Random Arsenal Shit (When it's not worth starting a thread)

[Ollie the Optimist]

Fabrice Muamaba has retired from football today, sad to see him retire but glad he can spend his life with his wife and kids.

[Marc Overmars]

Unsurprising but yeah the most important thing is that he can look forward to the rest of his life.

[GP]

Don't forget the guy was technically dead for over an hour so I guess every day is a blessing or something i don't know.

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/15/3302246/stoke-city-fanview-arsenal-sum-up-everything-that-is-wrong

Bit that matters




Fixture I am looking forward to the most...




Has to be Arsenal. Everything that is wrong with English football is summed up at that club. A club that appears to have no regard for how it treats its fans in terms of ticket prices in this current economy, a team that appears to have no appetite for developing the talent of English players, a team that appears to pay no particular credence to the gentlemanly laws that prevent feigning contact and one that will not give any credit to another when they are well beaten.

:lol:

[Letters]

Your face was technically dead for over an hour.


Muamba :bow:

Probably the sensible decision.

[LDG]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/15/3302246/stoke-city-fanview-arsenal-sum-up-everything-that-is-wrong

:lol:


Rival Prem Player you'd most like in your team: Jermain Defoe

:haha:

Oh come on.

He's being honest? :o


:haha:

[Marc Overmars]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/15/3302246/stoke-city-fanview-arsenal-sum-up-everything-that-is-wrong

Bit that matters



:lol:

Stoke. :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/15/3306773/arsenal-fanview-with-van-persie-almost-certain-to-leave-we

Arsenal fansview

[GP]

Stoke :lol:

knuckle-dragging fuckwads

[Syn]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/08/15/3302246/stoke-city-fanview-arsenal-sum-up-everything-that-is-wrong

Bit that matters

:lol:


a team that appears to have no appetite for developing the talent of English players

:rolleyes:

Are we back in 2004 again?

Lets hope so :pray:

[Cripps_orig]

Alexander Hleb's name is often used as a deterrent for those thinking of leaving Arsenal for 'better things'. Here's what happened to him.

"I love this team, I will give my best and I want to win everything with Barca." - Alexander Hleb's words after arriving at the Nou Camp in 2008 after three seasons at Arsenal.

Sadly for him, Barcelona did not love him back. He spent most of his time on the bench for the Catalan giants, making just five La Liga starts in his debut season.

He had taken a while to get going at Arsenal, and left after his best season at the club. It was a case of striking while the iron was hot, but even so, few expected him to make it as a Barcelona regular, and they were proved right.

He turned down a move to Inter Milan as part of the Samuel Eto'o-Zlatan Ibrahimovic swap deal a year later, electing to sign back on loan with former side Stuttgart.

Frustratingly for the player that move didn't work out either, he struggled for form and scored just one goal, and the Germans even considering ending his loan early they were so disappointed with him.

After heading back to Barcelona and sitting on the sidelines, he found his way back to the Premier League, with Birmingham. It will chasten Arsenal fans that the Belarus international saw his side win silverware against the Gunners in the Carling Cup, but Hleb did not play a part, missing the final through injury.

His time at Birmingham saw him a shadow of the player who starred at Arsenal. He blamed Alex McLeish's negative tactics for him failing to showcase his talents, but in truth Hleb had lost the spark he once had.

That was two years ago, in the time since, his prospects have not improved. Still a Barcelona player last summer, he had to wait until the August transfer deadline day last summer to clinch a loan move back to Germany with Wolfsburg.

It was no better. Injury ruined his spell there, restricting him to making just the one start. He returned to the Nou Camp at the end of 2011, and in January Hleb and Barcelona came to a mutual consesnt agreement to cancel his contract with six months remaining, allowing Hleb to look for a club as a free agent.

He found one, but the player who once turned down a switch to Inter Milan had to settle with signing for Russian club Krylia Sovetov. He made just eight appearances before being released this summer.

Now his career has come full circle, returning to his first club, Belarussian champions BATE Borisov. It may be there he finally finds some consistency and happiness, but at 31 his career has plummeted like a stone in just four years.

Injury, form, and the fact Barcelona was just the wrong move for him are the reasons why, and you would not be wrong in saying he never should have left Arsenal.

Reading that Muamba has had to retire made me think of Hlebs death in football terms

From the best assisting the assister ever to what he is now :lol:

Hleb :rose: for what he once was and not what he has become

[LDG]

:haha:

Hleb.

All because he liked Ice Cream :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Probably shit flavoured ice cream as well

[Marc Overmars]

I remember the interview Hleb did before we played Birmingham the other year, he was pretty much pining to return, so cringe worthy.


Serves him right, the cunny.

[Marc Overmars]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWfe8CUCOOI

:pal:

[Grebbo]

Hleb, what a useless fuckwit

[Cripps_orig]

I love watching Arsenal play and Arsene Wenger has done an incredible job, so I hope they have a good season, but I think he's got too much on his plate this time. The pressure is on them and this is the first time in a long time I've felt they might not finish in a Champions League place. There's nothing worse than uncertainty at a football club, but that's what's hanging over Arsenal at the moment. Robin van Persie almost single-handedly fired Arsenal into the top three last season and now their captain, their key player, has signed for Manchester United. It's made pre-season very difficult for Wenger, but this is happening every year at Arsenal now. They've seen Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri go and now Van Persie. You can't keep losing your best players every year but if you keep on letting players run down their contract until they've only got one year left this is what's going to happen. You need to get your key players on long-term contracts and if, with two or three years to go, they don't want to sign another one you have to give them an ultimatum.

Key player: New signing Santi Cazorla is a top player, a typical Arsenal player. He drifts in from wide areas and is a lovely player to watch. He was at Malaga and I'm really pleased he's come to the Premier League.

Jamie's Judgement: I think they'll be in a real scrap for fourth this season with Spurs, Newcastle and Liverpool. It's going to be hard for them this year and this could be the year they miss out.

Jamies preview

[GP]

D ‏@AFCAMDEN
Theo Walcott expected to sign a new long-term contract with Arsenal soon. "He loves it here". #AFC.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Me. :bow:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Jamies preview


yawn. same old shit every year, this will be the year arsenal miss out, they sold their best player this year, tottenham will beat them. every year we get this shit, every year these people are wrong

[Cripps_orig]

He doesnt say anything about Spuds finishing above us

We are in a scrap for 4th place with the clubs he mentioned though

Top 3 is done and dusted already

[Ollie the Optimist]

He doesnt say anything about Spuds finishing above us

We are in a scrap for 4th place with the clubs he mentioned though

Top 3 is done and dusted already

it was a general moan about all the pundits saying the same thing every year. they all said the top three was done and dusted already last year, it wasnt. we got it

[LDG]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/264844_10151104393541661_589154847_n.jpg

[Globalgunner]

Chelsea are going to sack RDM by xmas, u can bank on it. after they realise a fluke CL win is not a real measure of competence. We will be in the loop if we stay within 10 points by easter. If by Xmas Wenger is back telling us how great 4th place is..well.....You know the rest.

[Ollie the Optimist]

after judas quote today, that no one at arsenal is angry with him, i am fucking loving these subtle digs at him from us.

the website just saying thank you but not good luck
jack wit hte bergkamp quote
verminator with the thanks for the 1 year quote.

brilliant. :bow:

[Cripps_orig]

Yeah i think only the Jack one could be seen as a dig tbh

[KSE Comedy Club]

Anyone read king kenny's PL preview in the mirror?

:lol:

He thought we were title contenders, then we sold RVP.

Fuck off you useless **** :lol:

He's as bad as lawro.

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4493024/Premier-League-Terry-Venables-club-by-club-guide.html

Venables :haha:

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4493273/Premier-League-SunSport-reporters-give-their-verdicts.html

Sun reporters preview the clubs.

All but one....the one being us

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

I really thought Arsenal had a decent chance of pushing for the title this season.

Like most of their own supporters, I was excited by their signings of Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud.

They already had one of the best centre halves in the Premier League, Thomas Vermaelen.

Jack Wilshere is supposed to be back soon after such a terrible run of injuries and Alex Song holds things together well in the centre.

They had all the pieces in the jigsaw.

But just when you thought Arsenal were up for it again, they go and sell Robin van Persie.

Not just that, they go and sell him to Manchester United, one of their direct rivals for the title.

I don't care how much money they got for him or how much sense it makes from a business point of view.

The hard fact is that the move weakens Arsenal and strengthens United.

You just can't keep selling your best players in the way Arsenal have been doing for the past few years.

Not if you want to win the title. Not if you're truly ambitious.

And if it's at all possible, you do everything in your power to avoid selling to one of your closest rivals.

