3 days after Wenger telling the world that the quality levels in his squad are the best he’s ever had, we once again trot out against weaker opposition (53 league places weaker) and struggle like hell to turn them over.
Huddersfield not only gave us a run for our money, they probably deserved to win based on how many chances they had. In the second half they battered us for large sections of the game. Once again, we had to turn to the creative powers of the one and only Cesc Fabregas to save the day.
We were flat and pedestrian. We lacked zip in our passing and the quality in the final third was truly woeful. In fact, the lack of quality displayed in many areas of our squad was shown up and this was against a team our Carling Cup kids team would normally have dispatched with.
The pre-match wasn’t exactly inspiring. I sat on the tube on the way up wondering if I’d got the times wrong for the game due to how empty it was at 1140. There were many empty seats at inside the ground. Clearly, many people had decided to take the day off. Is that down to over kill on the football front of late, or is that down to knowing that you’re likely to shell out £65 to see a half assed second string struggle to break down whoever is in front of them? The latter I expect.
Anyway, the usual suspects were in the side. Denilson, Squillaci, Eboue, Arshavin, Bendtner…. dare I say Chamakh?
We started off brightly, most of the creative stuff was going through Arshavin and Samir Nasri. Arshavin powered a shot over the bar and Nik B couldn’t bundle a loose ball into the net.
Arshavin went close but fluffed his lines into the side netting. Huddersfield went up the other end and nearly turned in a low cross which was pretty worrying.
After 21minutes our break through came, Nik B picked the ball up outwide, powered into the box and smashed it hard at the far post, the ball took a deflection and made its way past the keeper. The score board at Arsenal said it was an own goal, from where I was sitting that looked like an unfair call.
Arsenal’s complacency started to rear its ugly head, passes weren’t finding the feet of red shirted player and this was typified when Denilson slipped in Lee who fed Pilkington in with a great chance that he thankfully couldn’t convert. Denilson held his hands up, but it was once again a shocking show of ineptitude at tier 2 level football from the Brazilian.
Just before half time, Sebastian Squillaci had a chance to show the world why he was such a fantastic signing when he chopped down Jack Hunt mid way through a run that had taken him past two players. It wasn’t a surprise the outcome was a red card. It wasn’t surprise it was the Frenchman picking it up. If he’s struggling to pick up the runs of average players, what’s he going to be like when he’s inevitably paired with Song at centre back for the Barcelona game in a few weeks?
We also lost Samir Nasri after he chased down a long ball and pinged his hamstring. What a gutter. That’ll teach us for playing route one. I’m not subscribing to the ‘he shouldn’t have been playing’ brigade either. The only way he could have been omitted from the squad was if Wenger had assembled a second string capable of motivating itself to beat inferior teams. Sadly, we don’t have that. The FA Cup and the Carling Cup are not our number priorities but let’s be honest, they’re our number 1 hopes of Silverware. Rosicky joined the party hoping to inject some life into our game.
The second half began, Alex Song had dropped into defence for the anonymous Chamakh. I honestly can’t remember the Moroccan making a contribution in the first half?
Arshavin made a last ditch effort to stop Gudjonsson pulling the trigger. A timely intervention that certainly would have led to a goal.
Huddersfield were battering us, Almunia had to pull off a top class save to prevent us losing our lead. Then the moment came, a corner was fed into the box, our tallest player Abou Diaby was out powered and out jumped, Alan Lee powered a header home.
Typical.
We were shamefully poor. Denilson had been truly garbage and just to sum up how people felt about him, when he looked like he’d pinged a hamstring, quite a number of people cheered sarcastically. Of course, Denilson is the only player who could recover from a 3 week injury after 15.4 seconds which just goes to show you how little the second string fancy it. Very pathetic.
We had to call on Cesc to save our ailing day, the last thing we wanted was another replay. He came on and changed things up perfectly. His ability to find space and motivate the rest of the team cannot be underestimated. It was his cut back and teasing ball that lead to Nik being shoved over in the box. Cesc stepped up for the penalty, nearly stopped twice in the run up, but he was cool enough to bury the kick anyway. He picked up the ball, headed over to the corner flag, paid tribute to the odd jobs man, ran back to the half way line and dropped the ball so the Hudderfield players had to run back and pick it up.
At this point the ground started to empty, the crowd actually jeered the announcement of 58,000 fans.
The game played out, Cesc managed to pick up a booking for being pushed over. Well play Twattenburg. The result was called in, we’d picked up the result and the prize of playing Orient at home in the next round. Thank the lord, they’re about the level of our second string. Looks like a semi final could be coming our way, 3 games away from an FA Cup win, 4 games away from cup double.
So what did we learn today? Well, for me we learnt that Arshavin still hasn’t found his form but he’s getting there slowly but surely. He’s always a creative hub it’s just a shame he doesn’t try and keep it simple when he’s not on fire. Nik Bendtner, despite the goal is still a long way from being a top class striker. His control isn’t instant and his instincts for scoring were summed up when he was played into the box by Arshavin but took too many touches to shoot. Eboue is an embarrassment to the shirt, it’s amazing how many times a kick to the leg ends up as a facial injury.
Denilson was shocking in the middle of the park. I just can’t believe how many opportunities he is given to show how bad he is. Why not call back Lansbury and give him a go? At least we know he cares about playing for the club. Surely Aaron Ramsey would have benefitted more from a game like yesterday?
