Arsenal Banter Archive August 17 2013

17 Aug 2013 23:21:02
Wengerism: who cost us the game, Wenger or the ref?

Well, considering we could very easily have lined up like this: Reina, Sagna, Rami, Vertonghen, Gibbs; Gustavo, Fellaini, Mata; Di Maria, RVP, Walcott, had Wenger done is damn job in the last two years, I'd say it's Wenger.

Truth is, all those players could've been Arsenal players today if he had done his job in the last two years. That's 5 windows.

Yes, we conceded two pens. But we conceded a third. That team I just listed would have told Villa to go home complete with new arse-hole and zero points on the board, as would most of our teams in the last 10 years in all fairness, except last season's one.

This is HIS remit. Yes, the ref had a shocker. But I could list an almost infinite number of teams that we could have put together either in the last few years, two years, year, or just this summer, that would have dismantled Villa even going down to ten.

You think United of today would have lost this game with ten men? No chance. You think City turned up against us the other day?

Truth is we played one decent team in Asia and they scored against us and we only scored 3 with rolling subs. City didn't turn up at ALL when we beat them, although our goals were decent.

The Emirates Cup was a massive warning - two teams who wanted to win the game either outplayed or took chances because they had the quality when it mattered. Again, this is Wenger's remit. The signs have been there for years, months, and days even. No blaming the ref or anyone else. Any decent top team can overcome 2 goals to win. Man U put FOUR past Swansea away from home. Under a guy who apparently is destined to flop. Wake up mate, you're on a hiding to nothing!

A bit depressing to hear W Ham & Everton commenting on how they have competition for places & we are so thread bear. There is no sense in not buying your targets early - so that all players know that there is genuine competition for places. Now even if we do get quality players other teams will know we are desperate & hike up the cost if its Arsenal who want to buy :-(

Spot on metal.

Totally agree metal gooner

I concur

Without sounding like I'm just having a pop at wengerism we have had so many opportunities to buy class and have missed out through sheer stubbornness and penny pinching.

The days of snapping up the likes of Patrick4, petit and anelka are long gone. We NEED to spend

It's all well and good to live in the past but I want to see quality. I would honestly love wenger to turn it around but really, 8 years is too long for THE ARSENAL

I've missed Metal Gooner rants. The only bright spot in otherwise $#!7 seasons.

I am reluctantly beginning to become a wenger out person . sad day I never thought I would say or write those words . what is happening to our once powerful club :'(

Love this post. Looks like wengerism is the only person left who blindly supports him now haha

Good call Metal. don't worry because in a few years Wenger will tell us how we nearly brought someone. Look at the players that have come out saying they nearly went to Arsenal
Ronaldo and Drogba have both recently come out saying that they nearly signed for Arsenal. Then we have the players on trials. Kolo Toure's brother . apparently didn't cut it at the trial however looks a great player at City.
I understand that he only wants to bring in players that will improve the squad/team however he needs to have a reality check with the current crop of players

17 Aug 2013 23:07:15
Sorry but I have been staying for ages, Wenger reign has run it's course, what was he doing at the press conference tonight. almost cause for dissmisal, 16 man squad 5 out with injuries, Inc the ox 3mths and we were lucky. thanks for that insight, so basically were stuffed and it's your fault. or if it's not now is the time to let us, the fans who pay all your wages, know what has been going on behind the scenes this summer.

17 Aug 2013 22:46:29
Guys, trust in Wenger. He loves our club as much as we do (he is definitely not here to make money - else he would have been in PSG) and he will do the best possible deal for us in this window. And he is the best possible option for Arsenal at this moment.
Keep Calm. Trust in him!

Yeah how does he get buy on 8million a year it's a very hard life

Rubbish.
You don't buy when the season has started if you want to do well.
And 7.5m a year is a good reason to stay.

SUMANASB. You must be new to football therefore I will be gentle with you. Have you ever thought of following table tennis or swimming? its very interesting they say.

Trust in Wenger! Only a religious fanatic or a dictator's PR department would use a slogan like that.
I think "Wenger Out" is a better one.

As he got the offers, in Madrid or Bayern or PSG - he could have earned double to what he is earning now.
And for SAM5555 - I am old in football and new here. There is crisis moment I agree - but crisis needs cool head that Wenger has. Abusing him will not do any good.

Wenger will not pay top money on players because under his dictatorship he has to be paid more than any player because he thinks he's more important. This is why Wenger will not spend and why he needs to go. He's a control freak

17 Aug 2013 22:32:40
Look I don't believe anybody is asking for Wengers blood. But what we are asking for is an answer as to whether Wenger is still the man for the job. Personally I think time is up for him problem is who will replace him. This descision should have been made months ago. We need a manager with balls now! I'm afraid Wenger may have got tangled up in all the money saving praise that has been bestowed upon him over the last few years and he has taken his eye off the ball so to say.

I cannot believe that Wenger just won't spend the money surely it has to be restrictions by the club

SAM5555. I am not sure how much you know about how club transfer works-its not like football manager game. Its not only manager that buys player - manager only finalizes target list and explains plan.

17 Aug 2013 22:14:10
Ivan gazidis needs to be on the phone to Ashley Williams' and Cesars' agents right fvcking now telling them get your arses to the emirates tomorrow, your having medicals then you're in the team on Wednesday.

Fvck what Wenger thinks they're worth, were in serious trouble at the moment

Time for everyone there to do their job. that will be a first.

17 Aug 2013 22:06:34
The referee had a nightmare today. Even so we were very poor.

Wenger is wrong. There are players who can improve our squad. I still firmly believe he will sign players though. Good ones too.

Can we stop being so melodramatic though please. Frankly pathetic to be rolling out the Wenger out calls already. Yes he needs to sort it but can we at least wait until the end of September?

Thank you brother. Great to see someone keeping the faith.

Wait till the end of transfer deadline day when were 10 points behind the leading pack. that shows ambition. just the type of fans the gutless board want. happy trying to finish 4th {Ed007's Note - That's a quality sign-off name :-)

17 Aug 2013 21:57:21
Today wasn't even shocking, that's what hurts the most. We can all see where the team needs strengthening yet it doesn't happen. Having said this the squad we have should be more than capable of winning today's game. Having been at the game I think it's shocking how quick the crowd turned, you could feel tension in the ground. It must affect the players. Before the game most of the talk was about the players we haven't signed not the ones we have. We all have our right as we pay our money but I think at times the atmosphere towards the team is shocking, it was the first game of the season and already the team is on the defensive with the crowd.

Wilshere is operating at about 60%, he could be another Ramsey and take all this season to get back up to speed and awareness. His injuries have massively affected his game, plus the burden we put on him I think is taking it toll.

The board and Wenger have a very short time to turn things round, if we fail to qualify for CL and start the league badly the Emirates will become very uncomfortable for everyone at Arsenal. Now you can say the board don't care they just want the money well unless am mistaken some of our bumper new sponsorship deals are performance related. Something is very wrong within Arsenal at the moment the club is deceiving the fans. We have supposed targets saying they want to come to Arsenal yet the club manages to push these players away. This season is going to be long and I feel very turbulent both on and off the field. Personally if this does continue I feel top 10 might be the best we can hope for.