Can you imagine it happening the other way round? Can you imagine Man U selling one of their best players to Arsenal?

I understand when people say it's a business decision but you get a return for your money when you have success, too.

I think they'll still qualify for the Champions League this season but with van Persie there and the players they signed in the summer, they had a chance to be pushing for the title.

He had a magnificent season last year and it was his goals that helped to turn Arsenal's campaign around after that disastrous start.

Giroud is coming off the back of an excellent year with Montpellier and he's a fine technical player. But he's not van Persie.

Still, you have to give credit to Arsene Wenger: he has been a fantastic seller of players.

He has got great money for them when he has moved them on. You can go right back to Marc Overmars and Patrick Vieira to see that.

But I would have kept van Persie until Christmas at least and then reassessed the situation.

You get to Christmas and you might have had a good run in the league and be top of the table.

And at that point van Persie might say 'this is not too bad here'. If you are top of the league, you have got a better chance of keeping him.

But van Persie obviously does not believe that what they have got is good enough to win the league.

His capture will give United a huge lift. They needed someone to go up front with Wayne Rooney and now they've got him. It's great business for them.
What's wrong with that?

[Cripps_orig]

He doesnt mention Suarez or moan enough about the referees?

[Ollie the Optimist]

anybody follow santos on twitter? he is brilliant, just always so happy.

[cricketsi]

Yeah i think only the Jack one could be seen as a dig tbh
I read the website only saying thank you as a dig. There's always some "wish him well in his future endeavours" bollocks, so I think you can read a subtle dig into its omission.

[cricketsi]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4493024/Premier-League-Terry-Venables-club-by-club-guide.html

Venables :haha:

Another season where we're doomed to finish below the spuds and out of the top four. The fact he has Liverpool finishing above us is a dead give away he's only taking the piss though.

[LDG]

Terry Vegetables. What a ****.

[Syn]

I know El Tel's not exactly neutral when it comes to this but what is it with everyone and Tottenham? They always seem to back them to finish higher than Arsenal every fucking season. If we've been weakened - they definitely have losing Modric and potentially Adebayor. And they're going to finish 3rd? Have a day off.

[Master Splinter]

They're after Chamakh though.

They're about to get another one over us.

[GP]

https://p.twimg.com/A0wg6-uCYAEsDjD.jpg

[I_Killed_Kenny]

https://p.twimg.com/A0wg6-uCYAEsDjD.jpg

The ox reprasenting! Take a bow my son!

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

take a bow, when you start to perform consistently week in, week out...you'll be sold!

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Tis the arsenal way lol

[Power n Glory]

Wilshere lost his spot. :lol:

[LDG]

AFCamden selling signed shirts on ebay now :haha:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180956999345#ht_500wt_1288

[fakeyank]

Great article by Gary Nev

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2030841/Gary-Neville-How-did-Manchester-United-beat-Arsene-Wengers-Arsenal-We-bullied-them.html

Miss those days :crying:

[Marc Overmars]

Vieira. :lol:

Bottled it that night we lost 2-4.

[fakeyank]

Anyone have links to the game which ended our unbeaten run? I remember watching it a few years back and the ref had an absolute stinker.. it was like SAF had sucked his dick so he wouldnt give a card. I was talking to one of my manc friend and brought this video up but couldnt find a link on YT.

Any help? :(

[Cripps_orig]

Why would you want to watch that again?

Thats the game that started off the shit we are going through now.

Never recovered from that

[Ollie the Optimist]

this is just hte highlights from the refs point of view. worst display of reffing i ahve ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM747L9Wf8M

[Grebbo]

AFCamden selling signed shirts on ebay now :haha:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180956999345#ht_500wt_1288

This would be damn cool to own:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Signed-Exclusive-Thierry-Henry-229-goals-Shirt-Not-matchworn-/180957033596?pt=UK_DVD_Film_TV_Autographs_CV&hash=item2a21e1347c#ht_500wt_951

If I had a games room it would look cool framed and mounted on the wall.

Sadly I don't have a games room.

Or a house.

:(

[fakeyank]

this is just hte highlights from the refs point of view. worst display of reffing i ahve ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM747L9Wf8M

Thank you sir! :tiphat:

It makes my blood boil though :banghead:

[Grebbo]

Reyes should have been a really good player. So strange that he turned to shit. Is he retired now?

[GP]

He's back at Sevilla I think.

[fakeyank]

I think he returned back to Sevilla..

[LDG]

Just watched that again. Don't know why. :fury: :censored:

[Letters]

The Ferdinand one on Freddy. :lol:

:doh:

:fury:

Disgraceful really

[LDG]

It was the Rutgerus Johannes Martinus Van Nistelhorse one on Cole which was the most appauling. Staright red, in front of the lino too.

Him, Neville, Rooney and Ferdinand should all have been sent off that day. Only Neville was booked.

C8nts.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Wow I've never seen that before, other than the goal.

Extraordinary :blink:

Actually I don't know why I'm :blink:, it isn't exactly shocking.

[Ollie the Optimist]

the rooney penalty was mike rielys 8th penatly awarded to man united in 8 games :lol:


disgraceful

[Ollie the Optimist]

It was the Rutgerus Johannes Martinus Van Nistelhorse one on Cole which was the most appauling. Staright red, in front of the lino too.

Him, Neville, Rooney and Ferdinand should all have been sent off that day. Only Neville was booked.

C8nts.

if im right, he got a ban for it afterwards but still i dont know how that wasnt a straight red

[Olivier's xmas twist]

this is just hte highlights from the refs point of view. worst display of reffing i ahve ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM747L9Wf8M

This was Pizza gate game was it not ?

[Ollie the Optimist]

I am happy to reveal to you that i've been asked to join and accepted the coaching staff role for the 2013/14 season with Arsenal.

from @ljungberg_f twitter account, now its most likely a fake but if it is true, then interesting choice by wenger

[V-Pig]

It's fake. It's the same thing the fake Bergkamp account said. You know, that one that was supported by "Mertesacker" who also promoted the "Song" account. Someone has way too much time on their hands.

[fakeyank]

This was Pizza gate game was it not ?

Yes

[Letters]

It's fake. It's the same thing the fake Bergkamp account said. You know, that one that was supported by "Mertesacker" who also promoted the "Song" account. Someone has way too much time on their hands.
So Twitter is keeping this place going by people copying and posting loads of fake accounts?
yay.

[V-Pig]

So Twitter is keeping this place going by people copying and posting loads of fake accounts?
yay.

Only Ollie...

Ollie! :angry:

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Yes

Start of our decline that game, always said it.

[Master Splinter]

Start of our decline that game, always said it.

Start of the decline of your face as well.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Start of the decline of your face as well.

You know me so well.

[Cripps_orig]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4498786/Stars-quit-Arsenal-and-win-44-medals.html

So called curse of leaving Arsenal :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not sure they should include clubs that we didn't sell players to really. Also, they say they don't include the Community Shield and national Super Cups but to prove a stupid point and add Merida to that list they include the European Super Cup?

[Xhaka Can’t]

This is why the Sun is for retards.

If Arsenal won every major tournament during that period, the headline would read, Arsenal 21 Old Boys 44.

If you use the Sun as your source for news and facts, you are as stupid as fuck.

[V-Pig]

Arsenal twitterers: do any of you follow Tim Payton, the Arsenal Trust guy? And you any of you find him incredibly pessimistic and shitty?

[LDG]

Arsenal twitterers: do any of you follow Tim Payton, the Arsenal Trust guy? And you any of you find him incredibly pessimistic and shitty?

No.

Do you?

[4-3-3]

apparently sahin been force to liverpool according to marca -they are pro madrid thou.

http://www.marca.com/2012/08/23/en/football/real_madrid/1345703549.html

[KSE Comedy Club]

Liverpool were first on the scene?

That's bolllox.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Liverpool were first on the scene?

That's bolllox.

i swear that we bid first, then they hijacked our bid, then we hijacked their hijack then they hijacked our hijack of their hijack and so on

[LDG]

https://twitpic.com/show/iphone/amgyhr

[I_Killed_Kenny]

how ghetto is that! lol

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Arsenal twitterers: do any of you follow Tim Payton, the Arsenal Trust guy? And you any of you find him incredibly pessimistic and shitty?

he's extremely patronising and thinks he knows everything. not very liked on there and is regularly picked apart by high profile bloggers. only people worth following in terms of transfer insight are afccamden, jamie sanderson and david ornstein from the bbc.

for pure laughter follow 50 grades of shit, roy cropper and keith the gooner.

[KSE Comedy Club]

i swear that we bid first, then they hijacked our bid, then we hijacked their hijack then they hijacked our hijack of their hijack and so onYeh, Marca were the first to break the news that he would be playing for arsenal next season.

