Arsenal Banter Archive January 15 2013

15 Jan 2013 23:25:44
Wenger said: "We have some improvements to make and we know exactly where. In January it is difficult to find the players that are really better and can give something special to the squad.

"The number is right. We have a good balance. We are working very hard to find what we want.

"We are working very hard. First of all we want to sort out the injuries we have, and we are trying very hard to close the deal with (Theo) Walcott. Once we have done that, we will certainly do something else. At the moment I cannot tell you more."

Actual quotes from The Mirror. Notice how he says about knowing exactly where to improve. Also how he says once the Theo deal is tied up we will certainly do something else. CERTAINLY! I think the old dog has a trick up his sleeve.
It also relates back to when Ferguson said that he thinks Arsenal or Chelsea will make a big signing. I can't help thinking that Fergie knows what he's up to, and RvP was sold because there was a plan in place already. My gut instinct is Fellaini will be bought, Rosicky sold, and striker bought in. No idea who though. Thoughts?

Slick Mick

Wishful thinking its very obvious Arsenal are a sinking ship with Wenger in charge. Don't get me wrong I love what he has done but his tactics both on and off the pitch are not moving with the times and Arsenal need a change of guard for better or worse.

Arsenal are stale at present..

I agree Slick Mick, Wenger has a trick up his sleeve, but I think he will keep it til the summer. January is very hard month to make succsessful transfers and if you find the right player you will have to overpay... that is not arsene's style...

15 Jan 2013 23:18:46
I think we should resort back to our famous 442 formation, that was the formation we used when we had all our success, i recogn podolski and walcott will be sick up front together!

The only person that doesnt agree is stubborn Wenger. We desperately need two tall striong athletic driving midfield players to protect the defence and two wide players that can double up with the full backs & a second forward. 4-3-3 is a poor formation, hence we have won absolutely nothing using it.

15 Jan 2013 22:22:47
Its always wrorrying when you look at an arsenal player and think "you wouldnt even get into my school's team", #squillaci please terminate your contract!

15 Jan 2013 21:37:02
Arshavin is a great player.
Gervinho is a great player.
Ramsey is a great player.

The way Arsenal are using them is wrong.

-yeah i said it.

Please enlighten us???

1404

Arshavin was a great player.
Gervinho had the potential to be a great player, but he will never be one !
Ramsey is very close to be one !

Gervinho is awful. He plays on the smoothest pitches in the world and plays as though the ball bobbles terribly.

Arshavin is a fantastic ACM. When he had a bit of pace he was that good he could play out wide, he used to be a beast going past players but he's come off the boil, is possibly lazy, and certainly fed up. This is what happens when a club has 3 ACMs as well as young ones coming through - not all will be happy. He could go to most prem teams and improve them if he plays behind the striker.

Ramsey is a good player with an exceptional work rate, but is poor unless bang in the middle of the park. He's too weak defending and anyone who played close attention to him in the last 2 years will know he does not like defending. He is too slow in his decisions to be an acm and also too timid. He's a CM. and he's not a top 4 CM. But he is a good player and would flourish at another club.

15 Jan 2013 20:36:31
I'm a bit concerned that Wengers comments on Al Jazeer were just to placate the increasingly frustrated Arsenal fans. It's roughly halfway through the transfer window, he still insists the current squad is strong enough, and he wants to keep pushing the youngsters through. He also states, that he will only add people he thinks will make a big improvement to the current crop. Going back over recent years, "the Arse" has always stated, how overpriced, players can be during the January transfer window.

Coupled with the fact that he likes to keep his cards close to his chest as far as transfer targets go, to avoid paying inflated prices. Why on earth would he admit to having loads of money to spend on a couple of players during a transfer window, let alone the one in January? I smell a Rat, I hope I'm wrong!

Willesden Gooner

Spot on post!


North Carolina Gooner

How you can possible say that Wenger is a Rat. The idea is so stupid.... It is unbelievable and pathetic how fast people forget. He is our most decorated manager in the history. He made "The Invincibles". He made our team the most consistent team in Europe in the last 16 years, which was the reason and the most important thing after we moved to the Emirates. He made new team, which would had win things, but many players stab him in the back, stab us in the back and went elsewhere just for money. AW had the opportunities to go elsewhere, but he stayed and beleive me no one else would be this successful with these excuses of transfer sums. And after all he had done, guys like you call him Rat. Somedays I am soo dissapointed with you gunners...

