Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

Galvasean

DenMan wrote: »

When Silvestre signed for Arsenal I remember saying that he would earn a call up to the French national side for their next friendly match. And low and behold he has been called up along with Nasri, Gallas, Clichy, Diaby and Sagna for the friendly with Uruguay on Wednesday night. Well done Silvestre.

*places bet on Arsenal to win next World Cup*

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Burnley away in the Carling Cup... they'd a good run in last year's FA Cup as far as I remember and they've just beaten Chelsea but definitely winnable.

Should be a good test for the youths. I'd say they have what it takes to beat Burnley. They won't underestimate them after seeing what they did to Chelsea.

Frisbee

Wtf the match isn't on telly today?
Thought they would show our match ahead of Utd/Stoke considering there's more riding on it, and should be a better display of football...

Galvasean

Frisbee wrote: »

Wtf the match isn't on telly today?
Thought they would show our match ahead of Utd/Stoke considering there's more riding on it, and should be a better display of football...

Gotta show Stoke some time...
That and I'm sure the United fans will watch in droves to see a potential mauling.

PHB

Match thread here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055419873

Beau x1

Frisbee's going to hate me for saying this haha, but seriously; WHAT was Wenger doing still putting Bendtner on first after all this? Surely Vela would have been a better start to the game than him. Not sure why he took Diaby off first either. I'd have rather seen the reserves play Villa this afternoon tbh.

extremely Disappointing but unsurprising result. Yet again no protection or leadership from 'les captain' and silvestre. both at 6's and 7's.
bendtner big donkey who doesn't put himself about and how the clever Vela isnt prefered to that big oaf is beyond me.
djourou cant get a game despite not conceding a goal this season for us.
i half wonder is wenger winding down his managerial career at times. has he lost the desire or hunger. yes he looks gutted when they lose/make mistakes but ultimately he makes the same team selection every bloody week. no one is axed or kept on their toes and the same old b*llocks excuses when we lose.

i said it before, there is no longer a top 4 as such. there is the top 3 and we are drifting away at a rapid rate from them. at this rate we wont even finish 5th. villa were torn apart by newcastle ffs some weeks back and they won comprehensively today. sigh!.... end of rant!

Beau x1

Completely agree. I don't think Wenger is winding down his career, but I think he needs to understand that the likes of Bendnter have certainly reached his peak, and putting someone like him on the field is worse than not having him there at all. The reserves against Wigan played some really entertaining football. The majority of what I feel now when I watch the firsts is pure frustration.

Villain

I often wonder if Wenger has been restricted from spending because of the new Stadium or whether he has a goal of winning something without buying big players.

I mean Arsenal's net spend in the summer was £1.25 million, surely if Wenger wanted to make a real challenge he would have bought a few big players?

OPENROAD

Villain wrote: »

I often wonder if Wenger has been restricted from spending because of the new Stadium or whether he has a goal of winning something without buying big players.

I mean Arsenal's net spend in the summer was £1.25 million, surely if Wenger wanted to make a real challenge he would have bought a few big players?

The money is available, he just doesn't want to spend it, has a belief in his players, what we are lacking imo is the desire week in week out to win.

Well done today, by all accounts you fully desrved all three points

It almost reminds me of Real Madrid back 5 or 6 years ago where they didn't believe in spending big money or even buying defenders but attacking players. AW seems to have the same philosophy. He spent 11m on Nasri and 5m on Ramsey this summer yet just 750k on a centre half which the team has been crying out for. dont get me wrong i like both Nasri and Ramsey but sometimes you have to prioritise and spend where the team needs strengthening.
To be honest as good as arsenal played last week it papered over a lot of cracks. it was an open game which could have ended up 7-7 as easily and was the type arsenal love. They don't fancy putting their bodies on the line in a tight game like today though and none of the senior players except maybe toure are setting example yet wenger persists with them and they go unpunished :mad:

Helix

OPENROAD wrote: »

The money is available, he just doesn't want to spend it, has a belief in his players, what we are lacking imo is the desire week in week out to win.

is it REALLY there tho? surely hes not intentionally just ignoring the glaring holes in the team. i was amazed you werent in for barry in the summer, perfect replacement for flamini right there, plus possible defensive cover if needed

i think you really have to spend a few quid in jan or you might be pushed right to the wire for 4th

Frisbee

Beau x1 wrote: »

Frisbee's going to hate me for saying this haha, but seriously; WHAT was Wenger doing still putting Bendtner on first after all this? Surely Vela would have been a better start to the game than him. Not sure why he took Diaby off first either. I'd have rather seen the reserves play Villa this afternoon tbh.

