Arsenal Thread

Song was acting like a colossal prick during pre-season. His next step would probably involve going on a strike to get the move he wanted.

But then again we've seen it so many times, and we've seen how it turns out. In Song's case he will be warming the bench at Barcelona earning the same money he would at Arsenal if he decided to stay and renew.
I think he got played by Darren Dein, Mr. 10%, in the end. He sold him the dream of Barcelona, sunnier weather and that... and he bought it all without further thought on his progress and career. Song doesn't strike me as the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Chances are he will be the next Hleb though. He is very different from Cesc, who has an obvious talent. Song was shit, and he was moulded into a good player by Wenger. Now he's not gonna be spoon fed, he's bound to get found out.

And I don't buy this rubbish talk of "I've never won anything before, I want to win something". I'm happy for Arsenal to boot anyone who resorts to that excuse, for they are underachievers themselves, they're just dodging the bullet.

Players are too spoiled sometimes to realise that they are a part of successes and failures. By saying that he's either failing to acknowledge that he played a part in failures or he's just admitting he wants to be a passenger in Barcas train. I haven't been following Barcelona but I'll wager that he will be playing second fiddle to Busquets and occasionally play improvised as CB when Puyol, Pique or Mascherano aren't fit. So, play 20% of the games and be on the winning bandwagon. Great stuff!
Ask Hleb! He won winner's medals at Barca too! A true winner in the end! :LOL:
 
I am glad he went as our midfield is much better for it, Arteta does the song role 100 times better. But we would definitely have a stronger squad if he had stayed.

Anyway tonight should hopefully be good, looking forward to hearing how our youngsters do and also fringe players. I would like to see Arshavin do well and for Giroud to play and hopefully get a goal so he can relax a bit more.

Hopefully we win though, that is he main thing.
 
bebo said:
Its not aired to see nor hear! I see by text :COAT:
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You can listen to a radio type broadcast if you sign up to Arsenal Player. But that is so not worth the money IMO! They only show actual live video on pre-season friendlies I think.
It's about time they found a way to increase their reach and make Arsenal Player show some competitive matches live.
Not just Arsenal. Clubs should find a way to negotiate their broadcasting rights independently for the web streaming formats. There's money to be made there and the likes of Sky will always be against it, trying to put a lid on it, the greedy bastards. But that's the way the market is moving to and nowadays we have only illegal online streaming to rely on for matches not shown by Sky or ESPN in the UK. That's ridiculous.

Anyway, this is a long discussion. Regarding tonight, I'll be expecting to see Arshavin do well, get some confidence to be making at least some good cameos during this season. Some say he will play in the Cazorla role, as the most advanced midfielder, instead of winger. This should be good for him.
The guy obviously has the talent, and his attitude cannot be that bad really. It's hard to believe what we hear.

I'd rather see Chamakh tonight. I think Giroud would benefit more from scoring his first goal in a more high profile match. If I were Wenger I would make him feel important and say I want to rest him, whilst giving Chamakh some playing time. He needs it.
We will see Walcott (as a winger), Schilaci, Miquel, Andre Santos (the fastest Left Back in the world) and our 4th choice keeper. This could be interesting.
 
6 goals, Giroud scored!!!! But missed a pen :(( but hopefully he gets confidence from this. Sounds like Arshavin played well and Walcott got a couple. I don't know what it tells us really because of the opposition and we were at home, but still nice none the less :DD
 
After watching the youtube highlights. Giroud's pk was put off by the 2 streakers on the pitch waiting for them to run about. Any had mix feelings seeing Miguel kiss the badge so passionate? Arshavin's love sign celebration was good to see. I want to see this team play Reading . Theo was skipping past a deflated defense he looked brilliant and happy.
 
Good to see ruthless Arsenal again. I know it's only Coventry, but the first XI boys would probably take the foot off the gas after 3-0. But the guys with something to prove would do just what they did.

Wenger on Arshavin:

Arsene Wenger said:
Arshavin’s best position looks to be behind the striker now because that’s where his vision, the creative side of his game, can be very efficient. When he has to work on the flank it is sometimes working against him because he has to work too hard up and down.
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And I say: Gloooria, Gloria, Hallellujah. Amen! FFS Wenger, I've been saying that for almost 3 years! :LOL:
It's always been Arshavin's best position, but now that he's 31, it may well be the only one for him.
The best system to use Arshavin in would be the 4-4-2, with him in the Dennis Bergkamp role. But now we don't play that system anymore, but he could still be a replacement for Cazorla when he cannot play.
 
