What’s that? Yeah, post number two churned out on a Blackberry. Geoff has obviously taken the Barca result harder than most…he’s gone AWOL. If anyone sees him, tell him I’ve docked him two weeks wages for bringing the blog into disrepute.
Anyway, to save my thumbs, I’ll keep this shorter than Andrey.
Word on the street is that we’ll have a full squad to pick from for the WBA game. I was told that there were no reports of Cesc being injured during or after the Barca game. If he’s out for Saturday, I’d hazard a guess that it’s precautionary.
More importantly, Robin is still rockin and Theo will be back for the crunch tie away at the Hawthorns. Why is that result so important? It’s international week after. No negativity in the mind is a great thing going into a Blackburn game.
News isn’t so great on Tommy V, apparently he’s had a number of minor set backs and no one is sure on him. Write him off for the year barring maybe a cameo towards the end.
This weekend we’ll be facing a severely depleted United. My fear is we’ll also rest half the team. We shouldn’t, this side needs to start winning again and fast. Beating any United team could be enough to kick us out of this nasty rut we’re in.
Do I trust Wenger to go for it? Not really. Mutterings of Cesc being out already reek of not taking this tie seriously.
Anyway, we’ll all be cheering United on next week in the Champions League. We need them to make it to the semi’s, where they’ll be run ragged by Barcelona. Their fixture pile up is going to be very beneficial for us. If losing two nights ago has done anything, it’s given our squad breathing space and the chance to fully focus on becoming Champions.
Wenger, this is the best chance you’ll have. Next year Chelsea, City, United, Spurs and Liverpool will spend big. You won’t…and it’ll be tougher than ever. Win it this year, you’ll bind the squad together for another year.
In my opinion, our winning streak has to start Saturday.
Grover’s, the time for mopping is over, pick yourselves up, put that mug of Jack down and start getting excited for Saturday!
See you in the comments.
P.S. You’d have got the injury news yesterday if you’d followed out twitter @LeGrove . Get on it!
and I for once agree with Rohan here
No way Rohan,
Clichy has been average, his performances have improved recently but his positioning is still wank.
I don’t think there’s anything like an on form or off form Bendtner. Bendtner is just Bendtner. One minute he has a shit touch the next he scores a great goal.
Man.. thats inconsistency .. only improves when playing week in week out.
He’s never going to do that here at Arsenal.. so
Rohan
I think its mixed form for him. Clichy was atrocious in the earlier part of the season. He was the main culprit for our defeat with Shaktar, we drew with Sunderland because of him, he was poor against Newcatsle away etc. But yeah, as the season has progressed immensely.
choy,
agreed, someone should have a chat with him about the unnecessary runs, foul throws and not keeping people onside sometimes, but he has heart of a lion…
he should be kept, why sell him to spend the money on replacement?
Guys
This is very funny. Make sure you are sitting down when you read it. LOL
Crouch: Spurs can beat Barca
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3459513/Peter-Crouch-Tottenham-can-beat-Barcelona.html
That would be comedy gold
He’s got one year left on his contract and he ain’t signed yet Suga
I disagree, think he been better than most left backs in the world. Bar Ashley, there really aren’t any left backs that are out of this world today. (bar Jesus perhaps
)
Who would you propose instead of him then? I can’t think of any to be honest..
Gibbs, even disregarding his injury record, is much much worse positionally and in the tackle.
I’d keep Clichy. Our defence is fine to be honest. I’d buy a hybrid option who can play both DM and CB. i.e either Jan Vertonghen/Jack Rodwell. Either one would do.
If Hazard is available, then buy him. And then hope that Vela comes back with a vengeance because I can’t see us buying a striker.
I think Clichy will leave at the end of the season he will probably go to Real and we will get one of their players as part exchange.
Still think we were robbed at the Nou Camp, although Wenger takes the hit for persisting with players like Rosicky, and Daiaby. Dennilson or Rambo should have had a better game. The Cesc flick apart, Barca were getting no joy from trying to break our defense. And in the 2nd half when we came to play football, the ref gave them an assist.
Make no mistake, most teams will spend sometime defending against Barca. The key to beating them is to counter and keep them just away from the 18 yard box.
