Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2013/14

wandatowell

Can't see us making a tilt for the league.

I can see us finishing with more points than last year so hopefully that will equal move a place or two up league compared to last season.

bad2dabone

I think that if we correctly strengthen our forward line then we're capable. I'm at a loss to identify available players though.

wandatowell

FearDark wrote: »

We're up next on MOTD



...more Michael Owen, sick to death of him, he's everywhere and he's awful.

the BBC panel in motd has been brutal for years. Also they really rush the analysis and even the highlights seem sped through.

FearDark

wandatowell wrote: »

the BBC panel in motd has been brutal for years. Also they really rush the analysis and even the highlights seem sped through.

I agree. Its awful and no doubt they'll slag Arsenal as usual in the analysis.:mad:

Marty McFly

FearDark wrote: »

...more Michael Owen, sick to death of him, he's everywhere and he's awful.

Him and Shearer are both awful but there both Golden Boys of English football.

I don't know about anyone else but I find Michael Owens voice seriously irritating.

NinjaTruncs

Raf32 wrote: »

depends where we are in january and what he brings in i feel.

We need to get through Black November first, we always do poorly in November.

bad2dabone

That really was scummy from huth.

Marty McFly

Ah jasus I see BT style of having players simulate the game has rubbed off on Shearer and MOTD all they were missing was the mini pitch.

Marty McFly

Was talking to a lad in work today a Liverpool fan who kept saying Arsenal are looking good this season apart from the same old weaknesses as always showing up, can't defend to save there lives, at which point I said you mean the same team who had the second best defensive record in the league last season .

He looked a bit baffled for a minute or two then went for the same argument again because he had nothing else, I told him to stop listening to Dunphy and co.

efb

I'm feeling positive, the top 3, Und, City and Chelsea are in flux so its the best chance we've had, and Özil makes it attainable.

efb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljXfLumlvaw

Özil cam!

efb

Just saw a pic of Özil's missus- no wonder he's a great first touch!

batistuta9

FearDark wrote: »

Just realised my Arsenal shirt doesn't have the vents on the sides.

the players jerseys are slightly different to what you buy in the shops
crest & nike sign are printed on i think & the there's that thing on between the shoulder & sleeve
they might be of a lighter material too

gnfnrhead

bad2dabone wrote: »

So realistically can we mount a title challenge this season?

It all depends on injuries. First 11 fit for the majority of the season and we will be there or thereabouts. The problems arise when we start losing influential players for extended periods. We dont have the same depth the other top teams have.

jester77

We don't have enough depth for a realistic challenge, look at our bench the last few games. Plus we usually fade in March when the cup fixture come fast and hard, and we have as tough as you can get series of league games from mid-March on this time around. Our squad is not big or good enough to handle that yet.

gosplan

jester77 wrote: »

We don't have enough depth for a realistic challenge, look at our bench the last few games. Plus we usually fade in March when the cup fixture come fast and hard, and we have as tough as you can get series of league games from mid-March on this time around. Our squad is not big or good enough to handle that yet.

Potentially we have enough depth but as someone said, it's all about injuries.

We still had a first 11 good enough for any match the other day and we were missing Walcott, Cazorla, Pod, Arteta and Chambo.

I mean add one more and that's a really good front six that we didn't need on the weekend. Would anyone really mind seeing a teamsheet for a premier league match with all of those players in it?

IMO the squad is plenty good except at striker which may come back to bite Wenger.

We need to get lucky and avoid long term injuries or something like 2 CB's being out for a while.

If we get lucky with injuries, it may be something like now where we can ride it out and rest players. Caz is out but probably needs the rest and he's not essential now. That kind of thing we can live with.

Really can't wait to see Walcott, Ozil and Cazorla in a line behind Giroud though.

'Want the ball? Really? Come and get it. Here! No, here! Now it's over here! Oh look, Theo's clean through ...'














... Argh! Theo FFS!!!

gosplan

gnfnrhead wrote: »

It all depends on injuries. First 11 fit for the majority of the season and we will be there or thereabouts.

Who is this first 11 you speak of???

We have a first 16!!!

emergingstar

Think it's too early for a tithe challenge I just want too see an improvemenon last year

cson

I'd agree this year will come too early. However I don't think it's unrealistic for us to expect a decent run in the FA Cup and Champions League. With regard to the latter I think belief has played a huge part in it; the last 3 years we've beaten Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern when the pressure was mostly off - we're obviously good enough to beat them so we should be thinking that from the get go. The addition of Ozil should get us more into that line of thinking.

