Arsenal Banter Archive February 17 2013

17 Feb 2013 23:52:59
Celtic fan here who also has a soft spot for arsenal. when did wenger become such a bad judge of player. the amount of plauers that have to go is incredible. santos. schezny, koscielny, mertrsacher, ramsey, podolski, gervinho, giroud. koscielny is one of the worst defenders in the league. he's so bad that he's made a decent defender in vermaelen into a wreck of a player. he is totally inept in every game against decent opposition. a total imposter who a if he was as good as he thinks he is he would be club cc
aptain. cazorla wilshere walcott should be the players to build the team around. get rid of all the other dross. I can't bear it anymore!

Mk bhoy

Podolski has been one of our best players this year, misused out wide and has still turned in 12 goals, I bet his mins to goals ratio is goos as he hardly play 90 mins and if had had the chances Theo has fluffed this year he would be our top goal scorer no doubt.

1404

1404, totally agree. well said.
andi

I say play Theo and Pod up front tmrw in a 442, what with TV5 at left back not getting forward as much that will leave our midfield 4 lots of room to get it to those 2 up top

17 Feb 2013 22:39:06
Hi this is my first post does any one know anything about Jovetic in the summer?


Bergkamp 5353

Yeah last I heard he was off to Tenerife for 2 weeks with the family, all inclusive deal through Thomson. just easier isn't it! late flight though but you can't afford to be picky these days

1404

Brilliant .

17 Feb 2013 21:21:46
Maybe it's a bit old of old news now, but did you hear Wenger speaking about Jordan Rhodes - he basically said if Rhodes had moved to a big club when he was 18-20 he probably would have made it to the bigtime. Rhodes is now 23, and AW kind of dismissed him now saying that it is too late for him. I thought that was disrespectful again.

But Wenger signed Giroud for £12.8m when he was 25. When Giroud was 23 he was playing in the French 2nd division, which most would agree is not a patch on the Championship, so again Wenger contradicts himself, showing favourtism to his French players and proving he can't identify prospects unde rhis nose.

This is in no way a dig at Giroud, I like him, my problem is that Grimandi and Wenger should have got Giroud when Montpellier got him for about £2m, not a year later as a replacement for RVP. At 25, with just one year in the 1st division, he is still a gamble, now the pressure is on him with a 12m price tag and big boots to fill.

Some quality Premiership players have come out of teams regularly in the Championship and Wenger would be better served looking for projects/gambles there (Jagielka, Lescott, Ash Young, Parker, Defoe)

He also contrdicted himself in the fact that he keeps lots of mediocre young players around for years sending them out on loan year in year out, Sanchez Watt for example, he must be about 46 years old now, he isn't going to make it at Arsenal that was clear 2-3 years ago why keep him around like so many others in the past.
I swear he keeps these 'Prospects' around as it gives him an excuse not to sign players, ohh we better not sign a CDM as that might have a detrimental effect on Diaby! Arsene it ******* won't because he spends 80% of his time on the treatment table.

1404

Wenger admitted that the quality of the french national team had dropped considerably. weird that he still scouts france more than anywhere else in the world.

17 Feb 2013 21:10:13
why are people so against usmanov.

if he gets control of the club and employs a top coach like klopp and invests the money we have in the bank on world class players how would this be a bad thing.

usmanov is an arsenal supporter who hardly ever misses any games, is this not the sort of owner the supporters have been crying out for.

i am absolutely buzzing with the thoughts of having an owner that will put his money where his mouth is.

i want an owner that will put the clubs manager in his place, wenger has got away with murder for far too long now.

wenger would have been sacked if usmanov was in control 4 years ago and for me that is what is wrong with the club set up, there has been no 1 since dein left to put wenger in his place. do people think SAF would of been given 8 years by the glaziers to win a trophy?THIS IS WHAT BIG CLUBS DO, THEY TAKE ACTION.

I for 1 can't wait for usmanov ta take over, there will be no more false promises come the transfer window just action.

we have gone with out for far too long and its about time we had players like falcoa, canavani, de-rossi and any other top player at the club.
usmanov will deliver these players

ALISHER 100% FOR ME!

champagne charlie

Your putting 100 percent blind faith into a man that as of yet, has had to do nothing other than buy some shares (which have gone up in value, and made him rich (er) )

It is entirely possible that usmanov would do the exact opposite of what you hope may happen.

If your so keen for Arsenal to do things the chelsea way, why don't you just go and support chelsea?

Every Arsenal fan wants to see top players on the pitch, but I think the majority of Arsenal fans also want to see us do it the right way, which is not to succumb to the demands of players and agents and rich sugar daddy's, and to live to our means.