17 Aug 2013 21:53:16
OK so I wasn't at the game, and haven't seen any highlights yet. Did we play really badly or were we just unlucky? I was dragged by a friend to Carrow Road for the Norwich v Everton game today and I spent all 90 minutes admiring Fellaini. Whereas last season he tended to drift forwards and be more attacking, today he reverted to being much more defensive and he looked exactly like what we need. He dominated box to box, not one player could get near him. I was following the Arsenal score constantly and when Giroud scored I thought we'd be off to a flying start but evidently not. Hopefully this defeat will prove to le Prof that our team is evidently not good enough to win the league this year. I know there's still 37 games to go but I'm not filled with confidence. Hopefully the next few games will be better, but let's be honest I don't think it can get much worse!

We were good for the first ten minutes and shocking afterwards. The decisions were terrible but this should not hide how far were falling behind.

Yeah I've now watched the highlights and the referee had a shocking game, neither of Koscielny's challenges deserved anything. I'm now concerned about the injuries we have stacking up and no squad players to bring in!

18 Aug 2013 13:13:05
the 1st one was a penalty he got the player before the ball if u see he's right leg so stop blaming ref

17 Aug 2013 21:38:54
Well I'll throw my two pence worth in. The game today we had various issues - no cover for gibbs, no arteta, no defensive cover - Jenkinson is not good enough i'm afraid, maybe one or two more years. The ref was shocking, Koss off, it's just one game.

The worrying thing is the size of the squad. 17 players out, one in. Even if we failed to get big players, we should be smashing the market for new talent, and to only sign a league two striker is shocking.

It's weird, if this was mergers and aquisitions i'd think we were breaking up the business and selling it off. As it is, I think the whole show is run by clowns. If Wenger goes we should show him the loyalty and stick him inside, as he has given his life to AFC and done masses through a financially tough time. People have short memories, and it's similar to last season with everyone scenting blood.

Fact is, 4 good signings and a really good run, it will blow over. Rubbish signings and poor results, maybe he'll walk, but doubt he'll be pushed.

17 Aug 2013 21:35:48
Pls guys just use your brains. Who cost us the game? Wenger or the referee?
Just think about it.

Both did

17 Aug 2013 21:56:13
Wenger and his thread bare squad ffs

Wenger

They were unlucky not to be winning before the pen when Delphi hit the post or are you like winger and did not see it

Iam starting to think your on the wind up

Ffs mate open your eyes

Wenger cost us the chance to salvage something from the game, by not having signed quality cover for injuries/sending offs of 1st team players .

Wengerism do you think man city, man united or Chelsea would have had to play a right back at left back and a midfielder in defense on the 1 st day of the season with their current squads?

Wengers choice not to bring on a left sided player for ox when he got injured.


So regardless of The poor ref, I blame Wenger 100 percent.

Spanner we are all hurting. All I'm saying is point the anger in the right direction

17 Aug 2013 21:22:44
Wenger is not to blame today it's the players theses players were the ones who went on the run to get us to 4th place last year so what happened today. Maybe our goal came a little too early it gave them them the whole half to get back in all be it by some kind decisions by the ref how should be suspended and fined his purse for today for such inconstancy. Anyway we gave them too much respect 11v11 and when we went down to 10 it was like we were playing Barcelona but no it was the same villa that was nearly relegated last year while we went on the unbeaten run. The booing was being aimed at wenger and the board but don't let the players off either a few stank today and couldn't be arsed when we went down to 10 men there was still plenty of time and it was only 2-1 and we did try to some extent but it was more like an end of season effort rather than 1st game. I don't know I probperly contradicted myself here because this is written in anger and out of frustration but I'll get over it and by Wednesday I'll have forgiving all till the next time we loose so let's hope we don't feel like this again for a good few games down the road.

Mate half the team was too unfit to play but because we have no squared they had too, that's wengers fault

They were fit just lack heart obviously they'll go out tonight have meal wath family and go training tomorow and not give a f**k but for fans out whole week is doom and gloom till the next game

17 Aug 2013 21:15:58
wenger has really lost his marbles this time. he is probably at home now with his head in his hands thinking what every gooner knew at the end of last season. WE NEED STRENGTHENING!
you can try and blame the ref for not doing his job today, but the piss poor reaction to going down to 10 men and going behind was dismal.
jack showed fire in his belly, rosicky ramsey kosci also and the ox but the rest need to buck up. we looked lost and dishellved, no penetration or drive.
I was cringing and too embarrassed for wenger to even boo, but how else can supporters show their disgust at what is happening to their beloved club without not turning up at all.
we had all pre season to buy where required, and bed them in during friendlies. names were mentioned by the media, hyping up players but wenger played into their hands by not doing what the FANS wanted last season. the media will be hyperventilating to get out their stories tomorrow but wenger has given them the ammunition, all he had to do was target his players and buy them. BUT NO all we got was the usual drivel of we have character, they are a year wiser BS, we will challenge, I believe bo**cks.
wenger has had 8 seasons winning diddly this will be 9. it hurts to see arsenal a club with so much potential be run by a-ho*es and managed by an even bigger one. the man is so stubborn it irritates me so much, why can't he admit he is wrong, the present set up is pants. and for all the 'in arsene we trust brigade' who are quiet for a change should wake up and smell the coffee. WERE PANTS
day 1 and the gloom and doom has set in, ivan stan and arsene are to blame, we need class players and winners full stop, not journeymen wanting to play tippy tappy football to 60,000 people every week who pay their wages.

god help us for the champions league qualifier.

NO MORE BS WE WANT RESULTS.

Hulk Hogunner

Jack showed squat we are blind when your comes to him

17 Aug 2013 21:08:55
Re my earlier post reference Wenger handing his notice in.

I was joking

sorry guys

very much wishful thinking

17 Aug 2013 20:41:27
I would have to say we were although we were extremely unlucky, some key players just did not show up today. Wilshere played one of the worst games I've ever seen him play, he always ran right into traffic and did not distribute the ball with pace whatsoever. He may have the drive to be our captain, but he must show the poise and intelligence to do so because he played and acted without maturity on the pitch today. He and Ramsey left our back line exposed so many times. Giroud and Rosicky were fantastic today, though Rosicky probably should have netted at least one.

While I'm unhappy with wenger, especially his post game reaction, it's just too easy to jump on the wenger out bandwagon, at least until the window closes. If we could just get bender Williams, maybe flamini and a striker, arsene would probably do some good for his job security.

17 Aug 2013 20:35:01
'I want 3 signings at arsenal' - wenger

Signings will happen. I'm just worried that the quality of players will drop massively if this form continues, good news it's just one game.

Before the season I was 100% behind arsene wenger and believed everything he did was in the best interest for the club, from about 3 weeks ago the percentages have been dropping like arsenal players to the medical table.


Some kind of change is needed, some kind of explination is needed. S*it is about to hit the fan with some fans.

