Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2011/2012

Jmac24128

2nite is a massive game for us, the chance to get some daylight between us and chelsea and maybe even take 3rd for the enemy " love when sagna called them that". all this negativity around song is way over the top he does a fantastic job for us, when he plays well, we wins plus with arteta's work rate has helped he alot. with the reemergence of the rosicky i love, he looks like a world beater right now. all in all i am very positive. come on 2nite the mighty gunners!!!

ImpossibleDuck

amacachi wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gervinho#Cardiac_Arrest



Classy bastard whoever that was.

What is with people editing Gervihno's page? Every single time I look at it it has some ridiculous nonsense

Atm:

He is known for his pace, finishing, exceptional dribbling skills and his ability to chest the ball at 96 miles per hour.

Style of play

Gervinho is generally deployed as a lizard, more often on the beach, and takes a more attacking role than a typical midfielder. He possesses the elder wand which, coupled with short, fast burst of uncontrollable magic, lead him to be considered a very direct wizard. Playing from the left allows him to cut in onto his favoured right foot and shoot at goal. In a 4-4-2 formation, Gervinho can take on a more central role, but for both club and country is often utilized on either wing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Marty McFly

Has to be said great to see Henry doing a 5000 mile trip just to visit Muamba says a lot for Henry and for Muamba.

djan

Just had a look around for predicted line ups for tonight but I really do hope that
Oxo starts ahead of ramsey in the middle, I think that Oxo and Rosicky work together well as Oxo will make direct runs while Rosicky will spread the ball nicely . I for oone think that Ramsey has been quite poor this season but still is a very good 2nd choice CAM.

L'prof

KingdomYid wrote: »

I guess time will tell, but Arsenal still have to win the games to catch up hey.

We have been on the end of a hiding already this season and bounced back so I am still confident.

L'prof wrote: »

We need to make up 8 points. Ye'll lose the next 3 and we'll win them, easy

More or less anyway

jordainius

Third place!!!! Chelsea 6 behind, Tottenham one behind, one of them guaranteed to drop points when they play each other this weekend! If we beat Villa at the weekend we're in an excellent position!

Loving this turnaround, long may it continue!!

tony1kenobi

MIND THE GAP

ImpossibleDuck

Lads, think we can catch City? :pac:

Seriously though, a few weeks ago I would never have thought in a million years we'd be sitting 6 points ahead of 5th so soon.

This is an achievement, a fantastic one. The current crop (despite their faults) deserve a LOT of credit for turning this season around.

Remember too lads, this season began with our worst start in 50-odd years

C'mon you Arsenal!

L'prof

H Villa, A QPR next. 6 points would be amazing!

