It’s quite a weird week to be an Arsenal fan. Personally, I’m in this football purgatory where I’m not totally detached from the season, but at the same time, not overly invested in the outcome of it.
It feels like the sort of season where it could easily go to shit… or, be a massive blowout for Arsenal as we find our footing against a bang average Villareal side.
The big talking point yesterday mainly focused on the Daniel Ek news. He’s going to fax over a £1.8b bid for Arsenal.
The Daily Mail reported that people in finance circles have had Arsenal up for sale for 2 years. I find the story deeply suspicious because if that were true, I suspect the Saudi Royal consortium that tried to buy Newcastle would have been knocking on Stan’s door. There’s simply no way Daniel Ek is the first to sniff out an opportunity for Arsenal.
You’re not a seller until you sell, anything is possible, but it just seems a bit unlikely that 1) We’d sell to Ek 2) The price would be £1.8b.
I also run into lots of questions when someone can’t afford something outright.
If he’s borrowing, the money has to be paid back. How is that happening?
If he’s buying outright, where is the infusion of cash we need for players coming from?
Outside ‘love’ and process. What is the big change that’s coming?
I mean, elite tech process at Arsenal would be a huge game-changer… but here’s something to consider. Ownership that interferes with the club is usually not a good thing. The Kroenke family do most things right. They let Arsenal spend what they earn, they don’t get involved, they empower their leaders… the problem? They are very bad talent judges.
From what I hear about Ek, he’s the empowering type… and his record proves that he’s a very good judge of what great looks like with regards to said talent.
So we’ll see, it’s an exciting rumour… I’m of the mind that what we have right now hasn’t worked for a very long time and the situation looks more and more onerous for a family that has its focus firmly in America. At some point, it might be easier just to move on from Arsenal and refocus on LA.
Right, short one today, where do you stand on Daniel Ek?
David Smith
Thanks for that. I commented earlier how we needed improvements in player contracts etc
Just read about the appointment of Garlick
Funnily enough, I mentioned earlier about Ek and DB10. Paddy and TH, while I was thinking of ex Arsenal players who were doing great things elsewhere, and Overmars came to mind
Ha ha ha Andy1886
I was there. Great times
All these memories of Highbury — very nice, thanks all!!
My first game was against Middlesbrough at end of April, for my 9th birthday in 1978..
I remember three things:
1. It was John Devine’s debut
2. Pat Jennings saved a shot with one hand (his hands were absolutely huge)
3. Some geezer ran on the pitch with a chicken (did anyone else see/remember that?)
Kroenkephobe
I think the those fans ought to be filleted
On a serious, the mob is an uncontrollable force that can end up doing more harm than good. I hate mobs.
The peaceful Arsenal demonstration two Fridays ago was more effective that the stadium encroachment that happened on Sunday.
Andy
Nice one. Was that the game when a pool ball was thrown into the crowd? It was fashionable for a while to have a t-shirt with the front page of the Sun reporting Pleat’s pecadillo.
I think Pleat confused 7 Sisters with an insatiable desire for 7 Hookers. I hadn’t realised he was a serial offender.
He was one of the commentators at Anfield in May 89 crapping on about poetic justice as that oik ‘1 minute’ mcmahon and John Barnes were congratulating each other. He must have felt sick when Micky T scored.
FB
Richard Garlick has a blog. It’s called le clove! I’ll get me coat
2 – 0 MC
Lol, Ishola you watching this?
Mahrez a reader of Le Grove seemingly, took your criticism personally.
What a fast counter from MC!
WE 😆
Yep.. if Pep doesn’t win the Cl this season.. it ain’t happening for him at City. He just had to get rid of that crappy… assistant manager. 😀
Foden progression is scary though. What a baller.
Le Clove 😂🤣
I note that full fat Pep is wearing a Wenger Zip special meat sock …
I didn’t rate Diaz before but he’s a class defender.
Di Maria what a clown.
Hahaha Di Maria.. and his antics.. Good bye PSG.
Job looks too big for Poch over there.
PSG reminding me of how English teams used to lose their shit against better continental opposition … amusing
Samesong
He isn’t the media darling that VVD is but he’s every bit as good a defender minus the on-ball ability.
How useless did Icardi look tonight, I mean Jesus.
Worst CF performance I have seen for a long time and that is saying something supporting Arsenal.
