Arsenal Banter Archive January 13 2014

 

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13 Jan 2014 23:38:58
Thought Serge was great again today, never looked out of place at all, good 3 points

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The lad always impresses me every time I see him play. Strong on the ball and skillful. Could be a special player.
Flybo

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Confident and very strong physically and skillfully

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13 Jan 2014 23:31:23
Dags, not goiong to shoot you down mate because I agree with you. Ozil has shown flashes but for that kind of price I want a lot more

My hope (and belief) is that he is going to settle and will start to deliver next season.

Couple that with some buys in the summer and I cansee the good times coming back

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Ozil is one of the main reasons we are top. It takes a season for players to adapt fully to the premier league.

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I hope so Soops and I think you are probably right mate.

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We should look at this as a positive. We are top of the league and our best player is underperforming (to his standards as he's still been pretty good).

Giroud and Ramsey have to some extent carried us this far and hopefully in the second half of the season players like Ozil, Cazorla, Podolski and Wilshire who haven't contributed as much as they can, will carry the team.

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So what's Santi's excuse then? He's been going backwards at an alarming rate after a great debut season. Last night was typical. When he won the ball Kos and Mert immediately got on the front foot only to be caught out when he gave it straight back to Lowton.

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13 Jan 2014 23:10:15
Congrats to CR7 for winning Ballon D'or, 69 goals in 59 games, what a legend.

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He was lucky messi was injured.

he deserved it on personal merit, if not team merit thou.

but the votes show he did not escape messi with a landslide.

the general footballing community know who the best player is, and ronaldo is not it.

saying that the 3rd player in that voting should be Suarez, he is the only player who has managed to enter their level in that stratosphere.

he can create, score, dribble, head, basically has the qualities that the other two possess to make it a very unique club.

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Ooooh Laker, mate I so disagree with you. For me, Ronaldo is the best player in the world, better than messi.

But, I respect your opinion mate.

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13 Jan 2014 23:03:02
Heading home after the game.

First half was comfy but we sat off them in 2nd half and almost let them back in.

Nearly missed 2nd goal watching some person being ejected from the ground for getting on the pitch. Cannot and will not defend his stupidity but that didn't give a female steward the right to claw at his face!!

Great away support again.

BFG was a rock but there were a few good performances

Now we have to beat Fulham and keep the run going

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13 Jan 2014 22:50:02
Would love it if we played 2 upfront against Fulham.
Why not try Olly and Podolski to see what happens, two very good players who could feed off each other.

I know Olly is good upfront on his own but I feel, in recent games, the midfield hasn't been getting forward enough to support him, this is mainly because Ramsey is out injured, he seems to be our most attack minded midfielder and we are missing his link up play with Olly.

Look at Man City, they play 2 upfront (aguero/negrado or aguero/dzeko or negredo/dzeko) and they score goals for fun, as do Liverpool with Suarez and Sturridge.

I know Wenger loves 4-5-1 but would love to see a 4-4-2 formation, and Fulham at home could be the perfect match to try it.

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Can't disagree with that Dags. Personally I felt we made hard work if it for ourselves in the 2nd half obvious statement I know. Santi? what is going on with him lately. He's passing is going off the boil lately. He made some bad choices tonight. But again we were going back to trying to walk the ball into the net. We need to be having a pop sometimes. Yes I too believe we should play 2 up front no doubt .

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Completely agree Dags! Was thinking the same thing during the second half!

Poor second half, massive win.

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Spot on GOLDBOY about Cazorla. He was to blame for villas goal. Should of just cleared it, thankfully we got away with it this time.
Flybo

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14 Jan 2014 01:24:50
why can't ozil play off of him? I don't see why not, they both hold up the ball well enough.

ozil to me is like king henry atm.

when henry wasnt scoring he looked lazy and very disheartened.
but when we were he was loving it! maybe its him self punishing like TH said in his legends thing

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It would be tough to put Ozil in the central mid position in a 4-4-2 because he's not a good defender

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The current system works. We are top of the league. I wouldn't tinker with it.

