The story on everyone’s lips before kick-off was about the absence of Nik Bendtner. The coach said he’d picked up a Man-United pre-international groin strain, so he wasn’t dropped.
We lined up as I correctly predicted yesterday. The team took a bit of time to find our stride. The first real chance came after a stretched pass by Alex Song which put Nasri through on goal only for the Frenchman to be thwarted by a Distin block.
The ball went down the other end where Coleman roasted Fabregas, floated a back post pass in for Cahill who uncharacteristically headed over and wide.
Arshavin and Jack both went close within a short space of each other, the game failed to find a flow. Heitinga and Cesc were both guilty of rash challenges. It was nice to see that Everton had come out to rough us up and they were getting no joy! Alex Song dropped a needless body check in the middle of the park and his passing was well off.
Our opener came after a Nasri 25 yard ripper was tipped wide by Howard, Arshavin picked up the loose ball, cut it back to the free Sagna who had a think, moved a few yards forward and ripped it inside Howard’s near post! A screamer of a goal from an impossibly tight angle!
Everton went close late on in the half when Fabianski came for a corner, flapped… luckily the headed rebound hit him on the back. A timely reminder that a bit of David James lurks beneath.
Half time arrived and it was clear that we were losing the midfield battle and we had to perk up in the second half. Unusually for Wenger he decided to change the team straight away bringing on Denilson for Wilshere. Was this the move of a madman or was this inspired?
Incredibly it was inspired. Within minutes Denilson was giving us more steel in the middle, his passing was far crisper than Jack’s and perhaps the competition for places had given him the boot up the Arsenal he needed. He started the move for the goal with a well timed interception, passing to Cesc, who played a one two with Chamakh and buried it low and hard past Tim Howard. A great start to the half!
Squillaci was lucky not to see red after taking Saha down when he was the last man. Luckily for us Webb was in tip-top inconsistent form and only reached for the yellow card.
Pienaar cut an inviting ball back to Rodwell who fired over from 8 yards, that was a warning shot.
Samir Nasri went on a surging run down the other end speeding past the whole Everton team only to have his shot smartly saved by Howard.
Cesc managed to land himself in the book after having his ankle stamped on by Sylvain Distin. Clearly Howard Webb booked him for last week’s challenge at Wolves.
Nasri and Cesc joined forces to play slip Chamakh in, the Moroccan fired over from 3 yards. One he’ll hope to forget you’d imagine!
Song decided to help out down the other end when he perfectly positioned himself in front of a Saha shot to block acrobatically with his shoulder. Geoff and I both agreed that was an exquisite moment of defensive genius.
Beckford joined the field of play and was immediately played in with a long ball over the top, he cut it back, threw in a pirouette and struck it at the far post where Fabianski was on hand to tip it wide at a stretch. A superb save!
The Polish international went on to deny Pienaar then moments later he flew across his goal to keep out Saha’s curling shot… he was certainly earning his zloty’s today!
His good form couldn’t keep out Everton. A corner was looped to the back post, Saha cut back a header and Cahill was on hand to bury it. We don’t do things the easy way do we?
The game fizzled out and Arsenal took the three points.
Did we play well?
Not particularly. Cesc again seemed well off the pace and his new found love for a rash challenge appears to be catching the eye of referees up and down the country. I thought as a team we became really sloppy towards to end of the half, more down to nerves than anything.
We gave the ball away far too much in the middle of the park, Alex Song being a particular culprit of this. Many people disagreed with me on this front… well, even the beloved Guardian Chalkboards weren’t kind to him today… he made 6 passes unsuccessful passes our of 32, he only won 50% of his tackles, only one of his 4 clearances was successful and sadly there wasn’t a stat for losing the ball when in control. He did make one or two superb interception and his incredible agility and quick thinking was there for all to see with his late block.
We’re winning ugly and I love it.
How did we handle the rough stuff?
Once again we didn’t allow a team from the North West to put it up us. That’s not to say they didn’t try. Watching Cesc stroke the back man mountain Distin after their altercation was quite funny. The equivalent of Manny Pacquiao consoling David Haye after hitting him too hard in a sparring match.