BGGOONER

I have the feeling the interview is not that recent. Just made after the Bradford defeat.

15 Jan 2013 20:14:34
I did not mind arsenal winning nothing when we were playing brilliant football last few seasons we are just crap

15 Jan 2013 19:30:40
no one in.... thanks wenger for undoing all your great work....

He's out watching a game try again on Thursday.

Per mertesacker + Klass Huntlear = Nicola Zigic

15 Jan 2013 19:06:31
Well guys we are in for a frustrating couple of weeks in the transfer market. Ive read some interesting posts over the last couple of days, regarding DEAD WOOD.Well in my opinion we have three average players, and one world class in the making.Walcott, Podolski and chamberlin are average players to be perfectly honest.Wiltshire is going to be world class in the making, as long as he can stay injury free.The rest are in my opinion mid table players, Corzola is fine if he's given space and time, against top clubs he is not mobile and is too small to make any impact.Arteta likewise lacks pace and any real physical presence.The back four are to be honest very poor, can't defend set pieces and shocking when pressurised

15 Jan 2013 18:47:40
just want to point out the Wenger said that he thinks the club are READY to spend big AGAIN after all the stuff with the stadium. he didn't say he will

Yorkshire Gooner

15 Jan 2013 17:34:32
Tito: "I'd be sacked if Bar�a were 18 points behind Madrid"

All people said about is, if this is another top club manager would've sack ages ago.

But hey! Look at madrid, 18 points off and Mou still on the job.

15 Jan 2013 19:17:58
Barca have a board and owners with ambition to win, our board is happy to see us finish top 4 and even if we didn't they would not care as it wouldn't hurt their income due to the millions they've sucked from the fans.

Being an Arsenal fan is like living under Louis XIV of France, squeezed every penny he could from them to pay for his lavish lifestyle. Until French monarchy came crashing down.... Will it be the same fir Arsenal FC in the not too distant future?

Detroit Gooner

You can't say if barca were finishing in the top 4 every season like us they would sack there manager because they are in a completely different situation for one they have had a lot of players come through there youth system so they just buy 1 player every summer for around 30 mill unless they sell a few 1st team players then they will buy 2 or 3 where as we have 30mill to spend on 3 or 4 players every summer and the big deference is barca and other big clubs didn't move to a bigger stadium and have to pay that back. i mean look at utd last few years they have struggled to put funds together for players could you imagine if they had a stadium to pay off as well.

top gooner

15 Jan 2013 17:14:26


{Ed002's Note - As a special treat to Steve as we celebrate the birthday of Dr Martin Luther King (not to mention Captain Beefheart), this is an example of what would nornally be put in teh "Teams" section.}


Beware this will be a long one, I was bored and in a reflective mood.

My personal guidelines for success.

Firstly:

DEADWOOD

We need to clear out half of the squad in all honesty.

Fabianki, Mannone, Squillaci, Djourou, Santos, Coquelin, Denilson, Frimpong, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Arshavin, Gervinho, Walcott, Bendtner, Chamakh, Park

That's more than £900'000 a week in wages for players that are either no worth it nor good enough to play for Arsenal.

As a club we are not ruthless enough to say enough is enough. Wenger Fathers these players so doesn't want to hurt their feelings by not giving them chance after chance after chance. Not one of the players above are good enough, except Walcott, who is if we're being honest is nothing more than an impact player. Is he worth £90k a week? I think not sunshine, bye bye now.

My last thought on most players at Arsenal is simple. We settle. We accept what we've got instead of constantly trying to improve upon it. What I mean by that is... Say Cavani was available for £15m and was desperate to join us, willing to take a pay cut etc we still wouldn't sign him.. why? It would hurt Giroud's feelings. Oh dear. The club are putting a players feelings before that of the fans or the benefit of the club itself. It's ridiculous.

Secondly:

MANAGER

Wenger is rapidly and I mean rapidly losing all respect I once had for him, not because we're not winning, although that is a part of it. It's because he is unable to accept the opinions of fans, like we're all wrong and he's right. It's his attitude and lack of willingness to change. Be it formation, tactics or policy.