Having someone running a club that loves the club is worth 200m of investment in the squad. The rise in passion and accountability from the ownership and board is worth more than a few new shiny signings. There is no way Ek would settle for the mediocrity we see now. He’d want Arsenal to be winning. Arsenal without COVID are a self sustaining model that has a lot of spending power without investment. Just imagine where we would be if we hadn’t spunked all that money on dross players on massive wages. We could more than easily have been along… Read more »
Id rather have Ek, than a moustachioed bastard who bought out all the fans shares cos he didnt give a fuck about them.
FB Hill-Wood investment in 70s and earl 80s felt a bit hit and miss, not a consistent year on year investment, or quality and quantity Some I know of are: Alan Ball Jeff Blockley (who was on AFCs books as a youth and discarded) Peter Marinello SuperMac (and his bandy legs; but the Superstars 100m champion) Can’t really recall any really exciting signings as a kid. Somehow we did get Charlie Nicholas, but that didn’t succeed as fantasised. Pat Jennings was a coup, and fantastic. Dashing across the goal face and catching crosses one handed, let alone using all parts… Read more »
Cavani is twice the player that Icardi or Kean are, even now.
Incredible for all PSG’s star quality and money spent that the quality falls off a cliff without Mbappe.
PSG by far… imo .. the best attacking team in Europe with the most talent.. but with all the antics and unneeded after the whistle crap., Neymar and his mates are always doing … they are impossible to like.. in the least bit. Same problem I have with Brazilian national team.
Although I don’t like City any, better to be fair.. but Foden Mahrez and KDB are fun to watch.
Jeepers, I had forgotten, Kroenkephobe, but you’re right, it was Pleat going on about “poetic justice”
What a night that was
Seriously, a blog called ” Le Clove”
I think I’ve commented on here about five times since around the time Pedro’s Dad left. Geoff was having kittens over AW constantly selecting Alex Song.
Hope you’re well Geoff with your carp
Pep’s first CL Final in 10 years, pretty unreal stat that.
Still give either one of Chelsea and Real Madrid a decent chance of an upset.
Yep.. Eagle just hope it isn’t Chelski.. Not sure I could deal with that this season on top of everything else that has happened.
Oh, and John Hawley from Hull.
Think his debut (or an early game) was at Meadow Lane.
Abiding memory of that was McDermott getting scythed by Kilcline.and going off.
Think Kilcline then got the winner.
Evidently, John Hawley was one of the heroes at the Bradford fire.
It makes it much easier to win Champions league when you’re guaranteed qualification year in year out unlike the old European Cup where only Champions competed
Walker has been immense has to be said.
For everyone wanking over Wan Bissaka, Walker is a better 1 vs 1 defender and better going forward.
Walker would be shit playing for Arsenal.
PSG’s antics tonight remind me of Tottenham’s game at Stamford Bridge when they lost their heads when they realised that the title was gone.
Is it a coincidence that pochettino was manager of both clubs.
Does he send his teams out too wound up as discipline appears to go out of the window.
Mid
Chelsea winning it is the nightmare scenario. Bad enough that they won it in 2012.
I’m rooting for Real and Benz at this stage. By default, lol.
PSG regretting sacking Emery for sure.
Lol, give it up Red.
Bummery blew a 3 goal lead with 5 mins to go at the Nou Camp.
Think it’s partly Poch isn’t disciplinary enough..as a coach. . but partly it’s Neymar’s influence on his team mates because every team he plays for is all abut the play acting and trying to influence the referee. Which is sad when you have that much talent … you just don’t need to do all that.
Haha Red.. loves him some Emery.
Shit happens especially with a bent Official.
Typical PSG, over emotional team. Easily rattled.
This always happen when they are up against it.
Lose their cool.
Di maria, Neymar, Verratti, etc… hot heads- play with too much emotion
Mentally weak, although Neymar is superior technically to any City player
Benz is coming…
Zidane too.
If Chelsea fall behind early, I think its curtains
And to think Mahrez was ear marked to be a Arsenal player.
Still do not know WTF happened with that transfer.
Hell, even Vardy became linked to us too.
Wenger I guess.
That’s the difference between Maradona and these modern phenoms
Maradona in his prime carried teams to win trophies they had no business winning.
Neymar is very good but is incapable of carrying PSG to stratospheric heights , in an era where the best players are protected by referees
Dissenter, didn’t you say that PSG would run through City tonight last week?