Interesting article on injuries by Lady Arse
http://ladyarse.com/
Fair dos man, I do. Even if he has other issues too he just doesn’t have it in him as a footballer to play for anyone top quality. Tiny weak and slow and none of those can change. Everton are a very good team for him.
The last top French league player that moved to England was Malouda. Somehow I can’t see Hazard moving to Arsenal with our sustainable model as much as I would like it to happen.
Oh, and guess what. It’s Mark effing Clattenburg for Saturday.
Why do we always have the worst possible luck?
marcel schmelzer from dortmund would be a pretty good buy for a LB
I thought Clattenburg was on a sabbatical…damn
I thought Clattenburg was taking a month off or so!
Clattenburg talking tactics with Fergie as we speak
Rohan
Are you Fucking serious? Mark Clattenburg does not favour us but he is our lucky charm because a majority of the games he has reffed we have won. They include Manshitty away, Aston Villa away etc. In any case he is seen as having beeen too pro-manure before on account of the Wigan game and the Nani goal against the Spuds so I assume he will try not to look biased.
Finally he is not Phil Dowd, anything but that Nothern Chimpanzee refing our games is okay for me.
Clattenburg sucks Fergie’s spotted dick.
Rohan.. how did you know it was spotted eh ?
On a more positive note.. he might be a bit strict on utd players.
clichy is having an ok season
http://www.facebook.com/bendtnerofficial/posts/172732639441447
Choy
Gambon told him. Gambon knows everything about Fergie’s anatomy its his second obsession after slating Wenger.
11 jack wilsheres please. we need a few more of him in our team. this lot is so far removed from what the arsenal stand for it’s unreal. grow some balls you lot.
Geek pie
Agreed.
Eriksen would reject Liverpool
The highly-rated teenager has been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, and Reds assistant manager Sammy Lee was recently spotted on a scouting trip to watch the 19-year-old in action.
“If I got an offer from Liverpool right now, I believe I would reject it,” Eriksen told the Danish media.
“Ajax is a good club for me at the moment and I believe it will be that for a couple of years. If I did move, it would have to be to FC Barcelona.”
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/892099/ajax-star-christian-eriksen-would-reject-liverpool?cc=3888
Guys, seriously who is advising this kid? Barca is too competitive. A player in his exact position Ibrahim Afellay who moved to the club in January is already hinting he wants to leave. The worst thing with some of these kids is that they have morons for agents.
http://desmond.yfrog.com/Himg614/scaled.php?tn=0&server=614&filename=8dvpb.jpg&xsize=640&ysize=640
Lehmann would be hilarious.
http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2011/03/premiership/arsenal-liverpool-racing-for-e10m-hot-shot-import?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TransferTavern+%28The+Transfer+Tavern+Home+Page%29
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/631749-tottenham-hotspur-are-officially-north-londons-biggest-and-best-club?
Lol, enjoy this!
Why is no one in for Honda? Maybe he’s just a youtube sensation.
Dream list for the summer.
Out:
Almunia
Diaby
Denilson
Eboue
Squillaci
Rosicky
In:
Hazard
Inler
Capoue
Van der Wiel
Any Keeper.
Why would van der Wiel come to us to sit on the bench when Sagna is streets ahead of him?
No top player would want to join a club who season after season with Fuck All
Rohan
To take the step up. We are a stepping stone after all. What, he is going to barca to take Alves’ place? Or Madrid for Ramos’? Or Man Utd for Da Silva’s?
After those teams, who is left.
Marek Hamsik
Add a striker to that list. A proper one. Not one for another youngster, but could the second coming of Ronaldo (the real one) Alex Pato not play in the Prem?
Seriously cant stop posting this video. About time the game produced another one of him, for the Arsenal off course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oXH8F-MGpU
Vela to rotate with AA will do…
Pret Sam says:
March 10, 2011 at 15:34
fran, still at the club, works mainly with the reserves but sometimes with the first team.
