We need to win today, a loss would end it. I’m backing a win. A BIG WIN!

January 31, 2010

Ok I think I was slightly lifted by Arsene Wenger’s ‘why I didn’t buy comment’ he said Chamakh was not available as Bordeaux wanted him for the Champions league run up and Valencia wouldn’t let David Villa go, what, does that mean we asked? It sure does sound like it and as I read that on Pravda, I believe it was said.

So we at least tried to sign David Villa, I will believe we tried to sign him and on that basis I am not too upset we failed to buy a new striker. Dzeko had big ears anyway!

Today is the biggest game of the season, today we find out if we have a chance of winning the title, today we have the best squad available to us that we’ll have all season, bar possibly Vermaelen, today there are no hiding places, today is it.

We are facing a team that is playing it’s best football this season, although today they will be without Ferdinand and Vidic. I think Vidic is still injured and although Ferdinand seems to disregard any rule to the contrary, I really think he is banned for this one.

We need to attack them down the flanks, hold them in the middle, defend well and unleash the deadliest attacking players in world football on them.

Gael Clichy needs to have a big game as does Sagna, Evra is the key to their fast counter attacking and he needs to be sat on, much the same as Rooney, this is my team today.

Almunia

Sagna Campbell Gallas Clichy

Rosicky Cesc Nasri/Song

Walcott Bendtner Arshavin

I’ve put Nasri or Song, if Song is fit then Song and put Nasri in instead of Theo. I think Theo could have one of those games and tear them apart with his pace and jinky runs, so him as an impact sub would suit me, Eduardo is injured I think, so he drops himself, but it’s time to unleash little and large and say to hell with it.

Arshavin and Bendtner could be the partnership we have been waiting for, the bull and the china shop, the height we need of that there is no doubt, the talent remains to be seen, so go forth today Nikki and show the world just how good you are, go and re-arrange their goal difference son!

I am having us down for a convincing win, no predictions so don’t worry, but today I believe all the hard work and posturing will come good, it has to because if we don’t win this, with the no morals chavs, nicking a win from John ‘best mate girlfriend shagger’ Terry scoring (is there a god?) then we can’t afford to lose more ground.

Arsene, the boys need to be shown the league table, go out there and prepare the men for battle, tell them what it means to football, to decency and to God, tell them that nothing short of a win will do, tell them they are the reason you haven’t bought (and it’s nothing to do with your bonus)

Tell them they are the Arsenal and that to win is what they were born for, nay, what they exist for!

Have a great day Grovers, today is our destiny!!!

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Posted by Geoff

If he’s 23 and not 18 have him. I have the answer for a new captain of England!

January 30, 2010

I talk of Moses of course, not the one that led the Israelites out of the desert and into the promised land, but the one that currently plays for Palace. If he’s really not 18, that’s not a bad thing is it, we have enough of those already!

Perhaps Moses (the real one) is at our gaff, the way we’re going, it may take 40 years to win something!

Today I want to talk about Palace for a bit, no one likes to see a team in trouble, especially a London team, but Simon Jordan has never tried to make the footballing world love him, and employing Neil Warnock, the Andy Capp of managers didn’t help him, or as it seems, Crystal Palace.

Now I’m no expert, but I thought Jordan thought he had bought the ground when he bought Palace, but I understand he got stitched on that one, so was always on the back foot, now I’m guessing so please don’t take that as gospel.

What I do find amusing is watching Ron Noades, now a regular on Sky Sports News,  painting himself as the wise old man of football, and in his day he had to be head cook and bottle washer, he suggested that, not me!

Well I know Ron Noades a bit, in fact he’s a neighbour of mine, I even remember having a lively debate with his charming wife once, anyway, the Ron Noades I know is not quite the Dickie Attenborough of football he makes out to be. So this bloke who comes across as a caring old chap who loves nothing more than helping old ladies across the road, eating jellied eels and watching a game from the terraces is not quite what he seems.

The Ron Noades I know gets on a plane, pays for a ticket in economy but when he needs a leak, he goes through the curtain into business and uses the club class toilet, he does it every time I’ve shared a flight with him, doesn’t want to pay the full fare, but wants to use the facilities of those that do! Now in my book, that’s no different to cheating at golf.

A little bit sneaky.

And someone that does that when flying, may not play life with a bat as straight as he makes out, so for all his digging at Simon Jordan, I’d like to know if he did something to him when he first bought the club, who knows eh? We haven’t heard from Mr Jordan.

Back to Moses, is he worth a punt? I’ve never seen him play, but as we only have until midnight on Monday, he may be our last chance of a signing. All the hope in December, dashed yet again by the end of a window, ho hum.

