Just before we kick off proceedings, it’s Geoff’s birthday today and a few of his favourite people asked if I’d post up a card for him. Cheers to Dave, Sam, Alex and Denilson for getting around a table and making it happen.
Happy birthday to the Bear!
Who’d have thought any stadium in the world could make Underhill look like the Colosseum in its prime? Spectacularly awful. If a stadium is a representation of a team, this team were going to be poor. Anything other than resounding win would be a weak showing.
The big disappointment was seeing the gaunt looking figure of Manuel Almunia lining up. Apparently Osasuna are in for him…wouldn’t that be handy (read more here)? I can’t believe Wenger gave him the captains armband.
*FYI: Neusiedl is a hard word to consistently spell, so I’ll be using NEU to describe them in this post.
Starting 11
- Manuel Almunia
- Havard Nordtveit
- Laurent Koscielny
- Johan Djourou
- Kieran Gibbs
- Tomas Rosicky
- Jack Wilshere
- Andrey Arshavin
- Emmanuel Frimpong
- Theo Walcott
- Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Theo was sporting a facial thatch. Rumour has it JET keeps on giving him wedgies in the changing rooms… Theo hopes the beard factor will scare the big winger off.
Jack Wilshere had the first chance of the game with a mazy run into the box that ended in him being shoved over unfairly.
This team was truly awful as was the laboured pace of the game
Nasri was looking very slim. I reckon the fat jokes have to stop… Anyone else noticed the amount of Nasri pre-season photo shots we’ve seen so far? If he’s as vain as everyone keeps telling me, I’ve no doubt he’s probably been bunging the photographer to snap when he’s breathing in…
It struck me that a future midfield grouping of JW, Frimpong and Rambo would be very, very small…
The game was flatter than a warm can of stella… the best chance of the first 20 minutes fell to NEU after Kozzer failed to track his man allowing him a free diving header on goal. Lucky Sammy was on hand to clear off the line. Worrying the Frenchman has still yet to impress at all…
Arshavin’s start was almost as poor as Theo’s. I’m guessing our lazy Russian has actually been asked to par-take in some running this preseason. Bless his cottons…
The NEU keeper looked remarkably like Joe Hart. Perhaps we could sign him and swap him with the real Joe Hart in some sort of hilarious twin switch caper. Highly fraudulent, but I’m becoming desperate on the keeper front…
Theo drilled home the first goal after Jack dummied a Nasri (I think) pass. A good finish. The sad yet not unsurprising news was that JD picked up an injury in the build up.
For the record may I just say this…
JD is injury prone, this can be no surprise to the management. Therefore I suggest that we buy two centre backs for such an eventuality and make sure one of them is a very good one because until he can prove his fitness, he can’t be considered as first team. As far as I’m concerned, both Kozzer and JD are rookies this year. Jagielka would be a start.
The next goal came when Gibbs cut a cross back to JET who turned his man and buried the ball low and hard. No one seems to know what his position is… could lone striker work for him? He has great control, he’s a bulldozer of a man, has great feet and he can score goals.
I was struggling to keep track of the changes at half time so I didn’t bother. Blog pre-season laziness if you will. It was nice to know that Rosicky’s favourite holiday destination is the Maldives. Top half time interviewing whoever that was…
Chamakh latched onto Nasri’s through ball in the 49th minute and was promptly chopped down. He stepped up to his penalty and scored his first for Arsenal sending the keeper the wrong way.
He was off the mark!
Vela jinked through the NEU defence but was cunningly denied by the spitting image of Fabianski. We knew he was an imposter as he didn’t fumble the ball into his net.
Carlos was rewarded soon after his miss when some good work between Nordtveit and Nasri ended up with Vela scoring… yep, you guessed it, with a dink over the keeper. The Mexican only knows one route to goal… up an over.
Chamakh handled in the box a few minutes later and the ref pointed to the spot. I never really felt they were going to score for some reason and our Italian keeper didn’t disappoint me with a comfortable save down low. Looking back on last season, I think it would be hard to argue otherwise that Mannone was our best keeper. I’m not saying that’s a remarkable achievement, but it’s still a fact. Experience is what he needs and I’d like to see him go out on loan to a Premiership club to gain that.
Frimpong was looking superb in the middle of the park. He’s a bulky holding midfielder who looks very assured on the ball. He has what the others don’t in pace and he’s a very good tackler. He’s surprisingly disciplined, like he was born to play that role. I like him. He oozes class and I really don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that?!
Jack Wilshere was also a star performer. You can see he’s a fighter and his technical ability wouldn’t look out of place in the Spanish team. We’ve got a real gem in the making here and a I hope this is the season he’s afforded Denilson like first team time. No one minds waiting for true talent to develop.
Gibbs played well and I’m sure that if he’d had an additional year in the first team, Clichy would be making way for him and we’d be thrashing out whether the Melo swap deal was going to work for us. I’m happy to have Gael though, I think he’s a top player but he’ll need to rescue some of that 2008 form this season if he wants to make that left back slot his long term.