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Totally agree Golds

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4-5-1 works for me.

2 holding mids, means the defense is never compromised, there is at the very least a flamini waiting for the counter attack.

however when we have possesion, the 4-5-1 means that we can interchange with our versatility and giroud is just holding the ball up as the midfield run past him to take a higher position.

it makes space for our everchanging midfield, so all of a sudden we have cazorla, ozil, wilshere looking to score a goal.

basically in a 4-51 with our advanced forwards it can change from a 4-3-3 when attacking or 4-2-4, but the reasons for a 4-5-1 is to keep the defensive shape of the team.

giroud has never been the lone man upfront, unless we are under pressure like we were against villa, but in those situation the right format is to counter and not to change formations to a more attacking view, where we are more open to attack due to positional suicide.

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Very good summary Lakerville.

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13 Jan 2014 22:42:27
Mixed emotions I guess.

We won and got 3 points, that's all that matters.
Great to have Olly back, plus Gibbs and the ox.

Not a great performance though, but Villa are battling for points and an away win is very very valuable.

Will understand if you bite my head off but i'm going to say it anyway. We need a lot more from Ozil. He cost £42m and has given us a massive boost but i'm still a little disappointed to be honest.
He has been tagged as world class but personally, I don't think he is. Ronaldo, Messi, Ribery, world class because they play brilliant most games. Ozil is on the peripheral of games for too long, yes he shows flashes of brilliance, but I want more from him, a lot more.

Rant over but going to finish off by saying overjoyed with the win.

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13 Jan 2014 22:35:50
Another Phew result tonight, we won't keep getting away with it.
Loved Merts reaction to their goal gets more and more like big Tony every game, he will soon be chasing culprits down who cost us goals and giving them a good public thrashing with motor bike chain.
It's great to see a real anger rather than every one just looking around in silence when we concede and is one of our biggest differences this season.

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Spot on

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Agree G62

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13 Jan 2014 22:03:29
I swear I put on white boxer shorts this morning :-(
Flybo

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Lol Flybo

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13 Jan 2014 22:03:23
Pathetic second half

wtf was that?

So we go into the locker room and instead of having the mentality we need to kill the match off, we produce that inept performance!

Unbelievable

We do that vs Fulham we are not getting 3 points

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13 Jan 2014 23:22:21
I agree mate but we will are the winning games we use to loose.

BFG is immense.

Traveling support gives me goose bumps when they let roar

Ozil looks lost without a world class forward in front of him

Eie

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I agree. It's been so long since we truly smashed a team, and if we keep having close runs like that, one day we're going to pay for it.

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13 Jan 2014 22:03:09
Got no nails left after that finish!

It's these types of wins that win you titles, when you look back and say 'those 6 points at Newcastle and Aston villa were massive.'

Big shout out to the naysayers.

WE ARE CONTENDERS!

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13 Jan 2014 21:01:58
Love the stat that in the last two years, everytime Mertesacker and Koscielny have completed 90 mins together we've NEVER lost!

The new Adams and Bould/Keown partnership!

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13 Jan 2014 18:40:34
We've had a nice break, today needs to be a fresh team playing hungry

Now every match becomes critical and we need to hit top form for Bayern, so it needs to start now

Gotta win this lads, keep the momentum going

Coyfg!

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13 Jan 2014 17:53:31
Just booked a table for me and the wife for Valentines Day.

I hope she knows how to play snooker.

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13 Jan 2014 17:25:09
Let me be first to ask. what's the prediction for tonightboys and girls?

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2 nil giroud and koscielny mate

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1-3 to arsenal

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1-4 Goldboy!

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4-0, we've had a good rest so should be up for it.

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I finished 2013 on an all time high prediction wise, my first prediction of 2014 is? Aston Vila 0 Arsenal 4.
Just got a feeling for it

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13 Jan 2014 16:34:48
Hey Ed, Is there any up to date news on any new signings coming our way this month? January is tough anyway to bring players in, Morata is ongoing, Talk of
Paul-Georges Ntep, I've heard various names being linked but is there anything even remotely solid that you know of? Draxler, Di Maria, Benzema, Mandzukic. anyone?