We’ve injected a bit more grit into the team with players like Squillaci and some of the kids are stepping up to the challenge of ‘manning up’. Perhaps Wenger has been putting Yorkie bars in their packed lunches?
How did we defend?
In the main, we defended really well until 70 minutes passed. Then it all became a bit hectic but it was more of a team issue than a back 4 problem. I thought JD was excellent again. I can’t recall anyone getting inside him and thought Squillaci wasn’t at the races today, his experience certainly helps reassure whoever he is playing next to.
How was the keeper?
In the end, he was our star performer. He pulled of 3 or 4 crucial saves and he ultimately saved those three points for us. The main difference between him and Almunia is that when he’s on form, he’s up there with the best in the world. He actually wins you games. Something you could rarely say of the Spaniard.
However, for all the good in his game, I still fear the bad. Alex Manninger was a super shot stopper, however, he was hugely erratic dealing with those aerial balls into the box. Crosses are a weak point of the team in general, the last thing you need is a keeper who is poor at collecting them as well.
It’s like jumping into an dodgy old taxi after a night out, then hearing the driver say he only has sight in one eye… not exactly reassuring!
There’s a bit of David James in his game, is that good enough for Arsenal long-term? We’ll wait and see… United and Barcelona will exploit glaring weaknesses.
Any other thoughts?
Though not vintage Arshavin, I thought he found his game a little today. He was a bit more adventurous in front of goal and he only made one bad pass. I think he’s going to feel right at home when the winter kicks in and hopefully we’ll see that player of two seasons ago! Another assist might I add?
I also thought Denilson’s introduction was a interesting as he was a bit of a star in the second half. He brought composure and added a bit of calmness to the middle of the park. Jack had one of those game young players do. He’s not going to find consistency for at least another couple of season so we just have to support him. Nasri was also very impressive yesterday, I thought his pace and power really shone through, the hard work he puts into training is clearly paying off.
Finally, you have to love how the weekend panned out. We played the best team out of anyone in the top 4 and won away.
- United drew and should have lost after a dismal performance.
- Manchester City drew again… it’s all imploding over there!
- Liverpool lost and failed to continue their blip of wins…
- Chelsea lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland and Cashley set up Wellbeck for the winner!
A great weekend for the Arse, next up, Harry Redknapp brings God and the rest of the Spurs team to the Emirates.
It’s going to be a continuation of our great form and a slap down to our pikey next door neighbours!
Ratings
Fabianski – 9
Clichy – 7
Sagna – 7
Squillaci – 7
JD – 7.5
Song – 6.5
Cesc – 6
Wilshere – 5.5
Arshavin – 6.5
Nasri – 7.5
Chamakh – 6
Subs
Denilson – 8
Rosicky – 7
Eboue – 10
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Chocolate Rob
We don’t have that many options. Bendtner & Chamakh as far as i can see.
Thats 2 centre forwards, neither of whom should be more than a squad player.
gambon – yes exactly. in a 25 man squad with van persie, chamackh and bendtner. Where does someone else fit in?
You can’t have world class players warming the bench!
They will not be happy!
Agree that Theo & Nikki B are benchwarmers. They look fairly decent against the weaker sides but are always disappointing in the bigger games. I don’t see much in their lockers to suggest that they will be significant Arsenal players of the future. Obviously, Theo’s pace can be devastating, but at the highest level he’s out of his depth. Ibrahimovic is a long streak of Swedish piss and is so fucking overrated. Chamakh has only been at the club for around 100 days and has already scored some vital goals. Let’s wait to see if he can develop an understanding with RVP before we purchase another striker.
RCLS or Anyone
How does Nasri’s song go?
Robin
You said we have 3 CFs, we only have 2.
bendtner isn’t by any means the finished article, but he has scored some vital goals for us. FFS any cunt can play championship manager.
Aguero. benzema, ibrahimovic…
suarez could be a possible in the summer. if we’re willing to let vela and/or bendtner go permanently.
….and youre looking at quantity, not quality.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YKSkvGM61Y&fs=1&hl=en_US]
And the man we need is big Edin Dzeko!