Premier League Record:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts  PPG
Reading               4   4   0   0  11   2   9  12 3.00
Watford               4   4   0   0   9   3   6  12 3.00
Blackpool             2   2   0   0   9   1   8   6 3.00
Barnsley              2   2   0   0   7   0   7   6 3.00
Wolves                7   6   1   0  16   3  13  19 2.71
Ipswich              10   8   2   0  23   4  19  26 2.60
Wigan                13  10   2   1  32  11  21  32 2.46
Charlton             16  12   2   2  36  12  24  38 2.38
Derby                14  10   3   1  27  11  16  33 2.36
Hull                  4   3   0   1   9   4   5   9 2.25
Man City             29  20   5   4  51  19  32  65 2.24
Fulham               22  15   4   3  44  15  29  49 2.23
Birmingham           14   9   4   1  28   8  20  31 2.21
Leicester            16  10   5   1  38  13  25  35 2.19
Everton              40  26   9   5  81  32  49  87 2.17
Portsmouth           14   8   6   0  28   8  20  30 2.14
Stoke                 7   5   0   2  15   8   7  15 2.14
Crystal Palace        8   5   2   1  16   5  11  17 2.13
Nottingham Forest    10   6   3   1  13   7   6  21 2.10
West Brom            11   7   2   2  25  13  12  23 2.09
West Ham             32  19   7   6  48  19  29  64 2.00
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
Burnley               2   1   1   0   4   2   2   4 2.00
Middlesbrough        28  16   7   5  62  26  36  55 1.96
Bolton               26  15   6   5  46  27  19  51 1.96
Sunderland           22  12   7   3  37  15  22  43 1.95
Coventry             18  10   5   3  25  13  12  35 1.94
Blackburn            36  19   8   9  70  36  34  65 1.81
Villa                39  19  13   7  63  35  28  70 1.79
Norwich               9   4   4   1  19  10   9  16 1.78
Bradford              4   2   1   1   6   3   3   7 1.75
Newcastle            36  17  10   9  52  33  19  61 1.69
Chelsea              39  18  11  10  58  50   8  65 1.67
Leeds                24  12   4   8  43  25  18  40 1.67
MK Dons              16   7   4   5  30  16  14  25 1.56
Sheffield Wednesday  16   7   4   5  21  16   5  25 1.56
Spurs                40  15  17   8  66  48  18  62 1.55
Sheffield United      6   2   3   1   9   4   5   9 1.50
Swansea               2   1   0   1   3   3   0   3 1.50
Liverpool            40  12  13  15  43  54 -11  49 1.23
QPR                   9   2   5   2   8   8   0  11 1.22
Man United           40  11  11  18  39  59 -20  44 1.10

This Season v Previous Seasons:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts
2011-2012:  29  17   4   8  58  39  19  55
2010-2011:  29  17   7   5  59  29  30  58 ( 4th)
2009-2010:  29  19   4   6  69  32  37  61 ( 3rd)
2008-2009:  29  14  10   5  45  26  19  52 ( 4th)
2007-2008:  29  19   9   1  57  21  36  66 ( 3rd)
2006-2007:  29  16   7   6  51  24  27  55 ( 4th)
2005-2006:  29  14   5  10  45  23  22  47 ( 4th)
2004-2005:  29  18   7   4  67  32  35  61 ( 2nd)
2003-2004:  29  22   7   0  57  19  38  73 ( 1st)
2002-2003:  29  19   6   4  64  30  34  63 ( 2nd)
2001-2002:  29  17   9   3  58  31  27  60 ( 1st)
2000-2001:  29  15   8   6  47  29  18  53 ( 2nd)
1999-2000:  29  15   6   8  50  31  19  51 ( 2nd)
1998-1999:  29  15  11   3  40  13  27  56 ( 2nd)
1997-1998:  29  16   9   4  48  26  22  57 ( 1st)
1996-1997:  29  14   9   6  47  26  21  51 ( 3rd)
1995-1996:  29  13   9   7  39  27  12  48 ( 5th)
1994-1995:  29   9  10  10  32  32   0  37 (12th)
1993-1994:  29  12  12   5  33  16  17  48 ( 4th)
1992-1993:  29  11   6  12  26  26   0  39 (10th)

Rolling Season:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts
2011-2012:  38  19   8  11  71  53  18  65

Current Run:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts
2011-2012:   7   6   1   0  19   6  13  19

gnfnrhead

This whole not watching matches thing seems to be working well :pac:

Wonder what happened against Milan and Sunderland...

efb

gosplan

In someone we something or other.

Soups123

efb wrote: »

And just like that all in the world looks normal again

amacachi

As I kept saying, the start of this season was a bad patch with the worst luck ever. We've ridden our luck the last few matches from what I've heard but got a little luck and won. Start of the season we were a goal up until a handball wasn't given against Spurs. We weren't looking bad against Liverpool until a freak own goal and to be honest I think the league table doesn't lie at the end of the year and it'll show we're demonstrably better than them.