Also got a good friend in their media/marketing dept (as always with Arsenal, its in house, so cost is kept to a minimum lol)
One bit of info i got was that there are definately some changes happening this summmer with regards to players going out, as in quite a few of ‘project youth’, so i hope that includes diaby, denilson, eboue and a couple of others. As usual though, nothing to say about any incomings!
he also told me in no uncertain terms that denilson is not rated at all by pretty much all of the training staff (shocking i know)
Pret Sam/Master P – My inside contact told me more or less the same thing last summer, in fact he was the one who passed the list of 13 (if memory serves me right) players that were either on their way or would be on their way if we received an adequate offer!! And, guess what with the exceptions of Senderos, Merida and Gallas the remainder are still at the club AND still getting first team games ffs!!
I was also told in no uncertain by the same guy that Denilson is not only not rated by ANY of the coaching staff, but is also disliked by almost all the playing staff.
People still have faith in Vela, really?
SUGA3 says:
March 10, 2011 at 19:00
an on form Chamakh is twice the player Bendtner is IMO…
Agreed, however Chamahk is at best a third/fourth choice striker at a club who have EPL/ECL ambitions………so, where does that leave that gobshite Bentner? Wolves if it’s based ability and end product, Barcelona if it’s based on his verbal diarrhea…..
KEOWN: GUNNERS NEED TO SINK UNITED
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cups/facup/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/03/09/SOCCER_Arsenal_Keown.html&BID=222
Why am I in moderation Pedro/Geoff?
I’m not quite sure why people rate Vela so highly. When Jack went to Bolton on loan he was in the starting line-up,, more or less, immediately. Vela, on the other hand, is lucky to get sub appearances even. When he has played for the first team, in meaningful matches, he has always looked busy but ineffective. He seems to be stuck at the CC level.
Zeus, he suffers from the formation we play…
I think he is better than hernandez tbh
Man
Yep. Hernandez has taken his place in the Mexican starting line up no doubt.
Its Dos Santos and him I feel. Vela relegated to the bench.
ddm,
not exactly third choice, part of the second choice front pairing, more like…
Bendy is a prime example of what too much, too soon, too easy does to you…
Out
Wenger
Alumnia
Squillaci
Traore
Denilson
Diaby
Rosicky
Bendtner
Vela
In
A good manager
Hummels
Contreao
Rodwell
Hazard
Benzema
Choy
Arsenal tinted glasses there I think.
Hernandez has been in England a few months and seems to score everytime he touches the pitch. Vela has been here 3 years in england and is nowhere near his (Hernandez’s) level.
Position is not an argument I can accept either. We hardly play arigid system. with so much changing od position taking place in our build-up he would get his fair share of chances.
Arshavin and Nasri have some how managed to tweak their games playing slightly out of position. Yeah, Vela doesn’t get that much playing time. Which is the point. He is not that good, not for us anyway. looks a different player for Mexico.
Interesting to see what happens whn chicacunt takes his place.
I like Vela, given the fair runout on the left he’d shine…
I mean, give him 50 games, it’s not link it’s D******n’s 150, is it?
Gambon
Of course you would put Wenger at number 1.
A shame though, even Pep has started to take a pop. Brilliant in years gone by, but certainly lost some of that gloss and a little respect.
zeus… when vela came to arsenal.. he was scoring for fun.
Choy
Erm….no he wasn’t.
choy
thast just not true. We bought him based on the promise he showed as a 16/17 year old in the U17 world cup where he was top scorer.
He immediately went out on loan to Salamanca I think and got a handful of goals. Maybe for 2 years I think before going to Osasuna where he got 3 tops.
Outside of the CC, he never really scored for us in that time. In fact i took him to the last few weeks of the season to score his first PL goal, I believe against Portsmouth.
cant believe how excited the spuds are getting.
in my lifetime we have won 5 league titles 5 fa cups and so on and they have got to the last 8 of the champions league
mugs
Incesc
Forever in our shadow.
When chelsea get a bad euro ref the guy walks in fear for his life afterwards. Sometimes I wish we weren’t so damned civilised!
Perhaps when usmanov buy’s us out then the ref’s will start shitting themselves!!
Any Computer geeks around? How can I split a PDF file of 4 pages into 4 seperate pages
look for ‘Help’?