Daniel

I agree 100%, great post.

Braintreegooner

It's Falcao, Cavani, De Rossi

How do you know how many games usmanov turns up to watch arsenal? Granted silent stan doesn't show up unless wemberly is also showing Yonkee footy or basketball. For me David Dein was the go between of the day to day business of running a football club and supporting the manager and its back room staff. Since his departure it's failed leaving wenger trying to salvage a sinking ship that's doomed! Stan out & take gazidis with him and get David Dein back in.

I'm certainly not against him but a bit sceptical about him. At present it's all talk. If he really wants the club maybe he needs to show his hand (and money) and make an offer.
Tony Fernandes put his money where his mouth is and look what it's done to QPR.

Paul - Rochester

17 Feb 2013 20:44:39
Why not open an account under trust with everyone putting in 100 pounds

Get 230,000 people to donate and buy Arsenal a 23m player!

Bet we could easily raise that

SY4

Sy4 I do that every year when I pay my fees for 2 season tickets.

champagne charlie

People pay a lot of money on season tickets so that Arsenal have money to buy players. They aren't a charity - and they don't even accept 'donations' from people who want to buy the club!

I don't have £30 for a new pair of shoes in this economic climate, let alone £100 for an over paid, under worked footballer!

I dread to think how much I've invested in these throphy less season's to be lied to by the people that are get rich of me and so many others money. think I might phone watchdog and get old Nicky Campbell on the case

1404

17 Feb 2013 20:26:32
Falling out of the top four is definitely not the answer to the predicament the club is in.

Firstly, we will have even less money to spend as there are clauses in the renewed Emirates shirt & stadium contract that mean we get less money if we don't make CL football.

Also, do you really think because we finish in 5th or below that we are just going to go out and buy top quality players and suddenly be back in the title race? The board will just further lower our expectations and instead of top 4 being a trophy, it will be top 7, with them just saying that we need European football rather than CL football.

Just saying this because I've read on here and in other places that this is an answer when I don't think it is.
Eman.

Well said Eman, top4 will always be the overwhelming target for this board and manager. If we miss top4 that is the perfect excuse to keep the purse strings tight and carry on making 20m profit on transfers each season.

redgoon

17 Feb 2013 20:23:04
I sincerely hope that we still have what it takes to attract the top shelf players we require to take us to the mediocrity we are in today.
If all it takes is money, then we have no excuse because at one stage all PSG and City had was money, now they have that and some of the best players in world football.

Even Inter who have no Champions league football are signing decent players like Guarin, Handonovic and Kovacic.

Jovetic is a must, i'm watching Fiorentina v Inter and he lookds the business. Just scored a stunner too

17 Feb 2013 19:03:09
i am as gutted as everyone about yesterday but had my arsenal shirt on all day around` town today with pride, will be smiling tuesday night when we beat bayern really think we perform against the better teams.

ty. 1

17 Feb 2013 21:59:13
Yeh I noticed how we creamed Utd, Chelsea and City.

17 Feb 2013 18:33:38
Arsenal don't play for the premier league, fa cup, champions league, carling cup trophys. Our so called prof main thing is getting 4th place so he keeps the board happy with the pennys. he don't give a s. t about us arsenal fans £100 to watch 1 match including travel and food for home games then everyother week now after leaving the stadium ure like what on earth did I go all that way, spend all my money to watch c. p and be moody as hell, things have got to change big time. j lockwood

17 Feb 2013 18:10:37
Hi ed, just as winning is a habit, for arsenal, losing has become an all too common one. In almost any game of any significance, we come up way short. Champs league, fa, carling cups, how many times have we been eliminated after an abject performance. Inept defensive displays, woeful and wasteful finishing and my personal favourite, being out muscled and bullied in too pathetic submission. This has gone on time and time again. When will we ever learn? The answer apparently is never. Arsene in my opinion is at last chance saloon. If arsenal can't knock out bayern, then he must go. This is not a knee jerk reaction, this is based on 8 barren years and a policy that is becoming a laughing stock. I am no fan of mourinho and his jibes at arsene over the years used to really annoy me. Truth is, no manager on the world had had so many chances to put his wrongs right. He hasn't and every big game defeat we have to endure, suggests he can't. The team on paper looks strong but that is the one quality we lack, strength. He should be sacked for not buying a defensive midfielder alone. Capoue, diame, m'vila, sissoko all could have been aqquired. He resisted and gave the money to kroenke. The arsene knows best brigade, I salute you, I was one of you but I have lost a lot of respect for him. Reason is simple, the one thing he doesn't know, is when he is wrong. If we go out against bayern then he should go and let the club take another journey. Thanks for taking the time to read. Ray barboni {Ed027's Note - well you think this is bad, think about before wenger, the day wenger should leave is when his CL record goes, until then, stand buy, he has got top four with poor squads in previous years, the day he truely looses his magic is when CL footbal has gone form us, hopefully we never see that day

17 Feb 2013 16:59:09
the current stable of players and the run of form is a joke. you know what would be a more cruel a joke? beating Bayern at home and then Villa too and then crapping it in the away games in Germany and rubbish Fart Lane. needless to say, this isn't good for my masochistic tendencies.