I'm a happy camper

batistuta9

best thing nasri's done since around january 2011

efb

WWWWWWenger!

emergingstar

The defence was brilliant tonight, alot can be said for having a settled back four

amacachi

emergingstar wrote: »

The defence was brilliant tonight, alot can be said for having a settled back four

From what I read here and what they were saying on Sky it sounds like they had plenty to do. Like you say, shows how important a settled back 4 is, it allows Song to go walkabouts a bit.

tayto lover

A little bit more composure needed up front because we could have scored a few more. We seem to want to do things at 100 mph when in front of the opposition goal.

DB10

great nights football.

MOTD is watchable again

tayto lover

DB10 wrote: »

great nights football.

MOTD is watchable again

I hate Alan Hanson and he hates Arsenal.
Wonder what he'll say tonight.

iMuse

Good stat on MOTD: Arsenal back 5 of Szczęsny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs unbeaten as a unit this term.

amacachi

Jesus I really do love football sometimes though. :pac:

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2011-2012/form-table/full

Ardennes1944

Looking at the table newcastle have to commended for hanging in there. Thought they would be well behind by now

wandatowell

DB10 wrote: »

great nights football.

MOTD is watchable again

Havent watched MOTD since Eduardo had his leg broken.

I remember that ****t Lawrencen babbling on about poor "gentle giant" taylor and how he was a victim too!

Never again shall i watch that crap on a saturday night, its jonathon creek for me im afraid


and oh



COME ON YOU GOOOONERS!!!!

KaiserGunner

I would never have believed a couple of months ago that St. Totteringhams day could be possible this season. But we are back on track for it.:) Anyway a draw between Chelsea and Spurs next week would be the perfect result for us. Its great to see us picking up all these wins while not necessarily playing too well.

gnfnrhead

I'm torn between what result I want from the Chelsea/Spurs game. I obviously don't want Spurs to win, but I'm not sure if I'd want Chelsea to win, or the match to be a draw (either way, ideally with loads of injuries and red cards to key players for both sides ) A Chelsea win would give us a chance to open a little more of a gap over Spurs, but it could also kick start Chelsea again and we don't want that, just in case.

kryogen

A lot of fans (not pointing fingers at anyone in particular on here) owe Wenger a serious apology if he manages to finish 3rd this season!

amacachi

gnfnrhead wrote: »

I'm torn between what result I want from the Chelsea/Spurs game. I obviously don't want Spurs to win, but I'm not sure if I'd want Chelsea to win, or the match to be a draw (either way, ideally with loads of injuries and red cards to key players for both sides ) A Chelsea win would give us a chance to open a little more of a gap over Spurs, but it could also kick start Chelsea again and we don't want that, just in case.

Aye, don't want Chelsea getting any kind of run started, they're bloody dangerous.

kryogen wrote: »

A lot of fans (not pointing fingers at anyone in particular on here) owe Wenger a serious apology if he manages to finish 3rd this season!

They'll come out with the usual thing that they knew we wouldn't win the league so they were right.
Ah the days of "battling relegation", "finishing midtable", not even making the Europa League. I expect more of the same next season when we hit a poor spell because we don't have the 70million or so we need to spend to have any shout of winning the league.

emergingstar

Let's not start the wenger in and out childish thing again
He deserved to be critised but a few here went over the top
Now he deserves alot praise I hope he gets it

jank

kryogen wrote: »

A lot of fans (not pointing fingers at anyone in particular on here) owe Wenger a serious apology if he manages to finish 3rd this season!

They are out of here, like this guy.

Radharc na Sleibhte

Radharc na Sleibhte wrote: »

23rd August 2011
Here comes a MASSIVE eight days.
My wee joke about my annual trip over to the bolton game being a mid table clash this year is getting a bit serious.....

23rd August 2011
At this moment in time, I fear we wont make top half....!!!
Is it time to panic yet?

:o:o:o:o:o:o
I still think we'll struggle to finish ahead of Swansea. :pac:

In my defence, it was early days, we'd signed nobody, we'd sold everybody. CL qualifier was on a knife edge. We'd lost at home to Liverpool. Pre season they looked all over the place.
This was even before the OT drubbing.