Please someone high up in the club explain what's going on because I can seriously see us dropping into 6th this season.

Sorry for being pessimistic gooners. But it was on my mind.

Im not that mad, I'm just disappointed.

17 Aug 2013 21:54:23
I'd add a 1 to the three and no not 4 more 13 players needed for the squad

I'm seriously gutted now at the standards of my club we are falling year on year

I'd be happy with some good players given we train our squad in Iraq or equivalent who picks up 3 injuries inside 80 mins of new season

Voodoo doctor needed to banish curse or what?

17 Aug 2013 20:24:47
There are still 37 games left.

If he hasn't signed quality by the end of the window he should be gone.

Ted, that will be to late, change if it's going to happen must be now, don't think for one minute it will

17 Aug 2013 20:09:44
Eds is there any chance we can make the banter page longer again? Now it's like personter where someone has about enough time to get a post in and it's gone before any real discussion. {Ed027's Note - i'll put it forward mate, its going to be a problem in the next few weeks

And I preferred the like/dislike, is there a way of only letting registered users use this function?
Cheers for all the hard work by the way, it must be hard on days like today(for arsenal ed's especially)

To be fair Ed's the changes you have done have taken a lot of banter away, and the likes and dislikes I am sure all of us that posted often came on for a cheeky look to the updates:) {Ed027's Note - sorry about that

17 Aug 2013 19:51:17
Depressed already its only the first game and re have real problems. Look at it this way of wel has won wenger would have never spent a penny, at least now he has to see

17 Aug 2013 19:46:45
27 players out, 6 first team players injured, kesceiney red carded and a 3-1 home defeat for the opening game. We are in the biggest mess I've ever seen and need to buy players more then ever, yet we still haven't signed anyone, where is this £100 warchest we need it more then ever before, but still arragonce from wenger

17 Aug 2013 19:43:13
On todays positive side we can put one thing(ore one name really)Rosicky.The only player that constantly get the ball forward in the pitch with speed.Created most of the chances in this game.
On todays negative side(At least one of them)Both Wilshere and Ramsey are constantly taking 5 or 6 touches on the ball instead of one single touch to the next guy.All of this takes place on the offensive side-so when they(as for most of the ocations)looses possesion there is a big gap that Koscielny tryes to tighten for most of the times(Before first penalty and ultimatley with his last game of the match).So I can´t slay Kos as most of you, but we really missed Arteta today(or a guy who can work in his area).But hey, we can still make 111 points this season.We are still alongside Tottenham in the table.

No one should slay kos. what can he do when he has to play cb and dm at the same time?

For months been saying this about rosicky, but people seem obsessed with ramsey(maybe because he is British), if we want a club who can compete with the best we need quality similar to rosicky drive, forward thinking, and link up play rather than Ramsey's average game, yes he works hard and gives his all but at best he should be first choice for the likes of villa, we need true class game winners. is that really ramsey?

Good post bruv,

17 Aug 2013 19:39:32
Does anyone else think that Ivan Gazidis deliberately publicised the "escalation in our financial power" and "we could pay Rooney wages and more" to the World so that the selling clubs inflate the prices & Wenger then places bids knowing they won't get accepted? The supporters are then made to think so and so player is not worth that price and so Wenger this time will not have to say "we wanted to buy and we tried" because the fans will have said this for him.

Its a very sad thought and perhaps pathetic to think like that but our transer activities in recent seasons would suggest more of the same

No mate.

He said it, because Wenger, who has the complete control over the players we go for (as any manager should to be fair) had expressed a desire to go for big names.
Coupled with the money we had/have Ivan felt safe making this announcement publicly.

However, as time passed, and our form in Asia was outstanding, Wenger decided to revert back, and not desperately chase big names, only if thy became available.

Now, because Gazidis was the one who promised big deals, people are firing at him.
But as far as I figure Gazidis, whilst partially at fault, isn't the major player here, its Wenger.
dont forget, wenger is all powerful at arsenal, and throwing Gazidis to the wolves is an easy and viable option.

(Pointing out that my points come from what I've read/seen/heard/been told, so the accuracy of what I put is all down to what I "hear" it could be a load of tosh and 100% wrong, don't ever take it as gospel, as I always feel bad about posting something completely off, especially good news, not to mention it hurts me too as a gunner!)

17 Aug 2013 19:36:23
Well we haven't bought the much needed players but Thank god we had that good run in last season.

17 Aug 2013 19:29:37
. please EDS if you can pass this message to wenger somehow and let him know to STOP ruin our club and f. off . can someone explained me how you can get your season going with 17 players half of them injured I mean i'm so pissed off, honesly I was going to come on the pitch and smash wenger plus ref, but my m8 stopped me. kroenke gazidis and co.go away . fenebbahce will smash us big time .

You sir, are an person

Wrighty, my man, that's not a nice thing to say.

Wengers having a mare, but OP, that post is just stupidity,

Personally, Wrighty, I think he's a
Witty
Argumentative
Neurotic
Keen
Energetic
Reader

17 Aug 2013 19:17:17
I don't care what anybody phukking says. Arsene Wenger should have been sacked at 5pm today. Less than 2 weeks ago, without signings our squad was good enough to compete for the league, apparently. I was at the shambles of a match today, and witnessed a one footed right back playing left back and Aaron Ramsey playing centre half. True the ref was at best a clown, but if the money had been invested appropriately, as promised, we would not have lost today. The killer was Gibbs injury, the only defender, and I use that term loosely, on the bench, was Carl rookie Jenkinson, WTF!? Arsenal FC have a cash surplus of 154 million pound, the other 19 prem teams only have a combined cash surplus of 181 million. Mismanagement and grosse negligence result in sackings in every other walk of life. Pi55 off Arsene your time is up!!

Good post. Exactly my observations of the the game.

Sure, the ref was truly awful, possibly the worst Premiership refereeing performance I have ever seen (and I am completely unbiased here, how does he fail to send Szczesny off?) but HTF can you declare to the world you have £70m to spend then finish the match with a back four of Jenkinson, Mert, Ramsey and Podolski?! Regardless of the circumstances.

We have a Champions League Qualifier on Wednesday, I don't care how unlucky we are with injuries or how difficult it has been in the transfer market, to go into this match with hardly any fit recognised defenders of whatever standard is truly negligent.

If I behaved like this in my job I would have gone long ago. I don't care who is responsible, be it Wenger or the board, somebody has to take responsibilty for this mess.

17 Aug 2013 19:14:28
Hi Gooners

We are screwed now, who will replace our injured players. really worried now for the UCL game. unless we buy atleast 4-5 players or get at least 2 players from reserve team.

but today the referee was the worst I have seen Epl. How do they qualify these referees for Epl? but we also were bad in ball possession. both goals came from loosing possession.

wenger now has to buy, but my worry. is panic buys. like he did when he bought santos, bennayung, arteta. really felt. like why the hell he is not buying. is he gone mad! I m sorry to say this but even a blind man can see we were well short of squad depth. if he does not do well and not able to buy top players now, it won't suprise me a big revolt on the cards in coming days by the crowd and the fans. I tell u looking at the overall environment in the stadium was not good. ultimately players get affected and we will slip further. arsenal may have escaped last time but surely this is not something which will happen again.

i think should leave now. too tired to hear the same bs again and again. go wenger or buy that's it. and wenger supporters don't. rubbish . buzz off.