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{Ed002's Note - Nothing new today.}

13 Jan 2014 15:51:06
Arsenal ladies have signed Dutch defender Anouk Hoogendijk. She's the female equivalent of Giroud. Choices choices ;-)
Flybo

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Careful flybo people might think your turning straight:) but yes I'd let her take a shot or two at me.

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She's a stunner

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13 Jan 2014 15:31:42
Carlo Ancelotti has finally come out and admitted selling Özil was a mistake, really! That comment is like me saying I broke up with Jennifer Lawrence because she was a bit too clingy. To be fair she was only embarrassing herself. I think I made the right decision.

Away to villa tonight. There's always pressure when you play after everyone else has won, and villa are playing for survival, but to be honest if we can't win tonight then we don't deserve the title. Three points a must.

Was just thinking about Sonogo as you do. Just wondering if there is more chance of me asking for his signature, or him asking for mine when he drops off a parcel? Bit harsh I know. Hope it's the former.

UP THE GOONERS
Flybo

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Sanogo. Apologies
Flybo

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13 Jan 2014 14:52:12
Possible topic for a vote :

Do you want a January signing to help win the league

Or

Do we wait till summer (and see how far we can go) and buy a truely world class striker and go all out in 2014/2015

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Both lol

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13 Jan 2014 14:51:39
Hey Ed,

I was wondering what your take is on the situation at AC Milan. Obviously they are having a dissapointing season domestically, Allegri has just been fired, and they seem to have an ongoing saga behind the scenes.

So my question is, are they in some sort of financial trouble to the point where they might consider selling players? Notably El Sharaawy and Balotelli?

All their recent signings were free transfers corect? Kaka, Honda, Rami. From what I can tell, FFP is the reason for their shrewdness as well as why they had to sell Zlatan and Thiago Silva.

If anyone has any info I would love to learn more.

Thanks again Eds for the awesome job you guys are doing as usual! Really appreciate your info!

Peace,
Trinidad-Gooner

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{Ed002's Note - The transfer process does not work like that. Clubs don't buy players they have no interest in.}

Thanks Ed, and I do understand that. I guess I just assumed that clubs would be interested in players of El Sharaawy and Balotelli's calibre, but I think I was unclear with what I was asking you.

Do you know of any interest in those players, and do you think either of them will be leaving the San Siro in the summer?

Thanks again,
Trinidad-Gooner

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{Ed002's Note - There is interest from various clubs in both - and the search engine will help you TG.}

13 Jan 2014 09:39:54
Just bought myself a new boomerang which is absolutely brilliant, the only problem I'm having is throwing the old one away!

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What are you like G62, LOL

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G62, you should have thrown it down a one-way street lol

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He did dags but the traffic was heading towards him lol

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Lol Simon, yh he was standing the wrong way

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13 Jan 2014 08:40:25
Just a note on Berbatov, I was talking to a mate yesterday who is a Liverpool fan and regularly goes up to Anfield which included their game against Fulham in November.

He said he couldn't believe we were thinking of getting him as it was the worst display by a pro footballer he'd ever seen, he just walked for the whole game and did a big fat zero and it was embarrassing watching him.

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It depends on service. Manchester United never played to his strenghts but when they did, it was goals galore.

At arsenal he would be the focal point. he can play with his back to the goal, he can score world class goals, and the service will come from all angles.

Perhaps he may even be motivated to win a trophy for us.

one mans trash is another mans gold.

the man is class, the motivation is the only query. but I feel for the price and the players around him, he will be a great stop gap buy.

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Have to agree with Laker, and if you are talking about £2m, that's a bargain.

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13 Jan 2014 07:50:25
Finally! It's here! Game day! I don't think I've ever waited NINE days between fixtures in the middle of a season. I hope all the boys enjoyed their mini winter break which will hopefully stand us in good stead for the upcoming weeks.

