So here we are again, for the second weekend running, rubbing our hands together after watching our nearest and dearest drop crucial points in unexpected fashion. Before I get into the what Santa provided us, I’d like to talk about Nasri.
Firstly, regardless of how stupid his stamp was, I’m glad he did it. For too long we’ve had a team of ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ teenagers in our squad and we’ve had zero edge on the pitch when it comes to fear factor. That little stamp caused a 22 man brawl and we more than stood our ground. I’m hoping that injected a little bit of belief into our squad that we don’t have to be top of the fair play league, and a bit of filth can give you an edge in a game.
I’m not quite sure how Nasri is facing a ban, I thought if the ref booked a player, he was immune from further punishment. However, this is Arsenal, I should have known better!
Onto our festive weekend…
I was sure that Manchester United were capable of maybe losing two points at Fulham, but all three? No way! They were emphatically beaten by the West Londoners who showed more heart and desire all over the park. Watching Scholes hit the tipping point of old age as he was dispossessed by Danny Murphy was a truly marvelous moment in part one of the ‘Collapse of the contenders’.
I don’t really feel I can include Liverpool in my dream weekend. They’re so far off the pace and have such a poor side at the moment, it really feels pointless putting text down about their loss at Pompey. However, watching Mascharano pick up a red after a disgusting challenge was funny, watching him hobble off injured at the same time was even funnier. The most enjoyable part of that game was listening to spoilt, under pressure Rafa bitch in the interview after. You can’t moan about not being supported by your board, then spunk 37mill on a centre midfielder who has managed 60 games in 3 seasons and a right back who has only ever been average at best. Ok, so I spoke a lot on that result, that can be part 2.
Part 3 of my weekend of job was watching the Chelsea match. I can categorically tell you that I didn’t believe for a second West Ham would even get a sniff today. Their form has been nothing short of diabolical of late, they didn’t have Carlton Cole in attack and they have been leaking goals for fun. How wrong was I? West Ham played fantastically well, carved out most of the chances and were only denied all three points because of a dodgy penalty decision by a very erratic referee.
So, if we win that bastard game in hand, we’ll move into second and we’ll only be two points off Chelsea. What a turn around.
Now, this is where the coach needs to be clever. We are where we are because of other teams dropping stupid points as well as us. Not because we’ve made some amazing improvement. We’ve never conceded so many goals in the opening games of the season and I don’t think we’ve ever been where we are on such a low points total.
Now is the time for the coach to go out and make that relevant signing. He now has the best opportunity since 2007 to go out there and make a real impact on the league. He doesn’t have a target man whose making an impact and lets be honest, it’s a lot to ask to expect Bendtner to come back and make that leap… he’s hardly been electric in front of goal thus far. Plus, whose to say he can maintain fitness anyway?
We’ve got a testing few weeks when a number of our players will be leaving the squad… lets not chuck away the season because the coach wants to prove a point about how right he was… because one thing I can guarantee, someone is going to kick on after Christmas… with the right signings, that can be us!
Show us that you really want to challenge for the league this year Arsene. A lot of teams are up shit creek with their finances and we know that you’ve still got a monster bounty tucked away in the Arsenal piggy bank. There’s no use saying there are no players available, beacause I’ve no doubt Mancini will find some. It doesn’t matter if they’re cup tied, if they’re top players, they’re not going to be league tied… that’s the trophy that matters, anything else is a bonus. Go out and do what you do best, purchase some proven talent and deliver the Gooner faithful some silverware!
See you in the comments Grovers!
P.S. Anyone read about Hughes paying 250k of his own money to purchase Bellamy? Sounds like a load of rubbish to me… Still, more believable than John Terry taking cash in brown paper bags so he could give it to a kids Charity…
How can Nasri get a ban for that little stamp, when he was already booked? And how ccan the referee book him when he says he didn’t even see it? And if he didn’t book him for the stamp, what the fuck did he book him for?
hull fans are a bunch of poofs
I guess Adriano is off the table now.
http://goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/12/21/1702412/agent-flamengos-adriano-to-not-return-to-europe-in-january
If not Adriano, then Pandev
Dzeko wouldn’t fit into the system imo. We need a mobile CF that can interchange with the 2 “wingers”
Podolski could do a job….
You can’t really trust anything that a player’s agent says in the weeks before a transfer window. If however it is true, then that’s a shame because i think he’d be brilliant for us.
Dont understand that point Pat.
If the general consensus is that Bendtner could do a job at CF, why not Dzeko who is better at linking the play and has more pace.
@ Honest Bill
In this case I believe the agent. Adriano’s only concern at this point is to play a ole at the Wc next summer, so why rock the boat? Why go to a new league and club and have that inevitable drop in form because of an extensive ‘settling in’ period.
Playing in a lower league has already given him the desired result as Dunga has called him back to the NT to act as a backup to Fabiano. If I were him no chance I’d leave, especially after Flamengo were the only club to give him a chance at the lowest point in his career when no one else would.
zeus, Dzeko isn’t better than bendtner at linking play
Pat, Its been a long day……..lets agree to disagree on that.
GOOD ARTICLE BUT YOU ARE WRONG ON THE POINTS TALLY…PLEASE CROSS-CHECK YOUR FACTS…GUNNER FOR LIFE.
Oh man the league desider vs fulham at the emirates.
Oh yes!oh yes!
Hows it going chaps? Its boring I know but Wenger won’t sign anyone imo. He’ll feel Bendy is back, so is Rosicky, so is Eddy and Theo and Arshavin is an option so no striker/forward. Midfield is where he might consider but Diaby, Denilson, Song, Ramsey will stop his hand there. Defence perhaps some might say with JD out for long term, that is the only place really I can see him make a move but its looking more and more like Gallas will be extended so not very likely either. Prepare for disappointment if you’re expecting signings imo.
Wenger signing 2 defenders only in two successive transfer windows is crazy thinking. Although we need a defender he would sooner sign a forward.
Defending is not apart of the Wenger ball handbook. Just outscore your opponents, that how u win.
We will sign a striker…
Bellamy wants out?
Ok, picture this. I live in Devon and have small children.
Watching the news last night, I see the chaos around London and the SE. We have no snow, but every cloud……
The in-laws live in Essex and are due today. SO HOW THE FUCK ARE THEY ALREADY HALF WAY HERE!!!!!!!!
Mr B: “league desider vs fulham at the emirates”…and Hodgson is a gooner. So he will rest Zamora, Murphy etc on last day of the season!!
He is? (Hodgson)
Diaby on the DM role:
“I’m ready for it if they ask me to do it,” he told the Official Matchday Programme.
“I have done it before. It’s good for me to be more aggressive and concentrate on the defensive side.
“I haven’t heard anything about it yet though. As I say, I’m happy to play anywhere.”
Strange, sounds like Wenger hasn’t really planned for the absence of Song…its not far away now.
Pedro It’s ready to post, over to you.
NEW POST!