Abou Diaby once again finds himself straight back in the first team squad. I appreciate he’s been out for a while but there is no excuse for some of the lack lustre passes he was making and the simple rudimentary mistakes he was making all over the park, not least being beaten in the air when you’re the tallest player on the park.
Almunia? Well, what a waste of a place in the team. The guy might be nice as a pie, but he’s not fit to wear that green jersey. His indecisive line based keeping really wont be missed when his contract expires. We’ve got a gem in Chesney, I don’t even need to tell people that, he really is a class above anything we’ve got at the club and he should be given the number 1 permanently.
Chamakh put in another forgettable performance. I’m not sure where his confidence has gone, but all that time out he needed for a rest has clearly rotted his game because he was nowhere to be seen yesterday. Someone needs to have a word.
Finally, someone needs to fly a stern e-mail over to Wenger. He’s taking us into the final half of the season with 2 able defenders. Squillaci is a liability, Song is no centre back as there is no one who can do 50% of what he can do. Yet the coach thinks it’s acceptable t sit on his hands.
Suspensions and injuries will happen and the players that will slip in have shown against Wigan, Ipswich, Leeds and Huddersfield why they are not good enough to be reliable replacements against top class opposition. How many times have we been in situations like this?
Wenger needs to sign a centre back, inaction could be the undoing of our best chance at league title glory in a long time.
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I don’t understand how that’s inept SUGA?!
Keyser,
are you on a windup or just clueless?
I guess you just accept the second best, even when you have the means to go for top stuff? good luck to you, mate…
the chain is only as strong as its weakest links, these have been identified as Denilshite and Squillaci – unfortunately, we are not too far away from seeing them both on the pitch, which is a recipe for disaster, ffs…
and you just know they will have to play when it matters!
don’t even get me started on other passengers, who disgrace the hallowed red & white!
should’ve signed jack bauer.
Well, we march on…with or without our much needed CB/DM
PattheGooner – Look, it’s Barcelona, possibly one of the best teams ever.
We’ve missing Van Persie, Arshavin (on form, kind of), Fabregas, Gallas, Djourou and Song, and there’s you thinking ‘ooh if only Rosicky ran around a bit more’.
Fuck me, and thats me blindly defending the team, you’ve just taken the complete biscuit and take dooming to new depths there.
A,
it is inept, as you just need to know whether you will get a permit for them BEFORE you make a move, otherwise it’s just cash down the drain spent for someone else’s benefit (this time it’s Levante & Feyenoord) – they may as well get injured over there or go off the rails, being young and away from home. no guarantee of any success!
The biggest joke are Newcastle.
Who will score goals for them?
LOL.
Ameobi and who?
Suga3 – Are you thick ? I said I wanted a top class centre-back not some of the shit people have come up with on here.
Fucking Richard Dunne was mentioned ffs.
Stop with the bullshit metaphors and cliches, if we’re playing Denilson and Squillaci it means several players must be injured.
Unless we have a top class player to come in and I don’t mean Cahill or Samba either, than how much difference is it going to make against the likes of Barcelona.
lurch, we should have signed kim bauer and loaned her to me.
and Pienaar pisses all over Rosicky from a great height…
i’d actually really like spuds to get 4th over chelsea now.
luiz aint gonna save them and if torres gets injured i’ll piss myself
As usual you are completely missing the point Keyser.
So you are happy that our players take to the field and put a half arsed performance in?
I could not give a fuck if it was Barca or Bournemouth.
I cant stand seeing Arsenal players roll over like puppy dogs, fucking grow a pair and get stuck in and put a decent shift in.
I am not dooming at all, I am just pointing out that it is performances like that that have led to the absolutely unnaceptable performances that have been put in by a number of Arsenal players in recent times including Wigan, Ipswich, Leeds and Huddersfield this month.
You might be the kind of bloke that loves being a loser and feeling sorry for them and in 2nd place, but I want more, and we should be more than capable to deliver it
BREAKING NEWS
Wengers parents apologise for raising a greedy, bonus grabbing shit cunt.
Keyser, I’m afraid you are wasting your time here. This ‘Suga’ chap is an Andy Townsend type, but thicker.
SUGA they’re an investment for the future.
We should’ve gotten one for Wellington Silva and when we moved for him a year ago we would’ve but because his coach wouldn’t play him on account of his having signed for us FIFA wouldn’t allow it. We’ll get one for him in the summer though.
Miyaichi would be loaned out anyways, he’s very very raw….
To claim that it’s inept is just looking for ways to try and be critical
incesc – You’ve already personally payed 80million for Torres, how much are you going to spend in one window.
financial doping or what.
Keyser,
thick? me? ahahaha, that’s rich, coming from you…
metaphors? try ‘plain, simple English’, ffs…
‘if we’re playing Denilson and Squillaci it means several players must be injured.’
shock, horror
now read slowly: we need a CB, who would be a backup for JD who is pretty decent and better than Squillaci, who is fucking shit!
if you failed to understand, read again, a bit slower, that may do…
Man,
who’s asking you? go fuck yourself…
keyser
when im rich im gonna spend billions on arsenal players, watch this space!
Maciek it’ll have to be Nolan as it was before, but Barton/Ireland/Ben Arfa are gonna be very important too, all gonna have to chip in!
