Arsenal kids shine as January window looms (Thierry/Patrick, are you watching?)

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AMN looking like he’s just realised he’s left his Facebook Messenger tab open with a jealous GF at home

Ok, so not much of a match review to drop here. Qarabag wasn’t much of a match for a very young Arsenal squad. Mesut Ozil single-handedly destroyed them with an assist for Lacazette who finished like a bloody king!

My only moan before we land on the good stuff is this: Why would you play Lacazette and Papa in a pointless game? We have so many major games coming up, that felt really sloppy. Especially considering Mustafi and Holding dropped from the last two games.

Arsenal dominated the evening with 67% of the ball. Just the mere presence of Laurent Koscielny reduced Qarabag to a pathetic 0 shots on target. It was great to see the old stalwart in the side, hopefully, he’s fit enough for the Southampton game at the weekend where suspensions/injuries are leaving us very light at the back. Monreal and Kos looking the most likely partnership (oh my).

It was great to see Eddie, Willock (who runs like Thierry), Saka, AMN, Gilmour and Medley all land runs outs under the bright lights of The Emirates.

Saka missed the chance to become our youngest scorer in Europe when he drove the ball into the face of their keeper Wagner. That said, he had a very impressive game for someone of 17. He’s very strong and direct. He was a real handful all night. The manager was very positive about him.

“We have the responsibility to give every young player chances, first to train with us and to be demanding with their performances.

“Saka played with a good performance, with a very big personality, his personality is very important for us to continue trying to go 1v1 and break lines with his quality.

“He played with a very big personality and sometimes with a very good performance. It’s very important for his confidence and for us also, because we can look at this player and see quality to help us.”

He had 11 successful take-ons yesterday and was fouled 5 times in the process! He also managed to land 3 shots on target, a little timid, but at least he was having a go. I love the way he opens his body up for shots, a little Thierry-ish. His confidence is something else, here’s hoping we see more of him in the future.

Mesut Ozil created 4 chances, he played well. I’m not sure I want to go too crazy about our best player having a good game in the Europa League, but it’s worth highlighting that he had a great attitude and didn’t shy away from the donkey work.

Also worth noting that Joe Willock racked up some numbers. He made 5 tackles, 6 ball recoveries and rocked an 89% pass completion rate, delivering the second most passes in the final third behind Mesut Ozil. Not bad going in my opinion, I really love his confidence on the ball, and, did I mention, he runs like Thierry?

Final shoutout goes to Eddie. He was unlucky not to land a couple of assists, but his hard work contributed to the first goal and his attitude was spot on. The energy he brings must be a nightmare if you’re an opposition defender, he dropped 5 tackles as well, I really, really want him to break into our first team.

The best thing about all these young talents is that you know the manager has a plan for them. These guys are going to max out at Arsenal, if they don’t, it’ll be because they’re not good enough. I think there should be some strategic loans in January, we need these players out on the pitch playing games. We have options as well. Germany is a very fertile ground to learn your trade, incredibly technical coaches and a good level to cut your teeth. Ligue 1 is up there with the best leagues in the world these days, and we have Thierry and Paddy out there… surely we’ll be leaning into them to help players like Smith-Rowe find the next level?

Per Mertesacker is going to make sure the players understand Arsenal values and how to be a proper professional, Emery will make sure they are trained properly. Could be a very fruitful few years. Sancho was a £9m player, now he’s worth x10 that. We need a few hits like that, long overdue in my opinion.

Right, that’s me done. 22 games unbeaten. Southampton next.

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Champagne charlie

Graham

You never had a case to begin with, much like you don’t with the commercial POV of Arsenal.

Feel free to open that idea up to the floor and see what other posters think of you reducing Arsenal’s entire commercial appeal to a playground in the middle of nowhere.

Pierre

TonyD “Funny that Pierre declined to answer my question:“Is it an age thing or are you just stupid Pierre?” It’s an age thing …….what’s your excuse…. Tony, I don’t know if you realise but in the last 2 days , your comments have almost entirely consisted of quotes from Martin Keown on ozil which is fair enough , you obviously regard his opinion highly or you wouldn’t feel the need to continually quote him. This morning you posted a comment , and I quote “keown – Pierre’s go to guy for all things Ozil said this this morning in his… Read more »

Graham62

Ok Charlie, let’s open the floor.