All we have now is the hope of a miracle that all above us collapse, we beat them both and that Nikki B comes of age and stays injury free till Robin come back and gets injured again.

Red nose said this, ’Sometimes, I can’t make out these chants but I know there’s been some terrible abuse from our fans to Arsene Wenger and there must be a line drawn’

First of all if he can’t make out the chants he must be blind as well as stupid and does anyone else wonder why he’s left it until two days before the game with us to mention it? Cynical or what? I hope our fans near the dug out give him some serious shit.

On a final note, with all the lurid and unsavoury stories about John Terry coming out today, is now the time to finally take the leap and make Theo Walcott captain of England? It could bring his form back, what do you think?

‘Theo Walcott, saviour of England’

Have a great day Grovers one more to go before the defining moment of our season, tomorrow I rally the troops!

.

852 Comments | New Review | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

Did you watch the semi final of the worthless cup Arsene?

January 29, 2010

First of all let me start by saying I didn’t agree with Pedro’s summary of the Villa game, he’s entitled to his opinion and that’s why we write this blog, I don’t have to agree with it though.

Let me start by saying I didn’t think a draw against Villa was a good result, they haven’t scored in the Premier League since the 15th of December they were there for the taking and had we had a good enough squad we would have taken them, sadly we haven’t.

People were on here Wednesday evening and Thursday morning saying they were surprised some Grovers were upset as it wasn’t Wenger’s fault, it was the team.

Sorry, I beg to differ, Arsene buys the players and picks the team, what he has is a bunch of players that are either too young, and not ready yet to play against men, or ready, but simply not good enough.

Who’s not ready? Well Wilshere, Eastmond, Fabianski, Bendtner and Ramsey. Who’s not good enough? Denilson, Almunia and at the moment, Theo Walcott, who at £60k a week should be paying it back to the fans and not buying his girlfriend a Ferrari.

I’m sorry but in the real world where you earn £15k a year flipping burgers, if you started flipping them on the floor you’d be out that night, that’s in the real world though.

I like Theo, I really, really do, but someone needs to toe him up the arse and quick.

All this could have been put right with a few good purchases in the summer. We then get our annual injuries, and we always do, co-incidence plays no part, we get as many injuries every season, January comes and we get another chance, so what do we do? We say that we will only buy better players than we have, if we can’t buy better than Denilson and Almunia, then maybe we need counselling.

We now only compete in two tournaments, our manager considers the FA and Carling cups not worth the effort, or not worthy of a first team, how our kids get invaluable experience by playing 2 or 3 games then losing is beyond me, play them in a pre-season tournament like other teams do, that’ll do the same.

Please don’t say we got to the final one year because in those days we had a number of experienced players playing, he doesn’t do that any more.

Sickening

I watched the Mancs going ballistic yesterday, they were as happy going to that final as they were when they qualified for the Champions league one, going to a final is as good as it gets for a fan, believe me, I went to Wembley when we won the league cups in 1987 and 1993 and the FA Cup in 1993 and 1998, I’ve been to Copenhagen for the Cup Winners Cup and every FA Cup final in Cardiff.

I declined going to Paris because of family reasons, so I watched that one on the TV.

I’ve also been to a World Cup final (Argentina vs West Germany) and I’m telling you fans are as happy with any final as long as their team is playing, that’s what fans do, they support their club.

(And before any monkey head out there calls me a spud, save your breath, it’s been done before and it’s normally a 9 year old who’s never paid to go to a game)

That’s what I’m doing, supporting my team, Arsenal. I buy a season ticket in the hope that we try and win all we go in for, if Arsenal decide that winning certain competitions doesn’t matter, fine, rebate the fans. You can’t have it both ways, that’s just plain greedy.

Please don’t tell me we are top of the league, in the next round of the FA Cup and through to the knock out stages of the Champions league, because we’re not anymore.

Yes if we win the league of course I’ll be delighted, but I’m fed up with the same thing happening every year, it’s now been 5 years since we won anything and 6 since we won the league, given we pay more than anyone in world football to watch our team, our manager gets paid more than 99% of football club managers and our we have the third largest wage bill in the EPL, I expect more. Why shouldn’t I?

Every year we get a chance to win silverware, every year we throw it away, watching the Mancs this year and the spuds last, really hurt. It could have been us.

Finally, Arsene, Ivan, Danny, Stan or any of you that care as much about our club as I do, feel free to respond, email me, the address is at the top. You are disappointing an awful lot of fans and holes are beginning to appear in the stadium, be warned, I watched Roma this week and they barely filled the space behind their goal!