God if we could have some of those early season points back, we wouldnt be worrying about Spurs, thats for sure.

Edit: Sorry for the premature panic AW (hugs).

emergingstar

Back 5 - Szczesny - Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Gibbs - Played 8 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals Conceded 4

Now that's a serious backline

Radharc na Sleibhte

The first five league games of the season and the first three league games of 2012 have been our downfall. I think thats what's so frustrating. A tiny bit more creativity, a tiny bit more spine, a tiny bit more finishing and we'd have been fighting for the title. We could all see it.

Great to see the Manager of the Month curse didnt strike.

Radharc na Sleibhte

emergingstar wrote: »

Back 5 - Szczesny - Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Gibbs - Played 8 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals Conceded 4

Now that's a serious backline

How does our current form coincide with Mertesackers injury and Arshavins exit?

emergingstar

Radharc na Sleibhte wrote: »

The first five league games of the season and the first three league games of 2012 have been our downfall. I think thats what's so frustrating. A tiny bit more creativity, a tiny bit more spine, a tiny bit more finishing and we'd have been fighting for the title. We could all see it.

Great to see the Manager of the Month curse didnt strike.

I don't blame wenger for the first 5 league games I blame the board, I think its obivious he want allowed spend until we sold, and they didn't sell the two boys until near the end of the window when everyone new they were gonna go

Now the games in jan, wenger deserves to be critised and critised heavily, not signing a full back even on loan at the start of the window cost us them three games

AnCapaillMor

Radharc na Sleibhte wrote: »

How does our current form coincide with Mertesackers injury and Arshavins exit?

The latter is meant to have been fantastic for Zenit's last few games. Still hasn't lasted a full 90 mins though.

emergingstar

Radharc na Sleibhte wrote: »

emergingstar wrote: »

Back 5 - Szczesny - Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Gibbs - Played 8 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals Conceded 4

Now that's a serious backline

How does our current form coincide with Mertesackers injury and Arshavins exit?

I wouldn't give metersacker to much stick I think he was quiet good once he settled
He will be a good 3rd choice CB next season

Radharc na Sleibhte

emergingstar wrote: »

He will be a good 3rd choice CB next season

Absolutely.
But thats all he ever was meant to be but for the injuries.

I think he's great if he's deployed correctly ie in a scrap of a game as opposed to v a good technical team.

I think Arshavin's exit is more relevant IMO.
To loan him out was effectively saying we don't need a player like him, and couldn't sell him as no one was interested in paying what Arsenal would value him at.

Anyway, that win puts us back where we should be and Spurs where they should be.:D

AnCapaillMor

Another important weekend hopefully spuds and chelsea draw and we beat villa.

Reekwind

emergingstar wrote: »

Back 5 - Szczesny - Sagna - Koscielny - Vermaelen - Gibbs - Played 8 Won 7 Drawn 1 Lost 0 Goals Conceded 4

Now that's a serious backline

The problem - and this has been a major issue for years now - is being able to field a first choice defence throughout an entire season. Three of those five players have missed significant lengths of time this season alone through injury

Which would be merely unfortunate if it wasn't that this has happened for the past few seasons and there is little adequate backup

2ndcoming

At Christmas after 19 games when we had 36 points I set us a target in my head of 72 for CL football. After the start we had it seemed to me to be very reasonable that we could return the same points over 19 games as we did the previous. Then came the disaster that was January and the faith was rocking again.

Fast forward 10 games and we're 17 points off that target, a point above the spuds, and the next 2 games are winnable and vital, win them and we can be 11 points off 72 with 7 games to go, a fantastic position to be in considering some of the setbacks we've had at various points this season.

Ooooohh to be a Gooner!

AnCapaillMor

AnCapaillMor wrote: »

Another important weekend hopefully spuds and chelsea draw and we beat villa.