Why not give a few schools the opportunity to join in, just to make it more fun.

What should the title be?

How about – Do you think that between 2008-2018 Arsenal Football Clubs commercial appeal was negatively affected by the running of the club?

Discuss.

Champagne charlie

Graham

No, no, let’s not rebrand the dialogue.

It’s a very clear one, should a definitive decision on Arsenal’s brand appeal be made based upon a singular school football day – and a head count of the shirts on display?

That was what I scoffed at with your input. Nothing else. You summarised Arsenal’s entire commercial appeal based on one sports camp you were part of. I cited the reference of sponsorship deals, and paid partnerships etc and you were adamant we were shit because you saw no Arsenal tops at a sports camp.

Mysticleaves

“Secondly he or his mouth piece agent never came out to vehemently deny it which should tell you all you need to know about the incident. ”

Thirdly, Arsenal never came out to retribute him for taking illness in order to leave the camp and go stay with his girlfriend in Turkey.

useroz

“Ozil can’t get motivated in a half empty stadium or turn it on against a pub side in a dead rubber game to turn on his sublime skills.”

Ozil can’t get motivated in a full stadium either or turn it on against a top side in a critical game to turn on his sublime but rarely exhibited skills.

Btw, his assist to Laca in the dead rubber shouldn’t have counted. The pass was deflected and happened to drop near Laca!

Ozil is a must sell but in the too hard basket i’m afraid

Dissenter

Ozil is a perpetual sicknote.
He’s the vistige of the Wenger era, a reminder of how brittle we became when Wenger was finished with us.
Wenger used to call Ozil “perfect”, that’s encapsulates what Wenger stands for.
Ozil is the last whiff of the Wenger stench. Enjoy him while it lasts.

Cesc Appeal

I really wish we hadn’t let go of Gnabry

Graham62

CC Ok,clever clogs, let’s do it your way, because that’s the only way……….Right? Now we can open it up to all early yearkids. Why did you stop wearing your Arsenal shirt? Was it – 1. Because the club was rubbish and you were embarrassed? 2. Because you didn’t want your friends to make fun and laugh at you? 3. Because your Mum and Dad thought it was a waste of money? 4. Because you were ashamed? 5. All the above? and finally, do you all think that Arsenal FC were losing lots and lots of money because of this, just… Read more »

Mysticleaves

Yea. Cesc.i am sure people here were adamant he won’t make it with us. Really has the potential (and the trust and stage now) to go on and be whatever he wants to be

Mysticleaves

The commentary Jorge Valdano did on Dembele’s two footedness was hilarious but that is generally how I feel.

“He’s one-footed, the thing is, we don’t yet know which foot it is.”

For almost six months of watching him at Dortmund I thought he was a right footer.

Always really starting to convince now for barca so no how we are getting him. If barca don’t want you gone, you don’t go anywhere.

Cesc Appeal

Mystic

The salt in the wounds is he is exactly what we need. A multipurpose forward player who drops into CAM but plays LM/RM and CF. Very fast, very strong, gets goals, good dribbler.

F**k.

Mysticleaves

Anyways* not always

Mysticleaves

Cesc, let’s hope Nelson does that for us. Its seeming like both have similar profiles and styles. Fingers crossed.

Graham
I might be alone in this thought but I think 2/3 of the arsenal jerseys (and all other club jerseys) won by Arsenal fans (and indeed other fans) the world over arent original and therefore don’t count in measuring our commercials. Using the jerseys you see around to measure commercial success is flawed.

Marko

Doesn’t matter what you do for a living it doesn’t make you any less of an argumentative, anal, myopic plonker with a superior attitude at times.