He'd cut his own nose off to spite his face, he's that type of man. Just look at him now, he's a dishevelled mess, contradicting himself endlessly in press conferences and interviews. He's lost it. What will be 8 years trophy-less will only back up that point. The real disconcerting thing however is that there is no end in sight, we've been promised a false dawn dozens of times, and I mean that literally. People need to wake up.

Wenger has one of 2 goals now it's plain to see:

1) Keep quiet about the board taking money OUT of the club for the princely sum of £7m per annum.

or

2) Keep what money there is, spend as little as possible to attain the minimum directive of the board - 4th place. That way if he misses it there will be no losses as the money was put by ie His job's safe.

Neither one covers him in any kind of glory. He has to go, as it's all of the above combined, translating to a distinct lack of... yes it's the word Judas used (and correctly so) AMBITION!

Wenger has become a dictator as is evidenced by a flawed tactics and the fact he won't delegate out any authority to the likes of Bould. This brings me to my next point.

Thirdly:

TACTICS & PLAYERS

Steve Bould has little to no impact on this team, as his opinion is invalid in Wenger's eyes. Again this isn't just conjecture it's blatant.

The first order of business is the defence...

Goalkeepers -

We only have one good keeper, and I stress that strongly... good. Szczesny is a good goalkeeper with the potential to be world class. He needs competition, not a has been or a never was GK as a back-up. Someone good enough on his day to keep Szczesny out of the team should his form dip or should he get injured... someone to really push him hard. We missed a trick with J�lio C�sar, but there are plenty of GK's of that ilk who are available at a reasonable price... Stekelenburg to name one.

My point is Szczesny needs a true test, which will be the making of him, he'll either crumble or he'll rise to it, if it's the former we need to cut ties shake hands and sign a replacement.

Defenders -

The worst thing about our defence is organisation and a definitive system. My personal belief is that neither Koscielny or Vermaelen are good enough to be 1st or 2nd choice. They both lack calmness and are too rash. That said they are good defenders, well suited to playing a high line.

Mertesacker is head and shoulders our best defender, he's calm, composed and brilliant at timing his tackles. His downside is he isn't aggressive enough, he is a little timid. The sole reason we need a CB partner for him who is strong, rugged, tough and great in the air, essentially someone to compliment him. Someone the ilk of Samba, Sakho, Mbiwa etc. No nonsense really.

Most importantly though we need to play deep in defence and work hard on defending set pieces. This is an area where Bould excelled as a player, let him do his job, scrap Zonal marking, and don't allow fast strikers to make minced meat of Mertesacker, play to the guys strengths. In games against teams like Stoke we should play a high line with the pairing of Koscielny and Vermaelen.

As for the fullbacks. The right side is perfect atm though it is imperative we show Sagna we are not afraid to drop him. The left side whoever needs major work. Let Bould get his teeth into Gibbs. His defensive play is abhorrent. Going forward he is excellent. In addition Gibbs is injury prone, there can be no debate here. He simply can not be trusted as a 1st choice yet. We need someone capable of going forward and defending in equal measure. The easy answer is Baines. No more to be said on the matter.

Midfielders -

The buzzword here is 'balance' or lack there of. There are 3 areas of our 5 man midfield that are extremely weak... CDM, RW, LW.

CDM:

We lack an imposing no nonsense defensive midfielder. We need someone with energy, strength, height and composure. Someone who has the ability to read the game and make a crucial interception, someone who can shield the ball when required has the strength to hold players off.

Most importantly a player who LIKES doing this job, not someone playing out of position or someone like Song who thinks he's a flair player. 3 names stand out - Capoue, Sissoko and Diame. All three possess exactly what we need, are reasonably priced and could easily slot into a back three when we're on the attack. No brainer!

RW & LW:

It's pretty simple. We have no wingers! Podolski has done okay out on the left, but okay really isn't good enough, come in handy when we are struck by injuries mind you. The same on the right side. Chamberlain is born and bred to play centrally, you can see it in his game, he naturally drifts infield and this only serves to expose our right back.

We need a RW & LW who can play similarly to Hazard and Mata where they interchange with Santi (Oscar) and we need out an out wingers to beat their man and whip a great ball in. For me it has to be Honda and G�tze (a pretty penny but worth it).