They’ve got some tough games between now and the end of the season too
Lol, that’s put the kiss of death on Wellington getting a permit then.
first im gonna get us or own King Kenny in charge,
Probably Merse or Ian Wright
Relax guys,
It’s a peace blog.
Well, maybe not when we are talkimg about Denilson, Hill-Wood, Wenger, Diaby and Almunia, but aside from that……
you know, We needed players, yes, can I live without us signing one? Sure (no choice). but putting the Ryo move on the official website is a fucking slap in the face. The weakest link in the team is denilson. We need cover for song more than we need a CB. truly embarrassing night.
Well it depends how he does between now and the end of the season gambon, as long as he trains hard then he will do!
PattheGooner – I’m not missing the point, just think you’re being completely unfair if you think they didn’t try.
We beat Ipswich, we beat Leeds and we beat Huddersfield.
“You might be the kind of bloke that loves being a loser and feeling sorry for them and in 2nd place, but I want more, and we should be more than capable to deliver it”
Ooh, next you’ll be telling me about how ambitious you are. Mate, leave it out. I’m not going to bother guessing what type of bloke you are, it’d be completely unfair.
A,
it’s just the same old argument: investing for the future and neglecting the first team in the process – that results in pushing the best players out of the door, who just can’t be expected to play alongside Neves ‘better than Alonso’ Denilshite and the like!
This was the Le Grove rating and review for Rosicky’s performance against Barca last year
Rosicky: Has the ink dried on that contract? Can we get one of those eraser pens on it? He was diabolical tonight and should be ashamed of himself. When you’re looking for a bit of experience / quality, the last thing you expect is a player of his caliber to turn in a performance as poor as that. He barely strung a pass together, his finishing was terrible and he looked out of place. He’s not Freddy and he’s no Bobby… a player whose never fulfilled his potential in a red and white shirt. 2
Suga3 – Look think about it.
You’ve been going on like a spaz about how our seasons going to fall down like a house of cards.
What’s your answer to this ?
Lets sign a centreback.
Who ?
Well someone who’s pretty decent, back-up to Djourou and better than someone who you thinks ‘fucking shit’.
That’s it ? You’re fucking hilarous, better than Squillaci and backup to Djourou and if we don’t get that player our seasons completely fucked.
It isn’t one or the other SUGA.
I’d prefer us to be investing in both the first team and the youths.
If we didn’t invest in the first team though I’d rather we invested in the youths than noone…..
Keyser
And I am not singling out Rosicky intentionally here. Marko raised the point that he felt Rosicky should be the one that starts against Barca in the absence of Nasri. I am pointing out what happened the last time that happened.
Keyser,
it’s still better than sitting on the bony French arse and doing nothing, which is exactly what happened time and time again and proved costly, no?
A,
sorry mate, but if you seriously believe that, then your priorities are as fucked as Wenger’s…
I thought you said it did not affect one another? why is there no improvement in the first team? why are there so many players that are average at best?
and why are we hoovering up all the teenage prodigies like fucking was going out of fashion? what is the success ratio with them, 20%?
with march? to more injuries?
PattheGooner – That Le Grove rating means nothing to me.
If we’re playing Barca and we have the same injury problems, I have little to no confidence of us winning.
If Rosicky starts and he we’ve got everyone else fit then that’s a completely different matter isn’t it ?!
You might not be singling him out intentionally, but you’re singling someone out when you must patently know that the odds were stacked very highly against us that night.
anyone who thinks the players like SS and Denilson are Arsenal quality, second, third or tenth XI, needs to commit himself, before he harms himself, due to being mental AND blind
which
They don’t affect each other SUGA, they’re independent….
There is no issue of priorities because neither are prioritised over each other!
If I serious believe what?! That’d I’d rather sign a kid than noone at all?!
If you’d rather we didn’t sign a kid just because we hadn’t signed a first teamer then I’d say that you’re priorities are fucked and you’re cutting off your nose to spite your face!
Our first team is absolutely class, and we have alot of squad depth. We really needed a centre back this window though, and it’s a big big risk not getting one. Only time will tell if we get away with it or not.
Kids are easier to sign than first teamers, pretty much as simple as that
Suga3 – No, it’s not what happened.
Again, top class defender or maybe a stop gap, anything in between I wouldn’t have seen the point of.
A,
we have a lot of squad depth? watched the recent cup games much?
or, should I ask, how’s your new Braille keyboard?
Keyser
No point continuing with it but again I know we were up against it and I did not think for a million years that we had a chance of winning, but I do expect them to try, and put a shift in. That is what I cant excuse.
Keyser,
how do you know? are you AW’s minder or something?
Squillaci is pretty much a stopgap, so was Silvestre, can’t quite decide which of the two is/was worse!
As if cup games have anything to do with depth SUGA.
Playing pretty much an entire reserve team that havn’t played together as a team and wouldn’t regularly is always hit or miss.
If anyone gets injured (apart from centre backs) then we’ve got plenty of depth to cover them, and not be THAT much weaker, although obviously we wouldn’t have subs the quality of our top men.
ptg,
second that…
A,
OK, do you admit we have fuck all depth in CB and DM positions?
and that it should have been addressed?
Suga3 – There you go, that’s what I don’t get, you pointed out the other day that Tottenham playing fewer games might actually benefit them.