Yeh, and forget that in your lifetime you’ve also seen a team HAVE NO ATTEMPTS ON GOAL IN AN ENTIRE GAME!!! Dream on you shitlicking muppet!!
santos.
document > split document
zeus, you numpty
i meant at arsenal.. he only played in the carling cup for a while and excelled!
was that aimed at me?
incesc
we didn’t get to the last 8 of the champions league
Incesc you shitlicking muppet.
gambon you nutter!
incesc – Think you’ve revealed a fair bit there.
last time spurs were champions was 50 years ago
haha
i’ll happily keep licking shit
like what keyser?
You won the league in black and white
You won the league in black and white…
I saw you get relegated
Who says the emergency loan keeper will be on the bench?
Who can we get?
Manninger would be my choice. He must be the best 2nd choice keeper out there, but would Juve let him go with Buffon’s injury problems?
Given?
I really don’t know who Wenger is interested in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jes5qMJcnsk
It took us years to make it past group stages of Champions League. Spuds make it to quarters at the 1st attempt. The quality of Champions league has gone down with expansion but we havent made the most of Europe during the Wenger years.
Lets face it guys – this Arsenal squad will win FA.
The future is a midfield of:
Nasri, JW, Ramsey, Lansbury, Miyachi.
But that is stil a few years off.
The current crop – Song, Arsh, Diaby, Deni, Walcott are unreliable in the big games.
Pat
It is going to be Lehmann
We really have to win against UTD.. it is really important!
Lehmann retired, didn’t he?
He did Pat, but he has been at Arsenal coaching the young keepers.
We are desperate for cover, no one will release their keepers so I have a hunch that Lehmann will be talked out of retirement for one last hurrah.
Lineup for United:
Almunia(unfortunately)
Sagna JD Koz Clichy
Diaby Denilson Wilshere
Nasri RVP Arshavin
Diaby had his best game for Arsenal at OT last season, despite the OG. He should be the freshest(if thats a word?) midfielder on the pitch so I expect him to show us what he’s made of.
I don’t get this weird self-loathing sadistic streak some so-called gooners have.
Spuds my fucking arse. They probably going to end up 6th in the league this year.
I agree Choy. We really have to win against United.
At home.
Choy, I think RVP is going to have a blinder on Saturday
All that het up emotion is going to be unleashed.
Diaby no thanks, although he should be fresh as he has contributed fuck all in the last two games
but he does not deserve his place. The problem is if he is having a stinker we have to put up with 67 mins of it before he gets subbed.
I would go with
Almunia
Sagna, Djourou, Kosser, Gibbs
Wilshire, Nasri, Ramsey
Bentner, RVP, Arshavin
Hitman while I completely understand your positive thinking, people have said the same thing for so many years its getting tiresome listening to ‘still a few years off’
what about ‘wonderkid’ vela, or the rave reviews that Randall and JET got, or before them david bentley, or the new cesc ‘merida’. Havard nordtveit was the future answer to our defence problems and denilson was the brazilian youth captain. Arturo Lupoli was going to score bucketloads that were assisted by jermaine pennant.
Lansbury and Miyachi have looked class, albeit for lesser teams, and before he was pollaxed ramsey was top grade material too-but we have spent far too many years drooling over what players might become. Instead we need to spend less on youngsters wages and more on established players that will add to the talent we have.
Referee’s club sticking together….. no shock there
http://www.sportsfeatures.com/soccernews/story/48281/swiss-officials-boss-hits-out-at-arsenal-over-wenger-attack-on-busacca
I fear that we are going to get the shitty end of the stick with Refs in the Champions League next season. And what is really annoying is that it is not our fault, and once again a refs incompetence followed by arrogance has led to a jumped up charge and it is Arsenal that will be punished by Refs for the daring to speak out against them.
Just like the way the Refs did us at Newcastle following our criticism of Lee Mason for allowing a blatently offside goal against Everton.
Ah yes, I forgot all about Ramsey. So him instead of Diaby. Ramsey and Wilshere are workhorses.
another deluded post.
Really looking forward to seeing how they play together Pat
If as expected Cesc fucks off in the Summer, that could be our pairing in midfield moving forward
pat.. we need him not to release it.
RVP needs to focus on his footy, he gets wound up too easily.
Choy
I dont mean he will unleash in a violent way.
