Arsenal v Leeds Monday 9th January ESPN 19.45

[fakeyank]

The Emirates lacks historic moments, there have been few nights/games, memorable enough to live on in my memory for the ages. Last night provided a moment I, and many others will remember for the rest of our lives. Moments like that are rare - increasingly so in a sport that has prostituted itself to the highest bidder.

If you're an Arsenal fan weren't moved by what happened last night, you really should give up on life.

[Marc Overmars]

The Emirates lacks historic moments, there have been few nights/games, memorable enough to live on in my memory for the ages. Last night provided a moment I, and many others will remember for the rest of our lives. Moments like that are rare - increasingly so in a sport that has prostituted itself to the highest bidder.

If you're an Arsenal fan weren't moved by what happened last night, you really should give up on football.

That, sums it all up.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Ummm, how did Henry end up at the club on loan? Was he transferred in, or did we find him under one of the seats? I want permanent signings, and ones that will make an ongoing difference. Henry has come in because Shitmack and the rest cannot successfully support RVP.

Well obviously he was transfered in, but you go on like we have for the last 5 years signed old guys on loan. we all want permanent signings and im sure wenger and the players do too.

problem is getting people who want to move and getting people a reasonable price, we don't want to end up in a Torress/Caroll situation where we are paying to much because we have too.

[Ralpheroo72]

Well obviously he was transfered in, but you go on like we have for the last 5 years signed old guys on loan. we all want permanent signings and im sure wenger and the players do too.

problem is getting people who want to move and getting people a reasonable price, we don't want to end up in a Torress/Caroll situation where we are paying to much because we have too.

I agree with you there, and I see what you are saying about Torres etc. Problem is, when players are available, Gazidis and co dont fill me with confidence with their negotiating skills. Man U go out and buy their players with ease, when we enter negotiations, we seem to draw them out, almost to the point that it appears that deal may not go through.

[Ralpheroo72]

The Emirates lacks historic moments, there have been few nights/games, memorable enough to live on in my memory for the ages. Last night provided a moment I, and many others will remember for the rest of our lives. Moments like that are rare - increasingly so in a sport that has prostituted itself to the highest bidder.

If you're an Arsenal fan and weren't moved by what happened last night, you really should give up on football.

I was moved by the whole emotion of the night, and have watched the goal over and over. Amazing stuff. Ive touched on why the Henry situation, whilst its great having him back, we as a top team in Europe have had to recruit a player on loan from an MLS team. Tottenham play in a shit box stadium and generate less revenue, yet they are able to retain the services of their best players, and attract new ones. On paper, their current squad is better than ours. Given that we finished the season unbeaten only 7/8 years ago, how have we allowed this to happen?

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I agree with you there, and I see what you are saying about Torres etc. Problem is, when players are available, Gazidis and co dont fill me with confidence with their negotiating skills. Man U go out and buy their players with ease, when we enter negotiations, we seem to draw them out, almost to the point that it appears that deal may not go through.

Yeah i agree with that, its hard to know why i takes us an age to complete a deal whilt it takes others a week or so.

[fakeyank]

I was moved by the whole emotion of the night, and have watched the goal over and over. Amazing stuff. Ive touched on why the Henry situation, whilst its great having him back, we as a top team in Europe have had to recruit a player on loan from an MLS team. Tottenham play in a shit box stadium and generate less revenue, yet they are able to retain the services of their best players, and attract new ones. On paper, their current squad is better than ours. Given that we finished the season unbeaten only 7/8 years ago, how have we allowed this to happen?

Arsene Wenger

[LDG]

I agree with you there, and I see what you are saying about Torres etc. Problem is, when players are available, Gazidis and co dont fill me with confidence with their negotiating skills. Man U go out and buy their players with ease, when we enter negotiations, we seem to draw them out, almost to the point that it appears that deal may not go through.

Yeah, Man Utd easliy got a 38 year old Paul Scholes back from retirement. They're spending big, negotiating smothly and generally outdoing us in the transfer market this January.

Mind you, they did spend money on Jones in the summer. That's worked well.

[fakeyank]

Yeah, Man Utd easliy got a 38 year old Paul Scholes back from retirement. They're spending big, negotiating smothly and generally outdoing us in the transfer market this January.

Mind you, they did spend money on Jones in the summer. That's worked well.

I think the point is that Utd is trying or have tried. AW on the other hand is not even trying to sign players. SAF signed the gay, young and jones. Most of them do not look like setting the world on fire atm but SAF brought in players to improve the squad. AW IMO wouldnt have signed Arteta or Mentos, had we not got that tonking at the hands of Utd.

[LDG]

I think the point is that Utd is trying or have tried. AW on the other hand is not even trying to sign players. SAF signed the gay, young and jones. Most of them do not look like setting the world on fire atm but SAF brought in players to improve the squad. AW IMO wouldnt have signed Arteta or Mentos, had we not got that tonking at the hands of Utd.

I don't doubt that we're not as good as Utd at getting things done. But then again, I do agree with AW when he says it's difficult to find the right player, for the right price. I would suspect that Fergie isn't overwhelmed by his goalkeeper thus far, and I would point to the furore surrounding us when Almunia was clearly shit. We didn't go and buy someone for the sake of it, and let Ches do his stuff. That's worked out quite nicely.

Like I've said in countless other threads. AW gets some things wrong, but he does get some things right too. The business of running a top footbal club is far more difficult in current times due to the inequality in the market. We've got to push on, no doubt, and we've fucked up big time, but we're clawing our way back, and I'm relatively happy with the balance of the team for the forst time in ages.

Hopefully we'll add to that over coming weeks...that said, Wilshire, and our fullbacks returning will be massive for us.