Vela has a really important WCQ on Wednesday with Mexico. I'm suprised he was even in the squad.
And I don't prefer Bendtner to Vela, Vela is without a doubt my favourite Arsenal player. (check the sig)

OPENROAD

Helix wrote: »

is it REALLY there tho? surely hes not intentionally just ignoring the glaring holes in the team. i was amazed you werent in for barry in the summer, perfect replacement for flamini right there, plus possible defensive cover if needed

Our accounts would suggest that it is and the board have always maintained that if Arsene wants a player the money is availabe.

I believe we were in for Alonso in the summer but when the Barry deal did not go through we were not able to get Alonso.

Quazzie

If Wenger doesn't make changes its a sign that he doesn't see there to be a problem. If he can't see a problem then he really should not be a manager and I don't think I'm alone in saying this but if he doesn't get his act together soon then I for one, wouldn't want him as a manager. We are better than this but Wenger's transfer policies, and team selection these last two years would suggest that he is past it as a successful manager.

Nunu

Wenger has a blind spot when it comes to the type of centre half he needs that would solve a lot of his problems.

Chelsea have Terry, Liverpool have Carragher and Utd have Vidic.

Why, oh why Wenger didn't snatch Laursen from Villa I will never understand? We all know Laursen was outstanding for Villa last season. He had to prove himself before a contract was offered because of his injury blighted career. He had more than done this by Christmas. Wenger could have got him for nothing if he doesn't want to spend any money.

Helix

Nunu wrote: »

Wenger has a blind spot when it comes to the type of centre half he needs that would solve a lot of his problems.

Chelsea have Terry, Liverpool have Carragher and Utd have Vidic.

Why, oh why Wenger didn't snatch Laursen from Villa I will never understand? We all know Laursen was outstanding for Villa last season. He had to prove himself before a contract was offered because of his injury blighted career. He had more than done this by Christmas. Wenger could have got him for nothing if he doesn't want to spend any money.

i couldnt understand that other, in fact i was quite worried itd happen. and why not go for mellberg either, although im certain he wouldnt have joined you, but it wouldve been worth a shot

Quazzie

AW has said the second goal was unlucky because it should've been a free kick. Who cares it was 2v1 in Arsenal's favour but those two useless clowns at the back are too slow and well past it.

Frisbee

It's getting painful to watch the matches.
You can see Wenger's idea. We're jsut two players away from awesome.
Imagine we still had Flamini this year. We would not have lost alot of the games we did.

Quazzie

Frisbee wrote: »

It's getting painful to watch the matches.
You can see Wenger's idea. We're jsut two players away from awesome.
Imagine we still had Flamini this year. We would not have lost alot of the games we did.

I agree except I think that figure is closer to 4 players short, and thats only from the starting 11. We need a DM 2 CBs and a decent consistent striker.

Frisbee

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

I agree except I think that figure is closer to 4 players short, and thats only from the starting 11. We need a DM 2 CBs and a decent consistent striker.

A DM would be the definite need. You'd be suprised how good our CB's would look with someone in font protecting them. Gallas and Toure didnt look half as dodgy last year with the Flamster in front of them.
And we have so many strikers. Getting another one would cause some of them to start getting stroppy. Can you imagine Ade or RVP not minding getting stuck on the bench?
He'll never get rid of Ade or RVP. Not this season anyway.
Eduardo is a very clinical striker when he gets back.
I think it would be a hugely bad move to get rid of Vela as he is going to be awesome.
If your going to get rid of anybody it would have to be Bendtner.