17 Aug 2013 18:39:05
Wenger out?
Yes or No?

YES ASAP plus all the f. ing board

It's time; it's going to end in tears for a lot of us but yes, he has to go.

He could've gotten the players to kick on and really challenge but he dithered.

Now they'll have to make panic buys when they could've made the deals a month or six weeks ago.

Yes with a free bus ticket

17 Aug 2013 18:46:11
Long time reader, new poster

I had to register and post purely because of wengerisms blinkered views!

Are you insane? The world and their dog knows we are in the brown stuff. We desperately need quality and I'm sorry but wenger just can't seem to see or address it.

We have every right to voice our opinions over there. We spend the money and make the board richer. Open your eyes man!

Colin b

See wengerism! People are signing up to tell others how ridiculous you really can be.

Welcome to the site Colin b :)

17 Aug 2013 18:40:53
Before I go off on my rant let me first stress my point that WE DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN THAT GAME!

My points on the game:

The Referee: Was he on LSD or something?! The first penalty he gave Villa the advantage, there was an advantage, they played it, took a shot and missed. He never should have brought the play back for the penalty! The second penalty was an absolute joke! Fantastic tackle from Koscielny, obvious he got the ball, and even if it was a foul it definitely didn't warrant a yellow card. But for the rest of the game he blatantly did everything he possibly could to stop us from playing. Every time there was an advantage to Villa, he let them play on, every time there was an advantage to us, he brought the play back! Vlaar should have been sent off! And how Villa only had a few more yellows than us was astounding! They manhandled us and were fouling us at every opportuninty, and the ref just let it go. We didn't lose the game because of him but he was a HUGE factor. Tosser!

Besides from that, after the first 15 minutes or so we were already out of the game and never looked like winning. In the first 15 minutes when we were getting the ball wide all the time, we looked like scoring every time we went forward. And then we stopped using the wings and tried to play smartass tiki taka football down the middle, which didn't pay off. We also have NO physical presence in the squad, we have Mertesacker and Giroud but they're still pansies compared to other players their size. Every time Jack, Rosicky, Ramsey, Theo or the Ox were on the ball they just got bullied off it because they were so light weight. We need big players!

Look at Swansea today before they conceded, they're all big, physical, athletic players but they still move the ball around amazingly, and none of that short passing slow game rubbish either. They play the passing game but the do it quickly and efficiently whereas today we just pissed about in the final third till we lost the ball!

Another problem is the lack of a true defensive minded midfielder, don't get me wrong Arteta and Ramsey has been a great partnership but because our three in the middle are still attacking minded we leave a HUGE gap between the midfield and the back four when we get hit on the break, that was the main reason we conceded the two penalties today.

I still think we'll buy some players thanks to our injury problems never ceasing to haunt us but they will be deadline day panic buys as usual and I'll be surprised if we even challenge for top four this season.

If I were Wenger and the board I'd say **** it and break the bank for Fellaini, who wants to play in a deeper role. And Adil Rami, who is an absolute monster to partner Koscielny, and a right back as cover for Sagna, I know a lot of people admire him but Jenkinson has been bloody awful lately!

Bottom line - WE ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Wenger and the Board, get your heads out your arses and your hands out your pockets and SPEND!

Very disillusioned right now.

Bring on losing to Fenerbace.

Totally Agree

No more excuses. just spend the money on top quality players

17 Aug 2013 18:36:28
Absolutely fuming after that result, admittedly the ref did play a part but still disappointing. However there are two positives to this, the amount of chances created and the fact that Wenger MUST go back into the market and get some solid deals done.

17 Aug 2013 18:20:44
We have close to 200mill [or thereabouts] sitting in a bank a/c gathering dust. We go out and produce a performance like that. It's down to the manager no one else. anyone for Higuain or Gustavo now!
This is simply bad management.

17 Aug 2013 18:17:40
I can't believe the sh** I saw today starting with the clown in goals he will cost us more matches in the coming weeks the giant german way too slow, gibbs only a cut above the eye get it stiched and get back on show a bit of fight jack spent more time on the ground looking for frees, he will have to relise opponents are allowed tackle him, walcott went missing again it seems to me when teams get physical with arsenal we can't handle it where is our defensive midfielder we are lacking for years we were 2-i down with 10 minutes left we had a corner and some how we gave away a goal I know we were chasing the game but we could leave someone at the back. As for the manager I have always been a Wenger fan but I an loosing the will to live watcing this crap Arsenal were always most peoples second team people admired the arsenal style of play and the way the club was run, but now it seems everyone wants to beat us and take great pleasure in it.Sorry for the rant but it as been comming a long time Ps. I hope all this is wrong and we go on and win the league

Limerick Gunner

17 Aug 2013 18:15:42
'We could have won the game today, with the players we had on the pitch, I'm convinced of that'.

Now I'm a big Arsene fan but it's those kind of comments that get even his loyal fans to question his logic. Well of course they could have won, it's fair to say we could also have won the title last year, and fair to say we could be on our way to an EPL and ECL double ths year. Anything, well almost anything is possible, in fact it's possible that tonight Beyonce may ask me to marry her.

Possible is the art of nonsense. Please don't reward our support with platitudes. Yes some decisions were rubbish, but you really think in the same situation it would have made any difference to United or Chelski or even Spuds? Nope because top teams make their own luck, and break the luck that others get.

I truly fear the Fenerbache game if that is our honest response to today. We have to rally, we have to be honest, and we have to make sure that all know it cannot and will not be repeated. Players need to know today was simply not good enough. Arsene can take one of the blame but the team were poor.

I have just read the AW post match briefing from the Arsenal website, I kid you not the club is distancing itself from him, not pro-Wenger like they normally are, take a look.

17 Aug 2013 18:10:13
Lol you Gooners need to calm down.

It's only the first game!

On the other hand, it's comedy gold.

Keep it up boys *sniggers*

What. A spud. 5th again is it. lol

17 Aug 2013 18:05:48
And to top this day off robin van c***face has just scored!




.

17 Aug 2013 18:03:43
People are way way too hasty!
Lets judge a team on 1 game, that's a joke, not Wenger and the team. I thought we were thoroughly unlucky today. Referee had a Weston super!
Where has the loyalty gone. And to boo is just not on. Wenger and this team still deserves our respect.

You were the one who said we would be proved wrong today which we weren't its not about one game its about the last couple of seasons and this transfer window. He shows no loyalty to the fans. Get a grip.