I really want us to smash Villa tonight. The back five picks itself as usual as Gibbs should be back. Wilshere and Rosicky in the middle with Cazorla, Ozil and Gnabry behind the returning Ollie.

Prediction: 3-1 reverse of the opening day. (Although I'm hoping for more goals and a clean sheet!)

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Greeny, I think that's the team I would have picked too, good shout.

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Like the team you suggested but you know how wenger likes a holding midfielder so I will go flamini instead of rosicky.

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We defo need flaming or arteta in the team and we need to start with gnabry :)

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13 Jan 2014 07:17:49
Maybe this one for a poll. Would you all have been happy to see us take Jermaine Dafoe on loan to give us that bit of cover till the end of the season. I would have been ok with that and I think he would have come too.

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{Ed001's Note - done: http://www.arsenalrumours.co.uk/poll48.html

Golds, yep anytime mate.

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13 Jan 2014 07:29:38
Not really a transfer related post but after 16 years supporting my beloved arsenal my fiancée decided to buy me my first ticket for the game against Fulham :) It's my first time in London being a northerner but would I be better getting a taxi from Kings Cross or the tube?. i'm going more for ease than price.

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13 Jan 2014 10:11:38
Hi Josh,

It's 8 minutes and 3 stops on the tube but I'm guessing walking out the station and jumping in a cab will be easiest.

I'm coming up from Cornwall with a mate and have been a gunner since 68 and my first trip to the Emirates for a game.

Leaving at 6am and driving to west London then 45mins in the tube to the ground, can't wait.

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Hi Josh,

The underground would be a lot quicker and cheaper (just 3 stops on the Picaddily Line) but you need to watch out that the other passengers don't tread on the paws of your whippet. A taxi would be kinder on him and would give you somewhere to eat your barm cakes in peace and adjust your cloth cap prior to the match.

Hope you enjoy it!

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Thanks for the replies! I will probably brave the tube although I've heard it can be complicated (not my words, I like to think I can figure it out!)

As far as the balm cakes go I'm a Yorkshire lad so we eat teacakes, sip tea and moan about everything and anything ;)

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Tube is easy and quick and he can get of right near the ground aswell

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Yeah, tube everytime, than a 5 minute walk.

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Tube for the atmosphere. especially if we win today.

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Josh hope u and yr mrs have a g8 day i'm taking mine
she has yet to see um loose at home this is her 5th game
cheers

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13 Jan 2014 07:13:35
Here's a question hard one to answer possibly maybe this could only be answered by the player but anyway.
Do you think Lamela would have wanted to go back home if he had been playing for Arsenal instead of Spurs.
Personally I think like most people did after what Spurs spent, they were going to look strong but obviously knowing what we all know now its not worked out. I think he would have stayed at Arsenal.

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I don't think I believe the rumours regarding him wanting to go home, but if they are true then surely it must be due to lack of game time.
I really rare him tho, him and el sheraaway, both very similar style of play with similar abilities. I think he would of been a huge success at arsenal because he's play fits in with our style. Quick movement, off the ball runs, quick passing.
At spurs as RW he couldn't cut in because their midfield has no fluidity it's just rigid and compact meaning no space for him to go into.

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13 Jan 2014 00:53:27
I personally think we need to acquire a relatively young, tough-tackling midfielder in the next two transfer windows. Bender, Gonalons, Cavalho, Matuidi come to mind.

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Totally agree. The sooner the better

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13 Jan 2014 07:30:14
I totally agree and believe Wenger will in the summer, by all accounts he bid £18 million for Lars last summer but they wanted £23 million.

Gundogan is another real top mid who can play CDM and is quality on the ball too.

It's the one position we don't seem to produce, had high hopes for Frimpong but think he'll be off in the summer, he didn't cut it in his loan spells either.

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Agree messenger mate, progba might do a job too.
Couple of seasons back I though frimpong was going to be that man, shame

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Pogba is would be a dream. He likes Arsenal but I think he may be off to PSG. He's one of my favorite players today

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