Pepe LeFrits

We need a DM and a CB, that's it.

Quazzie

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

We need a DM and a CB, that's it.

If any more convincing is required try ask yourself how many Arsenal players would make the Chelsea/Utd/Liverpool team. Atm I fear it'd only be Cesc on all three (despite how sh*t he's been lately), and possibly a few more on Liverpool but apart from that there'd be no guarantees

leninbenjamin

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

If any more convincing is required try ask yourself how many Arsenal players would make the Chelsea/Utd/Liverpool team. Atm I fear it'd only be Cesc on all three (despite how sh*t he's been lately), and possibly a few more on Liverpool but apart from that there'd be no guarantees

I'd hazard Ade would start ahead of Berba for United, Keane at Pool and perhaps even Anelka at Chelsea.

I'm pretty positive Nasri would start for all three (ahead of Nani/Park, Riera and Malouda).

Walcott would probably start for both Chelsea and Pool (ahead of Kuyt and Kalou).

Clichy would start for Pool and Chelsea, better than Dossena and Cole/Bridge

Sagna would start for all three (perhaps on a par with Bosingwa, but i still believe he is the better player).

if Touré could regain his form I'd say he'd start for Liverpool at least.

so 4 or 5 anyway would feature on top of Cesc imo.

so all in all i'm in agreement with Pepe, by my analysis the real weak positions are the partner for Cesc and a CB.

L'prof

Here's our league standing compared to other years in the premiership:

2008-2009: 13  7  2  4 25 15 10 23
2007-2008: 13 10  3  0 29 10 19 33 ( 3rd)
2006-2007: 13  6  4  3 21 10 11 22 ( 4th)
2005-2006: 13  8  2  3 22 10 12 26 ( 4th)
2004-2005: 13  9  3  1 37 17 20 30 ( 2nd)
2003-2004: 13 10  3  0 28 10 18 33 ( 1st)
2002-2003: 13  9  2  2 28 13 15 29 ( 2nd)
2001-2002: 13  6  5  2 28 15 13 23 ( 1st)
2000-2001: 13  8  4  1 23 10 13 28 ( 2nd)
1999-2000: 13  8  2  3 20 12  8 26 ( 2nd)
1998-1999: 13  6  6  1 14  5  9 24 ( 2nd)
1997-1998: 13  6  6  1 27 13 14 24 ( 1st)
1996-1997: 13  7  4  2 24 11 13 25 ( 3rd)
1995-1996: 13  7  3  3 17  8  9 24 ( 5th)
1994-1995: 13  5  4  4 17 13  4 19 (12th)
1993-1994: 13  6  5  2 12  6  6 23 ( 4th)
1992-1993: 13  7  2  4 17 12  5 23 (10th)

And our all time premiership results, sorted by points per game first:

Reading               4   4   0   0  11   2   9  12 3.00
Watford               4   4   0   0   9   3   6  12 3.00
Barnsley              2   2   0   0   7   0   7   6 3.00
Wolves                2   2   0   0   6   1   5   6 3.00
Wigan                 6   5   1   0  12   5   7  16 2.67
Ipswich              10   8   2   0  23   4  19  26 2.60
Man City             22  18   3   1  44  11  33  57 2.59
Fulham               15  12   1   2  33   9  24  37 2.47
Charlton             16  12   2   2  36  12  24  38 2.38
Derby                14  10   3   1  27  11  16  33 2.36
West Brom             7   5   1   1  15   7   8  16 2.29
Leicester            16  10   5   1  38  13  25  35 2.19
Crystal Palace        8   5   2   1  16   5  11  17 2.13
Everton              33  21   7   5  66  26  40  70 2.12
Birmingham           10   6   3   1  19   5  14  21 2.10
Nottingham Forest    10   6   3   1  13   7   6  21 2.10
Sunderland           15   9   4   2  30  11  19  31 2.07
Southampton          26  15   7   4  50  24  26  52 2.00
Oldham                4   2   2   0   4   1   3   8 2.00
Swindon               2   1   1   0   5   1   4   4 2.00
West Ham             27  16   5   6  40  17  23  53 1.96
Middlesbrough        26  15   6   5  59  25  34  51 1.96
Coventry             18  10   5   3  25  13  12  35 1.94
Bolton               19  10   5   4  31  22   9  35 1.84
Portsmouth           10   4   6   0  16   6  10  18 1.80
Blackburn            29  15   7   7  47  26  21  52 1.79
Villa                33  16  11   6  51  28  23  59 1.79
Chelsea              32  15  11   6  47  34  13  56 1.75
Bradford              4   2   1   1   6   3   3   7 1.75
Newcastle            31  15   8   8  43  26  17  53 1.71
Leeds                24  12   4   8  43  25  18  40 1.67
Spurs                33  13  15   5  51  36  15  54 1.64
Norwich               8   3   4   1  17   9   8  13 1.63
MK Dons              16   7   4   5  30  16  14  25 1.56
Sheffield Wednesday  16   7   4   5  21  16   5  25 1.56
Sheffield United      6   2   3   1   9   4   5   9 1.50
Man United           33  10  10  13  33  43 -10  40 1.21
Liverpool            32   9   9  14  31  43 -12  36 1.13
QPR                   8   1   5   2   7   8  -1   8 1.00
Hull                  1   0   0   1   1   2  -1   0 0.00
Stoke                 1   0   0   1   1   2  -1   0 0.00

If there is enough interest, I can post these after every game?

leninbenjamin

interesting stats. the only other time they lost 4 games this far into the season they finished mid table... scary thought. I do note they have the same points now as they did at the same time in 2001, still doable I guess however unlikely.

L'prof

leninbenjamin wrote: »

interesting stats. the only other time they lost 4 games this far into the season they finished mid table... scary thought. I do note they have the same points now as they did at the same time in 2001, still doable I guess however unlikely.

Well, we finished that season with 87 points, which won the league last year, but we still have 4 games against the top 3 (funnily enough, that isn't as scary as playing 21 games against the rest!!!).

cson

The thing that gets me is we were very close to having a title winning squad. Losing Hleb and Flamini in the summer were huge blows while trying to solve the CB issue with Mikael Silvestre was madness. It annoys me because imo, last season we were every bit as good and even better than Liverpool. This season they're top of the league and we're struggling for 4th. The difference? They've spent money.

OPENROAD

cson wrote: »

It annoys me because imo, last season we were every bit as good and even better than Liverpool. This season they're top of the league and we're struggling for 4th. The difference? They've spent money.

Liverpool always spend money though, and keane so far has not been a good signing for them.

Beau x1

Anyone have an Arsenal TV account? Would love to see Wenger's press conference.

L'prof

Beau x1 wrote: »

Anyone have an Arsenal TV account? Would love to see Wenger's press conference.

Yeah, is it up?

Just checked, it's not up yet!

Mr Alan

OPENROAD wrote: »

Liverpool always spend money though, and keane so far has not been a good signing for them.

4 goals & near MOTM performances against United & Everton.

The lad aint doing too bad tbh! :eek:

L'prof

Mr Alan wrote: »

4 goals & near MOTM performances against United & Everton.

The lad aint doing too bad tbh! :eek:

He's doing OK! Once he's fully settled in, I'd expect a lot more...I don't think he'll ever live up to that price tag though!

DenMan

In my humble opinion I thought Vela looked brilliant today when he came on as a sub. Needs to start much more often in the league.

Beau x1

jasonorr wrote: »

Yeah, is it up?

Just checked, it's not up yet!

Should be! Says it is on the site at least.
http://tv.arsenal.com/default.aspx?p=channels/C4_S2&a=55928

Galvasean

Anyone know the extent of Sagna's injury?

I think it's time we let Djourou have a shot at CB. We havent conceded with him on the field. Granted he hasn't played against the hardest opposition yet, but he couldn't do any worse than Gallas and Silvestre played against Villa.