Mate take your rose coloured glasses off and join the real world

I think you need to remove your rose tinted glasses. I respect Wenger for what he has done, but not for what he is doing. What the **** was he doing all the summer.
Ah yeah the ref:
Anthony Taylor

And what respect have arsenal plc and wenger shown the fans, its a two way street mate and we are are getting a bit tried of the nonsense the board and wenger are telling us its lie after lie after lie

I wish we could meet so I can give you you a good shake = WAKE THE F UP MAN

This is only the first game but a loss is a loss so I totally disagree with your statement wengerism, as this team has been in decline for years as selling players like fab and rvp only proves we are slowly falling behind the top teams.
It pains me to see my club as a farce and when will mr wenger and the board realise that this is not acceptable by arsenals standards.
Mr wenger built a team on the foundations left by George graham, Stewart Houston and Bruce Rioch and benefited in his early years.
Yes he transformed our club and the stadium/training facility, but he has too much pride and ego to admit he is wrong with the current crop of players as I don't think any of the squad would even feature for the invincible team, koscielny, jack and carzola would make the bench but its a far cry from what standards wenger set himself.
It's nice that you are behind the manager but I support Arsenal football club not arsenal wenger football club and no one is bigger than the club and if he's not providing us with the team to challenge and reward average players then its time to step down and let someone else take the reigns.

17 Aug 2013 18:00:01
Well that couldn't have gone much better could it? The new signings have all settled in position, and the benefit of signing early and effective was always evident. It felt like Arsenal of old.

Gustavo really bossed the midfield and it was great to see the replacement for Gilberto we have needed for so long. I thought Sakho handled the few threats that got through with ease, what a joke that anyone thought we might need Benteke. Between them £30m spent and suddenly a spine we can build on.

I think Lamela showed all the promise we hoped for too, quick and so great to see an Arsenal payer scaring defences again after the more tame recent attackers. You get he feeling Wilshere, Ox and Ramsey will grow to their full potential in this company, can you imagine what it might have been like if we had messed up this summer?

Bring on Fenerbache is all I can say.

P.s. I've decided it's all a lot easier to watch this season with some help from my friendly local dealer.

17 Aug 2013 17:56:37
if this doesn't push Wenger into spending nothing will, and not panic buys, proven class. I feel unless there's some serious changes are made in this window then this will be Arsene's last year.

Could be his last month

17 Aug 2013 17:32:00
where are you Wengerism, need your peptalk on our mental strength, team spirit and ofcourse our winning run towards the end of last season. LOL

17 Aug 2013 17:28:46
Hey guys- yeah rubbish start, was at the game, ref was disgustingly bad. But moving away from all the doom and gloom, I thought of some possible alternatives to Suarez:

Javier Hernandez
Alexis Sanchez
Troy Deeney (suprise package?)
Michu
Wayne Rooney

cheers

Well apart from Rooney will not be coming near us, there is no chance of Hernandez, and Michu is yet another 'not a hope' of joining us, I agree with you. We could indeed get an untried, inexperienced, young striker like Deeney, and yes he may just come good. But you wouldn't bet your next match let alone the season on it. The championship is simply not the EPL.

17 Aug 2013 17:30:19
Great game today. I think we showed great fighting spirit and a great level of confidence. I am very pleased that we created so many chances to score. I think we where a bit unlucky with the result today. We have the possibility to win the league this year I am sure of it. I really believe in this team.
It would be great to not sign any players at this moment since this is a perfect opportunity to find new talents in our already great squad. Podolski might actually be a great left back and showed some promising signs in defence today. Our next task should be to try Giroud as a Goalie since this might reveal an interesting new quality to his game. having players that can play in different possitions could really imrpove our gameplay and it might even be possible to get the squad down to around 16 players.

Welcome to the site Mr Wenger

Excellent post Mr Swede. The only thing is I think you are being a bit limited. The girl that served me tea was pretty nippy, I can't see why she wouldn't fit in to your ideas. Actually come to think of it I might have slowed down since my height (bring clear my height was never very high) but even with the lack of pace, the evident lack of skill, and the lack of any left foot I'd like to think I might make a good squad addition.

Like it.

Were we watching the same match

Im sensing sarcasm?

You had me going there!

Haha I like sarcasm and irony. But in reality it isn't funny at all ofc.

This is like the fall of the roman empire and vandals are now outside the gates of rome.

Decline on the pitch. Making money off the pitch.

Fans unhappy- owners and co very happy. A joke.

We did not play that badly as people make out today going forward we created quite a few chances just did not take enough of them. Rosicky in particular was argubly man of the match.

Defensivly though we are still vunrable and the 1st goal would have been stopped if we actually had a proper disiplined defensive midfielder in front of the back 4. 2nd penalty was the big key decision which the ref got totally wrong as Kos clearly got the ball, where was the linesman he should have seen that. That frustration lead to his careless challenge for the 2nd yellow, he needs to control his emotions better there, but its is not easy when you are such hard done by like that.

The third well we were pushing hard for the equaliser with 10 Men and had them pinned back and just got caught on the counter.

It was just one of those days were we got punished on a any little mistake and were on the wrong side of the key ref. decisions.


Give Villa some credit aswell very brave to keep 3 men up front away from home when they went ahead and Benteke is a real handful on the counter situation for anyone

This is not to excuse the obvious defisencies in our squad mind. We defo need a proper Dm and CB without question, still not convinced by Mert in our high line and with our growing injury list we need players fast.

17 Aug 2013 17:26:08
So we now only have 2 defenders available for next week wtf is going on

Just two defenders and no CDM to provide cover.
Villa got their first penalty today because we don't have stopper in the midfield. Agbonlahor ran right through the midfield. No one put in a tackle nor forced him out wide. Way too easy for Villa tbh

17 Aug 2013 17:21:58
First game of the season and we put the "invincibles" theory to bed. Arsene must man up or pack up

17 Aug 2013 17:20:17
wow! I don't know where to start. I have been blindly optimistic over the summer and about our season. I didn't have any worries with our opening fixture or with eventual tranfers in. but I sit hear with a slow anger building. I guess I was an person really! I just hope for my sakes its all out of wengers hands and its the board and negotiators that are beginning to roy my club from the inside out.

my thoughts are with u my fellow goons

17 Aug 2013 17:19:06
So pissed off, wenger has got us in to a right mess we already 30 players down have only 3 cb's oh and now koecieneys bin red carded, vermale. Is injured so we have one cb and the bfg is the worst one, yet still no bloody signings, seriously WTF more does wenger need to see before we buy some top players, there is no going back wenger needs to go and as the heart of this club we need to make it happen, what I would do to have wenger be succesful, but where is here he's in kookoo land, why is he such a stubborn person!!

17 Aug 2013 17:50:56
Where are those 'in-wenger-we-trust' brigade.? Look at our club today.! It's embarrassing and frustrating.

Wenger con

17 Aug 2013 17:35:12
Mr Wenger you have wasted all this transfer window. now with 2 weeks to go you will start to panic buy.We need 4 or 5 top quality players, where are you going to get them from now that most leagues have now started and the teams are trying to get settled.
You are too Arragant and Stubborn for your own good, and this season this will cost Arsenal our champions league place.

17 aug 2013 17:33:23
buy some players! any players!