@Ps – Tony Woodcock was excellent for us pre-injury. Hawley not so much. Remember Raphael Meade? Looked promising for a short time.
Maybe we will get Pep’s new assistant to replace Arteta because city haven’t dropped a beat since Arteta stopped re-arranging them cones.
Anyone see Arteta getting sacked if Villarreal edge us on Thursday?
I don’t sadly.
Be fair Eagle, absolutely disgraceful refereeing performance in that Barca PSG game. Couldn’t wait to give Barca a pen. Would be right up there if I had to suggest matches that may have been fixed.
Andy: I remember Tony Woodcock, from Forest, just passed his prime. And Malcolm McDonald — I was heartbroken when he retired due to injury. And then, not long after — 2 seasons maybe, Frank Stapleton was sold to Man Utd — gutted again
I think Tong Wood coco was the replacement, a few years before Champagne Charlie!!
Let’s get realistic for a second. If the club had been for sale for two years, you can be sure we would be hearing nothing from Ek at the moment. The most likely scenario is that the club hasn’t been put up for sale at all. My guess is that these last two years have been more focused on Covid issues and how to get the ESL running. Wk is desperate. Kroenke has completely rebuffed his previous efforts to discuss this so his hail mary is to get a lot of publicity and the support of club legends to apply… Read more »
My issue is …
Did Ek really say he is faxing over a bid? People still fax things? Maybe he is sending it by horse courier too . S. Kroenke does enjoy a good pony express letter.
How many months ago did I say City and Manure to win the two European competitions? Just like I did last season with Bayern and Sevilla.
That said Chelsea are the only side I can see stopping City.
If you know football you know football.
City were deadly.
Scary stuff.
Andy Agree with you on that, the ref was rotten to the core that night. Nearly as bad as the 50th at OT. Worst I’ve seen though was back in the late 80’s,( I think). Last game of the season at goodison, everton had to beat Wimbledon to stay up and found themselves 2 down. Hans segers was in goal for the Dons. Cant rem which Everton player struck the shot from outside the area but watch as segers dives,realises he might save it and pulls his hands back, unreal. Off to YouTube now to see if I can find… Read more »
Andy
They’re not the only team to have a horrendous decision go against them. Emery oversaw an absolute implosion that night.
They were 4-0 up from the 1st leg. Blowing that kind of lead in the CL is pretty much unheard of.
Kroenke,
Never really had a favourite snooker player from back in the day (1980s) when I used to follow it,
It was always anyone but Steve Davis for me.
Barca have been lucky bastards for years though, as much as I hate the Chavs you’ll hardly see a bigger robbery than that SF 2nd leg at SB in 2009.
VAR would have awarded them 2 pens in the last 10 mins alone.
If it weren’t for Messi, they would be arguably the least likable club in Europe.
I made the point when Ek’s story first appeared that I doubt that he has the liquidity to buy Arsenal and that he would need to borrow the money. The question then would be whether the loan would be leveraged against the club’s assets in similar fashion to what has happened at Man Utd The second question is what this guy would have in additional resources to improve the team. There are always plenty of people who claim that they are Arsenal supporters, but we have seen how Usmanov and his side kick shifted their interest and bought control to… Read more »
Remember RVP getting sent off for nothing at the Nou Camp?
Pretty sure we were winning on agg at the time it happened too.
WE
daylight robbery that one
I hate Barca and madrid
Lying cheating scum. I hope they suffer
I however cannot see either City or Chelsea win this. no thank you ….
Come on Benz!
@Andy and @ Matt B
Woodcock was ok, but was on the decline.
Do remember his 5 goal haul against Villa (2:6?)
The same Saturday that Rush got 5.
Raphael Meade did show promise early on
Think he scored on his debut (in Europe), and in the League.
Also think he got a hat trick in Don Howes first game against Watford, after Neill’s sacking
I’m finding the pass, pass, probe, don’t lose the ball approach in games often quite full. Even if it’s by the successful teams like Man City, not just AFC.
It’s reminiscent of much of international football.
Seems there’s less cut and thrust, incisiveness.and rampaging.
Full = dull
https://youtu.be/OnnfvJsN72s
Might have made a mess here but check out Everton’s 3rd goal, Graham Stuart, around the 2min 50 sec mark
Why is Emery being called bummary, bizarre considering Arsenal have been shit for years.