Pool were only in the picture a week or so afterwards.

[V-Pig]

I follow Keith the Gooner. I think I'm gonna unfollow Tim Payton. He's so fucking depressing.

[LDG]

According to the city index. One Arsenal share was sold this morning....£16,200.00 :faint:

[GP]

According to the city index. One Arsenal share was sold this morning....£16,200.00 :faint:

Letters :bow:

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

"I'm biased but players should want to come to United because you're always guaranteed to be up there challenging for trophies, there's a great team spirit, top facilities and you get to play for a great manager - Ryan Giggs on Van Persie's move to Old Trafford

I'm biased but I believe that the opinion of a serial adulterer who tried to use the british legal system to cover up his extra marital affairs doesn't carry any weight.

[The Wengerbabies]

He's right though.

[Letters]

Letters :bow:It was a once in a lifetime chance :shrug:

[Young Guns 11]

According to the city index. One Arsenal share was sold this morning....£16,200.00 :faint:

They were selling for over £17k last week :shrug:

[LDG]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/training-pics

Anyone else find it slightly disturbing that players don't wear shinnys when we train?

[Grebbo]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/training-pics

Anyone else find it slightly disturbing that players don't wear shinnys when we train?

Interesting they include the Wilshere pic. They usually never include his training photos as they're ultra paranoid about showing he's actually training

[Kano]

Mr Ljungberg has left the building

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/former-arsenal-midfielder-and-sweden-captain-freddie-ljungberg-retires-8078955.html

[The Wengerbabies]

Get him in as a coach

[Joker]

Wenger on Song:


on Alex Song…
The reason [we sold him] was we had the opportunity to sell him, he wanted to go and we had the players in place who can replace him. I have taken Song when nobody knew him, and I can show you some papers who said it was the worst buy I had ever made. He finished in Barcelona, so the Club has done a very good job for him. He has developed very well here. He had an opportunity to go to Barcelona, he wanted to take it. We agreed to let him go, but that was not linked with his attitude at all.


:lol: so much for Song's alleged disruptive influence.

[Kano]

because wenger is well known for airing the clubs private issues in public of course.

he is never one to answer every question as a politician.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

wenger interview:

"We are building a new team using fresh mentality, with a core of British players who should have more association with a local club. We have Jack, Ramsey, Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming through now and they can all grow up having an affinity for Arsenal. Maybe then they will stay here longer if they are tempted to move. Look at Cesc he could not resist Barca, this is what happens when you have a foreign player at some point, he will always want to move on."

"I was close to building a team that would have had more than enough quality to win trophies, Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie and Nasri playing together would have been very successful, but we lost them all in a short period. It's has been so frustrating to see a young player come to Arsenal, prove themselves to be top players and then go somewhere else."

clearly the recent transfers have had a big effect on him and he's taking a new approach, the one fergie took in the 90's by building a team full of local, domestic players. i kind of feel sorry for him, but then i remember that it was his stubborn ideologies that got us into this mess in the first place.

[Ollie the Optimist]

wenger interview:

"We are building a new team using fresh mentality, with a core of British players who should have more association with a local club. We have Jack, Ramsey, Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming through now and they can all grow up having an affinity for Arsenal. Look at Cesc he could not resist Barca, this is what happens when you have a foreign player at some point, he will always want to move on."

"I was close to building a team that would have had more than enough quality to win trophies, Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie and Nasri playing together would have been very successful, but we lost them all in a short period. It's has been so frustrating to see a young player come to Arsenal, prove themselves to be top players and then go somewhere else."

clearly the recent transfers have had a big effect on him and he's taking a new approach, the one fergie took in the 90's by building a team full of local, domestic players. i kind of feel sorry for him, but then i remember that it was his stubborn ideologies that got us into this mess in the first place.


he is taking a new approcah, and i think steve bould deserves credit for this new approach. its basically anybody who shows less then 100% desire and commitment for arsenal gets told to get fucked and kicked out the club. i like it

[Marc Overmars]

He knows he's had his hands burnt.

Hopefully our GHEL generation prove to be better.

[Ollie the Optimist]

He knows he's had his hands burnt.

Hopefully our GHEL generation prove to be better.


did you see his quote yesterday. he was asked which one player he wanted to sign this transfer window (no budget etc) his answer was judas. i think that hurt him really badly, more then anyone else.

[Cripps_orig]

did you see his quote yesterday. he was asked which one player he wanted to sign this transfer window (no budget etc) his answer was judas. i think that hurt him really badly, more then anyone else.

Link?

[Ollie the Optimist]

Link?


The club have been scarred this summer by the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United. He left with one season to run on his deal and his refusal to extend his contract forced the club to sell; the pain will take some time to heal. Asked which player he would most like to have signed this summer, Wenger replied: "Van Persie.

from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/24/arsenal-theo-walcott-new-deal

[Cripps_orig]

Green Day have confirmed that they will be appearing at Reading Festival this weekend, to play their seminal 1994 album 'Dookie' in full.

The band also revealed that they will be embarking on a UK tour next year, kicking off with a show at Emirates Stadium in North London on June 1. Who? :unsure:

Nice to see our stadium is playing host to shite ass bands

[Dennis Bendtner]

Chamberlain's twitter:

http://c0014454.r32.cf1.rackcdn.com/x2_e3c69dd

Jenkinson :haha: :console:

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

£684,000 of arsenal shares have been sold this morning.

20 shares at 17.050 then another 20 at 17.150. fuck me thats a high price.

he's coming for us

[GP]

£684,000 of arsenal shares have been sold this morning.

20 shares at 17.050 then another 20 at 17.150. fuck me thats a high price.

he's coming for us

Letters :bow:

[jelgoon]

Is that a real quote? If it is, its an admission of utter failure as far as Im concernerd. People were begging him to buy British for the reasons he's now identitifed (foreign players fuck off much quicker than English ones and have a lot less allegiance to the club). Incredible that the club are allowing him to bulid yet another new team - that's all he seems to do. No doubt Hill Wood will come out in 2015 when we still havent won anything decent and say that its a young team and that Wenger needs time.


wenger interview:

"We are building a new team using fresh mentality, with a core of British players who should have more association with a local club. We have Jack, Ramsey, Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming through now and they can all grow up having an affinity for Arsenal. Maybe then they will stay here longer if they are tempted to move. Look at Cesc he could not resist Barca, this is what happens when you have a foreign player at some point, he will always want to move on."

"I was close to building a team that would have had more than enough quality to win trophies, Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie and Nasri playing together would have been very successful, but we lost them all in a short period. It's has been so frustrating to see a young player come to Arsenal, prove themselves to be top players and then go somewhere else."

clearly the recent transfers have had a big effect on him and he's taking a new approach, the one fergie took in the 90's by building a team full of local, domestic players. i kind of feel sorry for him, but then i remember that it was his stubborn ideologies that got us into this mess in the first place.

[jelgoon]

Who gives a shit Wenger. So you sold yet another player to a top club for lots of money . Big shit. We still havent won anything for 7 years and we never spend the money anyway. Who gives a toss - you're not half as good a manager as you think you are.


Wenger on Song:



:lol: so much for Song's alleged disruptive influence.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Is that a real quote? If it is, its an admission of utter failure as far as Im concernerd. People were begging him to buy British for the reasons he's now identitifed (foreign players fuck off much quicker than English ones and have a lot less allegiance to the club). Incredible that the club are allowing him to bulid yet another new team - that's all he seems to do. No doubt Hill Wood will come out in 2015 when we still havent won anything decent and say that its a young team and that Wenger needs time.

Why he is under contract? Do you think the club give a a shit what he does, whilst he makes money for them, if theyd did not don't you think they would have sacked him by now.

[Kano]

you're not half as good a manager as you think you are.

but he is far better than most people imagine.

[gooners]

Is that a real quote? If it is, its an admission of utter failure as far as Im concernerd. People were begging him to buy British for the reasons he's now identitifed (foreign players fuck off much quicker than English ones and have a lot less allegiance to the club). Incredible that the club are allowing him to bulid yet another new team - that's all he seems to do. No doubt Hill Wood will come out in 2015 when we still havent won anything decent and say that its a young team and that Wenger needs time.



"We are building a new team using fresh mentality, with a core of British players who should have more association with a local club. We have Jack, Ramsey, Jenkinson and Oxlade-Chamberlain coming through now and they can all grow up having an affinity for Arsenal. Maybe then they will stay here longer if they are tempted to move. Look at Cesc he could not resist Barca, this is what happens when you have a foreign player at some point, he will always want to move on."