To be fair this seems right on the money

Champagne charlie

Graham Why are you dancing around the point? It’s not a kid issue, it’s an issue of how to judge a brands commercial strength/appeal. You’ve drawn a conclusion based on an isolated playground where you see no Arsenal tops. But you’re arguing against me because I have the apparent audacity to call that metric nonsense? I remember the argument clearly, you dismissed my mentioning of our sponsorship deals, social media offerings, and financials in general to offer anecdotal evidence of the clubs commercial appeal abroad. So don’t conflate the point by arbitrarily going off on a tangent about the reasoning… Read more »

Bob N16

Graham, does it not go without saying that if we had won the league several times in the last ten years you would see more kids wearing Arsenal shirts? I think this was your point which was not really supported statistically by a ‘playground’ observation. Man City and Chelsea shirts are more prevalent than they were 10 years ago. Going on pre season tours to the far East and PL games being shown everywhere has added to our ‘brand’. Thankfully we are a vary well established club and we have support around the globe so with a return to CL… Read more »

Marc

Surely the only real measure of commercial strength is commercial revenue. Personally I couldn’t give a fuck about how many Arsenal shirts are being worn in god knows where – great if it’s bringing money in but you could have a crowd of 1,000 people all wearing Arsenal shirts and they are all 10 years old.

As for the brand being weakened over the last 10 years – obviously there was some weakening but Adidas seem to think we’re on the up – they’re giving us a huge new shirt deal.

China1

Watching the city Everton game. Everton wasting chances and going to lose accordingly

Graham62

CC Just a couple of things and then, as I’ve been pushed into doing some Xmas shopping, we’ll wrap it up. 1. Not disputing your intelligence, but your not so hot at reading between the lines are you. You take everything so literally and don’t look at the crux of things. I get it though, that’s just you. You just like a good old argument and feel you’re always right. 2. Our commercial appeal was affected massively in recent years by the mismanagement of the club. Correct? My own experiences highlight one specific aspect, but an important one. Whether it… Read more »

Graham62

you’re

Marko

They have taken what you said Graham quite literal.

Marko

Or is it literally? Point is that you are on that list of people Charlie loves to argue with. Big list huge really

Ivan

Marc and Mystic – sry but you have pretty shallow comprehension of marketing. Not relevant if jersy is original or fake. Depending on market power there will be allways certain percentage of fake merchindise that doesent bring revenue and there will be certain percentage (original) that does.

However, if there is rise of popularity it will equally rise revenue.

Leftsidesanch

Yeah good game to watch, Everton have had their chances and been quite slack at the back.

Bamford10

Graham

Allow me to revise your question slightly: was Arsenal’s commercial appeal in the years 2008-2018 negatively affected by Arsene Wenger’s poor management of the team?

Yes. A thousand times over, yes.

Marc

Ivan

Never claimed to be an expert on marketing but I stand by my point. The easiest and most accurate way to measure our commercial strength is against commercial revenue.

China1

I think city have scored 3 goals from 3 Chances and 1 half chances

Everton have scored 1 from about 3 chances and 5 half chances

You don’t beat this city team with efficiency like that

Pierre

Useroz on Ozil’s “assist”
“Btw, his assist to Laca in the dead rubber shouldn’t have counted. The pass was deflected and happened to drop near Laca!”

Very well observed…even if it was slightly petty to mention it ..

Mysticleaves

Whether commercial appeal went down is not in question. It did. I am sure CC isn’t ignorant of that. I just disagreed with the metric.

Don’t even know why this argument resurfaced again. We are doing everything right in every side of the game and will only get better.

Onwards and upwards

gambon

The Adidas CEO as good as admitted Wenger leaving was a big part 9f why we agreed a £60m pa deal with them.

We had become the most predictable, stagnant big club in Europe.

jwl

I first started supporting Arsenal in 1995 when I moved to London and got pub job near Highbury. I have never understood why Arsenal aren’t a more successful or well known team because they are biggest club in Europe’s largest, richest city. I would say Wenger definitely hurt Arsenal appeal in his last years because he surrounded himself with middling players who didn’t mind manager’s half assed approach to coaching. Having Giroud as our number one striker for so many seasons was ridiculous, L’oreal should have been demoted to number two when it was obvious that he was not world… Read more »

Bamford10

jwl

“Having Giroud as our number one striker for so many seasons was ridiculous.”

Absolutely. Giroud as the starter for three years was an outrage. Was never good enough to be the #1.