Must only be me then who thinks we have a quality strike force then.
We have 3 CF’s all vying for 1 position.
To get in a world class striker, he would cost > 20 mill and we’d have to let go of RVP.
Robin,not anyone can play that game, past 1998 it became far too complicated and it actually alienated many fans.
What did they base the Nasri song of off?
RCLS.. I think we’re doing fine in the attacking dept!
We’re 2nd without our best striker and arguably our best defender!
Not to mention our best player and captain is only now slowly stuttering into life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xyc7PIWo3o
Choy
And the problem is?
Are the standing terraces that Pedro talks about in Germany at the front of the stadiums?
How the hell would that work at the Emirates.
Zeus, the put them behind the goals apparently.
wem-ber-ley, were off to wem-ber-ley
la-la, la-la la-la, la-la, la-la
nas-er-i, sam-ir nas-er-i
la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Pedeo – Yours or Geoff’s thing about cheaper season tickets for standing fans behind the goals at the emirates is definantly a goer. Should move to bring that up on a serious note at the next agm to put the feelers out. Would create a more cauldron like atmosphere and a larger ground capacity which we could fill at that price level.
i am not realy concerned with how well the team performed its more about winning ugly and this team is getting better, if you look at manu who have been playing extremly poor but are still 2/3rd in the legue its there resilience and team spirit thats carrying them at the moment this team is improving that area which is good to see.
i still think this team could do with another cb and another striker but i would off load vela he is player that not realy needed
Pedro*
United have been paving over the cracks, Their time will come as Chelsea did yesterday. This garbage about winning when playingbadly, sign of a champion bla bla bla can only go on for so long. They are due a thumping.
7 draws games is worst than losing 4 times and they have yet to face us or Chelsea. It amazes me that they are this close to the top still.
Robin, I think it works as an idea… Arsenal wouldn’t lose any revenue, they’d make the game accessible to low earners and as you say, the atmosphere would be amazing.
Zeus
You don’t think the fact they are just behind us despite playing well is a bit worrying?
What could happen if they start playing well?
You can’t deny that they’ve also been incredibly lucky. I don’t see how they can put up something even remotely resembling a challenge. Once they play some of the bigger teams, I expect them to be practically out of it come January.
Gambon
Only slightly. They have so many more points to drop I feel between now and through Christmas and if they want to win the title drawing so many games is not gonna help.
We will win most I feel and draw a few and lose a couple. Chelsea almost certainly will be between the extremes, winning many and losing a few and barely drawing.
7 draws will cost so early will cost them more in the end I feel and there is more to come.
zues
its luck at all they have done to may times over years its resilients dont get me wroung i cant see them winning legue with there squad but the fact is both manu and chelsea in past have been able to win games without playing very well better than use and this are improving in that aspect and will have to,there are alot times we are going to play crap and will hve grind out a result
bigger teams?
Theyve already played Liverpool, City, Spurs and even the nasty ones like Stoke and Bolton and they got a result.
You have to admire their never say die attitude.
We could use it.
You’ve forgotten the 2 biggest teams in us and Chelsea. I’d be mighty disappointed if we didn’t absolutely muller them.
I reckon 85 should be enought to win the Premiership this season.
Bale isn’t that good. Inter are shit since Benitez took over plus they have injuries.
rohan, man u have 2 home bankers against wigan and blackburn the next two. They haven’t even lost in the prem this season yet.
You’re having a giraffe surely?
the chelsea loss was a huge shock to me i cant see it happenning to often and i think it will be again manu chelsea and arsenal hunting for the title man city and totenham i dont think so.
i dont think wenger will doing much bisness in jan most likely cb and possibly a striker.i think a few platers will goout on loan jet landsbury vela, i think vela realy needs think about career,at thi spoint in time he he is limbo he plays maybe once every 5-6 games is that and just plays in carling cup games at moment wilshire at 18 plays twice as many games he does and at 21 he should be breaking into first team but he is no threat aa risicky nasri thoe,for this team needs a powerful direct winger who has alot skill but can score alot also
I fancy Sagna to have Bale in his pocket. If there’s one thing you can be assured about Sagna, he’s as solid as anyone out there defensively.