That would be really nice.
If Spurs hadn't got that injury time equaliser, that would've been 4 on the bounce for them.:)

2ndcoming

Reekwind wrote: »

The problem - and this has been a major issue for years now - is being able to field a first choice defence throughout an entire season. Three of those five players have missed significant lengths of time this season alone through injury

Which would be merely unfortunate if it wasn't that this has happened for the past few seasons and there is little adequate backup

Injuries in defence and the lack of decent cover have been an achilles heel (no pun Verm) for us the past 5 or 6 years.

I know confidence is high this morning but I think aside from the best 1st choice back 5 we've had in years, if we could secure the signing of Vertonghen in the summer our stand-ins would be in great shape as well.

Santos offers great attacking options and in his biggest game for us against Chelski he made a few vital interceptions as well.

Mertesacker and Djourou stack up a hell of a lot better compared to the Silvestres, Cygans, Senderos' and Squillachis of recent years.

Yennaris has been shining for the reserves of late and I have faith that there's the makings of a good player in Jenkinson. Call me nuts but he reminds me a bit of Bale when he was at Southampton. A right sided version obviously. Both those two are Arsenal through and through as well which I think is always a good thing.

Pepe LeFrits

Having fit fullbacks is a big factor in our form. I dont think Arshavin or Per (who has done well) have much to do with it.

jordainius

Loaning Arshavin has nothing to do with the turnaround, it's just a coincidence. Punting Arshavin into the reserves for a few weeks would have been a statement alright, but loaning him back to his hometime club to give him regular first team football and hopefully find some form was a sensible option for all 3 parties (Arsenal, Zenit, Arshavin). Last thing he did in an Arsenal shirt was provide the assist for Henry's winner against Sunderland.

Upturn in form has more to do with the return to fitness and form of Sagna, a consistent choice at left back of an actual left back (this must be a record run of games for Gibbs) which has allowed us to play Vermaelen back in the centre. And the Tottenham game was a major catalyst, the NLD tends to be a crazy game, and we could just as easily have lost that one, how the team reacted when 2-0 down has saved our season. It's a bit short sighted to think that at two nil down our players suddenly realised that they did not want to be loaned to their favourite club to get regular first team football as a "punishment".

emergingstar

2ndcoming wrote: »

Reekwind wrote: »

The problem - and this has been a major issue for years now - is being able to field a first choice defence throughout an entire season. Three of those five players have missed significant lengths of time this season alone through injury

Which would be merely unfortunate if it wasn't that this has happened for the past few seasons and there is little adequate backup

Injuries in defence and the lack of decent cover have been an achilles heel (no pun Verm) for us the past 5 or 6 years.

I know confidence is high this morning but I think aside from the best 1st choice back 5 we've had in years, if we could secure the signing of Vertonghen in the summer our stand-ins would be in great shape as well.

Santos offers great attacking options and in his biggest game for us against Chelski he made a few vital interceptions as well.

Mertesacker and Djourou stack up a hell of a lot better compared to the Silvestres, Cygans, Senderos' and Squillachis of recent years.

Yennaris has been shining for the reserves of late and I have faith that there's the makings of a good player in Jenkinson. Call me nuts but he reminds me a bit of Bale when he was at Southampton. A right sided version obviously. Both those two are Arsenal through and through as well which I think is always a good thing.

Where would ya put vertonghen, I seen this reported in a few places but I don't get it
Good player but would we pay that money for a 3rd/4th choice CB

And I don't see yennaris making it were swamped in midfield as it Is

jordainius

jordainius wrote: »

It's a bit short sighted to think that at two nil down our players suddenly realised that they did not want to be loaned to their favourite club to get regular first team football as a "punishment".

What a load of ****e...who said anything about punishment?
:pac:
So Wenger loaned Arshavin out because Zenit needed him so badly to rescue their season with his wonderful work rate and assist rate, and Wenger has already got that in abundance eh?
You don't loan a player out during a mini crisis unless he is adding to that crisis, which he was.

meriwether

I only saw MOTD, how did Gibbs play last night for those who saw the lot?