17 Aug 2013 17:32:53
Either usomnov in and stan/Ivan out or wenger out laundrup in, We need change and now what a joke this club is, corupt to the core a stingy, deluded, stubbon manager, and nearly no players left plus no new faces and a 3-1 smashing by villa!!

17 Aug 2013 17:17:27
Bring on Guus Hiddink!
First game of the season and WE are out already. Thanks Arsene! at least We won't be deluded something can chance this year. you made sure it won't. 9 years is just the beginning.

I'm annoyed to like most fans, but I really do think that after 1 game in a season it's a bit early to say that don't you think?

17 Aug 2013 17:14:56
Arsenal fans were right . Liverpool aren't your rivals :)

Come back in May

Mate it was just one match 37 matches still to go

Mate you guys were absolutely unbelievable today. Sturridge, Aspas and Countinho would've shat on Real Madrid and Barca with that performance. So full of ideas, so fluid, dynamic, and more to the point, QUALITY. I love that game. I'm shocked you only won 1-0 because you could've been 6-0 up at half time. Rogers is a great scout and as I have said time and time again much to the hatred of fellow AFC fans he knows exactly what he's doing. You attack looked like it knew exactly what it was trying to do, so organised and deadly, even without Suarez wtf! Someone get back to me when our attack looks that outright dangerous.

17 Aug 2013 17:11:05
Lets here you now, fans like wengerism saying things like its the small 20% of fans unhappy with the way the club is being run, did that sound like 20% today??

the ref was a joke but the result is what we deserved,

why

no def midfielder time and time again back four was exposed
no squad depth could not bring any game changes on, imo wilksi and cazzi where no where fit enough to play as well.

Keeper not in the top 12 in the prem why this has not yet been addressed?

what to do now?

Well we will be lucky to get into the champs league imagine if we play in turkey like we did today we will lose 4 or 5 nill

what team is going to sell us there best players with no time to buy replacement - no one we will end up with panic basement overpaid average players

we have had all pre season to sort this out, its clearly not good enough everyone in the world can see this apart form wenger who thinks we are in with a chance of the title - what is he on and where can I get some

The way its going in a few years, it will be not getting relegated will be like winning a trophy

The only thing to do is not let wenger spend any money, write this season off and give 100million to a new manger next summer, let's hope we can finish 4th, but I doubt it the board and wenger have dug such a big hole I just can't see a way out - it pains me so much to write this but it might be for the best

anyway I look forward to reading all the rants that are going to come in today

All true spanner.
Anyone who thought we would sell RVP (who just scored by the way) and then spend £70m 12 months later was living in cuckoo land.

17 Aug 2013 17:06:43
Would you move back to the old highbury?, I know I would, there is a certain aura at the emirates. Prawn sandwich brigade kinda thing.

I remember walking up the stairs in the old north bank coming out a looking over at the pitch for my first ever game, about 7 or 8 I think I was vs QPR, that was me.

It had a special feel there, it was ARSENAL.

Dont get me wrong the Emirates is an amazing stadium, but I don't know about you, its still going to be a few years before it feels like "home".

I only really go to away games now as its much more raw, standing for the whole game, trying to out sing about 30,000 more blokes than we take. I feel that passion missing in areas of the emirates, its far to conservative.

Stand the **** up and be counted, sing until your head is pounding, make it a ****ing fortress.

Rant over

I would move back to Highbury but when it held 60000 plus, you can forget the small stadium it became. I kind of get th feeling the Emirates has changed our future but maybe messed up our today. It had to be done but.

I wish our manger had as much passion as you m8

Agree 100 %

You do realise that being a good football fan isn't just about shouting loudly?

17 Aug 2013 17:06:19
after this, I just wonder how people with season tickets must be feeling.

my deepest sympathies with the friends and family members of all those who've spent a small fortune for front rows seats to one of the biggest display of insanity, mediocrity and misfortune known to man.

17 Aug 2013 17:05:31
Big loss today. Not too worried - hopefully it forces into action to replace the team where needed. I suspect Sagna will be a doubt for a few weeks so I would expect 2 defenders, keeper and forward.

Wenger looked thoroughly annoyed his "title winning side" couldn't beat a team who struggled last season.

Bring on Wednesday - expect the kids to be out

17 Aug 2013 17:04:51
Wilshere was horrible today. He must to pass the ball. He's holding the ball too much in his legs and was diving continuously. The whole team has played bad. WENGER OUT!

17 Aug 2013 17:03:06
I don't I'll review the game because I swear far too much when I'm annoyed, however:

The referee was dreadful.
We are dreadful
I swear far too much.
F******* S***

SPEND SOME F****** MONEY!

17 Aug 2013 17:01:31
Diaster start 3-1 home loss. That 2nd penalty decision was criminal, where was the linesman he should have seen that Kos got the ball.

Kos mind then was foolish then with 2nd yellow.

We did not play that bad and Rosicky was imense but we just caught then on the counter for the thrid pushing to equalise with 10 men.

Credit The Villa aswell brave to keep the 3 up front when they had the lead.

Wenger must Spend a Dm and CB is must at the very least.

17 Aug 2013 16:58:52
Resign all

17 Aug 2013 16:58:07
I don't swear much but I am turning the air blue! That was pathetic. Add to the result more players will be missing. Our once great club has become a laughing stock only its not funny any more. Stan, Ivan and Arsene sort it out or get out now!

17 Aug 2013 16:29:31
Well that's a good start, maybe now he will spend some money.

17 Aug 2013 16:03:25
Regarding the PK. I've never seen a ref give advantage after a foul in the box and then he pulls it back when they miss that open net! What he should of done was call the foul when it was a foul. Giving that advantage essentially allows two open shots in the box.

I hate blaming the refs for our poor play, but he's caused some frustration for the team and us fans. We need to settle down and play our game, Jack especially. I don't want him to go into any hasty tackle

Oh and what the hell was Szcz doing out of his box like that? Let your defenders deal with pressing the defenders and you get yourself in the goal. Almost got scored on there. Jesus. He needs to mature fast if we want to compete with the big boys.

On a good note, great goal we scored. Great pass. Great run from Giroud. Great placement for the shot

17 Aug 2013 15:43:39
1-1 at the moment, not a great start

17 Aug 2013 15:35:03
Well my line up was close! Didn't see Ox being picked over Podolski.

17 Aug 2013 14:28:57
An honest opinion about Vermaellen . We all know he is a very good player on his day but actually when is his day?
His injury problems read like War and Peace it's never ending. I think we should let him go when the time is right which I hope wil be soon.

I Am not inclined to give up on him just yet, when is on form he is still one the best CB's in the league. Injuires have hamperred his game time hence he has struggled to get back into form. I do think he works well alongside Kos but not alongside Mert. TV5 would naturally be the agressive one attacking the ball and Kos would sweep in behind with his pace. Mertasaker in high lone is vunrable as the last man to sweep up hence the partnership with TV5 was not natural.

Our squad is paper thin and you want to sell one of our good players. Why?

17 Aug 2013 18:04:01
Don't you just love football! Who could have predicted that result?
Keep the faith surely Wenger has something up his sleeve?

