in there he would have finished what Vela couldn’t. Maybe!
Vela just needs that first goal to go on a spree I think. One on the weekend wouldn’t be bad at all!
I’d accept that.
We done well last night but once again we missed a clinical finisher!!
Agree with you Geoff, Vela should have had a hat trick. Fact is though he did’nt. Not good enough, not motivated or lacks confidence. Maybe a bit of all three.
Qualification was wrapped up.
Yesterday’s game was a little irrelevant.
Main focus should be on Sunday.
Manure and chavski keep dropping points.
We need to improvise at every slip up.
We have enough to get 3 points.
They’re down right now. Perfect time to play them.
Just hope the ref’s not a wanker.
I don’t understand how when they get paid so much in a recession they need motivation, my motivation when I played was not being dropped.
And I loved scoring goals.
Didnt see last night’s match, but I think Theo fared pretty bad. For me he is not more than a mid table team player. Far too inconsistent.
Ramsey looks like he is rising up to his role. What I wouldnt do to see him and Cesc in the middle against pool. Have been saying it for over an year now.
Ikon, I agree with the bit about Cesc and Ramsey but I think Theo will explode once he’s match fit.
Me too no see.
Could any of the youngsters be fast tracked into first team?
Why did vela smile and laugh when he kept missing?
Is Theo injured?
Geoff, Theo will explode into one run and then go back to his old self… or rather his only self.
With him, imo , its seems like he just visualizes that he is going to fly away with the ball the moment he receives it.
He wouldnt even do well if he slowed down with his current techniques level, is another matter altogether.
But he has shown negligible improvements over the last 2-3 years.
999
Theo? Match fit? When?
1001
For me the only people who can jump to the first team looking at the current technique levels are Ramsey, Watt, Wilshere, Lansbury, Merida, JET.
Rest all have to go back to school.
Theo and Rosisky are always going to injury prone!! They will never play a whole season without getting injured for long periods!!
Ramsey, Wilshire and Merida are the only definites for me!!
New post!
Pedro,there is some problem on the blog,we are not able to comment on the NEW POST
Pedro/Geoff
ru guys there ?,i am still facing the problem…
Pedro/Geoff
ru guys there ?,i am still facing the problem on the new post
helloooooooooooooooooooooo
,i am still facing the problem on the new post
hellllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooo…
i think along with me,lots of people could be facing this issue…ru reading this??????