Rentboy said:
Good to see ruthless Arsenal again. I know it's only Coventry, but the first XI boys would probably take the foot off the gas after 3-0. But the guys with something to prove would do just what they did.

Wenger on Arshavin:



And I say: Gloooria, Gloria, Hallellujah. Amen! FFS Wenger, I've been saying that for almost 3 years! :LOL:
It's always been Arshavin's best position, but now that he's 31, it may well be the only one for him.
The best system to use Arshavin in would be the 4-4-2, with him in the Dennis Bergkamp role. But now we don't play that system anymore, but he could still be a replacement for Cazorla when he cannot play.
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Problem is when Wilshere is back he will be behind him as well in that role. Hopefully he does get more games, for how much he is frustrating, it is great to see the little guy doing well.

Again though, this is against Coventry, hopefully he can still do it against better teams.

I saw the highlights this morning and Yennaris looked like he was involved quite a bit in most of the important moves? so that is good, along with Coq and having Frimpong back as well. We are well stocked :))

Reading away will be a bigger test for these lads, lets hope they do well and keep pushing.
 
BobbyBox said:
Problem is when Wilshere is back he will be behind him as well in that role. Hopefully he does get more games, for how much he is frustrating, it is great to see the little guy doing well.

Again though, this is against Coventry, hopefully he can still do it against better teams.

I saw the highlights this morning and Yennaris looked like he was involved quite a bit in most of the important moves? so that is good, along with Coq and having Frimpong back as well. We are well stocked :))

Reading away will be a bigger test for these lads, lets hope they do well and keep pushing.
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Wilshere can do well there too, but I think he will be used more in the Diaby role, being the most balanced midfielder in terms of duty - he will be attacking and defending, doing a bit of everything. Plus, Wilshere loves a tackle.

I haven't seen the highlights yet, will be difficult to do so from work. Did Squilaci play? I feel for him and Chamakh.
 
They were both on the subs bench and Chamakh came on in the 72nd minute it says on bbc site, but I didn't see anything of him in the highlights I saw.
 
The figures in brief are:

*Group turnover - £243m (down from £255.7m in 2011)
*Football revenues - £235.3m (up from £225.4m in 2011)
*Commercial activities contributed £5.6m to this growth
*Operating profit (before exceptional costs, depreciation and player trading) from Arsenal FC - £32.3m (down from £45.8m in 2011)
*Cash and bank balances - £153.6m (down from £160.2m in 2011)
*Overall debt - £98.9m (up from £97.8m in 2011)


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Cash n Bank Balance - £153.6m :CONFUSE:
 
bebo said:
The figures in brief are:

*Group turnover - £243m (down from £255.7m in 2011)
*Football revenues - £235.3m (up from £225.4m in 2011)
*Commercial activities contributed £5.6m to this growth
*Operating profit (before exceptional costs, depreciation and player trading) from Arsenal FC - £32.3m (down from £45.8m in 2011)
*Cash and bank balances - £153.6m (down from £160.2m in 2011)
*Overall debt - £98.9m (up from £97.8m in 2011)


--------------------------------------

Cash n Bank Balance - £153.6m :CONFUSE:
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Wenger's swimming in cash and gold pools like Scrooge McDuck!
Next transfer window I want Aguero, Valencia and Benzema please :P

Just managed to watch highlights from Wednesday night. Arshavin's first touch mid-air and cool finish was brilliant stuff. Oxlade-Chamberlain from long range was fantastic and the last one by Walcott was maybe the best of the bunch. He looked like Henry for a minute there! :SHOCK:
 
lazyForken said:
nobody have some news on that U-side that Wilshere took part of? and how did he do?
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I think it's on Monday? He's gonna be in the U-21 side to get match fitness, little by little. Lotsa patience required there, after all, it's been more than 1 year without playing.
 
Well we didn't play well, nobody stood out really for us an we let them control the game for large spells. on top of that we were giving the ball away when we were not even pressured, it was silly.

Two soft goals as well :((

We had the better chances and made Cech work more than Manonne, but when you give away goals like that it is always going to be a struggle.

Apart from about 10mins at the end of the first half and probably 10mins at the beginning of the second Chelsea were pretty much the better team, I was hoping our team would have played a lot better than this.

Saying that though we could have one it with the chances we had.
 
IMO the difference wasn't that big.
Feel a litle bit gutted for Koscielny who had a nightmare game: let Torres score from right under his nose, scored an own-goal and clashed head to head with Giroud. Vermaelen made the two fouls that led to both the free-kicks that resulted in goals. Cazorla had an off-day and Walcott was invisible. Was once again impressed by Arteta.