Come on GM, surely you don’t really think that. I know we don’t want a spuds player to come good, but saying he isn’t top class wont make it real.
The guys a machine this season.
The mancs are fucking shit this year. I wouldn’t admire them if they were a team of supermodels. As for playing the big teams they couln’t break shitty down. They’ve conceded more than us and we are supposed to have a shit defence. Villa pissed on them for 80 minutes. They will be spanked 4 or 5 by someone this season.
bale had a good game home and away against inter but, they’ve adapted quite well under Benitez. They lost the derby at the w/e and making comparisons up against mourinho’s last season was always going to come.
Our motivation should be top spot and leaving spurs 10 points adrift. Nothing else is needed.
United to go UNDEFEATED this season then? Yes they have a never say die attitde and thats admirable, I’ve praised Fergie for ingraining that into them. That said, these draws serve only to paper over the cracks, a proper team should do them. Villa could’ve won 5-0 easily.
Rohan
I think less that 85 may be required honestly.
Gambon
I know an Italian semi pro who is an Inter fan. He said maicon gave him a lot of room and pointed out he was wank against the mancs. He also said Inter are shit and getting worse.
Mind you I am trying to make it true
Robin
That’s 2 more points for them then
Oh and the mancs are 3rd aren’t they?
If we finish below the mancs then we better get a new manager.
I’m talkng to myself again
GM
I think wed better get a new one anyway!
Now wheres my tenner?
We doubled up on something gambon. I cvan’t remember what it was though
Fucking altzheimers
Rohan, you don’t see how United can put up a challenge this year?
christ, it’s not even 7pm and some are already on the booze/sugar.
the thing about manu they may have the squad the used to have but they still have the togetherness and that champoins mentality and arsenal city have the same team spirit and thats huge difference between them and man city who have a huge squad but very little team spiriit the difference between use and manu and chelsea is these 2 teams have that champoins mentality and if we can win anything fa cup carling we start have that mentality also
leon, that made no sense whatsoever
Striker? Pato would be nice.
No I can’t. I’ll be surprised if they manage to get more than 75 points this season.
leon,
you need to use some commas and fullstops fella.
Pedro
I can’t see it. Unfortunately I hate that don’t ever write the mancs off thing because it’s true. They look rubbish. For all our faults that everyone on here points out we are above them with a better defensive record and we’ve had the harder games.
Loen’s fine as he is
16 players called up for International nonsense.
RVP, NikkiB among those..
every season we think man u will struggle and they are a one man team.
They may be over dependant on rooney nut no one fights like them. They get lucky too.
You can never rule them out.
last few seasons , always we feel confident of beating the mancs, somehow we end up losing.
Last time we won must be the 2-1 win (nasri’s 2 goals).
Great post Pedro – completely agree.
Song played well in defense but when we are playing 1 and 2 touch keep ball he puts his head down and dithers. It invites challenges and that is why he loses the ball. He needs to think about the next pass before receiving the ball… THAT is the Arsenal way.
Webb booking Cesc for the Wolves tackle… Classic!
I haven’t felt confident about beating the mancs for ages Sam. This manc team looks the worst they’ve had for ages. Their bench was much worse than ours ever is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV8pJFHWBDc
if we beat the scum , then if we beat the mancs, then definitely we have made a statement for the title !
yeah , the last time i was confident , gibbs unfortunately slipped and park scored. after that not confident.
saying that, we were very unfortunate not to win at old toilet last season, with that infamous diaby own goal and roo dive.
I feel sick after that video
Winning ugly, Denilson looking better than flamini, song going backwards, cesc workng his nuts off, super flappy wins us the game, nasri looking like bobby pires on speed! Finaly Clichy the ‘wrong side’ king…..is he the new love child??
that talentless idiot huddlestone is out injured, would have been funny to see him lost in the middle next saturday
anyway we’ll get to see jenas struggling instead ha ha priceless
If RVP get’s injured over the National break then he has to go, he’s the EPL’s biggest crock besides Hargreaves.