"I was close to building a team that would have had more than enough quality to win trophies, Fabregas, Adebayor, Van Persie and Nasri playing together would have been very successful, but we lost them all in a short period. It's has been so frustrating to see a young player come to Arsenal, prove themselves to be top players and then go somewhere else."






errm wenger....ade and nasri, rvp moved to manchester not timbuctu. I am sure Wilshere will find his way from london to manchester a lot easier than those three, if he fancied a move.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Article on spending since the transfer windows came in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19416223

Tottenham have spent £130 million more than us on transfers. What the hell? :lol:

[GP]

:lol: great success

Wenger :bow:

[LDG]

How much have we received from player sales, I wonder.

I reckon the books will show £214m recouped.

Books balanced.

Done.

:bow:

[V-Pig]

Liverpool :haha: 3rd biggest spenders and can barely get into the Europa League.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

http://i47.tinypic.com/oa6h6b.png

[Globalgunner]

Article on spending since the transfer windows came in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19416223

Tottenham have spent £130 million more than us on transfers. What the hell? :lol:

Dont you know that every average midfielder in the UK has played for spurs in the last 10 years. Andy Reid, Jermain Jenas, Murphy(fulham) one clogger from sheff wed(name escapes me).....the list is endless. Funny thing is that they usually insist on getting their money back even when its been shown that the player is crap

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Article on spending since the transfer windows came in:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19416223

Tottenham have spent £130 million more than us on transfers. What the hell? :lol:


Arry :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

One of my favourite part of the Premier League Years on Sky is hearing of all the obscure players Tottenham have amassed over the years.

[LDG]

http://www.memecreator.org/static/images/memes/460052.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:haha:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Am I supposed to feel good about this?

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Yes, we are committed to a self-sustaining model. So long as you pay your way.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I have just been on Arsenal.com to buy a ticket for the Chavs game.

£87.50 for shitty seats near the back of the upper tier behind goal!!!

Fuck that. I'll watch on tv. That is me officially priced out of Cat A games.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[I_Killed_Kenny]

I have just been on Arsenal.com to buy a ticket for the Chavs game.

£87.50 for shitty seats near the back of the upper tier behind goal!!!

Fuck that. I'll watch on tv. That is me officially priced out of Cat A games.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Thats not going to help our self sustaining model GB!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Thats not going to help our self sustaining model GB!

Yes it will someother person will buy those ticketsanyways job done.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

guessing the sarcasm was lost in my post

[Xhaka Can’t]

guessing the sarcasm was lost in my post

I appreciated it.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[I_Killed_Kenny]

I appreciated it.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

much appreciated GB lol

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

I have just been on Arsenal.com to buy a ticket for the Chavs game.

£87.50 for shitty seats near the back of the upper tier behind goal!!!

Fuck that. I'll watch on tv. That is me officially priced out of Cat A games.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

never go to home games anymore, its all about away games. home games have shite atmosphere and feels too corporate. bought tickets for man city away yesterday for £50, add £20 travel and £30 spending money, we're talking roughly £100. i went maine road years ago with my dad, ticket was a tenner and travel was a fiver !

how times have changed.

[Xhaka Can’t]

never go to home games anymore, its all about away games. home games have shite atmosphere and feels too corporate. bought tickets for man city away yesterday for £50, add £20 travel and £30 spending money, we're talking roughly £100. i went maine road years ago with my dad, ticket was a tenner and travel was a fiver !

how times have changed.

Amazing - it is actually cheaper for you to travel up to Man City to watch us play there than to see us play them at the Emirates.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

never go to home games anymore, its all about away games. home games have shite atmosphere and feels too corporate. bought tickets for man city away yesterday for £50, add £20 travel and £30 spending money, we're talking roughly £100. i went maine road years ago with my dad, ticket was a tenner and travel was a fiver !

how times have changed.

You can see the diffrence even if you watch it on tv, our Away fans are awesome.

[LDG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3xsavh9j5U&feature=youtu.be

:bow:

[LDG]

That Olsson looks a real player. Lovely touch.

[Kano]

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/spurs-500x227.png

[LDG]

arseblog ‏@arseblog
It won't be long until deadline day reaches the point when a Sky reporter is murdered, Lord of the Flies style, by the fans who surround him
If I had to put money on it, it'd be Stoke fans. They'll then consume his flesh live on air before smearing blood all over themselves and engaging in the most foul intercourse anybody has ever seen. I think that's what Sky want. To end civilisation. As many of your point out it would be fair more entertaining that the shit we currently have to deal with. I'm not going to tell you what they end up doing with the microphone. Yes, perhaps I do need some air. I might take the dog out for a few minutes. Not to Stoke though. They eat and sex him to death too. Stoke fans would say "Sorry for eating your dog to death" and I'd be all 'You ****s' & they'd blame me for not accepting the apology.


:haha:

[GP]

:haha:

It's funny cos that's what Stoke is like.

[Asthmatic Kitty]

gnabry looks very good in that vid, looking forward to seeing him in the first team. probs do a better job than gervinho at any rate.

love arseblog's stoke rants :)

[GP]

Gnabry is a great prospect.

As is Eisfeld, tbf.

[Dennis Bendtner]

I have been youtubing some Gnabry lately. Looks like an excellent footballer. Really comfortable on the ball. Stockier and more of a dribbler than Wilshere was. In fact Wilshere + Chamberlain would be a good comparison stylistically. He looks like the most likely.

[Joker]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/gallery/gimages/large_5.jpg

[McNamara That Ghost...]

:haha:

[Bergkampwonderland10]

Classic Wenger pic!:haha:

[Bergkampwonderland10]

When was the last time we kept 3 clean sheets in a row? Anyone? Amazing what happens when Vermaelen remembers he's a defender!!! Credit to Bould...can't remember Verms once galavanting up the pitch today...leave it to Gibbs and Jenkinson to do that please...keep our shape at the back. Mert had a great second half too. A wall.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We've done it before recently (10/11 if not last season) but I can't remember us doing it in such an assured way.

[Marc Overmars]

I only caught the last 10 minutes but I noticed whenever Liverpool picked up the ball in the centre, the midfield dropped back to help out rather than go chasing it. Really great to see.

[Master Splinter]

Oxo was the only one who threatened to disrupt the unit. He was a bit sloppy, but like the rest of the team, worked hard.

Podolski has tracked back brilliantly in every game so far. Germans :bow:.

Giroud is lacking little bit oil in his engine, but made some good clearances on corners.

Hard-working Arsenal is quite strange to see after having gifted but lazy individuals.

[Dennis Bendtner]

Talking of which quite remarkable seeing Arshavin not even make the bench after previous Anfield exploits. Fat fuck. :rose:

[Master Splinter]

Fat Fuck could be such a useful asset if he could be bothered.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Talking of which quite remarkable seeing Arshavin not even make the bench after previous Anfield exploits. Fat fuck. :rose:

Same must be said about Chitmakh :rose:

[Cripps_orig]

Arsenal have not won a trophy for over seven years and the club has instructed some of its players to take up a new a sport - sitting volleyball - in an apparent bid to end that wait.
Full story: Metro

Um what?

[LDG]

http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/gallery/gimages/large_5.jpg

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I think that was when Cazorla got the ball.

[LDG]

Little bit

[V-Pig]

Need to decide who to get on the back of my away shirt.

Podolski, Cazorla, Arteta, Wilshere, Ox, Alex Song?

[Marc Overmars]

How can anyone still get names on the back of their kits? :lol:

[Cripps_orig]

How can anyone still get names on the back of their kits? :lol:

Kids do tbh

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Ox. That way you can add letters before and after to save you the embarrassment next summer.

[GP]

Ox. That way you can add letters before and after to save you the embarrassment next summer.

Exactly.

It could be changed to Small pOx

[V-Pig]

This scientific has been most enlightening. I'm thinking Podolski. :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Exactly.

It could be changed to Small pOx

Fantastic Mr. Fox. :bow:

[Syn]

He'll turn it into 'I love cOx'.

vpigs a gay lol.

[Letters]

Adams :good:

Get someone who probably can't balls up his legacy at the club.

[GP]

Bould :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

This scientific has been most enlightening. I'm thinking Podolski. :bow:

You get a free medallion if you spend £50 in any Arsenal store, so the Arsenal post on Facebook says. Gits.

[LDG]

You get a free medallion if you spend £50 in any Arsenal store, so the Arsenal post on Facebook says. Gits.

Why would you want a medallion?

What purpose does it have?

I'd rather beer tokens for a match, or something useful.

What a bunch of utter ****s.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Agreed. Unless it's worth flogging on Ebay it seems rather pointless.