We knocked Tottenham out of the Carling Cup about 12 rounda ago, they’re already benefitting, while you’re sitting there slating the lack of depth when we’re still in all 4 fucking competitions.
..and on top of that you’re saying other people are blind, ffs, we’ve played more games than most teams and we’re still in it.
We’ll probably go out of 3 of them in the next couple of weeks, but up until now we’ve done alright.
Yeah I said that earlier SUGA…. Centre back certainly until Vermy returns we’re taking a big big risk. DM I’m ok with Denilson in some circumstances, but we really don’t have anyone close to Song sort of standard, or his style of play.
Frimpong back in 6-8 weeks. Really wonder what would’ve happened to him if he hadn’t gotten injured in terms of how much he would’ve played.
PattheGooner – It’s your opinion they’re not trying, I think they were it just wasn’t coming off for them.
It’s like all the games against lower league sides, they play tight, disciplined games and try to hit us on the counter. The first team struggle with that at times. Most teams do.
It’s not for lack of trying that we don’t break them down as quickly as we should it’s because when you make soo many changes it’s difficult for the players to come in and get the football flowing as quick as the first team can.
It’s even harder when the team you’re facing have no interest in playing football, they just lump the ball from back to front as quickly as they can, so you have to stop, track back and start again.
On Saturday even Arshavin was trying, as he was against Leeds and there were people saying he did nothing.
Keyser,
all I am asking for is a little perspective:
- easy CL group, almost failed to qualify from it, due to OGL idiotic experiments
- pretty damn easy draws in the FA Cup, yet we made it look like hard work, once again, idiotic OTT rotation
- Carling Cup, we have beaten Sp*ds’ second string, Wigwam, Magpies (fair enough quite impressively) and almost got embarrassed by Ipswich
- league, I shall repeat that ad nauseam, we are LUCKY to be still in it, whereas we should be top and a few points clear
and that, my friend, is what it really looks like, behind the facade made of tables and scorecards, am I missing something?
A,
can’t believe you still think Denilson is anything but a disgrace to the shirt…
Fair Game is a decent film, cliche but decent. I’m not convinced by Naomi Watts she’s almost as wooden as Nicole Kidman.
wooden?
like a picnic table?
Don’t worry, Denilson will be back in 3 days and will be like a new signing!
Lurch you woodpecker
Suga3 – Yeah a sense of perspective.
People constantly go on about how the manner of the victory doesn’t matter, results do, I’m sure you’ve said trophies matter more than Entertaining football ?!
We qualified for the Champions League, we’ve reached the Carling Cup final, we’re 2nd in the league, and we’re through to the next round of the FA Cup.
I’ve even said we’ll probably go out of one or more, but all you have to do is go back to Suga3 – Septmeber/ October 2010 and ask him if he’d have takent that at this stage.
The thick cunt of a manager hired Silvestre and had a grin about it ,what more do you expect ,he is a prick,i don`t care about the league position .He is an idiot and will win fuck ,gets hammered 4-0 at home and sure when Barca come around and hammer 5-0 at Arsenal he will be still grinning,hate the man with a passion.Didn`t he say if you spent 150 million for 5 points,150 mil for 5 points,fucking prick!!
A denilshit is the worst midfielder we ever had to wear a red and white. Matuidi and a loan signing wouldnt have been to bad at all.
One of the reasons I go on about it is because there are literally thousands of moronic fans at the ground, every week, who jump on Bendtner’s back the second he does something wrong, and yet fail to see what’s in front of them when Chamakh has stinker after stinker, plays worse, and gets praised for it. Where’s the consistency?
For every one of me, there’s a thousand idiots who will boo and jeer Bendtner, even though he’s shown more promise, delivered some important goals, and is currently performing at a higher level than Chamakh.
He’s not brilliant, but he’s not a bad prospect either.
And there’s the rub – he’s really no better than Bendtner right now. We desperately needed another good striker to play the games Van Persie cannot (and there are a LOT of them), and instead we went fishing around in the bargain big last summer, and bought a very, very dodgy player in ostensibly because he was free. Andy Carroll, Darren Bent, Luis Suarez all went for a lot of money today, but it’s hard not to be a little bit envious of a club that will show that kind of ambition. If we were similarly minded, we’d have won several titles over the last few years, no doubt, and we’d have sewn it up this year. But instead, we get players like Chamakh, who epitomise everything that’s wrong with Arsenal, and Arsenal’s transfer policy, and I’m sick of it, and I’m sick of him.
Keyser,
- CL: don’t delude yourself, only if we have all the big guns fit & firing, we have puncher’s chance and that’s it…
- FA Cup: played no one of note, speak to you after we meet a decent team…
- Carling Cup final: even though I wanted AW to treat this competition with more respect, banging that drum really smacks of desperation…
- yes, we have a good chance in the league, but the lack of depth in CB department is a massive concern
as for the performances and results, sure the latter do count, but against whom, dare I ask?
Torres taking veiled parting shots at Liverpool hehe.
I haven’t seen any arsenal news, so I have to ask, did we at least get someone in on loan.
No zeus.
Not a bean.
Though our thoughtful webmaster tried to cheer us up by announcing that we’d signed Miyaichi (and sent him on loan), and recalled Bartley (then send him on loan again).
chavs went for Torres we were forced to wait until summer for chamakh!! does this everyone shows which club has more ambitions? 50 mill in bank and no fukking penny spend. Hope for more empty seats. Disgrace for the fans!!!