Dissenter

Adidas took a big chance on the Arsenal deal.
There’s no way they would have made that deal had Wenger still been in charge. Why attach your brand to a club that’s smashed repeatedly 5-1 in the CL?.
Like gambit stated, we had become sedate, boring Ann too predictably embarrassing at the end of Wenger’s stay.
I don’t even think puma got a good reward on their endorsement deal.

Jamie

“Whether commercial appeal went down is not in question. It did. I am sure CC isn’t ignorant of that. I [he?]* just disagreed with the metric.” This sums it up nicely, imo. I like both posters, but CC seems to get a hard time on here. I disagree with him on plenty, but he always strikes me as being pretty measured in his responses. Silly metric (even as a microcosm), but totally fair point by Graham in the wider sense – commercial appeal probably dropped in the latter Wenger years. Tangent, does Mourinho lose his job tomorrow? A trashing might… Read more »

Dissenter

“Speaking to CNBC about the deal, Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted said: “Last year was probably the worst season they had.

“And we believe that, in the long term, there’s so much upside in Arsenal.

“When we look upon the Arsenal brand, it’s such a stellar, global brand, that’s been underperforming the last couple years.”

Bob N16

Great quote Dissenter, I agree!

Pierre

Jwl
“Having Giroud as our number one striker for so many seasons was ridiculous, L’oreal should have been demoted to number two when it was obvious that he was not world class striker like rvp. Wenger decision to not buy Suarez hurt Arsenal massively, things would have turned out differently for manager if he would have bought proper world class striker.”

My sentiments exactly plus,in my opinion, the continual use of Ramsey in a 2 man midfield ..

Both positions have now thankfully been rectified with the purchases of Torriera and Guendouzi in midfield.and Lacazette and Aubamayang up top .

Bamford10

Pierre Except that your description of our midfield in those days — and your description of the problem therein — isn’t quite accurate, IMO. First, was it a “two-man midfield”? Sort of, but only because Wenger insisted on playing Ozil so far forward that he was more like a second forward than a third central midfielder. Deploying Ozil in this way had a number of implications for our midfield, but because Wenger didn’t have much time for tactics, he never really thought this through and he never clearly defined how the two CMs should play. It was left relatively vague… Read more »

Graham62

Marko CC understands where I’m coming from on this, as he did when I initially brought the subject up, but he would rather expand things to suit his rather blinkered outlook on life. My intention is never to get into an argument with anyone on here. Even with @ Pierre, where we tend to disagree on most things, there is an element of respect and tounge in cheek humour. The problem with Charlie is he obviously thrives on confrontation and disagreeing with people. It gives him a sense of well-being and achievement in life, but more significantly, it gives him… Read more »

China1

Aaron was ‘a’ problem, not ‘the’ problem.

Make no mistake, he was guilty of his share in our troubled midfield, as was ozil and even more so xhaka

But as you said they were in a gormless system without instructions or strategy because of you know who so that mess was both predictable and to a partial extent avoidable

Bamford10

Graham

Spot on. Agreed.

Marko

That’s just me.

It’s not. People see it

Bamford10

China

Agreed.

Rambo Ramsey

Southampton away. A fixture we have traditionally struggled in.

But those were the Wenger days.

Bob N16

Graham, we all like to talk about Arsenal but most of us are ‘guilty’ of off loading our moods, personalities on here. Getting rid of angst is pretty harmless. I think if you post loads on here, you’re bound to give it and take it. I know what happens with me is that if I’m bored of someone’s point of view, I’ll either ignore it or depending on my mood get provoked by it. You, as I’m sure you’ll admit, post loads on here so should maybe you could either back off or accept that you’ll ‘provoke’ at times. You… Read more »

China1

I find myself caring less and less about bombastic football this season I’ll be very pleased if we just get through the first half ok then nick a 70th minute torreira winner lol That’d be just fine by me! I’m praying spurs don’t win now and if we can find 3 points tomorrow by hook or crook then at least we’re putting distance between us and utd, leaning in on Liverpool or both I’d love them to draw tomorrow if we win. A spurs defeat and a Liverpool draw with an arsenal smash and grab would be a glorious weekend… Read more »

Bob N16

Still feel Ramsey has got to take some responsibility for not establishing a defined position for himself in 10 years.
Still a ‘square peg in a round hole’ unless he’s allowed to roam in the last 25 mins.