A free BLT would be enough for me.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

You get a free medallion if you spend £50 in any Arsenal store, so the Arsenal post on Facebook says. Gits.

Over to you NQ

:haha:

[Grebbo]

They probably bought a load of medallions in bulk when we reached the Carling Cup final against BIRMINGHAM

:haha:

They realise we're not going to be winning jack any time soon so they're giving them away with every £50 we give them for a fivers worth of stuff.

You should be grateful.

[V-Pig]

Getting my medallion :winning:
http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/home-page/home/page/home/

[GP]

That looks pretty sweet.

I'll wear that with my Arsenal shirt, Arsenal shorts, arsenal socks and Nike f50+ football boots.

[LDG]

That looks pretty sweet.

I'll wear that with my Arsenal shirt, Arsenal shorts, arsenal socks and Nike f50+ football boots.

Full-kit wanker :pal:

[GP]

:gp:

I'm really fat, too.

[Niall_Quinn]

Getting my medallion :winning:
http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/home-page/home/page/home/

Actual medallion says Arse Raped, that picture is a photoshop job obviously.

[Niall_Quinn]

Seriously though, how dumb do they know the fans are?

[GP]

No I'm.... doesn't...

[V-Pig]

Giving money to the club to pay Squillaci's wages :bow:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Seriously though, how dumb do they know the fans are?

I resemble that!

[V-Pig]

I resemble that!

Those are exactly my sentimonies.

[Boss]

I want a medallion ffs.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Arsenal’s victory at Liverpool may go some way to reassuring restive fans that this campaign will not be a repeat of last season. Then, after suffering their worst start in nearly 60 years, Arsenal just edged Tottenham in the race for the Champions League, largely due to the collapse of their bitter north London rivals.

But, even before Sunday’s success, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood had no doubt that wider horizons beckon this season. We met at his home in Sandwich as the Old Etonian prepared for his annual holiday to Long Island in New York and the 76-year-old could not have been more confident.

“We have a pretty good chance of challenging for the Premiership,” he said. “I don’t see why we cannot win it this year.”

The bookmakers do not share Hill-Wood’s confidence. Sunday’s win shortened the odds from 25-1 to 12-1 but Arsenal have not won the title since 2004, or any trophy for seven years.

Their chances were hardly enhanced by the sale to Manchester United of leading scorer Robin van Persie, double footballer of the year, golden boot winner and scorer of his first hat-trick for his new club on Sunday. Despite this, and Theo Walcott refusing to accept a new contract, Hill-Wood came across as a man with no fears.

“It is not a worry to the board that we haven’t won a trophy since 2005,” he said. “It would be lovely to win but it’s not that easy. Liverpool haven’t won the title for 20-odd years. We’re very ambitious and want to win but, if you don’t have billions of petro-dollars to throw around, you’re going to have to do it some other way. That’s what we’re trying to do — with skilful selection of players. As for Walcott, he did not accept our offer so nothing is happening.”

Fans expected the club to do more in the close season with some £60million available to manager Arsene Wenger. But the transfer window saw Arsenal make a profit on their dealings and Hill-Wood insisted: “Arsene has money to spend but there’s a limit. We can’t spend £50m on one player.

“At a certain level, we can’t compete. I don’t think Stan Kroenke [the American owner] is going to put the sort of dollars in that [Roman] Abramovich or Sheikh Mansour are putting into Chelsea or Manchester City. That’s not the way he thinks clubs should be run.

“Luckily, Arsene understands that. He got an economics degree from Strasbourg University so he’s certainly no fool. He knows how a club should be run. That annoys a lot of people but clubs have to be sustainable. We’re not going to go bankrupt in the way one or two other well known clubs have.

“The Glasgow Rangers example is something we’ve all got to guard against. They spent far more money than they could afford. We’re ambitious enough but we’re not going to end in the same plight as Rangers. That is a fact of life. So my advice is don’t get miserable about it.”

Not all fans are willing to accept that advice and, last season, at many home games, some 5,000 did not turn up despite having paid for their tickets. Given the cheapest season ticket cost £1,000, that was some statement. And, for the first time Emirates heard the chant, ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’.

Hill-Wood could not hide his contempt for such behaviour: “What those fans shouted did not influence me one little bit. I was disgusted to hear them because Arsene’s been absolutely outstanding. He is still outstanding.”

The summer brought talk of Wenger managing France but Hill-Wood saw no reason why his manager should leave.

“You occasionally hear rumours of him going somewhere. I do not think that is likely to happen. He’s very happy where he is. He has a very good job in that we don’t interfere with him. We agree with most of the things he says and he agrees with most of the things we say. I have seen some really successful Arsenal managers but Arsene has revolutionised the club.

“I would say he has been a bigger influence than Alex Ferguson on Manchester United in the way he has changed the traditions of the club and the outlook of the Premiership.”

Arsenal fans would argue that Wenger has not been the same man since his good friend David Dein was sacked as vice-chairman in 2007 but Hill-Wood refused to accept that. “I don’t think David Dein’s departure has impacted on Arsene at all,” he said. “Arsene has a very good relationship with Ivan [Gazidis, the chief executive reportedly on £2m a year] and it’s very businesslike. He and Arsene get on very well.”

And, unlike Ferguson, who has regularly refreshed his backroom team since his arrival in 1986, Wenger has worked with the staff he inherited, apart from coach Boro Primorac who came with him. Normally managers come with their own team but, recalled Hill-Wood: “I asked Arsene whether he wanted to do that and he said, ‘No thank you, I’m very happy’.

“He’s appointed [youth-team coach] Steve Bould to succeed Pat [Rice, who he inherited as assistant manager]. I very much agree with that. To me, it reflects Arsene’s confidence.”

Hill-Wood’s own confidence in Arsenal’s future may stem from the fact that the club have long solved their ground problems with the move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium. This is in sharp contrast with many of their London rivals — Chelsea, West Ham, QPR and particularly Tottenham — all struggling to find new homes.

He saw this as a hindrance for their neighbours. “I do not see Spurs posing a problem for us this season,” he said. “Their new manager [Andre Villas-Boas] may be a great success but they have to find a stadium. That’s going to be very difficult. Finding a site and financing it is a major problem which we know all about.”

Now that Emirates has proved a success, Hill-Wood happily confessed: “I was very nervous and didn’t see how the hell we could finance a new stadium. It’s worked out very well.

“Quite a lot of equity went into it and payments from Nike and Emirates helped enormously. We’ve got a stadium debt of around £230m now, which is a 25-year bond at a fixed rate of 5.5 per cent.

“The success of the stadium is due to Danny Fiszman [the deceased director] and Ken Friar [a long-term director], who did a spectacular job. Danny was a genius and I don’t think we’d have achieved what we have without him.”

The stadium development was driven through despite the opposition of Dein, who wanted Arsenal to share Wembley, an option that appalled Hill-Wood.

“It would’ve been crazy to have gone to Wembley,” he said. “I hate Wembley anyway. It’s a bloody long way away. And I would absolutely not have wanted to be a tenant of the Football Association.”

He was just as implacably opposed to having Alisher Usmanov, who owns 29.9 per cent of Arsenal, on the board. The Uzbeck billionaire has questioned the ambitions of the club and the board members’ ability to ensure Arsenal can again challenge for the top table.

Usmanov cleverly timed his four-page open letter to the board to arrive the day after Van Persie made it clear he would not sign a new contract. The letter raised questions about the board, whose average age is around 73, and many of whom have made millions selling their shares to Kroenke.

Although Hill-Wood once said investing in football was “dead money” the last lot of shares he sold yielded £5.5m. He explained the gains by saying, “You wouldn’t say no to it,” and of Usmanov’s letter, he told me: “He’s said that before. It was nothing new and I didn’t think it was particularly relevant.”

As for Usmanov getting on the board, Hill-Wood added: “It’s not entirely in my hands. I don’t think Stan Kroenke wants anybody else on the board. I have met Usmanov but I don’t think he would fit in, that’s all.”

Some Arsenal watchers speculate that the hierarchy fear that Usmanov’s presence on the board could see the return of Dein. “No,” said Hill-Wood and, while he gave no further explanation, his tone appeared to suggest that Dein is now a pariah at the Emirates.

Hill-Wood, who joined the board in 1962 and succeeded his father as chairman 20 years later, has no plans to retire. “I’m going to carry on until I get completely senile and then my colleagues will say, ‘It’s time you went’. But, at the moment, they haven’t got to that stage. I’m not indicating that I’m complacent but, generally speaking, the club are on a very sure footing and the potential is there.”





http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/peter-hillwood-of-course-arsenal-can-win-the-league-this-season----and-spurs-wont-trouble-us-8104267.html

Hillwood such a muppet tbh, the way he speaks to the fans is disgraceful.