OK, on that note, I am off
nite munglas!
Jimbo -
Although I am not sick of chamack I agree with the sentiment of your post.
With every siging we make the most important factor is financial. Its the first, second and third consideration, the the players actually ability.
Haven’t posted for a long, long time but today’s window has compelled me to post! Torres to Chelsea without Anelka going the other way has got ego clash written all over it. Can’t see Drogba, Anelka and Torres as a front three so one will be on the way out? Plus if Torres’ aloof personality (as mentioned in the press at the weekend) is anything to go by then it could be an ‘interesting’ dressing room if things don’t pick up. Not saying everyone needs to be best mates but Drogba has been top dog for a while and will surely see this as the writing on the wall for his career with the king’s road chavs
Anyway, back to the mighty arse. No defender in is, as everyone here agrees, a massive risk. However keeping clean sheets has never been our forte so Im hoping for a resurgent Arshavin! My question is, do people think this means he has someone lined up for the summer in the centreback position?
zeus, we took back bartley and send him straight away on loan to rangers. and we finally signed this japanese kid!!! Arse.com is a fukking joke like the manager and board!!!
Suga3 – I can’t help you anymore, United top of the league lost 4-0 away to West Ham, Chelsea knocked out by Newcastle at home 4-3.
Just go back to what you wrote all those games ago and what you felt when we were losing games.
I’m not deluding myself, the whole point is the amount of games we’ve played, without Fabregas at times, without Van Persie and without Vermaelen and others, but we’re still in it.
No-ones banging any drum, it’s there for all to see, despite the games we’ve played and what fans have felt all season, we’re still in a final, we could still lose, but right now it’s something.
hope wenger shut his mouth and wont speak about his targets or I will kill him
The final straw will be if Arsenal.com do one of their shite twitter articles with a load of fans talking about how glad they are we didn’t sign anyone.
I can hardly wait for that one!
Keyser,
I am still feeling the same, as I am yet to be proven wrong, simple as that…
I want to be proven wrong and shown that we are not a bunch of bottlejob kids anymore and that OGL is able to instill the right attitude (pride for the shirt, etc.) and promote the right players, at the cost of the love children being sent to the stiffs or dumped altogether…
really off now…
Good point Keyser re King’s Road chavs and Man U. Fact is we are in 4 competitions. Yes some of the games have been ‘easy’, such as Spurs at the Lane, but we’re in a final and got a great chance of being in the quarters of the FA cup! Plus there’s a good chance of Man U slipping up in the league as long as Torres slaps on plenty of deep heat on those hamstrings.
Wenger: “I cannot tell you definitely [I will not sign anyone] because someone might knock at my door in the morning and says ‘I would like to play for you’ and he is a good player, because I would sign him.”
I guess CB’s have trouble finding Wenger’s door? Surely there is someone decent out there that wants to play for us. Ridiculous…
and before anyone jumps on my “decent” criteria (Keyser – haha), I do believe that a “decent” CB would be all we need (for the moment). Squirrel-types are not decent, nor the answer.
It’s frustrating when he says early in the month we need CB and then he says Squillaci is back soon and Song is a CB we can cope blah etc a couple of weeks later, he just didn’t want to spend in this window nevermind deadline day where prices inflate even more.
I need a break from this.
SUGA3 – the whole ‘I hope I’m proved wrong’ line is a tad weak as a supporter. If you want to support the team then you have to accept that you may get exposed as a fan i.e. made to look like a muppet by having faith in the team. ‘I hope I’m proved wrong’ is either said in an arrogant belief that you know we will fail or because you can’t handle failure or disappointment
arsenal4ever – You’d better load your gun and sharpen your knives… You know it’s coming… “I put bids in for Sako, Hangerland, Samba, Cahill et al, but was not willing to pay over-inflated prices”.
What say he when the inevitable DJ injury occurs, Vermy is ruled out for the season and Kos and/or Squirrel is sent off again?
Btw – Denilson as the makeshift CB until halftime absolutely did my head in.
It only lasted for a brief moment in time. But I will always remember the theovanasrigas period fondly.
no need to panic, we have a great squad fuck them all we’re going to win the league
Keyser – You talk about how we are still in it. Yes, we have a great squad to get us to February every year. Unfortunately we have not had a squad to get us through to the end of the season for 6 years. That is the problem that Wenger has failed to address every year.
History has shown that when we go out of one comp, we tend to go out of all comps quick-time. We could be done by the end of February. Relying on DJ as much as we are is simply ludicrous.
JJ – I never said it was a great squad and I realise we’ve played some lower league teams, but we’re getting things done.
Point was I don’t get people who say we’ve been lucky to get this far, our squad doesn’t have depth, then say all of that will change with the introduction of a ‘decent’ centre-back.
That’s just weird. We’re going to need some luck over the next few weeks, we’ve already seen nasri suffer, but if we get it we’ve got a good chance of some silverware, I don’t see how that’s something to be soo dismissive about ?!
TonyS – It was one of the most promising periods of our recent history, it should be celebrated.
Completely agree, Nigel. Absolutely spot on.
Been tryign to say that for ages, but couldn’t have said it better.
just got in….. Phwoar!! It’s all over thank ****!