Marko

First, was it a “two-man midfield”? Sort of, but only because Wenger insisted on playing Ozil so far forward that he was more like a second forward than a third central midfielder. It was a 4-2-3-1 so a two man midfield. You can’t really blame a CAM for what the two holding CM’s can’t or don’t do. In the end, the real problem was with Wenger’s set-up, his inability to give rational and coherent structure to the side, and his failure to clearly instruct his players on their role, positioning and responsibilities. The notion that the problem was Aaron Ramsey… Read more »

Bob N16

I think you’ve summed things up pretty well Marko. In hindsight he may have benefited from finding a different club/ set-up, a couple of years ago.

Now a new manager/ system doesn’t seem to suit him either!

Marko

his failure to clearly instruct his players on their role, positioning and responsibilities.

This is the problem once Ramsey was on the teamsheet as one of the two holding midfielders it’s his job to know what that entails. The notion that he had to be walked through every single thing that was expected of him is a bit ridiculous. The idea that he HAD to be told to be switched on defensively all the time and that he DIDN’T need to be so gungho going forward all the time is a stretch

Jamie

Milner > Ramsey.

Bob N16

Come on Burnley, only a few more minutes!

Cesc Appeal

Fucking jammy c**ts

Danny

Fuckin’ Spurs cunts

Samesong

Said if for me Cesc lol

Bob N16

Bollocks!

Leftsidesanch

Ffs tottenham, cant stand them

raptora

Funny what would have VAR decided in the pen shout that Burnley had just a minute before spuddies scored. 50/50 call for me.

Pierre

Bamford
“Except that your description of our midfield in those days — and your description of the problem therein — isn’t quite accurate, IMO.”

Have a read of marko’s comments on Ramsey/wenger ..just about sums it up

gambon

Getting absolutely ridiculous how every team is just winning every game.

I honestly think we’re going to score 80 points and come 5th.

Dissenter

gambon,
“I honestly think we’re going to score 80 points and come 5th.”
That streak wont hold though.
I expect the burden of European games to break the pattern of last minute wins in the late winter. Us and Spuds have very thin squad so will probably battle for 4th place.

gambon

Spurs are shit and they’re on course for 87 fucking points.

It’s just crazy. I’ve had enough of keeping my fingers crossed for 90 minutes for it all to go tits up in injury time.

Champagne charlie

Graham You’re trying to come across reasoned but that’s simply not the case in nearly all you’ve written today. How many times are you going to sit and profess this or that about me as a character (as if you know me), then claim I’m arrogant or superior? Pot, kettle much? I made a comment about how you arrived at a POV, you since took that to heart instead of debate the issue in question. I made little comment on how our commercial appeal stood and more how a person can sit and speak from such a daft position as… Read more »

Dissenter

I think we will struggle to win at St Mary’s stadium tomorrow, probably with a dubious last minute goal.
Before you lot laugh at Spuds, remember that we have to play an ultra-defensive and organized team like Burnley next week. We will be struggling to beat them as well.
The premier league is really dire for all the nonsense about the “most exciting league” selling point.

Cesc Appeal

The thing that worries me tomorrow is the defence, like to be Lichtsteiner, Kozz, Monreal which may invite Southampton on. We really don’t want to give them any impetus early on or invite the crowd into the game.

These kinds of games for a struggling team with a new manager against a top side but not an elite side are seen as turnaround games. A chance to get a result, try to get a foothold and stop the rot.

No passengers at all and no stupidness early on.

Tony

I don’t envy your weather Graham especially what’s been forecast.

Winter here now where we get sunny 25 to 34*C during the days and evenings and 12 to 21*C early mornings, which is a welcome cool 3 to 4 months.

Can’t say I’m optimistic for a win tomorrow but equally feel we’ll stay unbeaten so maybe a draw.

Tough few weeks ahead and then a crucial TW month that I feel will define the rest of the season for us.

If we are inactive in the TW I can’t see us making CL next season.