Strikers:

As we only play one up top it is imperative we have a CF that can do it all. Podolski is a good striker but needs to rotate, same with Giroud. A striker that can create for himself and others, head, beat the offside trap, score from range, make things happen. They are hard to come by though which is why selling Judas was a cardinal sin. Cavani or Higuain would cost a bomb but that level is needed unfortunately, the likelihood of either is minimal at best so I'd steal Lo�c R�my from Newcastle's grasp. Play Giroud in all Capital One Cup games, against the likes of Stoke, and rotate the other 2 depending on opponent.


Ideally:

-----------Stekeleburg
Sagna Mertesacker Sakho Baines
---------Capoue Wilshere
------G�tze Cazorla Honda
-------------Podolski

Subs:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Ox, R�my

Squad:

Gibbs, Diaby, Eisfeld, Giroud


I'm sure most will disagree with the players I've chosen but I hope most will agree with the sentiments above.

Fourthly:

THE CAPTAIN

There can only be one... Jack Wilshere!

Lastly:

MANAGER

Wenger needs to move on now. He went all mad scientist at Monaco and he's doing the same here. There are plenty of managers who are capable of replacing him. In order of preference:

Klopp, Laudrup, Bielsa, Guardiola, Moyes et al


PS. Well done to anyone who read that.


StEvE

Well done in a well thought out post. As you say, disagree with the players mentioned, but agree with the sentiments.
Flybo

Not keen on Coquelin then you want to sell him twice lol

Bryan

Cheers Ed.

StEvE

Your team looks good mate, i would go a bit along the lines of wengers thinking and only spend what's needed and not hinder the chances of the young lads.
Szczensy needs competition, Gibbs is excellent going forward and rubbish backwards so replace him with quality and put Gibbs on the wing. Arteta is ideal as a rotating attacking mid and get capoue as defensive mid. what d'ya reckon to this.

-----------Stekeleburg-------------
Sagna Mertesacker Sakho Baines
---------------Capoue--------------
Ox. Wilshere. Cazorla. Gibbs
---------------Podolski--------------

Subs: szczensy, vermaelen, arteta, Walcott,
Giroud

{Ed002's Note - This is why it belongs on the team pages.}

Great post with one exception, Mertesacker is in my opinion too slow and for a tall guy very poor in the air. Am i the only person that sees this, he blatantly is not good enough for the premier league

Only one player i would keep from your list who impressed me the last two times i seen him play, Coquelin he is a good young player as soon as he came on against n/c he made a good run with a through ball that led to a goal, and he fights for every ball.

Not convinced Ox is ready to start or on wing
SY4

15 Jan 2013 20:33:58
Great post Steve, Some may differ on the players coming in but they are the slots and the way we need to go.

I really like Mertesacker but he does scare me at times, but no more than the rest of the defence I guess.

Stoner

Its ironic, mertesacker, one of our tallest players, could probably get out jumped by carzola, our smallest..... What we need is a proper center back, Yanga Mwia

15 Jan 2013 16:39:22
Wenger will be waiting to see how Diame performs tomorrow in the FA cup replay. He is set to start.

15 Jan 2013 15:41:41
Ed002,

I just wanted to apologise for being sarcastic yesterday, but surely you can understand why?

Spent quite a bit on a long post to get people's thoughts then, when I asked that it be moved to the Banter section, politely mind you, you just outright said no. That's frustrating as hell, as all I wanted was other members/posters thoughts on the subject.

Like I said, I apologise.

I'm more than willing to post what I said again and would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to post it in the Banter section... all I want is the thoughts of my fellow Gooner's.

StEvE {Ed002's Note - Thanks for the apology but tehre is no need. Your post relates to discussion about a team and formations and there is a page dedicate to that discussion - it has to go there. The rathionale for this is that otherwise the banter page gets cluttered up with everyon'e predicted line-ups for the forthcoming game. By all means add a note to the banter pointing folks at the discussion about line ups on the team page - and they can add there comments to your post over there.}

Fair enough. It appears we just differ in our classifications of the post haha. In my opinion it's an analysis of The Arsenal, some of my guidelines for success and some of my recommendations. I don't see that as necessarily 'Teams'.