Chelsea are the biggest winners… The signings of Luiz & Torres shows a statement of intent regardless of how anyone wants to dress it up… They have cost a fortune, but when you consider the fee’s bandied about these days for average players, Wenger’s “won’t go over £15m” mantra is farcical!
Let’s have it right £15m quid these days get’s you a Charles N’Zogbia not a Franck Ribery and those “proud” of our financial prudence are the mugs sitting at home watching net “streams” who don’t fork out £1300+ P/Y & £50 per game every week. These ****’s wind me up the most.
We are clearly, yes clearly a centre half injury away from a unmitigated disaster.. WE should have strengthend and the fact we haven’t means we are walking an injury tight rope.
I know the prices are inflated. It’s january and midway through a season, within a 1 month time span it is difficult to replace a player with better the what you sell without paying over the odds… There can be no doubt surely we have £20m to shore up the back, EASY! Those who think otherwise are deluded. We won’t do a “leeds” neither
Fact’s are we’ve played 9 games in january (a record for the club) and have seen that yes whilst our first 11 (minus vermaelen) when fit are very very good. When we look further into the squad we see players out of form, out of favour and out of their depth.
Rosicky, Denilson, Chamackh, Almunia, Diaby & Squillaci (For the armchairs eboue & bendtner also) are all players we’d rather not see on a team sheet when we require a must win at this stage of the season.. Every game from now on is a must win if we are to collect any silverware. Chances are they are likely to appear more often than not.
Announcing Miyachi on the website and PHW’s comments from the other day is a piss take and slap in the face to all arsenal fans who pays the highest ticket prices in world football.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the moment, but we’ve seen it all before. Can only get on with it and back a performance against everton from the men who actually do play for arsenal.
We’re an injury away at gk to szczsheny to seeing almunia all over again..
an injury to djorou at cb to seeing squillaci in any shape or form, with a still unpredictable Koscielny… Then after that there’s Song
Which means, we’ll see more of diabolical denilson and 1 decent game in 8 diaby.
Then Van Persie get’s injured.. Chamackh? In the words of Richard Keys “Do me a favour Love” , About as deadly as a newtered squirrel…
Let us see Arsene if you can produce the goods, because I have my doubts… It’s risking trophies at the expense of some sick ideal you have about winning it by nurturing talent, being self sufficient, mental strength, grown together, pay what we can afford, profitability, buying kills young talent blah blah blah mantra…
Let us see.. Because if you fail this time, there’s no going back!
Slightly irritated but certainly not surprised that we didn’t sign anyone. For the fans of most teams, the transfer window is a time of excitement and expectation; however, that isn’t the case for us. I think that, going in, we all knew what was going to happen – jack shit, fuck all. We’re so desperate for some transfer window excitement that even the thought of signing MADJID BOUGHERRA!!! arouses some. To me, for a team as big as we are, that’s pathetic. Why not spend some money and bring in a quality CB? What could possibly be the harm in that? As has been mentioned so many times here, Arsenal fans pay more than anyone to see their team play but where is the money going? We are easily one of the biggest teams in the world and yet we absolutely refuse to pay any more than 15m on a player, and that’s only after weeks of haggling. I don’t expect Messi, and I don’t expect Ronaldo. What I do expect is a little bit of ambition. I certainly recognize that AW, as well as the Arsenal board, desire the maintenance of financial security, but we have that! What happens if Kozzer or Djourou get injured? The obvious answer will be to move Song from DM to CB but then we’re fucked because we have absolutely no cover for DM. Denilson is absolutely awful and I don’t see how anyone can possibly deny that, and Diaby is perpetually injured. So, what it comes to down is that if either Song, or one of our CBs gets injured, we are truly screwed and another season will be flushed down the toilet, why? – for a few extra quid? If there is something else going on then the board is morally obligated to inform us of it. If we actually are skint then I wish they’d come out and say it and let us know what we can expect for the next few season. Every indication suggests that this is not the case, so why are we so fucking parsimonious?
I’m not a doomer at all but I have to say I’m shocked that we havent got a cover centreback.
proper madness.
just do not understand that.
I bet we pick up injuries against Everton tomorrow, most likely centrebacks,has Djourou ever made 10 games straight?
Just cant believe it.
Suarez will be world class not so sure about Caroll and we may struggle to finish 4th one injuries start to accumulate…Fingers Crossed.Chelsea are strong contenders for UCL comparable to Farca IMO..
*once….
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/David-Maddock-on-Liverpool-transfers-Selling-Chelsea-Fernando-Torres-and-buying-Newcastle-Andy-Carroll-is-Kenny-Dalglish-biggest-gamble-but-also-a-move-straight-out-of-FSG-playbook-article687065.html
Think Chamakh has been getting treated a bit unfair on here. He was wonderful for us while RVP was out at the beginning. He’s fatigued a bit, but it’s his first year here. The only flaw I see with him is that he doesn’t shoot enough, but he is wonderful at keeping possession and is a serious threat at set plays, and a help at defending our set plays ie, huddersfield.
Against Barca I would love to see a front 3 of RVP, Chamakh, and walcott with RVP and Chamakh switching roles. Barca are weak on set pieces and Chamakh might prove valuable in holding possession against them and maybe nicking a header.
luke
fully agree with that..
and if it doesnt work out, arshavin and bendtner arnt bad options coming off the bench.
hmm, out of all the disappointing transfer windows over the past few years, this one seems to be the most criminal.