I think January is an important month for us; we need a signing like Ozil again I think. Personally I think Suarez would be ideal in that he can play on the flanks too but the whole sorry saga will probably have warned the club off him. Given Arteta and Flamini 32 and 30 this season we probably need to look at getting in someone like Lars Bender again. With Ozil, Per and Poldi its going to be a lot easier to attract top German talent so the likes of Draxler and Bender should be more easily convinced to join us.

If the Ozil signing is the a sign of things to come then the next couple of seasons are going to be very exciting if you're an Arsenal fan.

Pepe LeFrits

Soups123 wrote: »

I think that's harsh he will be a great player 4 them in time

I'm not convinced by Fellaini at all; he's not a bad player by any means but I'd a little surprised if he ever really holds down a starting spot at United in the long term. I just don't think he's technically good enough to regularly play central midfield for a team with their ambitions.

bad2dabone

He's looked out of place in the United midfield, but it's still early days in his career there. I think he was far from their first choice signing.

batistuta9

bad2dabone wrote: »

He's looked out of place in the United midfield, but it's still early days in his career there. I think he was far from their first choice signing.

107th apparently

Mickeroo

I think Fellaini would have been a better signing for us than he has been so far for united, they needed a more creative player. But Flamini turned out to be the bargain of the century so we don't need him now anyway.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

cson wrote: »

I'd agree this year will come too early. However I don't think it's unrealistic for us to expect a decent run in the FA Cup and Champions League. With regard to the latter I think belief has played a huge part in it; the last 3 years we've beaten Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern when the pressure was mostly off - we're obviously good enough to beat them so we should be thinking that from the get go. The addition of Ozil should get us more into that line of thinking.

I think January is an important month for us; we need a signing like Ozil again I think. Personally I think Suarez would be ideal in that he can play on the flanks too but the whole sorry saga will probably have warned the club off him. Given Arteta and Flamini 32 and 30 this season we probably need to look at getting in someone like Lars Bender again. With Ozil, Per and Poldi its going to be a lot easier to attract top German talent so the likes of Draxler and Bender should be more easily convinced to join us.

If the Ozil signing is the a sign of things to come then the next couple of seasons are going to be very exciting if you're an Arsenal fan.

We really do need to strengthen in January some more. Especially if it allows us to be any way involved in a title challenge.

Suarez should play like crap for Liverpool til then, force his way out and then come to us and kill it for the rest of the season to ensure he's set for the WC... probably best not to get involved in all that madness again though.

AdamD

cson wrote: »

I'd agree this year will come too early. However I don't think it's unrealistic for us to expect a decent run in the FA Cup and Champions League. With regard to the latter I think belief has played a huge part in it; the last 3 years we've beaten Barcelona, AC Milan and Bayern when the pressure was mostly off - we're obviously good enough to beat them so we should be thinking that from the get go. The addition of Ozil should get us more into that line of thinking.

I think January is an important month for us; we need a signing like Ozil again I think. Personally I think Suarez would be ideal in that he can play on the flanks too but the whole sorry saga will probably have warned the club off him. Given Arteta and Flamini 32 and 30 this season we probably need to look at getting in someone like Lars Bender again. With Ozil, Per and Poldi its going to be a lot easier to attract top German talent so the likes of Draxler and Bender should be more easily convinced to join us.

If the Ozil signing is the a sign of things to come then the next couple of seasons are going to be very exciting if you're an Arsenal fan.

Lars bender's contract will only have a year left on it next summer so I'd fully expect us to make a move.

Awesomeness

Screw this we are not ready to challenge. We are top of the league and utd and chelsea look like much.

I say we win the lot

Drexel

Mickeroo wrote: »

I think Fellaini would have been a better signing for us than he has been so far for united, they needed a more creative player. But Flamini turned out to be the bargain of the century so we don't need him now anyway.

I was a bit dubious about the Flamini signing. But he was excellent yesterday. He is constantly encouraging everyone around him. And seems to be barking orders at them too :pac:

Arteta is goina have a tough time getting back into the team. Great to have him as back up tho.

Alfred Borden

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8937353/arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-in-the-dark-over-theo-walcotts-injury
Dont know what to make of that at all

Drexel

Raf32 wrote: »

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8937353/arsenal-boss-arsene-wenger-in-the-dark-over-theo-walcotts-injury
Dont know what to make of that at all

Nightmare if he is out for a couple of games.

Hope we play a lot of young playerS in the CC this week. The whole first team needs a rest.

keano_afc

Isn't that how it all started with Rosicky?

greendom

jonny666 wrote: »

Nightmare if he is out for a couple of games.