If there was one billionaire we should have sold to it was Usmanov.
We were so close to being Arsenalski.
Weagle You can do better than that. The discussion about Mahrez wasn’t about whether he can contribute goals. The discussion was whether Mahrez was “elite” taking players on one on one with the ball. And because he scored two goals tonight that had nothing to do with taking players on one to one and beating them with the ball then this is proof of the above is it? I was asked if there is a better player than Mahrez in the EPL taking players on one to one with the ball. Well that’s an easy one to answer. A player… Read more »
Ishola
You were bagging on him being being a weakling, having twig like legs and being easily brushed off the ball.
Don’t move the goalposts now. Easy to minimise it to just his 1 vs 1 ability but you were having a go at him before that was even mentioned.
Scored 3 of the 4 goals in a SF vs PSG. Who cares if he isn’t physically imposing.
Weagle His goals he scored tonight had nothing to do with strength or lack of. He showed good quick instinct on getting onto the back post for his goals. Our discussion about him and my criticism of him was that I see him lose the ball a few times too many when he makes the wrong decision and tries to dribble from deep and he gets bullied off the ball. Just seeing highlights tonight I saw him do the exact same thing. Our discussion was purely about whether he was an elite player taking the opposition on with the ball… Read more »
“If there was one billionaire we should have sold to it was Usmanov.We were so close to being Arsenalski.”
Exactly, someone hitting the nail on the head
We deserve all the Kroenke misery for our collective arrogance
We sneered at Usmanov when he was actively trying to persuade Kroenke by appealing to the fanbase. He was the dirty Russian and we didn’t want to emulate Chelse. We were al eagerly awaiting FFP to level the playing field.
Usmanov is twice better than Ek. Davuid Dein supported him for a reason.
Wenger Eagle
You were right about that maignan chap in goal for lille, looks good. Price going up by the day though, they’re pulling a Leicester in lge 1.
Poor old Alan Mcloughlin, who doesn’t rem where they were when he scored that goal?
I’d forgotten about that rvp red v barca, shocking.
But I’ve remembered a worse one, the pen that Hleb was denied v pool after being blatantly dragged down by Dirt Kunt.
Weagle You are being very basic here. Player scores two goals so that means to you the criticism aimed at him is completely redundant. My criticism of him is that he loses the ball too many times when he tries to take players on with the ball from deeper areas. He makes the wrong deecision. He gets bullied off the ball. As we see with most forwards/wingers once they get a run inside the opposition penalty area deep defenders are petrified to go near them many times as penalties are awarded so easily now and these players are very adept… Read more »
@DMS
Usmanov?
Really?
Flip.
You’d want AFC to have its own oligarch?
Not just sell the club. Sell your soul too.
Trophies at what cost?
I do realise football sold out years ago, but ….
Radio raheem
Not a hint of hindsight I’m sure
😁😁
Mahrez is as elite one v one as there are.
KDB is a more complete player and his ability to dribble past players stems from defenders respecting his passing first.
One v one over a ten yard distance there aren’t any better than Mahrez……maybe Grealish and Zaha come close.
Further bad reffing memories:
The handballs by Liverpool in the FA cup final against us.
Last week’s second goal v Villarreal.
No mention or explanation on the stream I had, after match analysis, or in the press the next day
De Bruyne is better beating players one on one with the ball than Mahrez.
You actually see De Briyne shrug off opposing players physically at times when he beats them with the ball something you are not going to see from Mahrez.
De Bruyne has more cards up his sleeve than Mahrez.
I have no reason to dislike Mahrez.
But what annoys me about him is that I see him getting shrugged off the ball when he makes the wrong decision and tries to take players on from deeper positions.
And the Man City move breaks down because of it.
He should forget about trying to take players on from deeper positions or at least less of it and look for the combination play in those deeper areas rather than going it alone in those deeper areas.
“Best football team in Europe without doubt.. Said it when they beat us.“
You sage you.
“De Bruyne has more cards up his sleeve than Mahrez.“
That’s right, therefore it’s easier for him to dribble past a defender who’s got to respect his vision and ability to exploit passing lanes.
Without looking at their stats I’d guess Mahrez attempts more dribbles and KDB has more assists.
Two different players but one v one Mahrez is elite.
