Arsenal Banter Archive December 19 2012

19 Dec 2012 23:36:12
"I played Theo Walcott through the middle and, if you look at my statements two years ago, I always said he would play there. I felt it was a good opportunity to do it on Monday night because, from what I've seen in training, I thought Theo was ready to do it. "

So being desperate to get him to re-up his contract had naught to do with it? You weren't giving him what he wants so maybe he'll stay, you were just doing what you said you'd do all along and right NOW happens to be the time. hmm neat.

MoeTheGoon.

And this is why I dislike Wenger haha! He just treats us as though we're persons.

Metal Gooner

Or maybe he realises one of two prospects will happen:

1. Walcott will realise this is his opportunity and will sign accordingly

2. Walcott will choose to go elsewhere and his performance will have increased his value

I mean those who wish to criticise Arsene will do so even on days when we sign five of our best young English players.

And finally really who amongst us knows more about the club, the players and the dynamics of the business better than Arsene?

Gunners4Life, In AW we trust!

Nah Gunners4Life you cannot say Wenger doesn't treat us like mugs in the press because he does. And secondly we've been waiting for years to see Theo down the middle everyone's sick of seeing him on the wing and he does it now 3 weeks before his likely final transfer window as an Arsenal player - forgive me for being cynical.

I'm not slating Arsene willy nilly and I'm buzzing the young guys have signed, it's something for Arsene to build on and when he comes out and says that twice in the last 6 years he's tried to build a team around a specific core only to see it fall apart you can't help but feel very sorry for him.

I will always give what I think is a fair opinion on things and I'm sorry but Theo through the middle last weekend was likely to be absolutely nothing to do with 'finally showing in training' that he has what it takes!

Metal Gooner

Actually Metal its the press which treats us like mugs.

Why do you feel that anyone would convey the dealings of a multi billion dollar business through the media?

Ask yourself do you believe it Arsene's intent to mislead and decieve? Or is it more likely that he, the board and the owner prefer privacy?

I understand that the supporters want answers. The club provides an opportunity at the Annual General Meeting but I wonder why its so difficult for some (such as yourself) to see the truth?

Critique Arsene as much as you want but do it with some validity, not just because its an opportunity.

Arsene is not above being questioned, but his responsibility is to the club, not the media and those who draw conclusions from such statements.

Gunners4Life, In AW we trust!

19 Dec 2012 22:36:13
the famous five have signed..
thank u jack for showing what the club means to real footballers...and to the rest of the other 4 like them or not they have shown they love the club

take a lesson from jack theo..if not then go

19 Dec 2012 21:54:25
I think the difference between a title chasing team and a chasing team is the quality that is placed on the bench, Chelsea struggling can bring on Hazard, Cole etc, Same with United and Sh1tty, we have Arshavin, Ramsey, Coquelin. IMO we seriously need a re-building window where as to improve not only the quality of the squad but the team also. If AW decides against that then at least give the youngsters a chance Eisfeld, Gnabry etc etc

N. Wales Gunner

19 Dec 2012 22:34:38
I agree our bench isn't what it should be but you've named one game changer in Hazard, Citeh's bench is better but then they have the liabilty which is Balotelli, as for Utd they have Giggs and Scholes, pop over to their page and see what they think of those two. Great in their day but no longer. Hernandez has been a good sub for them and that's it.

Stoner

Stoner,

Players United have who haven't started regularly recently: Vidic, Evans, Jones, Powell, Anderson, Kagawa, Nani, Wellbeck, Hernandez. We've got some options apart from Giggs and Scholes don't worry!

Glad to see you talk just as much rubbish on your own page...

Gav

But Gav,

Havnt Vidic and Kagawa been injured anyway?

Nick.

20 Dec 2012 06:50:18
Hey Gav,

Just because I pulled your pants down on your page don't come on here and list what is your first team.

The majority of those you listed are the ones you pathetic chumps have been slating recently only exception was you forgot the world class Brand whose also been on your bench.

What a muppet you are.

Stoner

And what about Bébé?
Stan

19 Dec 2012 19:04:49
Wilshere kissing the badge...proud Gooner!

19 Dec 2012 19:35:26
so glad for our young uns' committing their next 5 years to us. Not so glad about Ramsey...dont mean to be harsh but I just dont see how he fits in and dont really have high hopes for him...hope im proven wrong though.

I think this core of english (and welsh before anyone slates me for not knowing anything) lads will contribute towards our players feeling like they "ARE" Arsenal rather than just playing "FOR" Arsenal. This is the mindset you need to breed a winning mentality.

with that said good luck to our lads, hope they all stay healthy

Scooby Dooby K

Tbh, i think Ramsey will come good, bare in mind hes out of position most of the time and our midfield is pretty congested with good players. give him a year or so to find his feet again, also he is still only young, not every player advances as fast as wilshire

It's weird, on one hand I'm really happy for all of them, on the other it's clear the focus is on a British core regardless of talent.