But, I'll agree to disagree and I'll take your advice and go ahead and post it again with you placing it wherever and I'll just make a comment below asking people's thoughts.

All that said if anyone is a fan of long posts, please take a look at my post on the 'Teams' section. I'm interested in what you people think, believe it or not.

StEvE {Ed002's Note - Sure.}

15 Jan 2013 15:43:54
Wenger has come out an said we are going to spend big very intresting indeed does this mean we are going to sign players like falcao, fellani, lewendowski, baines, gotze
All player around 20-40 millon he also said he wants 2 players this window
For me I think it will be zaha as Theo is going to play up top more often the only snag is palace want him back for the rest of the season witch suits man you better than us
An the other one fellani would be a really good signing
22 million wenger that's big so go an do it show us that you mean what you say an get diame aswell 3.5 million bargin
Scez
Sagna. Kos. Verm. Gibbs

Diame. Wilshere

Fellani

Zaha. Theo. Corzola

Spend very big, means about £3, knowing Wenger! I pray Im wrong, cos we need a 4th centre back, a back up keeper & a defensive midfield player in this window.

I would love to see him sign up Goetze in the summer time, I love that guy, he will be the business

Gotze would cost 30-40 million.

15 Jan 2013 15:19:01
I don't get Arsene. I understand not saying your willing to spend big, because you don't want to be taken for a ride from a club you want to do business with. So he comes out and does exactly that. Next day he says he's content with what he's got which will only p#ss the supporters off, yet he says it.
Here's an idea. Shut up and do the deals that are needed. If he does sign anyone, it will probably be in the last couple of days left in the window along with everyone else, but by then we could of dropped more points in the league.
Less words more action!
Flybo

Well come on, Arsenal must not think they are a big club otherwise they would bring in big players.
we are bottom feeders we buy at the bottom and sell at the top. the board has no interest in the fans or trophys,
just big profits for share holders and Wengers 7.5 mill wages.

When someone says they are going to spend big - guess what usually happens to the price.

15 Jan 2013 14:50:27
Anyone who thinks missing out on top 4 will prompt arsenal to spend big to back there is i'm afraid sadly mistaken, top 4 is simply pivotal to whether we rebuild quickly or not.

The club has obvioulsy accepted defeat with a host of poor signings and are looking to trim the squad whether we make top 4 or not.

arshavin, squillaci, fabianski, mannone and diaby will be free agents in the summer.

bendtner, denilson, park, santos, djouorou and chamack will be sold for nominal fees regardless of champions league next season or not. and sagna wants to leave so we will inevitably cash in on him.

Theo's situation is too hard to call, i think he's staying, but any result to this saga is still very much possible.

With all these departures, we keep all the players we need and have space for 4-7 new first team players, but only if we qualify for CL.

If we do not get top 4, we would then look to sell gervinho, rosicky, frimpong and coquelin. We would be told that without a CL campaign, we don't need the same sized squad. more youngsters would play in the europa league.

Without top 4 our major struggle will be keeping Shezza and TV5, with barca interested in both. It is also possible that Podolski, Arteta, Cazorla and Mertesaker could be made available for transfer if we are not in the champions league.

Podolski was a 99% done deal last January, the final 1% was us getting European CL, he only offically signed once we had CL football confirmed (which i think is a bit of a joke actually seens as he is a top earner and his team was likely getting relegated).

It could very easily be a clause the contracts of these players that they are made available if arsenal were to have no CL football?.

I also think similar deals depend on the same circumstances:

I expect a cheap DM to come in Jan, like Diame. But all other deals will not be finalised until CL football is achieved. With CL we will halve our squad and maybe buy some established quality (big maybe though!) Without CL we will halve our squad, promote youngsters and buy cheap, no change there then!

topgunner

One sane person on this site !

15 Jan 2013 13:52:35
Whilst I do hate spurs, like any arsenal fan would, I do have to give them credit for one thing...

They don't sell their best players anymore. Especially not to EPL rivals...

It's fantastic what they've done with Bale.
They told everyone who wanted him to **** off unless they offer ridiculous money.

Then we go and sell Fabregas for no more than 30 mil.

Spurs say no to everyone who even thinks about signing Bale, unless they offer crazy money.