17 Aug 2013 16:56:20
h we are a joke fair play if this dosnt make him sign players then get him out

Couldn't agree more.

He has too surely, but has he left it to late in the window. Need to forget about Saurez now and move on.

A proper DM is a must, the first goal today would have been stopped by a DM in the correct position. We leave far too much space in front of the CB's.

Another CB is a must, especially taking into account our injuires aswell. Somebody faster and more agile than Mertasaker.

A proper Left side wide man, when Gibbs went off we lost a lot going down that Left hand side. Ox is better more centrally and is not a first team starter yet fro me. Podolski also not quick or tricky enough. Willian might be worth a stab

Striker would be nice but don't se that happening now. DM and CB are first priority.

17 Aug 2013 16:54:49
We are becoming sinking ship, laughing stock with a negligent nutty Professor. il est vraiment con.! He said that he understands every frustration, . no you don't sir.! Thank you for everything and now pack your bag to PSG. Everybody said that we should be careful with our wish, but this one I am very sure. Just go mr Wenger, . Please Go, and take the 'World's-Best-Striker-But-No-One-Will-Buy-Me' with you. I don't give a damn whether you bring in Suarez or whoever after this, . just go, please go.

Really Frustrated (and no, you don't understand me Mr Wenger). Go!

17 Aug 2013 16:52:48
Same Arsenal as last year, I think we might get laughed at quite a lot for our penny pinching take it to the wire transfer policy. At least we had Fabianski on the bench.

17 Aug 2013 16:52:21
No chance of Suarez or any other class player joining our club now what an absolute pile of S**t we are. How the hell has this club gone so far backwards its just unbelievable. Go Wenger ill even drop you off at the next deluded club. GOODBYE

17 Aug 2013 16:51:09
3-1 villa, I think it's time you f**k off wenger your way is hopeless if you had proved a point with winning trophies without spending then sound, but 10 years of f**k all it's to much pack your bags, in wenger we rust

17 Aug 2013 16:49:32
LOL

We are now 3-1 down, best thing that can happen let's be honest.

Bring back Mr D D

17 Aug 2013 16:45:50
Arsenal Board and Arsenal manger Mr Wenger you are an absolute joke. If you believe we are good enough to compete at this level then you are more deluded than I originally thought. We have got 27 players off the books and saving 30 million in wages and still not signed any class players. Our club is being torn apart and every fan that has there eyes open can also see this. Either open your eyes or Arsene must go NOW.

17 Aug 2013 16:41:55
Well I don't think I'm the only one who thinks today's ref has royally got it in for us. Plays the advantage for the first penalty then changes his mind after Weimann puts it wide. Then gives them another penalty for an absolutely brilliant tackle by Kos, booking him in the process.

Not amused.

Gooner83

17 Aug 2013 16:41:28
10 men, a goal down at home to villa! Sad times. We can go blue in the face over Wenger Knows or Arsene Out, the fact is he is at the moment our manager and the last roll of the optimistic dice is that this day will ridicule us and Arsene puts in some serious work before the window closes. However we don't look very attractive now to potential talent.

I want The Arsenal I once was proud of back! I want to see us breaking from defending corners. Getting that adrenaline race through my body watching a rather fast black man burst past the last defenders with his own team mates struggling to keep up then passing it into the net round the keeper!

17 Aug 2013 16:30:29
lol

now 2-1 down and down to 10 men.

What you got to say Wenger, your shoestring squad will struggle with suspensions

17 Aug 2013 13:16:25
Anybody think it will be worth making a string bid for Willian, or do you think he will cost too much when we more urgently need a DM and CB?. Rumours Liverpool are sniffing around him surely we could outbid them and would be a more attractive club to him.

I think he would better down left hand side than Podolski has has more pace and trickery.

How much string do you think we should bid?

Wenger has no interest in Podolski even though he is a natural finisher. Wenger has lost his mind, Of course we should move for Willian and put Podolski up top

More attractive my arse worse fans in the epl u boo your own players and manager no wonder no good player won't to join u

17 Aug 2013 12:07:37
Here's a question for everyone.

What with us being linked with Rooney again, who would have taken a straight swap for RVP Last year?

I think I would have, due to RVP s age and injury record.

Yep I definately would have, but we couldn't of paid the wages I don't think

Bergkamp5353

In principle, sure, the irony being if RVP had joined them and Rooney left they may well have not won the league, so would it have happened?

And knowing that we will never get away from the financial motives of the club, I won't concern myself so much with the idea of the swap and the disappointment therein, but instead, I would have asked for Berba, Park, Nani and £24m. United would still have won the league, we'd have taken on a world class forward, a great squad midfielder and a left winger who by now would be revitalised and settled at AFC and banging in goals. It pains me to think that we could have got so much more out of the deal than we did, as is always the case with clubs we sell to. Two players they got rid of and one who barely played, all could've strengthened our squad.

Yes.

Still saying no to Suarez

I dunno how utd could include a fulham player in their transfer dealing but we can all dream.

Rooney would be a fool to sign for us. We will only be able to attract average players now.

17 Aug 2013 11:08:57
If anyone of us turned up for work and said "im not ready yet so we may miss our objective" I think we would either face disciplinary action or be sacked.
Just saying.

Ike.

Ike! Ike is back in the building! At last!

I doubt you are worth millions and millions of pounds

Put it this way I your top salesman pulled a sickie or kept pulling a sickie would you sack him and risk losing him to a competitor and he makes them lots of money?

Dandan, the equivalent of a top salesperson at Arsenal isn't Wenger, it's Gazidis. He has MORE than met his remit. £150m Emirates deal when we've won nothing in 8 years? That is incredible!

17 Aug 2013 10:19:28
The happiest day of my life would be when Wenger is KICKED OUT of Arsenal, and those who say he has given us lot and were we are right now is because of him should remember that we have also given wenger a lot (7 million a year for last 8 years for non-performance). Time is right now to give him his FAREWELL party and thank him show him the door and bring in Laudrup .

You've had a pretty sad life if that day would be the happiest you've had.

17 Aug 2013 10:15:39
I admit, I have been one of Wengers biggest critics, only due to his transfer policy.
However today is the start of a new season, and all of us (the fans) must get 100% behind the team. PLEASE DO NOT BOO. if things are not going well at the end of the first half, and even at full time.
Let us fans be the 13th man on the pitch support our boys, and maybe it will give them the confidence to achieve, something this season that none of us are expecting.
I still think the Manager and the Board have let the team down, this transfer window, but its up to the fans to give our team something to play for.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

I thought fans are known as the 12th man? just saying lol

17 Aug 2013 10:08:37
We are all gooners

Still can't wait for the boys to walk out today

Good luck to villa in the new season, there a good honest club with loads of tradition

3 points here we come

Long road starts here, it's easier when we all stand together as 1

17 Aug 2013 10:00:33
We are being linked with Rooney again. Do we really want him?
I don't. I'd taken Suarez happily, he has the extra quality our club needs.
But Rooney, no thanks. I'd rather we go young and unknown before him.