EPL biggest crocks:
1. woodgate
2. hargreaves
3. king
4. owen
5. RvP
6. torres
7. joe cole
8. essien
9. rosicky
10.diaby
i know it isn’t accurate and i feel a missed some big crocks, but those crossed my mind
6.
leon @ 18.14
RCLS is right, that made no sense at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF7jRXv82dg&feature=related
check out those talentless pricks throwing food at their fans. this is the bunch cesc wants to play with…. ffs
I don’t understand why nobody talks here about affelay? Affelay is going to barca, the deal is done!
Affelay plays on the same position as fabregas. So!!
Fabregas will stay a little bit longer! It is facking great news for us guys. Fabregas is too stupid to go to barca now, with affelay,xavi,iniesta,busquets mascherano and keita!
the thing about manu they may have the squad the used to have but they still have the togetherness and that champoins mentality and arsenal city have the same team spirit and thats huge difference between them and man city who have a huge squad but very little team spiriit the difference between use and manu and chelsea is these 2 teams have that champoins mentality and if we can win anything fa cup carling we start have that mentality also
classic
comment of the day!!
robin my point is man city may have very big squad they have very little team spirit,manu may have lost rinaldo tevez and rooney is injured but they have the team spirit,also i feel both chelsea and manu have the advtantage over use as they know what it takes to win titles,i dont think this team is quite ready to win prem hampoins legue or cyet but if they could win fa cup or carling they have taste of how win thing does that make more sense to you
leon
OMG gr8 job buddy u need Aspirin !!
i dont believe this team has enough to win prem or champoins legue but this has huge chance to win carling cup and fa cup
Durham’s Rant: Is Wenger really the pride of North London?
Arsenal fans are busy getting carried away again. Chelsea lose, City and United draw and it all means Arsenal are going to be champions. Well it may happen but we’ve heard it all before haven’t we? So I’ll believe it when I see it. Arsenal should win the title – it’s there for the taking.
In the midst of all this something very significant for Gunners fans happened at the weekend. Jay Bothroyd was called up for England.
Jay was born in the Arsenal heartland – Islington, north London. Not since Charlie George in the 1970s have Arsenal had a local hero star in their side. Jay Bothroyd was destined to be that man. He won the FA Youth Cup with the Gunners and was all set for a good career at Arsenal.
But then came the moment Bothroyd describes as the “biggest mistake of my life”. Subbed by Don Howe in a youth game against West Ham, he threw his shirt at the bench. Head of Youth Development Liam Brady said at the time: “We will not tolerate this type of behaviour. He is not wanted at this club anymore.” And with that, he was sent to Coventry. His departure was nothing to do with football.
For those who haven’t seen much of him Bothroyd is a left footer but his right is no peg. He can score tap ins and 25 yarders, he scored with a spectacular overhead kick on his England under 21 debut in 2002. A succession of little injuries haven’t helped him. Up to his current spell at Cardiff, he’s not been prolific but then a lot of his play is about hold up. At 6’3” he is seen sometimes as the target man when he’s actually got more to him than that. “He has a strong body and fantastic technique” – those are Arsene Wenger’s words, not mine. Indeed Wenger has said this week he regrets letting Bothroyd go. Wenger said after the shirt-throwing incident he let Don Howe and Liam Brady decide Bothroyd’s future. Arsenal traditionally have a strong disciplinary code at the club, and particularly at youth level this is applied very strictly.
Wenger should have stepped in and offered to work hard with Bothroyd, put his arm round him and take pride in his work as coach and mentor. But he took the easy option. A month after Bothroyd’s departure, Wenger spent £12m on Sylvain Wiltord.
We will never know if Bothroyd could have carved out a top level career at Arsenal. But we do know that Wenger couldn’t be bothered to help him, and is now pointing the finger elsewhere – at Howe and Brady. That’s a joke – Wenger is happy to take all the credit for building the new stadium with his bare hands and running the club from top to bottom, yet he claims he had no say in the departure of an FA Youth Cup winner on the brink of the first team squad? Would Wenger have stepped in had a French kid made such a mistake? I see several Arsenal youngsters have had brushes with the law in recent months, has Arsenal’s policy changed?
