Arsenal Banter Archive August 13 2014

13 Aug 2014 21:02:23
I'm bored of Khedira rumours now I don't want him anymore, he's a big fat greedy cake and I don't want him in our gang.
Plus he's got rubbish hair so wouldn't have fitted in at all

13 Aug 2014 21:19:11
Hello,

This is Yaya Toure.

Its my birthday. Did you mention cake?

Gimme gimme.

Remember Yaya you can't have your cake and eat it! Well not unless you threaten to leave that is, then we'll make an exception in your case

13 Aug 2014 20:47:23
Something got me thinking today ( yeah I know, its a rare event).

When we were going through our move to The Emirates, we were cash strapped due to the construction cost's and mortgage, clubs like Barca, Man Titty and Utd, hovered over us like a vulture over a dead body in the desert.

Now, we are free from the shackles of poverty, they hover no more.

Football club's. What a lovely bunch. NOT.

The same think happened to Italian teams in the last few years. The reason for their financial problems is different from what we had but the result was the same. All the stars one by one left Italy, now they have only Pogba and Balo left. Pogba may leave any day and Balo is just a name and nobody wants him anywhere.

13 Aug 2014 19:50:22
To Coutinhooooo, Liverpool banter boy.

Earlier, you asked me how I think Liverpool and Arsenal will do this season.

Liverpool first.

A) will you do a Spurs?
B) will you miss Suarez?

A) it's hard to tell. I don't think so because Spurs, when they sold Bale, bought foreign player's, whereas you have bought a mix of Prem experienced players and foreign ones.
Llanana, Lovren and Lambert should have no problem fitting in as they are used to the 'English game'.

That said, its always a gamble to integrate 7 new players into a squad. It could possibly destabilise the way Liverpool play.
Last season, I feel Liverpool punched above their weight, (compared to previous season's), but this time you have the added distraction of Champs League football, which will stretch your squad to breaking point.

Liverpool. 4 the place.


Arsenal.

I'm very happy with our Summer Transfer acquisitions.
Wenger has replaced very well.
We lost Sagna but he has replaced him with a younger and better version, Debuchy.

Fabianski has been replaced by David Ospina.
I feel that is an improvement.

Calum Chambers will offer us versatility across the defence, but possibly, and I do mean possibly, an option as defensive midfielder, due to his defensive qualities.

I would feel a lot more optimistic if we had a dedicated defensive mid. Khedira, Schneiderlin, Lars Bender or William Carvalho spring to mind.

Also, and we all know about my liking for Loic Remy.
Would have been happy if he joined us, especially as he was available for a mere £8m.

Arsenal. 2nd.

13 Aug 2014 19:31:16
Anthony Chapman of the Express writes tonight that we are front runners for Edinson Cavani in a £50 million deal, and are working on moves for Khedira and Marco Reus!.

I'd love a pint of whatever he's been having

13 Aug 2014 19:55:26
What are they smoking at 'Express Towers"? :-)

More like Falsely Towers, run by Baron Basil Falsely! don't mention the truth, I did once but I think I got away with it

13 Aug 2014 16:57:17
Anyone got any thoughts on Khedira being left out of Madrids squad last night?

13 Aug 2014 17:53:25
It was muted they wanted to show case the £500 million front six of Benzema, Bale, Ronaldo, Kroos, James and Modric.

How would that look against mine and Greeny's front six of Reus, Sanchez, Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey and Carvalho or Khedira if he's up for it.

Add a cheapish back CB and we're there.

13 Aug 2014 19:17:11
If we'd have let Arteta go I'd expect another Midfielder joining, but now he's captain it's just not happening I don't think, defender and possibly a striker is all we can expect unfortunately.

We'd love Jen to be right though.

13 Aug 2014 15:45:55
Hey Eds, just heard that if di María joins PSG, we will or they will be happy to sell Cavani to us. Eds any truth in that? Have you heard anything about that? cheers 🍻 clock end.