Graham62

Bob N16 Nothing to suck up. What CC is really highlighting is that he is intolerant to anyone that doesn’t follow the script, or, should I say, his script The way he comes across is evident to most other posters. You can say you’re not confrontational but the bottom line is if you consistently react by using patronising and arrogant rhetoric, you have to suffer the consequences. My mistake, as so manyothers have found on here, was to counter his so called argument. There was nothing illogical or “misleading” in what I said about the shirts. It was a clear… Read more »

HighburyLegend

“Southampton away. A fixture we have traditionally struggled in. But those were the Wenger days.”
Yes but if Ozil plays, then I fail to see any logic in Emery’s plans for this game….

Bob N16

Graham, as soon as you used the ‘true Wenger advocate’ line, you lost any sympathy I had for your viewpoint. He argues his case in a valid way, whether you choose to agree with him or not. Sometimes you’re a little wishy, washy and to defend yourself by accusing someone else as being an akb, or words to that effect, suggests your argument is weak and you have to resort to name calling. CC will always have the better over you in a straight argument, I would suggest there’s no point exposing yourself but obviously crack on if you feel… Read more »

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Feel sorry for Fulham … Just ain’t getting that bounce at the moment…

We should strike up something with them to get sessingon … Not Ryan but his bro Steve ….
Or why not pick the pair like the Compton bros

HighburyLegend

Spuds have won, so it’s a must win tomorrow for us.
#ozilbenched

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

If ozil plays then we need to play an extra set of legs in mid
So maybe amn … Behind him in mid ?

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Leg

Last minute tho…

Lucky fuks

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Cesc

Why not play Spanish youth kid ..

??

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Will always remember sczc sucking on his dummy ….game

Bamford10

Graham

You are absolutely correct re CC. Spot on.

Bamford10

By which I mean, he is arrogant, condescending, hostile and bullying. When he disagrees with someone, he generally resorts to insults — his favorite move being to insult the person’s intelligence. (See the “dimmer posters” jibe above, for example.) He is also not above trying to use a person’s nationality against them, especially if they happen to be North American. For example, he recently tried to dismiss a point I made re Aubameyang by suggesting that it was a typical “soccer-ball” comment of mine. His implication was obvious, which is funny, because I have several times suggested that he seems… Read more »

Pierre

What we will be lacking tomorrow defensively is height ..we may be very vulnerable from corners and free kicks so it is vital that we have possession of the ball and control the game through midfield and not to give needless free kicks away in our half of the field …we have no one who can dominate in the air so our keeper needs to be brave and command his area. I would say a 4-3-3 system or 3-5 -2 may gives us more control of the game and it is important that we are on the front foot and… Read more »

Pierre

Reading between the lines I get a feeling that Bamford is not to keen on Charlie

Champagne charlie

Graham Again, 17th version of this, but you’re the one who’s made (and continues to make) personal/character based judgments and assertions. I’ve called a POV you have nonsense and stated exactly why, your counter has been to character assassinate offering exactly no defence of why you think it sensible to judge a football clubs commercial reach/health on a ONE TIME foray into a playground football camp and subsequent head count of Arsenal strips. Playing the popularity card is another deflective attempt of yours. There’s a good few who I’ve sparred with on here and they love an opportunity to stick… Read more »

Marc

The link Akkimaniac has posted is symptomatic of what is wrong with Spud fans in a nut shell. Lineker boasting that the Poch has reached 100 PL wins 10 matches sooner than Wenger did. Nice stat what has he fucking won? Wenger did the double in his first full season – this is the Poch’s 4th and he’s about to feel the full weight of having to finance a new stadium assuming he doesn’t fuck off to Madrid or the Mancs.

How does this guy get paid to host the BBC’s flagship football program?

Cesc Appeal

If Chelsea go for Pulisic and Hudson Odoi pushes for the exit I would be in there right away if I was Arsenal

kc

Good on Modric for calling out CR7 and Messi for not attending the Ballon d’Or ceremony. Classless douchebags can’t stand someone else won it for a change. Makes Modric’s win that much sweeter tho.