Then we go and sell Van Persie to Manchester United.

Spurs sell Modric ABROAD, for a good fee and immediately reinvest in other players (and perhaps better players because I always thought modric was overrated).

What do we do?
We sell Song to Barca for no more than 20 mil.

Enough is enough.

We have to learn that no is an option and we have to realise this before other clubs get a sniff at Chambo, Wilshere, Szczesny etc.

We should've demanded 40-50 for Fabregas or it's no.
35-45 for Van Persie.
30-40 for Song.
30-40 for Nasri.
Some of these prices may be to high but so what? We have what they want, we shouldn't have to settle.

Nick.

The difference is Tottenham have Daniel Levy orchestrating things, whilst we have Wenger running the entire show, badly. Bring back Dein...

Van Persie and Nasri had contracts expiring so would have gone fro free the following summer. We wanted to get rid of song. And Fabregas really wanted to go to Barcelona all those made it difficult to get big money. Also Modric was rubbish in his final season when forced to stay against his will.

Sheringham, Carrick, Berbetov, Robinson, Crouch, Bent...etc

LOL..... 30-40 for song and nasri? What planet are you on ?

Really? You would demand 40-50mil for players that can leave for free in 12 months?

As for the Spuds they let Modric go for much less than they wanted, and he had signed a new long term deal.

Difference is the spuds don't let contracts run down so can ask for top dollar! When we keep a player into his last year of contract they've basically got you by the balls. Either sell him for a reduced price or get nothing at all when it runs out. That's the difference and until we sort this out it will keep happening. Should be last 2 years of contract either offer new contract or sell them for top dollar. Also fabregas was always going back to barca so was never going to be 50 mill. 30 mill wasn't bad for a player that cot us 500,000!

If we had sold van Persie with 2 years left we would have got less. He had only had 6 months of being brilliant at that point after years of mediocrity/injury.

The only reason is Daniel levy is sane who ever is in charge with us is insane selling to our rivals is 1 thing selling the best player in the league to our main rivals is another but getting on 28 million for fabregas sums it up

watford gooner

15 Jan 2013 13:40:42
in
diame-3.5mil
yanga mbwia-8mil

out
squilaci-free
arshavin-2il

Arshavin should be worth at least 5m, he's still a great talent in my opinion.
He was and still is our record transfer fee, I think played as a central striker he would of shone alot brighter than he has, and perhaps we could of been looking to sell him on for 20m+.
A wasted talent if you ask me. Very sad indeed.

15 Jan 2013 13:12:38
Gervinho says he wants to become Arsenal's greatest player

Greatest joke ever

Played like a great player yesterday, maybe if people like you get off his back he could be?

15 Jan 2013 12:55:32
Gervinho says he "wants to eclipse all records, and become arsenals greatest ever player"

I admire his dedication.
I'm not holding my breath.
Here's hoping he makes me look a fool.

D

Well, fair play to the lad, I'd like to see him do it too.

Got a record breaking forehead...

But seriously though, great ambition and lets hope he can do well for us.

Nick.

15 Jan 2013 12:48:36
What are the chances of the Swansea match. I know we are at home, and the fans will get behind the team no matter what, but with michu in the form he is in, and swanseas defence and keeper, will we have a chance of winning. If we don't, then its 8 years without a trophy, and we will be an even bigger laughing stock. Even if we do win the FA cup, it will only get changed to "youve only won the FA cup in 8 years" We need a squad that can compete consistantly. Any thoughts, click agree or disagree if you read this and feel the same way, or not...

15 Jan 2013 12:13:01
This is my last post on this subject I promise, but I heard a rumour that ed002 went beyond infinity once!

15 Jan 2013 11:54:07
Looking at out 1st team squad on Arsenal's official site, we have 3 Keepers (2 are woeful) - 8 Defenders (2 are useless ~ Squilacci & Santos) - 9 Midfield players (3 are not being played ~ Frimpong, Rosicky & Arshavin) & 4 strikers. That makes a total of 17 useful players, with Arteta injured that makes 16 players to choose from.
We now have at least 7 Wenger 1st team failures out on loan, with little chance of obtaining transfer fees for them. Something needs to be done & quick.