That’s it, I’ve said my bit, next post I’ll be behind the team and bigging us up.

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Posted by Geoff

Verminator terminated for season / Please note, Villa are a good side. Ratings and review

January 28, 2010

So in the all important first game of the quadruple header, Arsenal failed to capitalise. We bumbled our way to a draw in a fairly open game which was surprisingly for large parts.

There were chances for both teams, Arsenal having the better of them.

Cesc Fabregas went on a superb run at the end of the first half, cutting in and out then poking a shot that hit the post, the ball came back out readying itself for Rosicky to fire it in, sadly Rambo had other ideas and stepped in the way.

Aston Villa’s best chance fell to Agbonlohor when he broke free of Vermaelen, fired across goal, only to be denied by a sharp save from Almunia.

Other notable incidents from the first half was a key injury to the shaky Vermaelen and the second Premiership debut in an Arsenal shirt for Sol Campbell.

The second half saw Arsenal perk up. Arshavin went close with a superb 50 yard run, Freidel spilled the shot out to Rosicky who went for power over placement, the cross bar decided to get in the way this time.

Ashley Young tested the reflexes of Almunia with a diving header, again the Spaniard was equal. I maybe praising Almunia for his saves, however, it must be noted his overall keeping was pretty weak. He was flapping at crosses again and it made me cringe to watch. Anyone who thinks Shay could do better on the crossing front should watch Rooney’s final goal against City.

Eduardo picked up an ankle injury and Nik B came on… the saviour we’re led to believe. Well, he’s not much different to the old Bendtner. He came on, threw his weight around a bit, but he didn’t add much to our game. He was played through by Arshavin in the last ten minutes, I was expecting a snap shot, instead, we got a cut back and the move fizzled out.

One of the Grovers made a great point the other day about a Wenger comment. On the one had he says that we shouldn’t expect great form from Theo because he’s been out injured, on the other, he pointed out we didn’t need a striker because Nik B was back. Now everyone know’s I’m a fan of Nik, but he’s never done it on the finishing front for me and after being out for 3 months with an injury, I highly doubt he’ll be knocking them in for fun.

The game wore on, the creativity fizzled out and Arsenal took a point away with them. The boys dug deep and defended very well. Say what you want about Villa, but they are a very good team defensively and they have a very threatening attack. With our record for defending, a clean sheet here is very encouraging. We squandered chances, but there have only been 4 occasions this season when we’ve done so (One was the trip to Greece).

A disappointing result? Well, yes, we want to win all our games but a point is hardly disastrous, just irritating because we missed some sitters and the woodwork went against us.

What is truly disappointing is the injury to Vermaelen. He could be out for the season with a broken leg. Sol Campbell was superb tonight, don’t get me wrong, but an injury to our main man and the reliance on an older player to stay fit with Arsenals medical set up… well, it seems like a big ask. Not getting Smalling seems negligent, not having anyone else lined up could cost us the Premiership.

Losing Eduardo is also a blow. He hasn’t been flying of late, but we need all the players we can get our hands on at the moment.

Song needs to return ASAP because Denilson just doesn’t cut it as an Arsenal player at the moment. I don’t care if he becomes the next Zidane, right now, he’s awful. I’ve had 5 years of the future, a bit of now would be nice.

However, it must be noted that despite peoples impeccable memories, every successful team we’ve had was littered with a few marmite players who wouldn’t get into our apparently world class pub teams! Lets not pretend that Grimandi was a well loved player when his number used to flash up on the substitute board. Most people used to sigh the same sigh they do when they see Eboue warming up to come on up front. How about Cygan (My brother religiously has his name etched on his shirts), Vivas, Garde, Edu (For the bulk of his career bar the last year) and even Flamini in the early years? They all had the same love Denilson is getting now. Most of their names were only cemented in legend after they left…

As fans, we can’t afford to mope. People have to understand that we can’t win every game this year and a few draws are going to be part and parcel till the end of the year. Wins against Chelsea and Man U will put us right back in the mixer. Destiny is in our hands and it’s up to us to prove to the world we have what it takes to fulfill it.

I think it’s also a good time to remind you that when we won the league in 1998, we lost 6 games and drew 9, finishing up on 78 points. For me, teams are so much better this season, the likely points total for winning will be much closer to that number than the 90 point total teams have been reaching of late. In 2002 we lost 3 and drew 9. This season, we’ve lost the same amount as United and one more than Chelsea who have a game in hand. You can’t go on seasons past, you have to take this year as different, more competitive and unlikely to be a run away for anyone.

I’m confident, so should you be… the games are coming thick and fast and the next three could see one of the greatest turnarounds of the decade!