Marko

If Chelsea go for Pulisic and Hudson Odoi pushes for the exit I would be in there right away if I was Arsenal

How about we go for Pulisic instead? I don’t see him meaning the kid has to leave though Willian and Pedro are getting on and Hazard could decide to go to Madrid at any moment. Nice dream though but the Roma lad is more likely Under. Apparently they are interested in Berardi to replace him

Cesc Appeal

Pavon rumours are back

Marko

Kike has us interested in De Ligt. He’d be huge but I don’t see it happening

Marko

I wouldn’t be against Pavon but compared to the links to Havertz or Pepe it becomes underwelming. Compared to having Iwobi Mhiki and Ozil though he becomes attractive as fuck. An actual winger with ability to go past a man? Yup

TonyD

Bob N16 I agree with your thinking re needless Wenger jibes these days being a waste of blog space. That said if Wenger gives an interview where his ego rises to the fore or he bleats on with his ‘poor me’ rhetoric or supercilious comments, then it’s understandable why posters here feel some form of anger and let fly. Wenger can be a master of trolling at times, which must have Pierre salivating in wonder updating his trolling techniques book. You’re completely right that many posters are often emotionally charged when posting, especially when a contentious issue is raised, such… Read more »

TonyD

It’s being reported that Pavon has been struggling with hamstring injuries that affected his impact during his club’s Copa Libertadores campaign.

With the amount of hamstring injuries in the PL one has to wonder about this kid’s muscle fitness.

No doubt about his talent, though.

China1

Tony I was back in the UK last week and Bristol was relentlessly grey and rainy every single day haha

My mum said they had a really nice long, dry summer this year but I don’t believe it. I barely even saw the sun last week lol

Enjoy your Thai weather mate. Here in tianjin it would be a beautiful clear day if not for the murky pollution. Never mind

TonyD

China Shame about the pollution – hope you don’t have to go far to escape it. Bangkok is bad pollution wise (lived there for 4 years), but some MC brothers from Beijing say it’s far worse there. Very little pollution in the city I live in and it’s only a 40 minutes drive to be up in what the Thais call mountains but more like Lake district hills to us. Kudos to you for learning Chinese even if it’s out of necessity. My 10 year old son is learning Mandarin as his 3rd language. My 20 year old daughter is… Read more »

Un na naai

Man our youth prospects look so exciting

With holding and Bellerin already first teamers and AMN and nelson looking like knocking on the door we have a lot of promise. LT is 22 and guendouzi is 19

We have such potential in our squad
Saka looks thebest of the lot

Rambo Ramsey

The only door AMN will be seeing is the Exit door.

Championship level player.

Champagne charlie

“Who knows what Charlie’s real persona is and who really cares? Charlie has mentioned the theatre a few times, so maybe he’s just in character here or on the fringes of the spectrum with bipolar or similar.“ You seemingly, to what end idk. My career also seems to be a point of interest to you, even though you churn out the same “who even cares” rhetoric on that on. I couldn’t agree more, who cares about any of that fluff. Still, doesn’t stop you wildly swinging in the dark as and when you feel the urge to name drop me.… Read more »

Bob N16

Alright Tony, Beautiful sunny morning in London Town after a horrid day yesterday, always a better day when there are blue skies to enjoy. Haven’t been to Thailand since 1988, went the first time in 1984. Stayed in a beachside hammock on Koh Samui for a while. Had to get a ferry to get to the island – so beautiful. Lovely people as well as a beautiful place although I’m sure there are loads of areas to avoid due to tourism. Worked briefly as a travel consultant in the City and was disgusted by the number of obvious sex tourists… Read more »

China1

That’s cool Tony! Smart kiddos you have Regarding the pollution it varies a lot. In the sprint summer and autumn it’s normally no problem. In winter all the heating comes on and they coal burning plants have to turn it up a notch to meet demand. If the wind is strong it will be clear (luckily Tianjin is windy as hell) but if the wind drops out sporadically for a few days then the smog sets in. Usually it’s bearable but for a few days a year it can peak with visibility as low as 8m which is as bad… Read more »

China1

Whoever said the top 4 race this season is ridiculous you’re right There have been no PL seasons where all the top teams bar 1 (Utd) just win basically every week. Every time we win I’m looking around for who we’ve closed the gap on or whatever but it just doesn’t happen unless the top 6 are playing each other. Very impressive shit from all the top 5, seriously. It’s literally true that we could finish in the high 70s for points and come 5th which is presumably unheard of and not even close to having happened before Leagues have… Read more »

MuddyGooner

Wasteful Mikhit