I'd take Rooney any day of the week over Suarez, Rooney has the ability to induce a turtle head in a defenders shorts when he runs at them and that's something that I think our team lacks.
He's not been happy at Utd for a while, a happy settled Rooney is a very different player to one we have been seeing recently.
Suarez is just trouble.

Still saying no to Suarez.

Rooney tends to go looking for the ball too much. Wandering deep into midfield positions and causing conjestion. Don't think he has the necessary discipline for what we want .

17 Aug 2013 08:28:13
Rami, bender and Eto'o to sign next week

For Chelsea maybe,

Who for though. Surely not arsenal

17 Aug 2013 07:53:55
I know its negative but, I think we are now, as fans, in a no win situation. If we finish in top 4 this new season, Arsene will say we didn't need to sign any players and it was the right way. If we finish outside the top 4 he will then, and only then, possibly decide we need top signings, but by that time nobody will want to play for us as we will no longer offer champions league football. I feel we are now in a no win situation unless he does manage to sign top class players this season, which I don't believe he will. The only world class player I believe we would ever sign is Lewendoski but I can't see it. He is in my opinion the best value player on the planet. I hope I am wrong but I think I am being realistic.

17 Aug 2013 06:38:00
Well today's the day. We either start with a win and you get that sense it will be used to legitimise the fact we don't invest, or worse we start badly and it leads to shuttling around with desperate last minute attempts to sign players. I am trapped in my own Groundhog Days. Personally Hope for a win, I hope that the squad that finished 4th last year strides to glory from a glorious start.

But truth is I fear that this is the weakest squad in Arsen's time with us. We are one or two steps from disaster through injury - amazingly any of Santi, Kos or Giroud getting injured and we can give up now. I don't think it's far different for Jack or Arteta, we just have to pray they aren't out for 6 games plus, oh .

We might be about to sign someone but I doubt it. When you start reading posters talking about he same names with a hopeless sense of deja vu - Ibrahimovic! We couldn't afford his wages and why would he come to the 4/ 5 the best side in EPL when he is all about trophies?
Eto! Ha ha now that is funny. Over twice our maximum wage? Never going to happen.
Falcao! Madness he only just joined Monaco and if he was going to leave them for tax reasons maybe just Chelski and other clubs would be ahead of us in the queue?
Rooney? Yes of course Chelski can't get him with their money, their wages, their status, and making him their sole target, but we can?
Benzema! How many years has he going to be joining us for? Why would he leave Real, why would they want to sell him, and why if he leaves will he not go to one of the top tier?

Oh personally I wouldn't sign one of the above - well maybe Falcao but the others would be madly high cost and madly over valued and not take us to another level.

The Suarez rumours are dying thankfully now, Liverpool were never going to sell him. He would have been great on the pitch but you'd fear for what else he might bring.

The things we have messed up are simple. There are players we could and should have got but didn't make the right efforts - Gustavo, Fellaini, Lamela, and Martinez to name four. They would have changed our squad and put on to the next level.

Instead we wasted another summer pursuing someone that was never staying or never coming, just as Cesc, Nasri, Thierry, and RVP were wasted summers so was Suarez. Groundhog days.

Oh and to wrap it up as my days are the same, my weeks the same, etc the mad rumours of the imminent Usmanov take over and the return of the David Dein. Ah well only a few days to go before Arsene tells us that we have a strong squad that can win trophies, and a couple of months then to realise we are already out of the running for the EPL.

Just to show this year it will be different I'm expecting 7-0 today, leading onto a glorious march to the title aka the invincibles, only this year it will all be finished off with a Sanogo hatrick in the ECL final.

Glad to see you're hoping for a win today, always good to see that from supporters of a team, I'm hoping for this too!

Wenger said after we beat City the other week that squad is short on numbers, he has said it all this week, so I fail to see why beating Aston Villa will change that outlook.

Quality post!

I must admit that I feel somewhat deflated with the start of the season today with no serious squad/team strengthening.

If no players are signed that will improve our squad, then I fear for our season and can not see us even challenging for ANY trophy.

Well, the transfer window is still open and we may see the arrival of some top class players, but don't count on it.

17 Aug 2013 06:09:19
Hi Ed

something besides football and AFC, congratulations to Mo Farah for doing the Gold Medal double in 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. great AFC legend.

17 Aug 2013 01:51:06
Awhile ago, google Included Ashley Williams as a member of Arsenal player team and I just checked again, to my surprise, it's been removed, could that be a delibrate mistake or what?

Probably another Wenger wind up mate posted by Wenger himself!

17 Aug 2013 01:21:17
I don't think that arsenal will sign anybody at all to be honest but at least all the dead wood has gone

Bendtner and Park?

Mate we probably need 2 players tops. And Wenger will bring them in. People are just getting their knickers in a twist

Wengerism I generally appreciate your enthusiasm but statements like that are very irritating. Go on the main website and look at our first team squad, then go look at any other team's from the top 5. The squad is thinner than 2 years ago, and we all know what happened 2 years ago in Old Trafford. You have the right to defend Wenger but we also have the right to be worried based on our club's past behaviour. If we only signed 2 players they would have to be BIG signings. If we are serious about winning anything this year, that is.

17 Aug 2013 00:10:34
Sakho is the perfect player to help improve our defence, almost every Arsenal fan wants him to be signed, Blanc has come out and confirmed Sakho has asked for a move. Every transfer window for the past 4 years or so I've said I hope we sign him I would truly love to see him in red and white. So that means we won't sign him then like every other player we've wanted so far this window. My guess is we will sit idly by while he moves to another club, or offer less than PSG want and ask him to take a pay cut. In all seriousness this is a player I believe we can't afford to miss out on I hope to God we make a serious attempt to get him.

16 Aug 2013 23:48:23
Little while ago there was reported interest in Omar abdulrahman(spelling), did he ever come for a trial and if so how did it go?

16 Aug 2013 23:09:09
Why not sign Flamini. In my eyes Lars Bender is not better then Flamini. They are same quality, Bender is just younger that is his advantage . and Flamini wouldn't cost Arsenal even a penny. Just my opinion .

If ones free, go for both.

Wages can't be massive for flamini

That's true. Rather than Bender, it might be beneficial to save and just get Flamini, or get Bender, or get Flamini and Kondogbia. I prefer Flamini and Kondogbia

16 Aug 2013 22:09:11
So having listened to wengers press chat it is plainly obvious he's gone mad, what has he, as manager been doing since 1st June, here we are a few hours before our 1st game and the realization has finally dawned, we need players. any other manager would be sacked for gross incompetence. Am fuming at his inaction and will let him know tomorrow, hopefully gadizis will hear as well and do something, anything to stop the decline of our club, I've been a season ticket holder since 86, and my first game was 1970 season, we supported our team long before Wenger's reign, and will support them long after, Wenger's incompetence has caused this crisis, inaction by the board has encouraged him in his latest quest, the team with no players, ahhhhhhhh

'Mad'
Have a bit of respect buddy.