The fact that we don't have a super centre back (in the Tony Adams mold not to put too fine a point on it) should mean a good DM is essential. It's common sense. If the CBs arent doing their job they need someone to help cover them.

PHB

Sagna out till December according to SSN. Huge huge huge huge blow I think, huge.

Galvasean

PHB wrote: »

Sagna out till December according to SSN. Huge huge huge huge blow I think, huge.

Agreed. When he got injured last season our back line got very exposed.

keano_afc

Big loss, and we've still got some massive games this month. As hard as it is to say Eboue actually looked ok last time he filled in. Sagna's injury is only one of the problems though. The confidence of the rest of the back four must be shot at this stage.

Pepe LeFrits

I don't think it is that big a deal to be honest, as long as Touré will take his place. If we also lose a CB to injury, hopefully Djourou will come into the side (and not Eboue) and we might actually decent defensively.

Galvasean

Toure is more than capable of filling in at RB. Unfortunately that limits options at CB which is where we are suffering at the moment.

Pepe LeFrits

We're not suffering at CB because of a lack of options, we're suffering because the first choice options are ****.

Djourou must have banged Wenger's wife 'cos he's done very well every time he has played.

DenMan

Just read the wonderful news that Fabregas is suspended for the trip to Man City.

Hopefully we won't pick up any injuires during the internationals next week. I have a bad feeling Van Persie will come back injured (Holland vs Sweden). Hope I am wrong.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will launch a £12m raid on former club Portsmouth for Niko Kranjcar. (Daily Star)

Arsenal are preparing a £6m January swoop for Cardiff starlet Joe Ledley. (Sunday Mirror)

Why do the above posts annoy me? Spurs linked with a player Arsenal were looking to get during the summer, didn't happen. Now we are linked with a huge star for the future. The way it's going our senior team may as well play in the reserves.

This is good news though (has to be verified):

Robin van Persie has agreed a new, double-your-money contract with Arsenal - and is set to sign it by the end of the week. The deal keeps him at the Emirates until 2012. (Sunday Mirror)

Frisbee

Galvasean wrote: »

Toure is more than capable of filling in at RB. Unfortunately that limits options at CB which is where we are suffering at the moment.

Agreed although I'd rather Toure push into CB with Gallas and have Eboue at RB. If he's back

Green Hornet

Y'know, it's funny. Senderos was scapegoated last season as being the weak link. Wasn't his biggest fan myself but I'm beginning to wonder if he would be a good option now. Big strapping centre half. Might have added a bit more aerial stability and route 1 to the back line?

He took a hell of a lot of flak last year and some of it got too personal in fairness but I wonder was he a symptom rather than the cause of the problem? Almost wish he was back now.

cson

Green Hornet wrote: »

Y'know, it's funny. Senderos was scapegoated last season as being the weak link. Wasn't his biggest fan myself but I'm beginning to wonder if he would be a good option now. Big strapping centre half. Might have added a bit more aerial stability and route 1 to the back line?

He took a hell of a lot of flak last year and some of it got too personal in fairness but I wonder was he a symptom rather than the cause of the problem? Almost wish he was back now.

When did he play his best stuff? On our run to the champions league final.

Why? Its a different type of game to the premiership.

Put simply, he's too slow for the premiership but would be excellent for where he is now; Serie A.

leninbenjamin

DenMan wrote: »

This is good news though (has to be verified):

Robin van Persie has agreed a new, double-your-money contract with Arsenal - and is set to sign it by the end of the week. The deal keeps him at the Emirates until 2012. (Sunday Mirror)

why is it? he's done sweet **** all to earn that really.

Pepe LeFrits

Agreed. Our wage bill is ridiculous enough as it is.

OPENROAD

Can anyone confirm when the transfer window opens and closes?

Pepe LeFrits

OPENROAD wrote: »

Can anyone confirm when the transfer window opens and closes?

When Wenger leaves.

Galvasean

leninbenjamin wrote: »

why is it? he's done sweet **** all to earn that really.

Indeed. Has he doubled his output for the club? No.