Hope we play a lot of young playerS in the CC this week. The whole first team needs a rest.

Arteta, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Monreal and Bendtner will be supplemented with the likes of Ryo, Gnabry and the youths I would think.

Pudders

Random question. I've always sat in the clock end upper until this seson where I am in the west stand. So until this year I never noticed the banners on the clock end for obvious reasons but how long has the Athlone gunners banner been up?

Drexel

greendom wrote: »

Arteta, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Monreal and Bendtner will be supplemented with the likes of Ryo, Gnabry and the youths I would think.

Hopefully. I dont wanna see Giroud even on the subs bench!

Will West Brom play a full team or include a few youngsters ?

greendom

jonny666 wrote: »

Hopefully. I dont wanna see Giroud even on the subs bench!

Will West Brom play a full team or include a few youngsters ?

I doubt any of their players have played the 10 games in the last month (including internationals) that most of ours have

emergingstar

Can't see us going big in jan again, players won't wanna move in World Cup year

Stop gap in jan and go big again in summer

the untitled user

To be honest, we don't want to be buying in January if we can avoid it. You always over pay, and most players take until the rest of the season before they are up to speed properly anyway given the team's style is already settled at that point (unless your Arshavin and do everything opposite ways).

It would be better to get Bendtner back to the level where he can contribute again... afterall he should be motivated enough to get the move he wants at the end of the season. Plus, he's the style of player we need to cover Giroud anyway.

Frisbee

---

Viviano

---

Jenk----Verm----Youth CB---Monreal

---

Arteta----Frimpong

---

Gnarby

---

Eisfeld

---

Miyaichi

---

Bendtner

---

And a bench full of kids. No-one from our first 14 should even be in the squad.

Mickeroo

jonny666 wrote: »

I was a bit dubious about the Flamini signing. But he was excellent yesterday. He is constantly encouraging everyone around him. And seems to be barking orders at them too :pac:

Arteta is goina have a tough time getting back into the team. Great to have him as back up tho.

I actually think we'll see arteta playing further forward than usual over the next few weeks since wenger wants to rest Jack.

Pepe LeFrits

I wouldn't say so... if anyone gets pushed forward it'll be Rambo, like yesterday after Arteta was brought on.

Mickeroo

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I wouldn't say so... if anyone gets pushed forward it'll be Rambo, like yesterday after Arteta was brought on.

Yeah I agree, I meant further forward in the sense that he wouldn't be playing in his usual role.

Pepe LeFrits

Ah, fairy nuff.

FearDark

Away at West Brom will be a tricky fixture for our young lads, I honestly thing Wenger will play something stronger than what we imagine he will play.

tayto lover

Saturday's evening game is on Sky Sports 1 -- Swansea v Arsenal.

extra gravy

tayto lover wrote: »

Saturday's evening game is on Sky Sports 1 -- Swansea v Arsenal.

I wonder is the League Cup game being televised here or abroad? I remember there being no coverage of our third round game last season apart from radio commentary on the player.

Gringo180

Just back from holidays lads must say it was very enjoyable watching us win 2 of our games at a canter I have to hold my hands up and say I unfairly wrote off young Ramsey he is a different class what a revelation he has been the boss has to be applauded for keeping the faith in him. Top of the league too SUPER ARSENAL

gosplan

I really think the whole idea of us challenging will depend on how we do vrs the big teams.

They're too good to not improve on what they've shown so far.

Looking forward to some massive games.

Drexel

Mickeroo wrote: »

I actually think we'll see arteta playing further forward than usual over the next few weeks since wenger wants to rest Jack.

If Walcott is out I can see arteta starting on the wing! We'll have no choice really

Mr Blobby

jonny666 wrote: »

If Walcott is out I can see arteta starting on the wing! We'll have no choice really

Why not Gnabry

Hyzepher

gosplan wrote: »

I really think the whole idea of us challenging will depend on how we do vrs the big teams.

They're too good to not improve on what they've shown so far.

Looking forward to some massive games.

I think most years the league is decided on how you deal with the smaller clubs - beat the teams you should. A lot of the big teams take points off each other.

A distinct lack of draws is a lot more important - provided you aren't losing 8+ games. Look at Arsenal finishing positions over the last ten years or so and the years we do well are the years we draw less - even if we lose more games.

Drexel

Mr Blobby wrote: »

Why not Gnabry

Forgot about him haha

I'd be worried about his tracking back against better teams then stoke. Gnabry did well yesterday but I don't think he should be starting too many games. I don't know will arteta do a better job tho didn't he used to play as a winger for Everon?