[Marc Overmars]

“It is not a worry to the board that we haven’t won a trophy since 2005

Stopped reading there tbh.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Stopped reading there tbh.

Disgusting really, for him to say that.

[GP]

Don't pick half a sentence to bash him. Read the whole thing in context. There's not much wrong with anything he's said.

[Letters]

Don't pick half a sentence to bash him. Read the whole thing in context. There's not much wrong with anything he's said.:good:
I don't agree that we we can win the league this year but what he's saying about is not being able to compete with City and Chelsea's spending is obviously true.
Or Utd's actually who aren't fueled by a billionaire but do have much bigger income.

We could be doing more to compete of course.

[Grebbo]

I think his interview is fine, other than the "can't spend £50m on one player" comment. That's a real piss boiler as nobody expects us to spend £50m on one player. Our record signing is £15m which says it all.

[LDG]

I think his interview is fine, other than the "can't spend £50m on one player" comment. That's a real piss boiler as nobody expects us to spend £50m on one player. Our record signing is £15m which says it all.

Yep. I don't minid much of what he has said, and most of it is correct.

Yet, he avoids the real bug bear, and that is that we don't utilise our resources as fully as we should.

If you're turning a profit on transfers, when the team still needs adding to, then to me, that's not using all of the resources available.

I see he dumps it all in Wenger's lap again too...."Arsene is free to do what he likes, and spend money how he wants". If you believe that, then you're an idiot.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Yep. I don't minid much of what he has said, and most of it is correct.

Yet, he avoids the real bug bear, and that is that we don't utilise our resources as fully as we should.

If you're turning a profit on transfers, when the team still needs adding to, then to me, that's not using all of the resources available.

I see he dumps it all in Wenger's lap again too...."Arsene is free to do what he likes, and spend money how he wants". If you believe that, then you're fakeyank.

Spot on.



Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[Kano]

Yep. I don't minid much of what he has said, and most of it is correct.

Yet, he avoids the real bug bear, and that is that we don't utilise our resources as fully as we should.

If you're turning a profit on transfers, when the team still needs adding to, then to me, that's not using all of the resources available.

I see he dumps it all in Wenger's lap again too...."Arsene is free to do what he likes, and spend money how he wants". If you believe that, then you're an idiot.
it's a complete dupe for the fans.

they never once publicly address the calls from the fans for players outside of the £50m bracket.

not that i'm content with shipping in a so many players every fucking season but their top line is 'oh but we can't compete with city for £50m'.

well no fucking shit arsenal cannot. everyone knows that already. but the board throw that out that top line to deflect attention away from the fact that they are ripping the shit out of the fans every fucking season.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Don't pick half a sentence to bash him. Read the whole thing in context. There's not much wrong with anything he's said.

Oh your right, there is not much wrong with what he says. He does make sense, for me its the way he says it. You can tell he is off the old school, like it or lump it type.

[Joker]

And bringing up Glasgow Rangers is scaremongering. Asking us to not make a profit for once in the transfer window will not bankrupt the club or lead to financial Armageddon.

[Unai Tea]

The bottom line is that we are now 4th in the pecking order. Pre-Abrahamovich we were 1B with United as 1A. Now with Abrahamovich FC and Mansour FC we are 4th. It means our chances of winning a trophy each year are closer to 5-10% rather than 40-50% as before those two cretins with cash showed up. It's better to accept that reality than to pretend otherwise.

Having said that, it's quite clear that we could probably stretch a bit more to increase our competitiveness and chances for a trophy. An extra £20-£25m on players (transfer fees and salaries) would ensure we're closer to those teams than we have been. That amount wouldn't sink the club financially and it would mean fans would be happier. Few fans expect us to compete financially and punch above our weight in that regard. But it's clear we could be doing more than we are. But Wenger is frugal and always has been. He's happy to make do with as little as possible. We have a Board and Ownership who are also content to get by with as little as possible. There's that 2% that gets so much press. And there's little sign that that 2% gap will be made good through financial means. Basically if that 2% gap is going to be bridged it'll be through luck.

[IBK]

Yep. I don't minid much of what he has said, and most of it is correct.

Yet, he avoids the real bug bear, and that is that we don't utilise our resources as fully as we should.

If you're turning a profit on transfers, when the team still needs adding to, then to me, that's not using all of the resources available.

I see he dumps it all in Wenger's lap again too...."Arsene is free to do what he likes, and spend money how he wants". If you believe that, then you're an idiot.

I'm not so sure. Not saying its all AW but we know the guy has more power at AFC than managers elsewhere, and we know all about his well publicised commitment to financial responsibility - not to mention the fact that he has scant regard for what happens at other clubs. I don't think its far fetched at all to conclude that AW himself supported the decisions to sell RVP and Song. And I believe that the club's apparent reluctance to make signings that might impede existing players, or that do not represent absolute value for money, come from the manager. Whether its because of his principles or through an altruistic desire to leave the club's finances as healthy as possible for his successor there is no doubt, IMO that Wenger is an intrinsic part of the club's spending pattern.

[LDG]

What's so frustrating is that AW has shown (effectively with much fewer resources, and lower quality squad players) that he can get a team to third, under all kinds of pressures.

If he just did what we all want the club to do, i.e. stop playing a big game of chance, and adding the extra fabled 2%, we would be up there challenging....it would only take spending the "profit", or, God forbid, making a small loss in the transfer window for once. That loss could eventually be offset by prize money!

Two extra players, 10 to 15mil a piece is all we need to be right up there.

We beat the eventual champions last season, and ran them close in the other games....there isn't as big a gap as people think in terms of quality.

Where we fail, is the ability to replace like for like when the inevitible injury crisis / goal drought / tiredness factor kicks in.

[Letters]

The bottom line is that we are now 4th in the pecking order. Pre-Abrahamovich we were 1B with United as 1A. Now with Abrahamovich FC and Mansour FC we are 4th. It means our chances of winning a trophy each year are closer to 5-10% rather than 40-50% as before those two cretins with cash showed up. It's better to accept that reality than to pretend otherwise.

Having said that, it's quite clear that we could probably stretch a bit more to increase our competitiveness and chances for a trophy. An extra £20-£25m on players (transfer fees and salaries) would ensure we're closer to those teams than we have been. That amount wouldn't sink the club financially and it would mean fans would be happier. Few fans expect us to compete financially and punch above our weight in that regard. But it's clear we could be doing more than we are. But Wenger is frugal and always has been. He's happy to make do with as little as possible. We have a Board and Ownership who are also content to get by with as little as possible. There's that 2% that gets so much press. And there's little sign that that 2% gap will be made good through financial means. Basically if that 2% gap is going to be bridged it'll be through luck.
:good: I don't expect us to compete with City or Chelsea in the transfer market, or even ManYoo. We should be competing with Spurs and Liverpool though! It's only because Wenger's so good that we've stayed top 4 spending so little, the frustrating thing is a couple of marquee signings wouldn't have jeopardised our future and could have pushed us on and we might have won a few trophies over the last 7 years.

[LDG]

The Arsenal hierarchy is like a fucking political parody.

AW - Chancellor
IG - Spin Doctor
PHW - Mayor of London

[bignev]

:gp:
What's so frustrating is that AW has shown (effectively with much fewer resources, and lower quality squad players) that he can get a team to third, under all kinds of pressures.

If he just did what we all want the club to do, i.e. stop playing a big game of chance, and adding the extra fabled 2%, we would be up there challenging....it would only take spending the "profit", or, God forbid, making a small loss in the transfer window for once. That loss could eventually be offset by prize money!

Two extra players, 10 to 15mil a piece is all we need to be right up there.

We beat the eventual champions last season, and ran them close in the other games....there isn't as big a gap as people think in terms of quality.

Where we fail, is the ability to replace like for like when the inevitible injury crisis / goal drought / tiredness factor kicks in.

This :gp:

It's really frustrating

[Unai Tea]

:good: I don't expect us to compete with City or Chelsea in the transfer market, or even ManYoo. We should be competing with Spurs and Liverpool though! It's only because Wenger's so good that we've stayed top 4 spending so little, the frustrating thing is a couple of marquee signings wouldn't have jeopardised our future and could have pushed us on and we might have won a few trophies over the last 7 years.