Mike

17 feb 2013 16:57:54
in usmanov I trust

champagne charlie

17 Feb 2013 16:16:43
the team is what it is. it's become worse and worse year after year. we haven't won a trophy in ages. most likely this season will finish trophyless too. we haven't invested enough money. haven't replaced every player and the replacements we have brought haven't all been good enough.

does that justify fans turning their back to the club?

we're going to face one of the best teams in the world next tuesday. most fans are saying they'll beat us. would a spurs fan say they are surely going to get beaten by munich? or a chelsea fan? liverpool fan? everton fan? or would they instead claim to have a chance and insist that if their team plays like it'd be a cup final they can go through?

we are underdogs. but in football, sometimes underdogs win. arsenal are favorites in most matches and now that we're not I come here and see tons of people moaning how this team can't win a single 180 min fixture because the opposition is stronger.

if you are an arsenal fan, you don't turn against your club when they are having hard time. if you are an arsenal fan, you believe in your team.

iceman

Yes in arsenal but not the manager or some of the players

17 Feb 2013 14:57:16
Arsenal better buy the following

2 x central defenders world class, I am the boss men
1 x right back reserve when sagna leaves
1 x goalee reserve

2 x CDM world class
1 x left winger (let poldoski play middle)

1 x striker world class

Then play 4-4-2

We need a first choice GK not a reserve

17 Feb 2013 14:37:23
If we win the champions league then this team would sit alongside the Invincibles and would never be forgotton. Even though I can't wait for this season to end so we can make some signings so I can quickly forget it.

17 Feb 2013 13:55:20
the squad yesterday. was strong enough to see them off as it was against bradford. we will be out the champions league soon and it'll be another season with no silverware.
another thing we will not sign these big names that everyone mentions with aw in charge because we would have done already.

gooner mark

17 Feb 2013 13:20:36
Oh for David Dein to return and offer his heart and soul to our football club. it's going to rack & ruin with silent stan & Ivan the terrible. I for one will support and judge AW til the end of season. if its failed then I'm sure he wil step aside and as we all know Arsenal FC will always get it right. COYG devongooner

It kind of has failed, we won't win C/league and we've been knocked out by non premier teams in the other cup competitions. We have have a chance of fourth but this would still be a lower position than last year don't much hope for fourth either tbh were not cosistant enough to put a good run together because our defense is not good enough to do this

17 Feb 2013 12:51:47
I think most fans are in for a surprise, since the January transfer window several members of the board and hierarchy have distanced themselves form Wenger, Ivan made it very clear there was substantial funds available for transfers somewhere around the 70million mark. We even shipped some players out off the wage bill yet Wenger didn't spend the money available to him. It's was seen by many to be going against the public stance of the club that the club is now out of the money saving requirements needed to fund the new stadium. It is now basically paid for and the is a large reserve of cash and money set aside for transfers. Wengers reluctance to spend has severely put in jeopardy our chances of CL football next season. This has made his position debatable for the first time at the end of this season. He may have had a hand in picking Ivan Gazidis as chief executive but it could well be him the puts Wengers time at the club to an end. He is struggling to bring large corporate sponsorships and also taking the brunt of disgruntled fans who blame the board. So I feel unless miracles occur and we make top 4 Wenger will go by choice our pushed.

Also heard the chances of a takeover have risen greatly and this could also be in the offing once the season is decided. Have heard rumours Usmanov has reached the 30% through back door deals and putting shares in different names so is just waiting till season ends to force his hand

Holmesy

I'm sure the way it works at Arsenal ever since the Graham scandal is that the manager tells the board what players he wants and then someone else does the negotiations.

Usmanov has not yet reached 30% not unless Kroenke has sold him some (which I doubt) or Arsenal suppoters club have sold some or Piers Morgan has. Even if he does it only means he has to offer a formal offer to Stan to buy his, but he does not have to sell. But 30% of a football club will in the FA eyes class him as an owner and that is all.