This isn’t a rallying cry, it’s a demand!

Putting one over the Mancs? I’m getting excited already!

See you in the comment!

Ratings:

Almunia: Made some tidy saves, dealt with his crosses like his intention was to see how close he could get his glove to the ball without touching it. 6

Sagna: I thought he dealt with Villas pace well today, a good performance. 7

Vermaelen: Not the best game I’ve seen him play. He made a few mistakes and got himself booked early. I’m worried about the injury (Rumoured to be a broken leg). 5

Campbell: So much for Sol losing it?! He came on and he was immense. He won balls in the box and slotted beautifully into the defence with Gallas. 8

Clichy: Caught out hideously on occasions but sorted himself out in the second half. 6.5

Gallas: Immense game from the Frenchman. He was powerful in the challenge, took responsibility in the box and put in a great performance. 8.5

Cesc: A very slow start to the game but came to life late on in the first half with a run that sparked the team. Much better second half, shame about the finishing. 7

Denilson: Not good enough. Sorry, but it doesn’t seem to matter where he is played, he can’t crack it. We know that flogging a dead horse sometimes sparks a career, but we’ve also seen what can happen when that process doesn’t work… he’s on loan at Everton if you were wondering. Poor positional play, naïve defending, sloppy tackling and an appalling lack of pace. 4

Arshavin: An anonymous first half, but a much improved second. His trickery and quick thinking was too much for Villa and at times, too much for Bendtner also. Unlucky not to score. 6.5

Eduardo: Very quiet. Injured. 5

Rambo: A disjointed first half with some very slack play. He got in the way when Rosicky could have scored which was pretty infuriating, but then again, he is only a kid. He had a better second half but didn’t drive the game like we know he can. 6

Bendtner: I wasn’t hugely impressed. It’s his first game back, so maybe I’m being unfair. His height definitely added something to our game but his hunger for goals is lacking for me. Still, maybe he’ll find his shooting boots for the United game, then all will be forgiven! 6

Rosicky: Unlucky to get blocked in the first half, guilty of not placing the ball in the second half. I thought his pace and ingenuity shone through in the second half. 7

Pedro

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Posted by Pedro

Sky TV reporters, you’re banned!

January 27, 2010

Ha, ha, how funny is that? Sir Red Nose has banned all Sky journalists from his manc press conferences, it’s because of them getting drug cheat Ferdinand a ban for an ugly moment against Hull.

I thought Sky owned shares in them? How funny is that? So I figured they would at least have owned the press room! Well done Red Nose, on a day when giant phallic symbol Simon Jordan went into administration and we didn’t sign anyone, I thought the day couldn’t get any better, well you know what? It did!

Maybe we’ll profit from Palace’s demise and sign 33 year old winger Victor Moses, I listened to Talkshite last night and they were giving Bostock some stick (pardon the pun) for his bad attitude at Brentford, but they had an official on that said their keeper, our boy, who’s name I can’t pronounce, will be Arsenal’s first keeper within 2 years, stick him in now boss, we need a keeper so, so, badly!

I wanted to talk a bit about Theo, something isn’t right, you don’t go from scoring a hatrick for England, doing mazy runs like the Champions league dribble at Anfield and scoring his trademark goals to the rubbish we saw at the Brittania Stadium, not overnight you don’t.

Something has gone wrong, maybe he’s had a row, I would like to suggest until he gets his form back, we cut his salary, why? Because he isn’t earning it now. Theo I have always believed in you, I think you will still be a legend, but mate, pull your socks up and stop feeling sorry for yourself, there are people on the terraces that are a lot worse off than you. In fact my guess? Everyone on the terraces is a lot worse off than you, you are a very lucky boy.

News today is Bendy and Nasri will be back on the bench tonight, which means they will be back playing, let’s hope Nikki shows his boss why there’s no-one better out there he can buy… only time and Nikki B will tell.

Song is on his way back and could make the manc game, so I would like to see what would happen if we mixed it a bit at the back, this may make us a little more solid and will bring much needed competition to the DM role, Eastmond I like, but in a Denilson way, when Denilson first arrived, he showed glimpses of potential, it’s only really this season he looks rubbish.

Eastmond could make it but I hope we bring him on rather than sling him on.

So how’s this for a team tonight then?

Almunia (Fabianski I never want to see again, and we have no choice, Mannone’s gone shopping, spending his pay rise)

Sagna Campbell Gallas Clichy

Rosicky Cesc Vermaelen

Walcott Eduardo Arshavin

Nikki and Samir to come on, on 74 minutes.