The game finished up 4-0 and we had another hammering under our belts. 16 shots, 4 goals, a penalty save and some very promising performances from our youngsters.
The only disappointing parts of the evening were obviously that JD is injured again and the captaincy being handed to Almunia. I hope it was a parting gesture and that the Cagliari Chairman isn’t lying about Arsenal being the only team in for the Italian number two.
Next stop, the Emirates Cup. If you’ve got any spares for the game, let me know and I’ll I find a home for them. This year I’ll mostly be advertising the spares via the @arsenal_legrove twitter account. Remember, every time you let a spare ticket go to waste, Denilson gets an extra month extension to his contract.
Stay tuned this morning for an announcement of an exciting competition with a very special prize lined up for the winner! If you thought a crate of Peroni and a cap was impressive, you might just do one of those excitement wee’s dogs do when you hear what we’ve got lined up! I know I did… thank god I was sitting on my girlfriends couch when I got the news!
P.S. Before I go, new pictures have surfaced that suggest Mertesacker was in fact in England yesterday… big thanks to happy snapper Simon Reynolds for supplying the damning evidence. Remember it was Le Grove (here) who told you that the giant German was a Gooner over a year ago… keep em’ crossed! We’ve got money and we’ve been sniffing around top players this window regardless of the inaction you see.
UPDATE: JD’s injury is just a tight hamstring, so nothing long term. Rosicky’s absence was just a precaution for a tight groin, he should be good for the weekend.
Proof
Keyser, they dont have it either. Im sure one of my relatives have it but i dont know how that would help unless i watched in their house and i wouldnt do that i hate watching with people who know fuck all about football and distract me then.
I agree sort of about the finding out the scores after the match. When i first started watching football i had none of the right channels and had to get my info off sky news and such. I remembered almost every scoreline and scorer because of that.
Can he leave cesc/rvp out v liverpool? Bit of a risk to do that, Blackpool yes but not the scousers who will be so up for it on the day, new manager an all
http://www.everythingon.tv
stu try the link above i posted…….
Stu – All they have to do is have SkySports, I’ve got it and when me or my brother were at Uni all you needed to do was set-up an online account and you can watch the channels you have at home on the net, having downloaded the SkyPlayer thing.
You don’t have to go around their house, just watch it on your computer in other words.
But i dont wanna do that Keyser! Waaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
big dave
any source or sources?
Fucking hell Stu, connect your laptop to your tv and it’s practically the same quality.
Why is this the first im hearing about this Dan? Fuck sake, i could have done with that all summer. Not as good as TV but it’ll do. Thanks.
Keyser, you need to realise that i havent a fucking clue how to do that. Add to the fact that the wiring in my house is shambolic i dont think connecting anything to the TV is plausible.
it was only brought to my attention the other day aswell stu,seems like a good site tho.
Stu – They’re bringing out 3-D Tv’s, th e way you’re going on you won’t be able to work out how to put your 3-D specs on.
lol keyser.
Honestly though, i wont be getting a 3D tv, and i probably wont ever either because if someone thinks im wearing plastic glasses to watch TV then they’ve another thing coming.
sick idea on the sky thing keyser!
getting my dads ID tommorow!
Wenger will definitely try hard to get a cb and gk but as I read in one interview he said a lot will depend on the financial aspect….I.e. transfer fees/player salary demands etc.
Re. A Dm, I think if we dnt hear anything abt lansbury,frimpong going on loan then it means wenger is not going to buy a Dm.
I also think the future left sided attacker is going to be wellington,he will take over from Arshavin.barazite hasn’t developed as wenger would have liked,hence why he was not on the plane to Austria
I think Wellington will come in and displace Theo on the right. Isnt that where he plays in Brazil? ON the right.
whats that stu,theo has a wellington on his right.
happy birth day to you geoff.sorry for the bad timing of saying it.
I cant help feeling that we are watching a movie we have seen before. Here is why:
“I believe what is important is that we focus on the qualities we have and do not worry too much. I think it is important to continue to develop the qualities we have started since the beginning of the season and if the opportunity comes we will take it”
Really Arsene? What have you been saying just a few days ago? How about ” We are short in numbers in the defensive department”
I tell you I had the greatest respect for the boss, I still have some left in the tank, but come September 1, if you don’t sign a GK and TWO CBs, you will be the greatest frauds EVER!!!!! I feel cheated, and taken for a ride by your empty promises. The same goes to the board, and don’t get me started on those clowns!!!
On to of all of this, the very familiar and pathetic story starts to emerge, mind you with out a single ball being kicked that is!!! Our usual crocks are at it. NO WONDER the Catalan boy wants to go “home”
DB10 – I hear you, for me i’ll lay off the slagging until 1st September, but if we go into the season with the current setup then i’ll want him gone, and the board….