What we do know is that Bothroyd is now in the England squad. England fans should be annoyed with Wenger for robbing the national team of a potentially good striker over the past ten years.
Gunners fans should be upset with Wenger for robbing them of a local hero, a kid from Islington who starred for Arsenal’s first team.
****************
YAWN. FUCKING IDIOT SPEWING HIS TYPICAL TALKSPORT…ERM///TALKSHITE CRAP. THAT IS ALL.
(If RVP get’s injured over the National break then he has to go, he’s the EPL’s biggest crock besides Hargreaves.)*
that wasn’t my comment it was pants’s, i was replying, i never wanted RvP to leave
ebuae at10,its jst a joke.Aint it?
We will never know if Bothroyd could have carved out a top level career at Arsenal. But we do know that Wenger couldn’t be bothered to help him, and is now pointing the finger elsewhere – at Howe and Brady. That’s a joke – Wenger is happy to take all the credit for building the new stadium with his bare hands and running the club from top to bottom, yet he claims he had no say in the departure of an FA Youth Cup winner on the brink of the first team squad? Would Wenger have stepped in had a French kid made such a mistake? I see several Arsenal youngsters have had brushes with the law in recent months, has Arsenal’s policy changed?
What we do know is that Bothroyd is now in the England squad. England fans should be annoyed with Wenger for robbing the national team of a potentially good striker over the past ten years.
Gunners fans should be upset with Wenger for robbing them of a local hero, a kid from Islington who starred for Arsenal’s first team.
—–
what a fucking idiot.
we never had a problem with a french kid and ffs if that guy was that good why didn’t a prem club buy him in all this time?
He played in the lowest leagues because he wasn’t good enough, defo for example moved from the championship to the prem as many others.
potentially good striker? what a joke
Dutch
Your mistaken.
We talk about Afellay. He is not the same position as Cesc. He is more AA23 than he is Fab4 and at any rate he came to the fore in the 07-08 season when we led the league for ages and wenger never took the gamble.
Since then he has been in and out of the team through injury. If he can’t cut in the dutch league what makes you think he can do it in the prem? Another RVP if you ask me.
Also he seems to be a player with great moments as opposed to a great player. He can’t even get into the first 11 for the Dutch and he is 25 going on 26 (I think).
afellay is a barcelona player for 3 mill. euros
Eboue just a 10? Bollox he was at least a 12
Goodnight everybody, except maybe you live either in the far east or far west.
Good to see this team, I hope we will be the same all season in away games.
Our keeper is already is world-class, wtf we need more? A PL trophy
We should regret that two stupid home defeats…
Go on, avoid injuries on this stupid int friendlies and everything it’ll be fine
Also Song is a shame, he gave some very stupid passes
Good to see that all the media and blogosphere are now following my assessment of manure and the chavs 1 or 2 weeks ago…
I see my assessment of Fabianski is reflected in today’s post. Next time do reference me
I feel at this point the only thing to say is:
“you da man”.
Well, at least one thing is for sure… we’ll see Affelay on the move in about 18months.
Evening, anything good happen all day?
Why 18 months Pedro?
Nothing stu.. we were discussing strikers today!
Discussing new ones or slating the ones we have? I assume its the latter.
DJ really did well yesterday so much so I began for one in my arsenal supporting life rela at freebkicks and corners! He was heading everything in sight. He is really growing into his position and with a elder head alongside him he has improved tremendously. I think he should keep his place. Leave Blanc on the bench!!
Durham is just a jealous bore!
DJ Campbell?
hey queenie, you don’t want to be encouraging me now…
Is that Durham rant serious? Because if so, then he is one of the thickest people alive.
Yeah, Wenger is a coward because he sold a striker who 10 years later got an international call up by a lunatic manager. Nice one Durham, you twat!
Ibrahomovic is hit and miss.
One day he is absolutely breathtaking, the next day he’s absolutely shite.
A simple square ball to Robinho in the milan derby and he cocks it up.
Not even Theo at his worst would miss that.