Ishola with his trademark brand of football knowledge being handed out like mixtapes at MSG. Hate to see it
Ps
I had just about erased that cup final from my hard drive, jesus how ,just how? That’s my nights sleep ruined I’d say, at least we have the good memories that team gave us aswell.
Quick question,top 3 arsenal players in order, from your lifetime. Can you name them? Have to be honest,mine keep changing.
Top 3 players?
Mine change too, Almuniasaynomore.
Tonight; Brady, Adams, Bergkamp
I’m going Bergkamp, Brady,Henry in that order but Christ it’s hard not to include Adams.
Mine are not listed in any order.
But, DB10 1st.
Keepers?
Jennings
Seaman
Wilson
We were close enough.
Absolutely loved Sol and Freddie too,Lukic and Rocky from earlier.You should take a look at the bbc football page,they have a vote on the top 10 prem central defenders. Have a think before you look though. Chosen by Shearer and Richards so you’ll understand the lack of intelligence but Christ its baffling some of the names included/omitted. See what you think.
Keepers. Had this with kroenkephobe a few weeks back. Wilson before my time. Loved Lukic but would put him 3rd behind Seaman with Jennings no.1.
We’re both agreed on DB10 as all time no.1,I think Kroenkephobe might agree,cant rem. Yet every website you go to has Henry top. Interested to know how other le grovers feel.
Jimmy Rimmer was the GOAT and Seaman a liability.
Football knowledge on here is player scores goal(s) so the criticism of him that had nothing to do with how he scored his goals tonight is redundant.
Tom De Bruyne can dribble and beat players in all positions of the pitch.
You see him many times open up the play for Man City by beating a player deep with the ball. He also of course can beat a player in advanced areas also.
That’s elite dribbling for the side.
Have to get some sleep now but I fully expect to wake up to tony, china,guns et al having left their top 3’s like Santa leaves his presents! Good night.
Ishola Your criticism of him stems from the fact that he doesn’t dribble like Messi and beat players from deep, how many wide forwards can you honestly name that do just that outside of a very elite circle? He has been the decisive player and the difference over 2 legs in a Champions League SF. You’re just being petty now dismissing his impact as ‘getting on the end of a coulple of moves’. Very few players in the modern game are capable of beating more than one man in one sequence. Messi, Neymar, Mbappe (more with pace), Gnabry and Mane… Read more »
I’ll take a look at the defenders on the Beeb page.
There are too many great players across the decades.
Always difficult to make judgements.
Some shined briefly, others were more prolonged and successful.
Some were surrounded by dross, others by quality.
AFC fans from 1995 have had a plethora of great players to see.
I do wonder if someone could survive from the 1920s to now, how would they judge the likes of Bastin, Drake etc against those in subsequent years
Ps
Different era heavier balls trickier pitches boots made of lead. Messi would be out of his depth.
Weagle That is exactly my criticism of him though which you just point out. As you say not many players beat a man in all areas of the pitch on the ball one on one. De Bruyne is one of them though. So Mahrez should cut out or at least minimise the urge to try to take players on with the ball from deeper areas because on more than enough occasions he loses the ball due to that lack of strength on the ball. Further up fine. As said before enough defenders now are petrified to touch an attacking player… Read more »
It’s also easier to beat a player dribbling centrally running with pace because there is so much more space to attack. KDB is obviously elite. But can beat players dribbling in all corners of the pitch? Not sure about that. He struggled to win individual battles out wide with Marquinhos a couple of times. He’s not a phone-booth dribbler from stop-start positions like Messi, Neymar or even Cazorla were (Cazorla on the other hand couldn’t breeze past players at pace like KDB can). Out wide it can be very challenging winning 1 vs 1s when the games tightens up and… Read more »
It’s why Henry was basically gold dust and a cheat code for us.
A 30+ goal CF that can beat defenders for fun in all areas of the pitch/game scenarios be it counter attacks, low blocks, tight spaces out wide.
Mahrez is effective.
Less dynamic than deBruyne.
Both got fortunate with their goals last week.
But good on them for having a punt.
Dribbling is fine, if you can shoot at goal, or release the ball to a better positioned colleague before losing the ball
Sharp, quick passing and movement are often more effective.
Obviously, the more attacking strategies and mixing it up the better.
AFC haven’t got this sorted out yet
Henry never scored in a major Final during his whole footballing career.