Without wishing to reiterate what pretty much everyone has been saying above, we are very vulnerable in the CD area. It is easy to forget that JD until this season was an injury case…if he returns to injury, then we are truly fucked. And I read that Fabianski might have to have an operation…yet again we will probably end up facing Barca with our B-string. How many times will this happen before we realise it is not just “Bad Luck”?
Until Vermaelen returns, it is just JD, Kosser, Squillachi and then Miquel, right? I’m not forgetting anyone? Oh, and Song…
Luis Suarez and David Luiz are the steals of this window.
At 24 and 23 years of age respectively they have their best years ahead of them.
Luis Suarez is a primetime player. Skill, shooting ability (with the exception of RVP, we dont have it) and INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE.
- Age not an excuse. Suarez 1987 vs. NB52 1988 and Walcott 1989.
- Bendtner and Walcott lack the individual skill that Suarez has
Neither can dribble past a marker, or drop the shoulder and create something out of nothing. Comparisons are fair.
- David Luiz is the complete defender. Pace and power.
We needed a Defensive midfielder more than a central defender. Even if he was cup tied.
Toulalan of Lyon is an outstanding defensive midfielder. Granted, Lyon probably would not sell at the moment. But he is quality.
Flamini on loan?
one plus side is that at least Vela is going to be getting some valuable playing time at West Brom…
moray
What do you think about Vela as a player?
Meneurdejeu, I’m not sure. Truth is that since moving out to Asia a few years ago, I don’t see as many games as I used to, and rarely live, unless I’m back on a trip. I just feel that he hasn’t been given a good enough crack of the whip. He has undeniable talent, which he has shown playing for the national side. This loan spell with luck will show us what he can do on a sustained basis, and it’s good that we sent him to a decent footballing side like West Brom. Our OUTs section suggests to me that we need a bit of a clearout in the summer, so let’s see if Vela is one of those.
BTW I realised how pathetic my “on the plus side” sounded. A bit like sleeping with a ladyboy and saying “on the plus side, at least he had tits!”
gutted dispointed let down!! but its not a new news is it ?
finally the transfer window closed n like always wenger surprises us wid no signings…wen v need a defensive mid for sure… jus in case song gets injured v left wid shit denilson….its a sad situation!!!!nasri injured hope arshavin gets some form back!!!
I don’t think Suarez is all that. He’ll be decent, but he won’t be proper world class
The loanees are like new signings!
Some will make it though. Lansbury will. JET has no position.
Nigel’s Winterburn says:
February 1, 2011 at 01:17
SUGA3 – the whole ‘I hope I’m proved wrong’ line is a tad weak as a supporter. If you want to support the team then you have to accept that you may get exposed as a fan i.e. made to look like a muppet by having faith in the team. ‘I hope I’m proved wrong’ is either said in an arrogant belief that you know we will fail or because you can’t handle failure or disappointment
fuck me, I don’t mind being ‘exposed’ and looking like a muppet and I have the utmost faith in the capabilities of our first XI, then I remind myself how crap our injury record is and realise that OGL has once again embarked on the jolly run across the minefield with only half reliable metal detector (GPS tags)…
I just hate the arrogance and lies and can’t believe our once reasonable and no-nonsense coach is trying to tell us that certain players are world class, when they clearly are not!
spin is all good, some fall for it, but no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it’s still a pig in the end, ffs…
OK, I need to get ready for work…
Rohan not sinning a defender for us is pure suicide
abnet,
what do you know, you should get behind the team and support, as this is what the ‘true’ supporters do, no matter how much you can see that we are skating on the thin ice due to OGL’s negligence, eh?
isn’t that right, Rohan?
i wish there is a news we dont know re- TV may be he is nearing return than we all expected No club in the history of football go in to four competition with two capable defenders is not logical
isn’t that right suga
Rohan I think Suarez will be World Class Meneurdejeu10 summed it up perfectly his intelligence on and without the ball is phenomenal…
You certainly havent seen him much….
neither suarez or caroll are/will be fit to lace torres’s left boot
http://www.espnstar.com/home/news/detail/item574490/%22I-can-win-Champions-League-with-Chelsea%22/
I used to like him but now its a different matter…..Chelsea along with Barca are UCL favourites..
Caroll is no better than Bendy agree on that but Suarez is a different animal if anyone has seen him play..
abnet,
it sure is right, I was just taking a piss
Kush both Torres or luise are ineligible for the CL
abnet,
I think you will find that you can register one player who played in the other European competition, if it was only group stages…
off to work – kumbaya!
did the .com conform how long nasri will be out i dont think they did announce officially the news after the scan
abnet
he played in theeuropa so he must be eligible..
2/3 weeks abnet
When I read all the stuff that’s happening I am disbelieve about the extent the club has sunk to. When a club cannot do the things it needs to do then it is living dangerously. It confirms our fears that Wenger and the Board are not serious on the issues of the playing assets.
It is criminal for a club to have 3 (one dodgy defender now suspended) fit defenders , 1 injured defender and refuse to take the January lifeline. Other lesser clubs would have brought somebody in as a CB at least. This is clearly a case of corruption. Yes, corruption… it’s about lieing to fans, telling them you have the best squad when they can see you have a collection of average players. Taking fans money and not meeting fans expectation. Corruption comes in different forms, but at the end of the day it boils down to cheating or lieing. Buying players at low cost and selling them above their market value, whilst expecting to bring in players for below what they are worth- Alonso, anyone? Or paying a premium for kids and complain when others pay a premium for established stars.