15 Jan 2013 11:24:57
First time post, long time reader.
People are we really getting upset and angry because wenger is not signing players we want.
This has happened year after year for the past several if we are honest with our selves.
The thing is we new the moment we sold nasri clichy (spelling) to city this was never good also van Persie to united AF would never do that to strengthen a rival especially if you were the best in world at that position.
We are no better than the spuds now as this is what they do and let's be honest they were only a top 10 team when they would sell best players to united, chelski but now they would not dream of this.
Fellow gunners I hear your anguish but AW is the most stubborn man in premiere league we will not sign anyone over the 15 m mark in any transfer window the players we get will be rushed signings if we sign anyone plus young or very cheap.
So some rumours on this page I believe to be well of the mark (nice to read and imagine though lol)
The only time this will change is if there is a different mindset in the managerial roles.
And my last question to any of the eds is why do we not have your tony Adams, Ian wrights, Paul Davis, Dennis bergkamps around the first team as guide to help other players realise what you have to be to play for arsenal cos at the mo jack Wiltshire IMO is the only one showing any passion or drive.


Arsenal forever rabbit

I agree, but the players that we need would not cost over 15million. Capoue would cost around 12million. I know M'vila temprement is questionable, but 8million? That's where my frustration comes from. Players that would improve us that are reasonable prices that we can afford.
Frustrating is not the word.
Flybo

15 Jan 2013 09:40:51
Dennis Bergkamp aka God seems to think we can beat Swansea....key phrase being "we"

That's how he refers to Arsenal....not they have a good squad or they have a shot...but "we"

For a lifelong Gooner, little things like that from your heroes are what it's all about

US Gooner

I have a feeling we can beat Swansea, but I am extremely concerned about Chelsea on Saturday. Hopefully Man you will beat the Toot at the weekend & we beat West Ham, closing the gap to 3 points.

Too true fam, nice for some of our ex players to support us still instead of slate us

Henry does the same and so does Fabregas.... and that's why i love all of them.

R.O.B

Dennis Bergkamp will ALWAYS be my hero!


North Carolina Gooner

Dennis Bergkamp. The only thing he couldn't do was fly. Could you imagine if we still had him.
# MANCRUSH
Flybo

15 Jan 2013 21:45:30
most of the old guard do, it's fantastic to see.
henry, pires, lljungberg, parlour, cesc.
all refer to arsenal as "us" or "we"

lauren recently joined twitter, and has basically tweeted on every single subject about arsenal!
again with "we"

but db10, man the guy came here as a star, and left as a hero.

d

15 Jan 2013 08:50:48
Arsenal's ticket prices are simply too high for a club that hasnt won anything for 8 years. It's a disgrace that the club has handed out £50k+ contracts to the likes of Chamakh, Squillaci and Djourou whilst investing literally nothing in new players. Wenger should really have taken a pay cut as well, even if that led to £0.50 off ticket prices it would show that the club don't see fans as nothing but cash cows.

In many ways this club has lost alot of its soul since leaving Highbury. £20 tickets and a sing song in the North Bank, Adams, Seaman and Bergkamp playing for the club and not for a transfer. Honestly think football is not what it used to be.
Eman

Since Dein & Fiszman departed we have lost our way. Wenger has become dominant in all aspects of the club & we last won a trophy back in 2005. Dont forget that was the FA Cup & we only just scraped a win on penalties. Wenger's use of zonal marking, 4-3-3 formation, players played out of position, poor conditioning of players leading to the injury problems & signing too many small technical midfield players are so far removed from his trophy winning teams, its unbelievable. Alas, being a stubborn Frenchman I do not believe he will change course and I cannot see us finishing top 4, unless he brings in a keeper, a proper left back, a 4th choice centre back & two tall powerful driving midfield players.

Dont buy one then! Stop whinging

Totally true Eman, and I find it incredible how Wenger and Co are so quick to point the finger at other clubs, their spending, and how they are 'ruining' the game, yet we are as disgraceful in many ways. We have a wage bill that nearly rivals Man U, City and Chelsea - how can we say we are any more credible than they? At least they spend the money on talent, whereas Wenger will happily sit there and say if you can afford to over pay then you do it. It is absurd.

They say you build a hospital, save a life, discover cures for diseases, give to charity, and people will respect you. But you shag one sheep, and that's what people will remember you for...