17 Feb 2013 10:47:35
Wenger got it wrong yesterday but in his defence he put out a team packed with internationals and talent, think the players should be ashamed of themselves. Maybe he should have started with his strongest 11 and then made the substitutions once the game was out of sight.

Usmanov is not the solution. Arsenals heritage and standing is what we are all about. All that could be lost if Usmanov buys us then a few years down the road decides he has better things to do with his time and money. What would happen to Chelski and Man City is their foreign owners decided enough was enough?

So what next? Has Wenger lost the magic dust he had in abundance? Has Wenger gone stale? Should we have a new manager? Does there need to be an overhaul of the playing staff?

The future of Wenger, his decision or it being made for him, will depend upon the Bayern game and where we finish in the league. A strong showing and defeat of Bayern, and/or a fourth place finish will see him enter the final year of his contract. A poor showing and failure to qualify then he will be on his way. Either way there will have to be massive movement within our squad.

Going: Squillachi, Arshavin, Djourou, Chamakh, Park, Bentner and Denilson. Saves £300k per week.

In: Jovetic, Capoue, promote Ignasi, Eisfeld and Gnabry.

Ox, Diaby and Gervinho were just awful, Ox kept trying to dribble around the whole blackburn team, Diaby couldn't pass the ball more than 2 yards without giving it away and Gervinho kept getting in the box with the ball and then stopped with it because he didn't have a clue what to do.
Taking Rosicky yesterday was the biggest mistake as he was by far our best player.
Went yesterday thinking it would be a doddle and was looking forward more to Tuesday game than Blackburn.
Unfortunatley so did the team I suspect.

Bergkamp's apprentice

17 Feb 2013 10:23:28
Have to agree with US Gooner, no point bleating about importance of CL if no one values it. We are in the knockout stages against Bayern Munich! Do Chelsea, City, Liverpool or Spurs have that privalledge? NO! I am buzzing and cannot wait.

Its only fair to judge Wengers decision od resting key players after the CL game. If we go and beat Bayern 2-0 or 3-1 il say it was worth. If we fail to win then ok moan all you want.

Detroit Gooner

Beat bayern munich were you not watching yesterday the defence wasnt rested although if they had been it might have been different can't beat balackburn and you talk of beating bayern lol

17 Feb 2013 09:52:14
Very unhappy with the result also unhappy with the Ox shaking Bentley's hand when he came on.

I don't care who's hand the ox shakes. He has disapointed me more then an other player this season. I know he is young, but his attitude seems to be terrible

Limerick Gunner

Why shouldn't he shake his hand when he comes on?

If something like that upsets you then you must not be a happy person:)

Ox's performance was more disappointing to me, although not getting game time is the problem, he needs to go out on loan get regular games come back and prove himself in the same way jack did

Shaneyd

Your unhappy with good sportsmanship from young players at our club? Good one mate.

Detroit Gooner

Then so are 60,000 fans who then booed bentley yesterday

17 Feb 2013 09:24:36
Why is everyone blaming the side Wenger started with and saying we should have started with our normal line up. Blackburn scored when Walcott, Wilshere and Cazorla came on.

Yeah well that says it all. still down to wenger.

17 Feb 2013 08:23:43
I really don't get the commotion. I thought we played well yesterday
Bring on Ze Bayern!

Yes I thought that bwas classic arsenal

17 Feb 2013 07:34:32
I remember tony soprano at the start of the season, he said this arsenal squad wasn't good enough, he got slated by everyone here, some of you even claimed man city is the only squad who has a better squad than arsenal. Well, we have all seen it now. Jude

TS is now CC

He got slated because he didn't respect anybody.

I had enough respect to sign off,, unlike you.

champagne charlie

17 Feb 2013 01:41:30
I've said this before but I will say it again anyway because a few people still don't understand what the problem at Araenal is, when in fact it is very simple why we haven't won any silverware.

Our players are not good enough.

I would take only Wilshere, Szczesny, Sagna and maybe Cazorla/Arteta/Vermaelen to a title winning team.

Who is better - Van Persie or Giroud?
Who is better - Aguero or Podolski?
Who is better - Yaya Toure or Diaby?
Who is better - Hart or Szczesny?
Who is better - Kompany or Vermaelen?
Who is better - Vidic or Koscielny?
Who is better - Rooney or Walcott?
Who is better - Hazard or Gervinho?
Who is better - Mata or Rosicky/Cazorla?

Some may be marginal but you get my point.

When we had the best players, we won everything. Now that we don't and they keep leaving us (who could blame them), we don't win anything.