I just think he is going to be incredibly focussed, and will turn in a MOTM performance.
Its going to be tough Pat.. its not often UTD lose at home..
Was just watching the Shakhtar-Roma highlights..
Eddie is still incredible in the box, fantastic goal!
It will be Choy, but I am feeling confident
Subject to how serious Wenger takes it. Any sign of Denilson, Squilacci, Diaby or Rosicky and that confidence ebbs away.
If two of those four start, the confidence has gone
Three and god help us.
Four and I will hunt down Wenger myself and give him a slap
Yes he is. Which is why its tragic he got shafted for the pink fairy.
I still think it was right to move him on though Choy.
Rosicky is in the same boat now, he needs to be playing at a lower level.
As for Denilson, I am not sure he would get a work permit to play in the Zamaretto Premier.
I have a good feeling about Saturday. Think we’ll be up for it and stung by the injustices and the harsh reality of the past few weeeks.
haha david.. but with the formation we play there was no place for him…
I think its going to be
Almunia
Sagna JD Koz Clichy
Wilshere Diaby Rosicky
Nasri RVP Arshavin
i think it will be
almoon
eboue squid koz gibbs
diaby denilson ramsey
bender chamakh arsh
The amount of times i’ve seen Nicklas Bendtner play as
an arsenal striker, and to put it mildly, seem not a very
good football player…loads. I bought the hype. I really thought someone who talked himself up so much had
to have something about him, the type of player who when
the chance came to turn a game on its head would deliver. I’ve never put down an arsenal player on here
before but when the moment of glory presents itself
and you fluff it you got to have a lot more credit stored up than nicky has.
choy i’m going for
almunia
sagna jd koscileny clichy
denilson diaby wilshere
arshavin vp nasri
I actually fancy Chamakh getting a start ahead of VP. I think we need to rest VP.
No way David, when RVP is fit he must play.. you never know when he might get injured again!
Denilson and Diaby in midfield A?
There are going to be alot of tired legs if there isn’t many changes, potential for more injuries.
yep choy, need someone more defensive alongside jack so the two of them can play deep, and diaby further forward
or maybe
nasri diaby wilshere
bendtner vp arshavin
so nasri playing more advanced
East of the Lea
Well said.
And credit to you for saying it.
Not too many people have the mental strength to do what youve just done.
Is Nani really out for a month? Am I the only one that thinks the standard of football in England is getting worse every year. United are shit but will still probably win the league
I think Kos is playing well lately apart from giving away the penalty against Barca,be interesting to see how he handles Rooney. I hope someone breaks Evra’s legs
Just goes to show you how important walcott is and how useless bendy is.
With Walcott in the team Barca wouldve shat themselves. Plenty times over.
Thanks david but stating the bleedin obvious doesn’t
need mental strength. I really did believe he was the
sort of player who could do a micky thomas for us.
ah the blisss
Empty Barrels make the loudest noises East.
Bendy’s talents are limited to his mouth unfortunately.
What to say bendy bollocks is shit, been saying it for years!!!
We have alot of shit players Goonerpower,Bendy is not our worst player but he will never be first choice. He is ok as a backup player imo
If we sell Bendy, I guarantee you mugs will regret it 3 years from now.
He’s not too shabby. He has 9 goals and 7 assists in 25 appearances largely playing out of position.
That said, I was very disappointed with the chance he missed against Barca. It’s the sort of goal he should be scoring if he’s ever to fulfill his potential.
It might just be a good thing for his career if he moves this summer because at this point, he needs to be playing week in week out. He would always be something of a late bloomer, so……
He’s my worst player, he frustrates the living shit out of me. I know there’s a few, but he don’t seem to get the same shit that others get, and like Lea said he acts like he’s the fucking second coming.
We could loan Bendtner to an EPL club when Vela comes back.
Also, can we not take action against the barca players who choked RVP and Nasri? Isnt that red card worthy and if the referee didnt punish them cant uefa take action?
sell him, replace him. he had is chance he blew it.
Eduardo was a decent back up.