In many ways this is an analogy of Arsenal - we DID do a lot of good. We were a major hand in making the league what it has become. We DID play amazing football. Now, almost every single team in the league plays nicer football than us. That isn't even an exaggeration, you go watch an entire Norwich West Brom game and tell me we play better football for longer periods. Some may disgaree with that statement purely based on those clubs but actually watch them and it's true - we do not look like any other team in the league when we're on the pitch, but not in a good way. In a few short years we have successfully ripped the soul out of the club and dragged our name through the mud. We have lost out on an entire generation or 2 even, of fans who all now support United, City and Chelsea etc.

At what point did it become Arsenal Ethos not to pay the going rate for players? At what point was this indoctrinated into club policy?

When Stan took over and granted Wenger Absolute Power as Stan had no clue what he was doing. Or thereabouts anyhow.

The biggest con we fans ever had laid upon us in the entire history of the club was the stadium move. What a joke. What club in their right minds does what we did, and structures the debt in such a way that we can't compete on the pitch or more importantly in the market?

But for every fan like me who sees the black cloud there is another fan saying how lucky we are that we have such a 'beautiful' stadium bla bla bla - sorry, we had better players and atmosphere when we were at Highbury, end of story.

This move has been a curse, dressed up as the saviour of the club and the platform for the future of the club - utter nonsense. I cannot wait til those at the club are too old to run it any more, and that goes especially for Wenger I'm afraid.

I used to absolutely idolise him, but regardless of who is in control, he has made poor choices in respect to how he has dealt with the fans, the media, with all his lies, or not being honest etc. I am pining for change I really am.

Metal Gooner

I would have clicked 15 agrees to Metals post and the original one if i could.

/The Swede

^^ Sometimes wonder if any of the 'ticket price moaners' actually even go to games? My feeling is that some of you above do not go to games, and even if the tickets were half price you still would, nt???

Good post eman

love football, hate footballers

topgunner

15 Jan 2013 06:47:39
Arsenal keen on Mohamed Diame... Is this what Wenger calls world class? ffs

Mohamed is a BEAST. We need such a player, he is much better than M'Villa . He has only one problem. He is injuryprone...

Here in peace . I thought M, villa was a cert for you gooners, but he is going to QPR ?? Has the bloke no pride or does he want to play championship football ? Looks like money talks again as with Remy, heard they are getting what Theo wants from you !
Davo

You will be lucky if diame signs for you guys i think he wants a challenge next not mediocrity

dave

I watched M'Vila & want over-impressed. He has a poor attitude as well. Personally, I would llike to see Diame & Fellaini signed, to form a formidable central midfield pairing, with Arteta & Abu Diaby as other options. I would play Cazorla & Wilshere off a main striker or wide in midfield.

Dave, If he want a challenge he'll sign for your filthy spuds, every year your biggest challenge is to try, unsuccessfully to finish above us, and we are only 3rd or 4th!

Now that's really sad.

337

I'll have to say it again. I want Wanayama

/The Swede

15 Jan 2013 06:23:56
Hackney Gooner,

Did you know, that Ed002 once got bitten by a rattlesnake?...

After two days of pain and suffering,

The rattlesnake died.

Nick.

Heard that he once made a Happy Meal cry....

Hackney Gooner

So we now know ED002 is Chuck Norris. Nice!

He's American, moved over in his prime (30years ago) and doesn't actually mow his lawn. Just stands on his porch and DARES the grass to grow!

Hackney Gooner

I've heard that Ed002 is the man who taught the Stig to drive and is now Stig's idol.

I also heard death had a near-ed002 experience.

Nick.

Pretty Ed002 is the only person capable of Frimponging Frimpong.

Metal Gooner

15 Jan 2013 01:12:01
whats everyones opinion on witsel? a talented player recieving loads of abuse from racist fans. surely he could be a viable option for holding mid?
Waq

The fact he chose to go to Zenit must indicate he only cares about money...so that rules us out.

14 Jan 2013 23:46:37
ED002 remembers the future!

Hackney Gooner

14 Jan 2013 23:24:41
There is o such thing as evolution... Only a list of creatures ED002 has decided can live....

Hackney Gooner

ED002 can fix Wenger's jackets zipper.