Don’t shout me down, I think Vermaelen could be a better DM than a centre back, and I think he’s a great centre back. I think Campbell is more than good enough to play with Gallas.

I also think this could be the combination we’ve been looking for and maybe if Bendtner has a blinder, maybe we’ll have the team to get us results in the next 4 games, if we don’t get results, that’s the season over, so let’s hope we show Villa who we really are tonight.

After Sunday I’m not feeling like making a prediction, I do think we’ll win though, why? Well because we are better than them and Martin O’Neil has tipped us to win the title!

We have the best record at Villa park of all the top four, and yes I did include the spuds in that assessment!

Have a great day today Grovers and no taking the piss out of that silly accent that Villa supporters have, you know the one that sounds like Benny from Crossroads, and as Jesus once said,’ forgive them father, for they know not what they are doing’

On that Godly note I bid you farewell, and good luck tonight!

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Posted by Geoff

Denilson could win player of the year / Arsenal, lucky to finish 7th

January 26, 2010

Ok, so a bit of a silly headline there, but I think it’s fair to say, there were a lot of silly comments on the blog yesterday.

Geoff and I decided to clear the spam list out the other day and give certain folk another chance to post on the site. Some have come back and played ball, sadly, it seems others still haven’t learnt to behave.

Both sections on the positive/negative side are as bad as each other. We have a poor result and the positives come on the site prepared to say anything in defense of the team even if they don’t believe it, the negative come on the site armed with statements akin to a relegation dog fight.

I can accept difference of opinion, but when I look back and see childish sniping and bitching, it makes me a little sad. Even more disrespectful is when people start abusing the authors. Geoff and I don’t give a s**t about peoples interpretation of the Magna Carta because our own version of that document is engraved here. Respect it, or blog elsewhere.

May I just remind everyone, the success of the Le Grove comments section is down to you lot treating each other with deserved respect. Don’t lower yourself to the crap I read on other people’s websites, you’re better than that.

I’m not angry guys, just disappointed… let’s make amends today.

In other news, Alex Song’s Cameroon side were unable to beat the might of Egypt, so he’ll be on a jet plane, I’m not sure when he’ll be back again… I’ve heard for United. If some of you are celebrating Song’s return because you think that’s the end of Denilson’s first run, may I just laugh in your face and point my finger at you… that’ll never happen. Now Senderos has gone, Denilson has been promoted to love child number one. He’s here to stay people! I’m so glad I don’t have to listen to people telling me about how good Song was in the ACN…

It has all gone quiet on the transfer front. Goonertalk reported the news that Loic Remy could be on his way out of Nice after fans were so disgusted with his performance, they queued up outside the ground to spit at him and abuse him. An £11mill move has been suggested. Now, not one to put a dampener on a transfer rumour… but… if he’s not good enough for Nice fans, I’ll be damned if he’s good enough for Arsenal!

Wenger has been justifying his weak FA Cup team on the propaganda tv. He reckons the Frenchman has been on the verge of injury all season. Arsene, which of our players hasn’t been in that situation all season? Kind of like the 15 players we have on the verge of greatness! Jokes aside, Willy G has put in a sterling run this year, if wrapping him up in cotton wool keeps him fit, I’ll post my Tesco’s club card points to Arsenal to help with the cost of bulk buying the white stuff.

Finally today… the news you’ve all been waiting for… yep, you guessed it… we’ve been treated to the news of a young player signing on for 10 years. Yesterday was the turn of Vito Mannone.

A player we all know wont make it at Arsenal has been given a new long term contract! Great business Arsenal, I’m so excited. Vito must be chuffed knowing he has to displace Almunia, Fabianski and Chesney! I’ve got faith Vito, I’ve got faith!

Am I the only one who has noticed we seem to save these announcements for the days after poor results?

Just before I go, I’ve been working with a t-shirt designer on some designs of the hand painted variety. I’ll hopefully be able to showcase them later in the week! I’m looking forward to showing you!

Have a great day Grovers, keep it friendly in the comments section… Jesus would have wanted it that way.

Pedro

1,510 Comments | New Review | Permalink
Posted by Pedro

AL WE MISS YOU! / Wenger heaps pressure on himself by throwing the cup

January 25, 2010

So the team lined up as well as could have been expected. We rested a few that were in need… Arshavin because of his foot, Eduardo because he’s played a lot lately and Rosicky because he has the genetic build quality of an MFI kitchen set.

We started off in spectacularly poor fashion. After 70 seconds, Delap launched one of his world renowned super throws into the box, Fabianski dithered, Ricardo fuller stooped to head in. Well played Fabianski, I guess we’re a little more aware of why Wenger favours Almunia, a shameful situation really .