My worst player is Rosicky,I have a long list of things I hate about him that I wont go into now but its very frustrating to see such average players at our club. Wenger must see that these players will only let him down and he needs to move them on asap
Proud member of Team Koscielny6
I would love to see Rosicky and Denilson replaced – they clearly arnt going anywhere. Eduardo was good but he couldnt play CF where as Bendtner can (sort of). Jesus, Bendtner cant play CF I MISS EDUARDO!
Arsenal FC deserve better. Maybe we should sell him to Orient.
Vela is shit Luke,just another average player that we really dont need. I know we will never have a perfect team but if players constantly show that they are not good enough they should be sold. It creates a culture of mediocrity at the club if we continue to keep these very average players
I reckon if we sell him he’d do about the same as
thomas done for liverpool and thats after micky
delivered for us.
Eduardo was more than decent back up. I wonder if he asked Wenger to leave cuz I don’t see the sense in Wenger selling him.
Even when he couldnt run.
Eduardo could finish from the tip top of the circle outside the box with incredible finesse.
#legend.
I personally think kos is a very very good player, all players/CB make mistakes. Terry, Rio, vidic all fuck up!! He will, if he carries on will be class.
disagree tomtom, vela could be a great. Cant wait to see him back from west brom. he has class
Yeah Kos reads the game very well and has alot of pace,I hope Wenger gets the best out of him. I think Vela looked lost when playing in big games for us and it looks like he needs at least three chances to score a goal
I think Wenger’s arrogance is to blame for the Vela situation right now. Carlos would be doing so much better in the Bolton setup. But Wenger didn’t want Coyle to take credit for helping to mould two of Arsenal’s stars.
Remember in the summer Wenger was basically downplaying Bolton’s influuence on Wilshere’s progress? Saying that he was already a good player before he went to Bolton. He was but Bolton have to take a lot of the credit.
Yeah, sixx pac. Remember back in the day when we were the only ones who actually rated him?
I think Vela could replace Arshavin on the left eventually if he can take his game to the next level. Hes got pace, trickery, great dribbling, and he can finish and assist. Thats a big if though, ill concede that
naah, sixx pac. Coyle and Bolton got Sturridge on loan instead. No point sending Vela there then. He wouldn’t get in.
Naah, that position on the left is just made for the man they call eden hazard.
If Kos could gain some muscle and believe that he is our top defender then I think he could be very good. He needs to start bossing our defence and start shouting at players that are not helping out in defence
Yeah Rohan. Feels good to say I told you so about something that actually benefits the club doesn’t it.
If Vela had even half the chances bendy has he’d be a first team player by now. Especially with Arshavin dip in form.
Not convinced by Kozz. Think JD is still the better defender.
I think it will be JD-Verm partnership.
Could be wrong tho
Agreed Rohan but I cant see Wenger buying him. Hope im wrong
Think JD and Vermy pair is good for more physical games, but against more tactical sides I would put Koscielny-verm
Eden Hazard is playing in a shit league,lets not get carried away about him until he plays in some big games. If he is so good why didnt Wenger try to sign him in the past two years? I think we need some proven top quality players that will take us that extra step that will allow us win trophies.
TomTom Wenger has been tracking Hazard since like forever.
Told who so? Always like him as a player. I only slate Can’t-Hit-a-Barndoor-Bentner. Feel
Sorry for the way people speak of Kos, he plays his heart out does the lad. I hope all players don’t read these comments………apart from Bentner…..and denilson of course
Rohan Coyle wanted both.
Ideally you’d want to spend a little more and replace these average players with experience at a decent level and quality but Wenger you are likely to get the unknown.
Tired of this week already and this injustice talk overshadowing some of Wenger’s bad decisions, I’ve had bigger problems to worry about this week.
Vela has had his chances but his attitude was all wrong, Bolton I’m sure had him as first choice option but his agent screwed things up unfortunately so they got Sturridge instead.
Tracking him? What good is that? I’ve never watched Hazard play a full match,just seen short clips of him so I dont know if he is as great as people say but if he is so good I hope Wenger wont miss out on him like he did with Ronaldo
Hazard’s the real deal.
He destroyed Pool last year in the UEFA cup. That’s not saying much though. He’s been absolutely fantastic this season by all accounts.
I doubt he wanted both or wanted Vela more. Sturridge has done far more than Vela in their young careers