I think we are competing well enough with Liverpool and Tottenham in the transfer market. I wouldn't trade our transfers in this summer for theirs. They also had significant losses. However, to compete with the top 3 we would have had to have kept RVP and Song. Those two + our additions would have meant we were going to have a real shot at winning something. I understand why they went and that's now water under the bridge but it's another opportunity lost for AFC. Now we're still a couple of quality players away from being thick in the lead peleton and back to minding the 2% gap and trusting to good fortune.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I think we are competing well enough with Liverpool and Tottenham in the transfer market. I wouldn't trade our transfers in this summer for theirs. They also had significant losses. However, to compete with the top 3 we would have had to have kept RVP and Song. Those two + our additions would have meant we were going to have a real shot at winning something. I understand why they went and that's now water under the bridge but it's another opportunity lost for AFC. Now we're still a couple of quality players away from being thick in the lead peleton and back to minding the 2% gap and trusting to good fortune.

:gp:

Thing is like you say to compete with the top 3 we would need to have kept RVP, not to bothered about song had we replaced him, but we did not even need to spend big. all we needed was Tiote/Dempsey and Llorente and we'd have been right up their challenging and these would not demand huge wages either.

[IBK]

:gp:

Thing is like you say to compete with the top 3 we would need to have kept RVP, not to bothered about song had we replaced him, but we did not even need to spend big. all we needed was Tiote/Dempsey and Llorente and we'd have been right up their challenging and these would not demand huge wages either.

How would we have kept a player who went so far as to make a public statement effectively severing his ties with the club?

[Syn]

By telling him he can't go. There's no integrity by giving into those who throw their toys out the pram. Arsenal giving in has allowed Van Persie to set the blueprint for how players can engineer a move. Oxlade, fancy a move? Just say the club's ambition isn't good enough. No fuss, and a quick move to whoever you fancy.

Arsenal have really sold out in a big way. Zero principles. I hate myself for being so addicted to football.

[Unai Tea]

By telling him he can't go. There's no integrity by giving into those who throw their toys out the pram. Arsenal giving in has allowed Van Persie to set the blueprint for how players can engineer a move. Oxlade, fancy a move? Just say the club's ambition isn't good enough. No fuss, and a quick move to whoever you fancy.

Arsenal have really sold out in a big way. Zero principles. I hate myself for being so addicted to football.

I hardly think RVP has come up with an innovative way to engineer a move from his current club. Players have been playing the 'I want to play at a higher level/champions league football/top team' card for years. The only real change is that where we used to be that team players sought to move to because we were at the pinnacle of the footballing world, we're now teetering on the edge of the second echelon and top players are seeking to leave rather than join as often as not. Our history and consistent champions league qualification are what is keeping us within touching distance - though our 'history' is getting worse every year as the glow of having a trophy is fading into distant memory.

The biggest driver for our fall from grace has been the influx of cash at Chelsea and now Man City. That has pushed us down to where we are because a) we can't compete on wages and b) we stand a far worse chance of winning anything.

[IBK]

I hardly think RVP has come up with an innovative way to engineer a move from his current club. Players have been playing the 'I want to play at a higher level/champions league football/top team' card for years. The only real change is that where we used to be that team players sought to move to because we were at the pinnacle of the footballing world, we're now teetering on the edge of the second echelon and top players are seeking to leave rather than join as often as not. Our history and consistent champions league qualification are what is keeping us within touching distance - though our 'history' is getting worse every year as the glow of having a trophy is fading into distant memory.

The biggest driver for our fall from grace has been the influx of cash at Chelsea and now Man City. That has pushed us down to where we are because a) we can't compete on wages and b) we stand a far worse chance of winning anything.

This. Its naive to think that we were in a position to tell RVP to stay. What would that have achieved? A disgruntled player who in addition would have been demoted from captain, affecting dressing room morale for the whole of the current season. If we were a richer, more recently successful club then we might just be able to read the riot act to players. But time has moved on and its the players and their agents who hold the power now - not the likes of AFC. The best the club could do once he openly wanted out was to sell him for the highest figure it could. Which it did.

[Kano]

the best thing the club could have done would have been to make sure we were not in that position in the first place. that is where they fucked up.

[Letters]

the best thing the club could have done would have been to make sure we were not in that position in the first place. that is where they fucked up.
How? By selling him a year earlier (when he wouldn't have been anywhere near as sought after because it was before he had last year's amazing season)?
The only alternative to that is to get the player to sign a new contract which is entirely in the player's hands. And for the same reason as above why would we have offered him a big new contract after all his injuries?

[Kano]

How? By selling him a year earlier

yes

[Letters]

yesAt the time that wouldn't have seemed like such a stupid idea given his injury record but because of that record we wouldn't have got as much for him and we wouldn't have finished top 4. We'd already sold Nasri and Fabregas, unless he'd been replaced with a serious signings (and we all know he wouldn't have been) we'd have been stuffed without him last year.

[Kano]

well, if we are placing monetary value, as per the arsenal board, over integrity of the club, then sure, we should've kept him for that reason.

if we go back in history to any point and replace somebody with 'another' would events pan out exactly the same or would things be different? there is absolutely no way of knowing what would've happened last season if rvp wasn't here and somebody else was. the dynamics would've completely changed.

the club fucked up. it's ok to admit it.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

the best thing the club could have done would have been to make sure we were not in that position in the first place. that is where they fucked up.

You mean give a crooked player a contract for another 3 years? No one knew he'd have the season he had so it would have been dumb too then. In hindsight its a diffrent matter.

[Kano]

You mean give a crooked player a contract for another 3 years? No one knew he'd have the season he had so it would have been dumb too then. In hindsight its a diffrent matter.

no i mean sell the prick.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

no i mean sell the prick.

Ah ok, yeah maybe we should have done that.

[IBK]

At the time that wouldn't have seemed like such a stupid idea given his injury record but because of that record we wouldn't have got as much for him and we wouldn't have finished top 4. We'd already sold Nasri and Fabregas, unless he'd been replaced with a serious signings (and we all know he wouldn't have been) we'd have been stuffed without him last year.

Precisely. These hindsighters always have something that the club could have done differently, but selling RVP when he originally chose not to sign would almost certainly have realised less than it did selling him once he had had his outstanding season and showed he could keep fit for most of it. Keeping him saved CL football for this season.

Fans have to realise that its player power that rules these days, for those most sought after.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Fans have to realise that its player power that rules these days, for those most sought after.

Pretty much not 1 club can say player power does not rule.

[Xhaka Can’t]

well, if we are placing monetary value, as per the arsenal board, over integrity of the club, then sure, we should've kept him for that reason.

if we go back in history to any point and replace somebody with 'another' would events pan out exactly the same or would things be different? there is absolutely no way of knowing what would've happened last season if rvp wasn't here and somebody else was. the dynamics would've completely changed.

the club fucked up. it's ok to admit it.

Maybe so, but it would have been the mother of all fuck ups if it went your way.

[Kano]

Precisely. These hindsighters always have something that the club could have done differently, but selling RVP when he originally chose not to sign would almost certainly have realised less than it did selling him once he had had his outstanding season and showed he could keep fit for most of it. Keeping him saved CL football for this season.

Fans have to realise that its player power that rules these days, for those most sought after.
i take it those 'hindsighters' is a banner i fall under.

hindsight doesn't come into it. i couldn't give a shit about top 4 football. frankly, i couldn't give a shit about most aspects of the game at the moment mostly due to the total disconnect with a club i have supported for 20+ years and a game that no longer bears much resememblance to the one i fell in love with. the situation at arsenal only exacerbate those feelings with a manager floating face down dead in the water, slowly falling out of touch and a board that are happy ripping the heart of the club out.

player power is very strong but clubs can be just as, if they choose. or they can choose to fuck around year after year and cream off the money, as we do. if the rvp situation was a one off, fair enough. but it wasn't. it has helped continue a trend. and next times this happens - and it will - the very same bollocks will mug everyone off again.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Bendtner too fat, say Juve as striker plays catch up with Serie A side

By Sami Mokbel

PUBLISHED: 22:30, 5 September 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 5 September 2012

Comments (12)
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Arsenal outcast Nicklas Bendtner has been branded too fat by Juventus coaching staff just days after signing up for a season-long loan.

The Denmark striker was given permission by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to miss a large portion of summer training in order to find himself a new club following his year on loan at Sunderland.

But the lack of pre-season conditioning has caught up with Bendtner, 24, with Juve coaches saying he is carrying too much weight to play in Serie A.
Too fat? Nicklas Bendtner has been accused of piling on the pounds

Too fat? Nicklas Bendtner has been accused of piling on the pounds


In addition to worries over Bendtner’s waistline, former Juve midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi has questioned what impact the self-styled ‘best striker in the world’ would have in Turin.

‘I will not say Bendtner is a bad player,’ said Tacchinardi, one of the club’s 50 ‘legends’. ‘But he does not help improve Juventus, either.’