It didn’t get much better for Arsenal, our play was interrupted with poor passing and an a lack of understanding between players. The team looked like they’d never played with each other. Stoke didn’t really create anything, but Arsenal were failing to capitalise on the space they were being generously afforded.

Sol Campbell looked steady dealing with aerial threat, Eastmond also following his lead with some good defending.

Carlos Vela was having a nightmare, as were Traore and Coquelin. When 30%+ of the team is under performing, you know you’re in for a tough day.

Just as it looked like we were heading into half time a goal down, we won a freekick after a Cesc flick was handled. The crap hacks tried to find a way of making the refs decision look weak, sadly, they couldn’t.

‘It was ball to hand’

Super logic. So can someone tell me a situation where a hand ball isn’t ball to hand? Muppets…

Cesc stepped up to the freekick, played it to his right where Frank Denilson was on hand to bobble the ball into the net! Super, we were back in the game! Denilson seems to be demonstrating the benefits of shooting… you’ve got to be in it to win it.

Fabianski picked up where he left off in the second half, flapping needlessly at the high balls. This wasn’t the Fabianski I was expecting. Catch it son… that’s why you’ve got a £100 pair of sticky keepers gloves on your hands.

It was interesting to notice that no one was passing to Theo. Coincidence or intelligent play?

Jet began to improve with the game, heading off on some meandering runs and making some good passes.

Fabianski was sustaining one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal keeper. He let an Etherington cross slip under his hands. Lucky Stoke hadn’t committed anyone forward.

Wenger had seen enough, he brought on Rambo, Arshavin and Eduardo on for Coquelin, Theo, and Thomas. The latter two had been particularly poor. It was quite amusing that Arshavin forgot to take his hat off, Wenger stepped in to avoid further embarrassment… he has endearing child like qualities.

Silvestre made the tackle of the match after Delap sprung the offside trap, making up the ground superbly to stop the shot. Traore was guilty of a criminal lapse in concentration again. Games like these show we take some of the first teamers for granted….

Vela found himself one on one with the keeper but couldn’t pull the trigger in time. I couldn’t help but think he was trying to do something clever instead of unleashing a shot…

Sidibie broke down the wing, chipped a cross in and Fuller obliged by nodding it in. Where was Traore? How badly was Denilsons lack of pace exposed? Were Arsenal staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat?

Carlos Vela cut a cross back to Rambo who blazed over, at 84 minutes, things were looking desperate.

Stoke brought on Franny Jeffers, within a minute, Eastmond was hussled off the ball, Etherington crossed, Stoke punished us again.

3-1it finished and the experiment to rest players had failed.

I’m not happy about forfeiting the FA Cup. However, I think it’s as much down to the players as Wenger’s selection. On paper, I thought the team looked good enough to beat Stoke, I’m annoyed at the men on show. Where was Theo today… Mr £60k p/w? How poor was Denilson? Had Fabianski ever played football before? It’s also worth noting that Wenger brought the big guns on and that’s when the result turned for the worse… perhaps he should have brought them on earlier.

There were some really negative performances out there and a distinct lack of hunger from certain member of the starting 11.

The big question I have is how will this affect destiny month? If it doesn’t go well, Wenger has brought the criticism on himself. Chelsea didn’t rest a many key players. Lampard and Terry are into their thirties and managed to make it for the cup. I understand the logic of the decision, I really do… however, logic doesn’t take psychology into account and logic has screwed our season in the same way before. The FA cup is an irritance nowadays and I just wonder whether we’ll ever start the season with a team capable of competing on 3 fronts (The Carling Cup has already disappeared). I love the FA Cup, so do most fans. It’s such a shame the Wenger doesn’t anymore.

On the positive side of things, Sol looked really fit and he played very well. I thought bar the mistake, Eastmond performed in a spirited fashion. We didn’t pick up any further injuries and Wenger took the heat for the result. Other than that, I don’t really have many nice things to say. 2 shots on goal tells a story doesn’t it? I just wonder why Wenger has to wait for problems before he reacts? Why not be proactive and address the glaringly obvious… we’re short on quality outside of the first 15. Two players would do it… I doubt there are many out there who’d disagree. Killing a player seems to be a bigger worry than killing trophy hopes, that ain’t right…

So, next up, Villa. This is when spirit and character truly come into play. This is the month that tells us how far we’ve come as a squad, a month that will define the success of our season and a month that will tell us whether is was a good idea or not to throw the cup…

‘Judge me in May’

We will, I hope it’s a positive assessment and you were right, because that trophy cupboard doesn’t suit being dusty.