This place won’t be pretty come September 1st….
I know Dennis but U can’t help this feeling as we were there before. He keeps on saying he is going to sign someone at first and once the seasons get underway he changes his tune and says ” we have to concentrate on what we have” and ” if we find exceptional talent who is going to add quality to our squad, we will definitely be on the look out”… then mid way to the season he says ” we were very close to signing this player” bla bla bla… I am sick of it. He is becoming an asymptote, he get nearer and nearer, but never get there.
If i’m honest, it’s already too late, what chance does a new CB (or two) and a new GK have of forging new, strong partnerships in time for the opening game. These deficiencies were known, and identified at the end of the last season!
I find it fucking amazing that this ‘management’ can scour the world for teen talent, and pay top dollar for it, but when it comes to proven players they always try and do it on the cheap….
EXACTLY!!! These deficiencies were known, and identified for a few seasons now, but he does not act!!! Its one thing to act late, and I get your point, but to not act at all is murder!!! And whats more sad is he keeps on doing it, with out anyone telling him to stop.
Tell you what, why doesn’t he shut up????? Does he think we won’t remember what he said? I would much rather him shut up, than say something and doing something else
I actively avoid his press conferences now, because i cannot stomach his blatant bullshit anymore.
If he had an ounce of integrity he would walk, i have heard time and time again that the board are holding him back, why fucking stay then, out them, and walk, grow a fucking pair, but no just keep taking you £6m+ salary and your ‘keep quiet money’…….
As you said lets wait for Sept. 1, and see. That will be the last straw for me tho.
I’m so angry with how this club is being run!! Its a fucking disgrace! Last year we weren’t good enough so how is losing 3 CB’s and striker and signing only one unproven child with 2 weeks until the season starts. We still need a GK. We still need 2CB’s. And these are just the absolute musts. We could also do with another DM and even a striker.
Its a fucking shambles. Teams are gonna be chomping at the bit to play us and our team of small fragile children! And then we’ll have this fucking talk of injuries and how teams target us physically! What a load of wank!
Morning all…..
Morning Tony
Me and Dennis were at it since early morning with this topic
Morning guys, but don’t we wait until the deadline on every transfer window? Don’t we say just this every season?
So fucking livid. Just like every fucking year! I’m gutted that Wenger won’t be within earshot on Saturday coz I would happily give that cunt both barrels!
But you always live in hope that just one year, he’ll surprise us
morning ivan
morning arsene
so how are we doing with transfer of MS from fulham
well i have done as you asked and offered 1 packet of salt and vinegar and a scotch egg
and what did they say?
no arsene
oh well never mind, manuel will be better this year after his mental problem and flap ya handski will have much more positional sense on crosses this year
so should i go back and offer the kit kat as well arsene
no leave it now ivan, have the rest of the week off and i will see you on saturday..
True Geoff, but enough is enough!!! We cant be taken for a fool with the same statements from Arsene!!! To hear him say “I believe what is important is that we focus on the qualities we have and do not worry too much. I think it is important to continue to develop the qualities we have started since the beginning of the season and if the opportunity comes we will take it” is an outrage!!!
morning guys…..
Lloris (£18m)
Sagna – Mertesacker (£10m) – Vermaelen – Gibbs
– De Jong (£10m) –
Fabregas – Nasri
– Arshavin –
Chamakh – van Persie
That would mean a total expenditure (accounting for the transfers of Koscielny and Eduardo) of approximately £42m. In my eyes I still consider it to be more like £30m because Wenger shouldn’t be trying to use the Koscielny signing as means of proving he is investing into next season. Its almost like his own private project that one.
If you consider that we didn’t re-invest the Toure and Adebayor money then it can be argued that we have broken even and would have a fucking good team to show for it!!
TAIG… why Lloris when Stekelenburg is apparently only £4m
Simon – Because for me LLoris is a much better keeper and one that could spend another 15 years performing at the top level for us! Stekelenberg is another ‘good’ keeper that played better than most at the WC. For me Lloris is worth the extra £14m:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAmuv0GFCAc
New post
I’ve only really seen ‘em both play at the WC, so for me the dutch guy is the best option, but I don’t mind being proved wrong.
Mornin all….a tad late Geoff..but still happy birthday
hope your day went well…
wenger has made this summer bloody hell if you ask me,how he is allowed to run this club like a caretake center is beyond me…
and i wonder where does all the money go ???????
hahaha, hilarious “proof” photo! happy birthday gjeoff(?) who is wee and what exactly do his dogs do? and is your
okay with you doing you doing the same on her couch? gross…on second thought, i’d like to meet that bitch! your girlfriend i mean.
“girlfriend”
hahaha, hilarious “proof” photo! happy birthday gjeoff(?) who is wee and what exactly do his dogs do? and is your
okay with you doing the same on her couch? gross…on second thought, i’d like to meet that bitch! your girlfriend i mean.
“girlfriend”