Chelsea have a strong team, once this team gels...
 
To be honest, Vermaelen and Koscielny are both the better defenders compared to Mertesacker but the partnership at the moment works better if either Vermaelen or Koscielny partner up with Mertesacker. Koscielny was always a danger at Freekicks in the past but on both sides. :D
 
Cesc Fabregas said:
To be honest, Vermaelen and Koscielny are both the better defenders compared to Mertesacker but the partnership at the moment works better if either Vermaelen or Koscielny partner up with Mertesacker. Koscielny was always a danger at Freekicks in the past but on both sides. :D
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I don't really think so, I think Mertesacker is on the same level really as a defender, in some respects much better. The fact that Koscielny and Vermaelen play better with Mertesacker next to them speaks volumes imo.

The first goal Koscielny thought he had Torres, but he stuck out a cheeky little foot, the second was just unnecessary, but still tricky, but both are just poor to give away. Hopefully we don't get another player that their head drops and confidence is shattered, because Mert and Verm will play in the next few games, so he won't get the chance to put things right. Also as Gerd says Vermaelen made the fouls that led to the goals, but the blame will go to Koscielny...rightly so though in a way, but we need to look at why Verm had to/did what he did.
 
For the second goal, Vermaelen had to track back because he had gone forward.
I think this is a something he still has to learn, picking the right moment going forward (he can learn alot of his national team mate Kompany in that aspect). But Vermaelen is still a young player...
 
I was at the game mate. All goals were shocking. Also Bobby what game was u watching because chelsea did fuck all most of the match. Arsenal dominated in possession most of the match but after 2nd goal we go deflated a bit. Gevinho is very hit and miss. Scored a great goal but played shit most of the time. Jenkinson was our best player today though
 
jonneymendoza said:
I was at the game mate. All goals were shocking. Also Bobby what game was u watching because chelsea did fuck all most of the match. Arsenal dominated in possession most of the match but after 2nd goal we go deflated a bit. Gevinho is very hit and miss. Scored a great goal but played shit most of the time. Jenkinson was our best player today though
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A lot of the first half was Chelsea, I think half way through he half Chelsea had 60% possession we ended the half very well and started the second well, but then we were disjointed and were making sloppy passes, Chelsea were winning a lot of 50/50 balls and looked stronger IMO.

That's what I saw anyway, but as I said Arsenal had the best chances and I cant remember manonne making a save? Apart from the two soft goals, whereas Cech made at least two important stops.
 
What a shit result we got today, damn it! We certainly deserved something from that game. But not a defeat!

I'm very skeptical too about Gervinho being played as a central striker. I'm not very fond of this type of Wenger experiment. But hey, fair play to Gervinho, he scored a beautiful goal that should have given us a point at the very least.

But when we concede 2 goals like that, we shouldn't expect great things to come. It's too easy for us to say now that Wenger should have gone with Mertesacker. But I think the partnership he had going with Vermaelen was excellent and should have gone on for a little longer. He is an out and out defender who wouldn't get caught with his pants down like Verm and Kos did today.
Kos was very unfortunate, it was one of those days... he should have stayed in bed today! But let's not focus on this negative thing, and remember how he grabbed us a point up in Manchester.

I think the talk of the season will be very similar to other seasons - that Arsenal are 2 or 3 experienced players away from a title! And, while I don't like these generalisations, this will be true about our goalkeeper spot.
It's beyond me how Wenger goes into a season with money sitting in the bank and keepers as Sczcesny, Fabianski and Mannone. Especially knowing one of them (Fabianski) had a serious injury!
It's beyond perilous to think the young Sczcesny would step up and be a world class keeper this very season. And here we are: he is injured and we have Mannone and Damian Martinez.

A difference between 0 and 3 points sometimes is down to the keeper. Look at Cech stoping that Podolski header and that Giroud deflected shot. He also did very well on that Giroud chance, getting bigger and not going to ground early.
I hate to admit this, but probably if all of those 3 chances happened at our end, the ball would have ended up in the back of the net.
And what's the difference? Perhaps £12m. That could be the price of a world class goalkeeper that Wenger will never pay for. He could have bought Mark Schwarzer 3 years ago for £3m, but he played hardball, trying to get him for half the money! Counting pocket change for such an important position!

It's difficult to defend some Wenger decisions such as this one. On other cases though, he has a great eye for talent of course, and if it wasn't for the sheer power of £££££££££££ on Chelsea's side, Hazard and Mata would probably be wearing red and white - those guys were Wenger targets (Mata was snatched from under his nose). But how do you compete with those salary packages anyway?
 
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