How long will this robbery last? I think we would be found out from this month. We will loose badly against Barca, and then it’s downhill from then on. Watch this space.
I have a word for the Arsene (not Arsenal) fans on this forum – God gave us all a brain, a grey matter. use it for once! This scam is not too difficult to discern. If your child needs four books for his class and he has just two, would you
a) Buy the 2 books he needs (even if you borrow short term)?
b) Wait for your neighbor’s kid to lend you one book?
c) Wait for Oxfam to display the books he needs so you can pick it from them?
Let’s call a spade a spade, we have scam artist as manager and the supporting cast as Board members.
but kush that was a quote from AW’s press conference and he said we dont know the exact time scale but said usually its to 2/3 weeks but there is no news after the scan ( i’m trying to be as positive as i can in this shitty day Arsenal have to rebuild my mood form tonight by a handsome win or i ll go blocks!!!)
Morning All
we signed miyachi..cool…did we sign anyone else…AKBs told me wenger would!
Will be a very tough match today I hope Rvp and Cesc provide the magic to eke aout a victory..
fuck the signings, i am not really unhappy about not making them i just want to see samir, cesc, RvP, theo and wilshere tear the league apart and can’t wait for united to lose.
i am in a fucking good mood
Gooby
I would be as happy as u r saying,especially if i done think that we could ship goals for fun in future
can’t wait for us to tear pool a new one at the emirates and show those pricks how it’s done on the pitch
sabeel
we have been steady at the back lately. vermaelen is back soon, kozzer is starting to perform and DJ is awesome. squill is a bit past and shyte. but i really don’t give a flying fuck about signings atm. i just want us to tear the league apart
Confident:
Its very interesting how fans think.
I am in a similar camp to you, I really see a definate philosophy from Wenger & the board which has actually become more entrenched in the last 2 years. They are determined not to spend, only on young up & coming players.
Wenger doesnt want or can handle experienced ‘strong’ players. He wants kids who look up & play for him as gainst playing for The Arsenal.
Any club, any business needs good young players & staff – BUT – those clubs & businesses also need damm good older personel, leaders who can lead & help the younger members.
Wenger has not done that, he has rewarded so much dross that either we cannot get rid of or he just won’t get rid off.
Our squad strength is shocking, sunday just cemented that view.
I said we’d win nothing with Wenger & I still say that now.
He won’t change his policy & the board are more than happy, Hill Wood has already suggested not to expect much activity in the summer.
Wenger runs the club from top to bottom. He’s too powerful. End of.
Hardly a surprise that we did not sign anyone. The TW panned out as many have before it. Promises/Lies from the club and ultimately groundhog day and cry wolf.
However the bigger problem is we did it on the cheap last summer. If we had bought a capable CB instead of a Silvestre clone, I for one would not be overly concerned if we had injuries to Djourou or Koscielny.
Likewise for Koscielny. He is improving but he is still way off the level that we needed on day one of the season. Again if we had bought a WC quality CB, then maybe the shitness of Squilacci would not have been such an issue.
And I dont buy this shit that Kosser was bought for the future so we should not expect too much of him. Bullshit, who exactly was going to be 1st choice alongside Vermaelen???? It certainly was not going to be Djourou, a player who was still recovering from serious injury and whose quality was still in question.
Likewise if we had a decent backup to Song, I could accept it. But the sheer thought of Song at CB with Denilson at DM sends shivers down my spine.
Make no bones about it, an injury to either Djourou or Koscielny and our title shot will fall to wayside and a 4th place will beckon.
DG
Completely agree mate, although I think we will win the LC.
I can see both Arshavin and Cesc will be off in the Summer and probably for a fraction of the 50m that Torres just left for. My real fear is that whilst we talk of the likes of Hazard, our replacements will either be internal or more potential unknowns.
thanks god there is no statement like returning injured players will be like new signing
Give them chance Gooner-Pak
Arsenal.com have a habbit of having a Denilson story the day after deadline day.
wait till denilson get back Gooner-pak you ll get ur wish lol
Torres is indeed eligible for the CL but not the FA Cup vice versa for David Luiz he can only play in the FA cup.
what he’s gonna say he is better then nasri!!
Great players want to play with great players.
Arshavin, Fabregas and Nasri are star players and capable of flourishing in any other team. Are they world class? Absolutely. Nasri has a mind of his own and will not be loyal to Arsene forever. Arshavin the same.
Koscielny has been terrific this year. I have been pleasantly suprised. With a little bit more strength and defensive coaching, he will be world class.
Absolutely top class signing. 9/10
Chamakh is too shot shy. Holds up the ball. But lacks acceleration and power to get through. 6.5/10
Squillaci and Denilson……….
DG,
I think the best way to preserve your sanity is to lower expectations. If they beat expectation, then fine.
NEW POST!
New Castle weakened, Chelsea becoming stronger &
Liverpool also relatively strong after Winter Transfer Window.
Good for Arsenal???
Cos Manutd play chelsea twice, liverpool away, & we are goin to NewCastle next week.. Hope al this plays into our hands..
http://www.guardianchalkboards.com/guardianchalkboards_embed.swf?chalkBoardID=924394A5O5vN5K68911Q
by Guardian Chalkboards