{Ed002's Note - I don't think "happy to sell to us" are the appropriate words.

What would be more appropriate Ed? Are they looking to keep hold of him?

{Ed002's Note - I have explained the situation.}

13 Aug 2014 12:47:16
Just an idea as to why Arsene has signed a DM yet. I think we all agree that the man to make way for a DM would be Arteta. This brings into question Arteta's role in the team. I think most people would say he's just a makeshift defensive player there to break attacks up, and surely a proper DM could do his job a lot better. I think Wenger sees this differently and would say Arteta is also largely there for ball retention. If you watch him play, you'll notice he never tries difficult passes, always keeping it simple and retaining possession. This is something he receives a lot of stick for but I don't think it's at all accidental. Arteta allows us to have high possession in almost every game. This not only eases the pressure on our defence but also helps offensively as it tires the opposition. Now if you look at proper DM's, they do not generally offer this ball retention service although they will defend better than Mikel. Maybe Wenger prioritises possession over defensive strength? Though this brings into question why we didn't get Fabregas back, who can do this job better than Arteta whilst adding an attacking threat.

Because wenger believes that fabregas leaves the team unbalanced when playing in a deaper role, even along side another player

Sorry talking about fabregas there

Also fabregas would have cost us around 38 mill plus his high wages! We could use that money for a striker or a cb.

Very goo observation, I believe you are 100% correct, but wenge4r himself will still know all really successful teams need that camel to carry the water, makelele with madrid, cambiasso with inter, keane with Manchester United and petit with us. Every very succesful team have one of these players that allows the rest of the team to go express themselves without worrying about defensive duties, I think that ramsey wilshere, chamberlin, cazorla etc would be even better knowing that there is a defensive rock behind them.

That makes too much sense ;-))

13 Aug 2014 15:23:25
by that same logic, could we be looking at a midfielder who plays simple passes but is also able to pass from deeper in our own half or on the half way line?

that way we're not left exposed as that player doesn't make runs forward often but is still able to provide in the attack aspect?

i can't think of any player who does this well, Gerrard/Xabi Alonso maybe (out of the players I watch regularly anyway)

13 Aug 2014 12:33:41
Hi Eds,
I'm reading that any movement for William Carvalho is being complicated by 3rd party ownership issues. Does this mean Arsenal are not going to bid for him? Without discussing figures, I read that he's valued quite highly for a 22 year old, with only 1 standout season under his belt. I can understand why Mr.Wenger may blink at such prices but, I genuinely believe Carvalho is a real gem, and may be the next star that Wenger "coulda" signed. Adding to that list that includes Zlatan, Bale, Ronaldo, Yaya Toure.

{Ed025's Note - im sure arsene knows more about him than you an i outback, and he seems reluctant at this time mate..

13 Aug 2014 22:06:03
True Ed.

13 Aug 2014 11:33:14
Arteta at DM this year really scares me, it's like we're one piece away.

Made me think though, if Arteta is really poor, I reckon Chambers could do a good job at DM.

Been so impressed by Chambers at CB, looks like an experienced pro not a 19 year old, he looks ready to contribute soon. Wouldn't mind seeing him at DM.

13 Aug 2014 12:24:06
Good shout Jonny, have to think he'd be at least as good, if not better than Arteta or Flamini. If it means we spend the money on a Reus/Falcao/Cavani instead of a DM, I could live with that. Chambers has all the tools to be very good in central midfield. Although, I'd be much happier if we signed Carvalho too.

13 Aug 2014 12:27:46
I think it kind of scares most of us, it's not that he is so bad, just why not buy the real deal now.

Arteta is good enough to offer rotation in other midfield positions and a great plus in looking after the team. But let's use Flamini as DM back up to Carvalho or Bender.

As great as Chambers has been so far would we not be expecting just that bit to much to put him in there this season.

Lets not get carried away by chambers, a good player, yes but very early days

{Ed025's Note - i agree BG..