Ratings

Fabianski: The worst performance I’ve ever seen an Arsenal keeper have. 2

Traore: Caught out of position time and time again. Some terrible defending and he was at fault for Stokes 2nd for being out of position. 4

Campbell: A very impressive first game back. He struggled with fitness in the second half, but he seemed to be doing double the work load with Silvestre struggling. Looks like a good signing. 7

Silvestre: Struggled for pace and got caught out a few times. He got worse after he injured his shoulder, not a great game. 6

Coquelin: Terrible performance from the Frenchman. Poor passing, bad positional play… very weak from a player with a lot of potential. 5

Cesc: What was he to do playing with under performers? You can have the best conductor in the world, if you’ve got crap musicians, you’re not going to make beautiful music. Today Cesc was conducting the Spice girls. 6.5

Denilson: He scored a goal, magic. Other than that, he wasn’t really in the game. His passing was poor, his physical weakness was exposed and his lack of pace cost us a goal. 5

Eastmond: Dealt well with high balls and passed nicely. Cost us the final goal, however, on another day, the ref would have blown for a freekick. 7

JET: Wasn’t really involved during the first half with his game or his effort levels. The second half saw an improvement and a justified substitution. 6

Walcott: Proof that money doesn’t buy you quality. Sorry, that was harsh and I know he could come good and probably will. ROI isn’t looking impressive at the moment though, is it? Football is about the now… sadly the future doesn’t give you performances now. I’m getting bored of talking about his potential… how about a few decent games instead? £60k a week isn’t a potential salary is it… it’s a superstar salary. 4

Vela: Much more involved in the game compared to Theo. Did very little with his posession bar whinge a lot when he was fouled. Guilty of trying to be a smart arse when we could have equalised. He’ll be regretting that miss tomorrow. 6

Referee: Not a bad game, made all the right decisions and let the game flow quite well. Clearly wasn’t adding the time it took Delap to shine the ball to the clock. 8

There wont be much time to procrastinate on this result, the games will come thick and fast from now on. The good news is Geoff’s lucky ugg botts have been binned… it was the boots fault, blame Geoff for the loss!

See you in the comments!

1,129 Comments | Match report | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

If people want to take us on they can…but beware’ Wenger said. We have learned to look after ourselves.

January 24, 2010

Arsene has spoken, and in a language I like, touch us and you’ll get one back, good for you boss, let those bully boys know their game is up, we have got back the Keown, Parlour and Vieira days, we won’t be pushed around any more.

We have a new breed of terrier, Vermaelen, Eastmond, Cesc and Tomas Rosicky! It will be interesting to see who he plays today, this is my team from the ‘guessometer’

Fabianski

Coquelin Campbell Vermaelen Traore

Eastmond Cesc Rosicky (who I want) Denilson (who he’ll play)

Walcott Thomas Vela

I would have a bit of experience and when we have the game sewn up, take off Cesc and Vermaelen, If he won’t risk Vermaelen though, I would play Bartley with Campbell, like they did against West Ham.

I wouldn’t play Denilson though, how many chances will Wenger give him? It’s time to share those chances out boss, lets see Eastmond having a run, or Thomas, stop playing your favourite, he almost cost us against Bolton, don’t make the same mistake against Stoke.

I am nervous about today as Stoke are a handful at home, maybe we need Bartley in there for the big high balls they like to bomb in, they aren’t that good at attacking, save for their unfeasably long throw ins.

Anyway, a nice mix of youth and experience Arsene, and at last you have the chance to let the kids lose up front, JET, Theo and Vela, maybe even Jack in there, but he was a bit short against West Ham, and I think he needs more games in the stiffs first, but I wouldn’t be upset if he did start.

I started to look at property in Islington and Clerkenwell, for a mate who wants to put his son in the area, I was finding 1 bedroom flats for £499,000, I said sure, who would pay that??? I went to 5 estate agents and they all said that flats were walking out the door.

I was told that the property market in the area was manic, so Pedro and I looked on the Highbury Square website to see how bad a situation we were really in.

There were no offers, there were no firesales, in fact we only found 21 flats were for sale, in total??? So what happened to the other 700 odd? Is this property problem another giant porky dreamt up by the Arsenal ‘We are skint’ machine?

Don’t listen to me, go and look yourselves, then try and work out how we have a stadium debt still, I can’t!

Anyway, onto today, go for the jugular boys, this is your big chance to show the boss you’re worth a place, Arsene, get the mix right and we can dream of playing Leeds United in the next round!

Have a great day Grovers and for you boys and girls going to Stoke today, sing loud, we’ll be listening, we are proud of you all!