Wenger is showing unprecedented faith in Rambo because for me he just isn't and never will be a fluid enough player for Arsenal. Even when I watch those Portsmouth highlights, sure he had a good game but he didn't do anything then that makes me feel like he was destined to be a fluid, free-thinking, agile, ambidextrous versatile midfielder. He might be some of those things but look at what Ramsey brings to the team compared with players like Fabregas, Rosicky, Arshavin, Santi, he's just not that mould. He's not a bad player and his work rate is exceptional but he's not an Arsenal player in any way and this contract is showing huge faith in something most people cannot see happening.

I hope I'm wrong but I was saying it ages ago he's not Arsenal.

Still, it's great to see the rest and I hope we sort this stuff with Theo - I think it's pretty clear in an ideal world for him he would stay, he seems to want to resolve it. I don't know if it's about money or position but I think the club is throwing away their initial fee and 6 years of investment if we don't pay him competitive pay and play him where he wants when he's already basically reached his tally for last season and he's been injured and a sub. Last season I wanted him gone but he has been far better this season. He's our version of 'experience' too!

Metal Gooner

WTF is everyones problem with ramsey he is a good player and he is still young and when played in his right position which is centre mid not right wing or attacking midfield he is a great player so dont get on his back just yet.
Give him a chance
ash

19 Dec 2012 17:07:38
am i the only one who smiled like a crazy person at the video of the contract signings?

psychocyst. {Ed007's Note - I imagine there was a few agents, WAGs and bankers smiling just as crazily.}

19 Dec 2012 16:27:22
according to arsenal.com 5 players including walcott and the ox

It does not say Walcott

Paul

Think you misread that! No mention of Walcott singing unfortunately...
Chi Gooner

19 Dec 2012 16:12:15
Ed, why do you refuse to talk about Sunzu? {Ed002's Note -

19 Dec 2012 15:47:43
The talk re TV5's loss of form intrigued me. There is no doubt he is a GREAT player and was captain at his former club so I cannot understand why he appears to be struggling with the captains position here. He is a great leader but feel, as others have hinted, that other players are not as committed as he and therefore the pressure is building unnecessarily. I do not think he should not be captain, he has proved himself and hope those around him, on and off the field put in as much as he does.

It's not an issue with the form as much as it seems to me to be an issue with dealing with the extra pressure. the defense sits lower thereby inviting the opposition more plus he's playing with Mertesacker who's not the quickest out of the block and not as used to to play with as Kos so game-awareness takes longer to build up.

on top of this, he's got to command and drive the team as the leader which might be too much for him, i reckon. Arteta could've been a better option but since he won't play past another season as regularly as Vermi, Wenger's decision does seem to make a sliver of sense.

psychocyst.

19 Dec 2012 15:09:35
OX,Wilshere,Ramsey,Gibbs, Jenkinson all sign new contract extensions. Why did we extend ramseys contract :(

Because he is a good player and only has 18 months left.

The last time we let a players contract run out because of a dip in form, he left on a free (Flamini).

Ramsey will give 110% wherever you play him, he'll even go in goal if you ask him, these are the type of players that I want at our club.

337

He is still young, he can improve, i'm not
saying he's gonna be a world beater or we should start him all games but ffs remember song, theo (last year sell him, inconsistent and that crap now desperate to keep him), he might come good in a couple of years, not everybody is as good as fabregas or wilshere at that age

I bet you'll swallow your words within the next two seasons.

Sliced Bread

Wish people would stop slating ramsey, look how young he is, he still has huge potential. One day he can become a top top player.

I don't like Ramsey but signing a new contract makes his transfer value go up, would you rather we let him go for free all least now if he shows no improvement we can still get a transfer fee. I would however be interestedto know if his wages have gone up , becausein my oopinion they should not

Ramsey can give you 1000% percent on the field but still isn't good enough.

19 Dec 2012 15:04:38
Jenkinson, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs & Ox all sign new long term deals with the club.

Haggis Gooner

19 Dec 2012 14:15:24
Ed, true that Sunzu has virtually signed his contract with arsenal, just waiting to come to England to discuss details? Personally the idea of the guy is great, tall, strong confident player just what we need for morale right now. {Ed002's Note - Honestly, this is something I have nothing to say about.}

C'mon ed you can't leave it like that, at least say something about why you don't want to say anything?

Either he doesn't know anything about the deal (or no deal ) OR he does know; but can't give legitimate info out (I'm yet to see one person do that on here - it's always guesswork/lies) because it will give the game away that someone related to the club is releasing information.

The eds are always very helpful with answering questions, but 9 times out of 10 when they respond to the possibility of a player joining us, they list 100 other clubs that have shown interest in 2006 and actually say nothing about our own interest (or lack of) .

Not having a dig btw; just making an observation of what happens on here after using this site for the last 2 years (all year round).