Really dude, first off Arteta is almost never really poor.

At this stage of his career he is nothing if not consistent - this site has talked him down to some incapable mug, yet c'mon Arsene could find a buyer in a heartbeat but thankfully he wont.

Second, Chambers has bags of potential but not nearly as good in the position as Arteta at this moment, experience means something. Teacher and pupil at this point.

{Ed025's Note - fair shout that cangun mate..

Problem with that is one injury and we are down one of our only 3 CBs.

Cangun

excellent post

I know Chambers is young, but he never played CB at Saints and looked fine there early on.

Obviously I disagree with certain people but personally I just do not rate Arteta at all anymore. Doesn't have the pace/athleticism to keep up with the best now.

I have no problem with Arteta against lower teams but I feel we will struggle against teams like Chelsea & City away from home without a big presence in the middle.

Its only an opinion but I just don't rate Arteta like others. On that note I don't rate Flamini either too highly, gets booked too often which means he has to play careful. Much better coming on as a sub.

You are assuming he plays against teams like City and Chelsea?

Who starts at DM over him Banbury?

13 Aug 2014 08:12:59
Dags sorry about the beard, got carried away, and Banbury I'm pretty sure we have only named 23 players aged over 21, that's going by the current first team squad on the Arsenal web site.

So I'm thinking that allows us two more spots, thus in effect we wouldn't have to get rid of anyone.

Whether we do or not is another thing. It will all depend on us receiving genuine offers rather than Arsene just selling them I would think.

Any loans of the likes of Sanogo or Campbell would also open up other spaces as both I think are 22. Personally don't think Campbell should go anywhere. Not sure about Sanogo, a couple of posters said about players not celebrating with him but when walking back down from getting his medal he looked a million miles from happy too. Odd but probably nothing.

I'm still thinking we could see 3 more arrivals, crazy I know, but ever the optimist.

I know Reus and Carvalho will be two of them, just not sure about the 3rd one. ;-)

{Ed025's Note - if only you were in charge of recruitment jen..

13 Aug 2014 08:51:48
That's OK Jenjen,

I think it kinda suits me.

Think George Clooney with a beard.

Actually, George Formby.

13 Aug 2014 08:55:28
I have written to the club ed025 and passed them my CV but all I'm getting back is tumbleweed.

I'm thinking the 3 months I worked in Hooters has put them off. Lol. :-)

{Ed025's Note - that alone would make you my prime candidate jen.. :)

The 3rd will be hummels. job done :)

One mesut ozil and one alexis sanchez has us dreaming of Reus, Carvalho and Hummels?

talk about over the top dead wood.

give me djourou, squillachi, andre santos and almunia any day of the week.

13 Aug 2014 11:33:49
George Formby with a beard, nice. :-)

Lakerville I'm liking your thinking, but are they available? The thing now though is that Arsene used to admire certain players then watch as other sides went out and bought them.

A bit different now, Reus, Carvalho, Bender, Khedira, Draxler, Hummels, Vidal and Pogba all remain at their respective clubs.

Will we or won't we get one or in a dream world two of them, I wouldn't put it past Arsene to do something yet we're not expecting.

We are favourites to retain our 4th place trophy, why not make us favourites for more than one of the real thing. :-)

Jen, I have no idea what exactly is going on but there have been too many whispers and no rumours coming out of Arsenal.

Some say Cavani, obviously we know that his wages will mean we will need to sell 12 players.

Jeff weston says 3rd party ownership seems to be an issue for a big player, ( the guesswork on that is Carvalho)

some other whispers are saying Javi martinez, not exactly sure how that is even possible.

all I can say with 100% accuracy and the fact that I know a guy who told me of the guy who was at the emirates, and I can confirm this from my text conversations.

"they have installed 3 extra toilet cubicles and it will allow on match days around 80 people to relieve themselves without waiting too long in a Queue"

make of this what you will.

watch this space