Selling Bendtner and fellow flop Andrey Arshavin were two key summer objectives for Arsenal, given their respective wages of £52,000 and £80,000 a week.

But, while the club offloaded the Dane on loan, they have struggled to find a buyer for Arshavin.

Zenit St Petersburg, Dynamo Moscow and CSKA Moscow have made enquiries about the attacking midfielder ahead of today’s Russian transfer deadline.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2198888/Nicklas-Bendtner-fat-say-Juventus.html#ixzz25gB0ZuQu

[I_Killed_Kenny]

Sagna now speaking out in the press. It will probably be said that it was misquoted/lost in translation etc but seems like, if true, we learn nothing and the same shit will continue:


Sagna's Arsenal frustration
Arsenal full-back hits out in explosive interview in France

By Patrick Haond. Last Updated: September 6, 2012 10:39am

0
0

Bacary Sagna: French defender not happy with Arsenal sales

Bacary Sagna: French defender not happy with Arsenal sales
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Bacary Sagna has admitted he is yet to talk to the club about a new contract, whilst also admitting that he does not understand why they sold Alex Song.

The 29-year-old full-back, who is nearing a return from injury after suffering a broken leg at the end of last season, has spoken to the French press about Arsenal - and he appears far from impressed.

Sagna has revealed he is worried about what is happening at the Emirates, and admits that he now expects the club to sell players every summer as he has seen this happen throughout his time in north London.

"At Arsenal you come back after holidays, you make preparations, and you see two players leave and the season resumes - it has been like that since I have been at the club. I am used to it now"
Bacary Sagna Quotes of the week

In an interview that is sure to worry many Arsenal fans, Sagna admitted to l'Equipe: "I expected the departure of Robin van Persie. We all expected it. It was 'obvious'.

"But the Alex one, it was a surprise! He is 24 years old, he has three years remaining on his contract. I still do not understand. It is huge loss for the club.

"When you see the two best players of last season leave, you have a lot of questions. Sometimes in the street the fans talk to me. I can understand they are upset. I am just like them, I don't understand everything.

"At Arsenal you come back after holidays, you make preparations, and you see two players leave and the season resumes - it has been like that since I have been at the club. I am used to it now.

"I am the last player from the 2007 starting XI remaining. In May, I watched Manchester City show off. I watched at Samir [Nasri] and Gael [Clichy] lifting the trophy.

"That gave me desire for it. Were they right to leave? Yes. But when they left, we didn't know."
Contract

Sagna then admitted that his own situation is far from certain, revealing his contract is up in 2014 - something Arsenal would never confirm publicly.

"My own situation? At the end of the season, I will have one year remaining," he said, insisting that nobody from the club has been in touch.

"Has the club contacted me about an extension? No, no one."

He even refused to rule out the prospect of leaving, adding: "Could I be tempted to leave? I just want to play again and be good again with Arsenal so far.

"Then, we will see. Each person has his own destiny."

On his fitness situation, Sagna revealed that he is close to playing again.

"One week ago I resumed training with ball. I hoped to be back just after international break, but it will be too close," he said.

"I missed have missed four months twice [in the last year], so I need to be perfectly fit."

[Marc Overmars]

Now is the time to get his contract sorted.

[Joker]

He'll leave next summer and will be replaced by GHELkinson.

[Syn]

Meh. Any British prodigious RBs coming up through the ranks or is jenkers going to have to out-perform Kyle Walker?

Happy to see Gibbs and Jenkinson in the side right now; they've started very well. It's up to them to keep things tight and keep improving.

[Kano]

oh and look. here we go again...

[LDG]

I will be massively pissed off if we sell Bacs.

Fuck RVP. Sagna is the bollocks. He is what every Arsenal player should aspire to become.

[-Xs-]

I will be massively pissed off if we sell Bacs.

Fuck RVP. Sagna is the bollocks. He is what every Arsenal player should aspire to become.

Sold?

[LDG]

Sold?

Contract. Year to run, by the time the season is out?

Sound familiar?

Bet they can already smell the profit dripping of Bacs' rippling muscles.

[-Xs-]

Indeed. What you reckon, City, Barca, Madrid or an outside bet Italian team?

[LDG]

Indeed. What you reckon, City, Barca, Madrid or an outside bet Italian team?

Silly boy.

Whoever pays the most money of course!

[Cripps_orig]

Sagnas gone :(

With him being injury prone and Jenkinson actually having a very good start to the season and Sagna saying what he has, hes as good as gone

[Unai Tea]

He's signed up until he's 31. He's had two broken legs which have ended his last two seasons. I really like the chap but I'm not massively concerned about whether he signs an extension. In an ideal world we sign his replacement in January or the summer.

[Syn]

He's signed up until he's 31. He's had two broken legs which have ended his last two seasons. I really like the chap but I'm not massively concerned about whether he signs an extension. In an ideal world we sign his replacement in January or the summer.

Yeah. Well, lets face it, we probably won't sign a replacement. Or if we do it'll be like a chubby, washed up, twitter-obsessed, 0 season wonder who gets into car crashes. But Jenkers...the new Gary Neville. Just needs to learn how to kick the pacey winger without the ref knowing, and we're all set for the next 10 years.

[Unai Tea]

Yeah. Well, lets face it, we probably won't sign a replacement. Or if we do it'll be like a chubby, washed up, twitter-obsessed, 0 season wonder who gets into car crashes. But Jenkers...the new Gary Neville. Just needs to learn how to kick the pacey winger without the ref knowing, and we're all set for the next 10 years.

Well, our record of replacing players properly has been haphazard to say the least. Maybe jenkinson, yennaris and bellarin are the answer in the end. Colour me unconvinced at this stage.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Got tickets for myself and my son for the Saints game.

Yahoo!!!!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

[LDG]

Got tickets for myself and my son for the Saints game.

Yahoo!!!!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Nice one!

:beer:

;)

[GP]

I'm going to be an uncle. :cloud9:

Uncle Ben they'll call me.

Because I look like a jamaican sex offender.

[I_Killed_Kenny]

congrats

and LOL!

[Marc Overmars]

Congrats!

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Congrats GP.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I'm going to be an uncle. :cloud9:

Uncle Ben they'll call me.

Because I look like a jamaican sex offender.

Uncle as in how Ryan Giggs will become one?

[Niall_Quinn]

He'll leave next summer and will be replaced by GHELkinson.

Jenks has had a couple of good games I hear. Maybe he'll be sold too. Anyway, listening to that whining bitch Sagna bad-mouthing the club that gives him a wheelbarrow of the fans' cash every week is unpleasant but typical. Evidently he's playing it a different way, get the transfer talk started good and early maybe so the fans have accepted it by the time he leaves and it passes without comment. He'll have to do some work in the shop window first if he wants the move though. So it will seem like a loss when he goes. And he's left little doubt he's gone. Though maybe misquoted as some say. Trying to recall what all the others who were misquoted ended up doing. They left IIRC.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

He'll leave next summer and will be replaced by GHELkinson.

No he won't leave if he goes he'll be sold.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Sagnas gone :(

With him being injury prone and Jenkinson actually having a very good start to the season and Sagna saying what he has, hes as good as gone

Jenkinson :bow: He has done well tbh.

[V-Pig]

Got my Podolski away shirt today.

Yep, and that medallion. Interesting. Not sure who'd ever wear it or why... interesting.

[GP]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[V-Pig]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2MovyjCMAAIMLS.jpg

Thanks, Arsenal...

[Syn]

:haha:

What a magnificent piece of tat.

[GP]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2MovyjCMAAIMLS.jpg

Thanks, Arsenal...

Wow.

That's almost as pointless as a paralympic gold.

[Marc Overmars]

You spent 60 quid on the top? Wowzers.

[V-Pig]

It's only £50+ to get the medal. But yeah. Once delivery taken into account, cost me £64.95 :faint:

[Marc Overmars]

Crazy son of a bitch.

[Syn]

Wow.

That's almost as pointless as a paralympic gold.

:haha:

You're a sick man.

And I don't mean 'sick' as the kids mean it these days.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I ordered the Calgary Flames Heritage Classic jersey.

Cheap ****s never offered a medallion.

[Injury Time]

Got tickets for myself and my son for the Saints game.

Yahoo!!!!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2
See you there;)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A2MovyjCMAAIMLS.jpg

Thanks, Arsenal...

:lol:

Nice coaster.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

[QUOTE] Francis Coquelin is determindd to make a name for himself at Arsenal, but admitted he may look to move on in January if he is not feAturing in the first-team.

The France Under-21 international was rewarded with a new long-term contract at Emirates Stadium at the start of the year and made 17 appearances for the Gunners last term.

He spent the previous campaign