Man,
It’s Johan!!
Stu,
If there Ia one thing as we found out for the last 5 years Arsene has is patience with young players. However, his realm is almost exclusively reserved for young players with the talent, determination and discipline to transform their raw talent! Not jack the lad types that believe the media hype as a teenager. Neither Fergie nor any other internationally rated manager would stand for any of that sort of nonesense from a youth player!
Yeah Theo at his worst would forget the ball..
Reports in London have suggested that Arsenal are looking to add more firepower upfront in the form of Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o.
The former Barcelona striker has always wanted to play in the Premiership, with North London outfit Arsenal his apparent preferred choice. The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has become frustrated at his strike force which seem to pick up far too many injuries.
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The likes of Arsenal’s Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner have been out for much of the season already, and Wenger may be ready to try to tempt the striker away from a team that has not improved under new manager, Rafa Benitez. The news is somewhat of a dejavu, with transfer speculation particularly high two years ago when rumours suggested that Eto’o was involved in a medical for Arsenal.
With things going poorly for the Serie A striker, and Arsene Wenger seeking a top quality target man, Eto’o would seem an obvious choice to add pace and power to a team that despite having no trouble scoring, still lack that star quality up front.
At 29 years old, Eto’o certainly doesn’t tick the “young box” Wenger is always so keen on ticking, however, with the Inter Milan star nearing 30, a cut price deal for a move to Arsenal could well be on the cards.
Wow.. Eto would be a phenomenal signing!
Yep, Eto would be a signing not even Jaguar could find fault with.
just wouldn’t ever happen
It would be fantastic though A, wouldn’t it.
Would be choy, although no idea where he’d fit in! Imagine we’d change system somehow.
I’d rather Ibrahimovic
that kills it a,you’d rather bignoseimovic then eto,your on drugs a ……………….
He’d play through the centre..
Ibra in place of Eto… no way.
What do you guys think of this girl named Keeley Hazell. My friend just told me she beat up Joe Cole a few years ago.
Ibra would hold the ball up much better, better vision, help everyone around him with link up play etc etc. In our system and with our team he’d be far better. We’d struggle to play with Etoo as lone forward in our system, lack ball retention etc
Erm, Etoo could play the lone role as well as 95% of strikers, certainly RVP.
He kept Henry out of the middle at Barca & won the CL as a lone CF.
As you say though, definately wont happen.
I think I would cry if Eto came to the emirates! His always like the Arsenal being friends with Henry, fatboy must be getting on his nerves as his a nonsense kinda person, however that would defo mean bye bye Benny!!
etoo couldn’t play it anything like as well as vp, his hold up play isn’t comparable at all, vp’s vision and technique etc.
Etoo is a great goalscorer but not great at link up play, or hold up play which is essential to the way we play.
he could do it in the champs league or in la liga. not the prem tho where you need more physicality
Lool A, hes better than RVP at everything.
What has RVP ever done? Seriously, hes a nobody, no trophies, average goal record.
Those are definatley Arsenal tinted glasses.
Still baffled by the cry by some that we should be in for Afellay. As stated earlier, he is a RVP when it comes to injuries. Couldn’t cut it in the PL I think.
Plus he has hardly been a decisive force in that PSV team. I lost track of him after we didn’t go in for him in 2007 after being linked but checking his stats on espnsoccernet, they are far from impressive.
He has yet to score a goal in the league this season and has 1 goal in the Europa league. From the stats I’m looking at, it seems he has never even scored 5 goals in one season and he is 24 years old.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=41687&cc=3888
Additionally, as much as Barca would have their fans believe this guy is not some alternative to Cesc. He won’t replace Xavi or Iniesta like Cesc would have. He is more Walcott or better yet AA23 for me. He isn’t ‘connected’ to the game like Cesc or the cunta playmakers are for the full 90 minutes.
Barca’s comments has as much to do with the fact they are trying to appease and deceive their fans cuz they are broke and can’t get Cesc. Good luck to him in Spain though, he is not without talent.
lol gambon, yeah definitely better than vp in terms of his first touch, vision, passing etc.
if he was then he’d be a better player than messi!
as if trophies have a relevance to how good an individual player is. Christopher Wreh was better than Alan Shearer obviously on those grounds.