It's crystal clear, it's evident for everyone to see. We are not the Arsenal we once were. If we can't win by spending nothing then we can't win at all, that's the boards mentality.
Sure they want to win, but if it means spending money then forget it.

I'm telling you now, at this point, a sincere apology from Nasri and if he came to stay her forever then I'd take him back. He hasn't found his form at Manchester City and a return for him could be good for both parties.

This summer better be a big one or we will become Liverpool. This is not a joke, this has become a reality for us now. Thank god Wilshere is so loyal because without him we would be screwed.

Nick. {Ed027's Note - you are comparing the leagues best with our team lol

17 Feb 2013 05:47:10
The most ridiculous post I've read in ages even as a neutral fan. How can you compare players like that? In the end, it's all about a team, not individual players. Hw further is Rooney ahead of Podolski in the goal/assist chart? Giroud is not an RVP but neither is he a Torres. Cazorla has similar influence as Mata and Theo has been more explosive this season than Hazard, Valencia, Young, Nasri, Silva. Wilshere can walk into any team.

Most of those players. Wenger could have signed. I remember Kolo begged Wenger to sign his brother. he settled for Diaby instead.
One mistake don't cause a problem. but you look at the names on the list

A very angry Highbury Old Timer

What a stupid post, you have not even compared one team with ours but picked the best in each position from different teams - complete Doughnut!

Stick to Fifa13 you person

I think the point is we have no one you could call the best in their position. The invincibles had Campbell, Cole, Vieira, pires and Henry who were peerless. AG

17 Feb 2013 01:16:41
Hi ed, today's defeat against Blackburn is the worst in wenger's tenure at the arsenal. How we can lose to Blackburn is beyond belief, I am not decrying blackburn's achievement, congrats to them but it should never happen. why it happened rests completely at the hands of wenger. He is culpable for so many reasons. He must go immediately, sorry I am sick of his defending the indefensible. You are ruining this great club and your mighty legacy. We had to endure the transference to the emirates, the huge hike in ticket prices, we were told to be patient, we obliged eagerly believing in his grand design. As the years rolled by, a worrying trend emerged, all our top players left for big sums of money, claiming they left to win things. The subsequent replacements are inferior identikits of the players that left. Patience we are told. A new team will emerge. Wenger treats the fans with disdain. Year after year our mythical transfer kitty is left untouched, when clearly we need big players. This transfer window was the final straw. One left back! Now we have a team who lacks confidence, lacks leaders, can't defend and cannot score. Wenger takes no responsibility, today is your fault and you should do the honourable thing and go. He and the arsenal board have taken us for a ride. Our time, our money, our faith, our devotion have been abused by these cynical individuals. Wenger is a complete liar, he mentions names in press conferences, bale, varane, villa, claiming we were interested in them. Lie, lie, lie! I find his dishonesty Offensive. Arrogant beyond reproach, today's defeat is your fault alone. He has created a mentality, a culture at the club that suggests winning isn't everything. This has permeated through the club and is now rife within all our players personalities. Who remembers who came third in the world cup? Eight years no trophy and he can't motivate a performance from his team. No passion, no hunger, no desire, your fault, your fault, your fault. Every player on that pitch is yours, all according to you top class. No excuse can be given. He just waffles and to me it is offensive listening to it. Worst result ever in my opinion, truly I would have anyone over him right now. Bayern must be thinking of playing a weakened team against us. Korky buchek

Couldn't have put it any better, my skin goes cold when he gives an after match interview, in preparation for the bulls*** he is about to give us. had enough now

Who can't agree with Korky? Spot on.
Drove home last night after that disgraceful result with 3 gloomy Gooners. To a man, sick of the decline at our club. Wenger's like General Custer. He knew best didn't he?
"There's no Injuns at the Little Big Horn" Bloody Hell! 30,000 turned up. Arsene is heading for disaster too, and he won't change and sadly we all know it! Uncertain future folks. Lost to Bradford, now lost to Blackburn. Unacceptable.

Excellent post- well said. Enough is enough.

Great post my friend, I would gladly wake up on Monday morning and find out he has been sacked, he won't resign because of his massive inflated ego. The board should find some balls and sack him just like Monacco did when he refused to change his ways. Get the Iceman in with either Bouldy or Viera or all three. The fans on hear who say he is honorable and loyal, are entitled to their opinion but he knows their is no other football club on this planet who after 8 winless seasons would pay him 146,000 a week just to do a weekly bulls--t press conference talking about how other clubs spend their money, drugs in sport, other teams players and completely ignore your own teams inadequacies
The still pissed off Heybridge Gooner