Keep up the good work Ed's, and keep all the rediculous transfer speculation coming guys! (I.E Ben, who should return very soon to start his Goetze "he's definitely joining us" banter")

D

19 Dec 2012 11:11:35
It is 'understood' (this term is similar to a Paper's way of saying that they are making it up) that the sticking point in Theo's contract is to do with something pretty serious:

Theo has asked that Gervinho be utilised in his best role; delivering oranges onto the pitch at the half time interval. Gervinho is understood to be considering the role as long as he can pass the bowl to Ramsey if he trips over his own legs or just wanders into the corner. Ramsey is considered to be a good companion for Gervinho in this role because Ramsey has a habit of only going sideways or backwards and can deliver the bowl back toward his teammates at the halfway line at walking pace.

Don't shoot the messenger. Pretty serious situation, Vermaelen has apparently exploded and 'hit the post' over the debacle.

Kermit79

Hows the missus kermit? Bit of a pig I hear?

If the above were true I would take 'offence, and stick her behind it...
Is that you Aaron?! It was merely meant in jest.
Please do take the time to look back over my previous posts, and you will see I have been supportive though-out.....

Kermit79

Aaron? Nah it's me you muppet!

Gonzo

19 Dec 2012 09:52:16
I want us to sign Ogbonea,Victor Wanama and Cavani

19 Dec 2012 01:23:47
Just going down memory lane watching a video of the 2005 FA Cup Final shootout and it is painfully clear what we need in this team and that is big personalities.

Watching those players that took penalties for us, Lauren, Ljunberg, Van Persie, Cole and Viera, they all had bottle, ultimately they were winners. Our current side is not a million miles away in my opinion, I'm not convinced that Lauren and Ljunberg for example are more talented than their current counterparts in the squad. However, they both fought tooth and nail everytime they put on that Arsenal shirt and that's what we need.

We have fantastic footballers, nobody can deny that, but we need a couple of warriors to come in, and some big personalities, Players that when the chips are down and they've been overwhelmingly outplayed for 120 minutes, will have the bottle to take a penalty in front of thousands of Man United fans.

And I think that if a couple of players like this cold be brought in, the influence they could have over the likes of Shezz, Jenkinson, Wilshere, Chamberlain and Gibbs could potentially be fantastic. Because they have the chanceto be Arsenal warriors, if they're brought up together in a positive, successful environent.

Fab

Ralphy was an amazing right back for us - really overlooked at the time everyone in the squad was getting plaudits - he rarely got beaten and hardly ever gave the ball away - i would say he was better than both Sagna and Jenkinson.
As for Ljungberg technically no, he wasnt all that but as a team player and reader of the game he was exceptional -
the thing is they were playing with the likes of Campbell, Cole, Vieira, Pires and Henry who at the time were the best in the country if not the world at their particular role...
when 5 of your team are world class i think its natural your game including confidence/workrate etc improves with it
AG

This highlights the value of a big signing - because big signings have big price tags for a reason. They usually have exceptional quality blended with experience and their confidence is stratospheric. Even Podolski coming to the club has given us a level of workmanship and professionalism on the pitch - apart from Gervinho who the others clearly hate playing with, every tme someone misses a shot or a free kick, or makes a mad tackle, Podolski is there congratulating them, or reassuring them...like 'you missed, don't worry, job done, let's get on with it, we all miss' kind of thing. He's got the maturity to see something for what it is and just carry on working. There have been times in the last few years where this camaraderie has been totally lacking.

I remember watching The Ox run from their box all the way back to our goal trying to prevent a team from scoring on the break and the ball ended up going in off him and he ended up tangled in the net - not one player went over to him, helped him up, told him not to worry. It was cold and really weird, the kid had just joined us and unlike many was busting a gut. Podolski is experienced enough to understand the basic yet important impact of simple gestures like that. He keeps everyone going, never give up approach. I think he had a bit of a dip when Santos was playing because he was clearly fed up but he seems back to his normal self now and it showed against Reading.

So you sign that as well as exceptional talent. And usually you sign a bi of arrogance too. Confidence is such a huge factor, I was always taught to walk out onto the pitch knowing I was better than my opposite man. Sometimes our players seem to have a look of 'Am I as good? Not so sure. Maybe I'll find out this game.' There are no testicles and a big signing provides that.

Metal Gooner

This is a typical german attitude, namely sheer hard work ethics, and something we often sadly lack! Any born leader will do exactly what the Pod does, and that's why the german teams are successful at the major tournaments, they work for EACH OTHER and they don't have the prima donna attitudes of many our so-called 'stars'.

^^ Isn't Podolski Polish born and bread? {Ed002's Note - Polish born and chalka then?}

Very good ed!

Haha born and bread, amazing!

Metal Gooner

19 Dec 2012 00:23:00
lescott wants to leave man city on loan so why dont we snap him u while we have the chance.

secret rider

Overrated I think, carried by Kompany.
Besides, we already have 3 good CBs.

Nick.

True true see what u mean


secret rider