(that last bit was edited for Old bird, my apologies! And enjoy the game)

1,410 Comments | New Review | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

So Coyle says he was wrong, cynical or genuine? Please don’t play the kids.

January 23, 2010

So Owen Coyle says the Gallas tackle was an honest mistake and he was wrong to say it was akin to assault, now its one thing to say he has calmed down, but as he said at the time, he will always say it as he sees it, he is an honest man… Oh blimey, he thought, I forgot I’ve been begging Arsene for super kid Jack Wilshere, I’d better say I didn’t mean it.

Sling your hook Coyle, you deliberately took the shine off our fantastic comeback, you conveniently forgot to look at the dirty tackles your team of yobs were putting in at the Reebok, you suddenly remembered you need a favour, well I hope Jack Wilshere goes to West Ham, you are off my Christmas card list and have joined Phil Brown, Steve Bruce and Fat Sam as the honest Brit pack that breed demons and try and tell the world they’re honest because they are British, you are a major disappointment Coyle, join the list of liars and cheats, you aren’t welcome at the Grove anymore.

Let also hope Arsene doesn’t put a team of kids out for the Stoke game, yes I know we have Villa midweek, so what? They are highly paid athletes, that’s their job, if we play the kids against Stoke, we’ll get beaten, if we don’t, then Stoke will have had an off day, they are no mugs.

The last time we were faced with this, we led the league, we were playing the Mancs at Old Trafford in the quarters (I think) I said here on Le Grove, if we field a weakened side the confidence could go out of the team and we could blow the league, we fielded a weakened side, we got hammered 4-1 and we blew the league.

No I’m not saying I know more than the manager, but I do understand psychology and I am stating the obvious, sometimes though the manager doesn’t seem to see what I do, it doesn’t make me right and him wrong, I’m just saying boss, remember what happened before.

Remember the Alamo!

I hope we’ve learned, we should be able to mix youth with experience, if we can’t then that’s another reason why we should be buying new players, now before January goes.

There is no excuse this season, we are top of the league and we are there for a reason, we are in the FA Cup, the knockout stages of the Champions League and if we have injuries then we need to buy, this season is no different, we always have injuries, I read Wolfsburg are interested in Senderos, if that’s true what are you waiting for? Get the chequebook out boss!

Someone like Dzeko will take us from contenders, to winners, he’s what we’ve been waiting for, our very own Rush, Drogba or Ronaldo. He’ll suit our style and we’ll will suit his, who cares what he’ll cost, buy him.

Haver a great day Grovers tomorrow we’ll find out how good our squad is!

542 Comments | New Review | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

I’m feeling a little smug sitting on top of the league. Can we stay there?

January 22, 2010

Well it does feel good sitting on the top of the pile does it not? You could not have written a better script for this could you? 11 points behind a month ago and playing 4 teams all in the top 5 in the next month to stay in front, wow!

Well it simple, win them and the title’s ours, don’t win them and who knows, but if we beat them we will put daylight in there, this is so close we can touch it, we have held it together well, we have learned to scrap and that game against Bolton showed that in spades.

We have a few stars in the making in Craig Eastmond and Aaron Ramsey and we have a few that are not improving, and we know who they are, don’t we?

However, we have lost our ability to hold the ball up, knock the ball down and win headers from corners, crosses and free kicks.

Arsene, we can win the league, for the first time since 2004 we actually look like we can win the league, if we signed a world class striker, we would win the league.

I like Edin Dzeko, I would go and get him, but you must know plenty of others that could do the job, even an Adriano would do it, we are that close it would be such a shame to lose out.

The Chavs have lost their big guns, the Mancs are short of centre backs, Liverpool are all over the shop and Villa aren’t good enough, we will never have a better chance, this is it.

Please get the cheque book out and seal the deal for us, let’s not have another season of near misses.

I think signing Sol was a good move, though I still think we need a strong tall centre back, the summer is fine though, we can wait.

I still think we need a keeper, but I also believe Fabianski can do that job, when Robin gets back we’ll be okay but only until he gets injured again and Bendtner isn’t ready for the number one role yet, but I do like him, however I think you know we need one but are reluctant to buy.

I really got excited by the silly Dzeko rumours yesterday, but I knew deep down they weren’t true.

Anyway, we are top of the league and that I’m going to enjoy until we aren’t. Hey who knows, we may well stay there until the end, that would be good wouldn’t it!

Have a great day Grovers, tomorrow we get into FA Cup mode!

P.S. If you get the chance, check out resident Grover, Suga3′s new site ArseGunn and get on over to Wrighty7 to read his thoughts on Cesc v Stevie G!

Geoff

905 Comments | New Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Geoff

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