Why can’t some people recognise that players have different strengths and weaknesses, and if a player is better overall (which etoo is than vp) that doesn’t mean that they’re better in EVERY way.
I guess it’s football though, some need to think about it in incredibly simplistic ways, a player is either crap or good, and that’s the extent of their analysis, as well as it having no relevance the type of player as to how well they’d fit into a team/system
Gambon, not true mate.
He has won the Uefa Cup and the FA CUP with us. He is a runner-up in the Cl with us and remember that he is a vice champion of the world.
He is capable to be a world class, sadly he is unlucky and made from glass.
Uefa cup winner Maciek? When was the last time we even played in that comp, let alone win the fucking thing. You must be mixing us up with someone else.
Maciek, yep that compares well with Etoos
3x la liga
3x Champs League
1x Serie A
Its also worth mentioning that RVP was a complete bit part player for them trophies.
gambon RvP is an awesome player,
look at the stats, he doesn’t play too much game but scores and assists on regular basis.
exemple in 2007 he played 50 games in all competition for netherland and arsenal scored 30 and assisted 14
Next up Clichy is a better full back than Cafu, and Koscielny better than Maldini.
i’d rather see RvP week in week out for us rather than eto’o tbh.
3 years ago i would have taken eto’o but he is getting old and RvP fits our style, he is a gooner and loves the arsenal
60*
Gambon, even Hleb has won more than RVP( 6 tropies with Barca), but you can say that he is a better player than Robin.
Our Dutch wizard is just very unlucky with his injuries.
I wouldn’t mind Etoo’ though, he is class.
Wenger has had a chance to sign Samuel, because Barca offered him to us as a paret exchange with Henry, but you know the rest.
john fucking o’shea and wess fucking brown won loads of trophies
*you can’t say. sorry
*part
djimi traore won the CL with pool and is now at monaco, the worst defender in the french league
Dont be ridiculous Gambon! You cant even compare Clichy with Cafu! They played on different sides ffs! Duh!!
zidane was a better player than diaby
FACT
new batman film in 2012. christian bale dropped. gareth bale hired.
********
Facebook humor. hahahaha.
I think Affelay is class been following him for the last 2-3 years.The team he plays in ,PSV is worse than spuds no quality whatsoever he can be a terrific winger can cross from both feet he oozes class with his first touch and dribbling,and over the injury issue he has put them behind him
long time ago .But I don’t think we’ll miss him as we have enough quality coming through the ranks.
and every other club in Europe from Inter Milan to Arsenal Valencia to Liverpool were after him but as I have stated earlier we don’t care…
On the Eto debate Eto has been among the best players of Europe during the last decade so I will take him in a heartbeat,if ever there is a chance.
RVP vs Eto debate is futile as RVP has class to be anybody in world football but doesn’t play enough.
Well said A 23:57
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8135825/Chelsea-manager-Carlo-Ancelotti-to-hold-inquest-as-Arsenals-Samir-Nasri-sticks-the-knife-in.html
djorou is the man….turnin into another sol u would think…..cashley is a cunt
mario
Yes Big Johan is certainly the man. Big Sol probably spent hours & hours with him during his 2nd stint @ The Club, passing on knowledge, etc
…….oh & almost forgot.
“WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE,WE’RE GOING TO WIN THE LEAGUE”
http://gunnerblog.com/images/vermaelenrvp.jpg
Could be a glorious week this you know,
We smashed the Aussies at Rugby The all blacks smashed them in league we could hammer the scum on sat and next thursday sees the start of us reclaiming the ashes
Carlsberg dont do great sporting weeks
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8135567/England-v-France-I-will-never-forget-my-moment-of-madness-at-Arsenal-says-Jay-Bothroyd.html
sounds like you’ve got a big chippy on your shoulders about Australia
Are you jealous of our booming economy & superior lifestyle I wonder.
Can someone confirm the rumours going round that Ray Wilkins was seen at Arsenal signing papers for a similar position.