Today’s discussion is likely to revolve around who will play tonight, but I would like to start by investigating whether we should care about tonight’s result.
It would be fair to say that the fans are evenly split as to whether AW should put out a strong team in order to get into the semi’s, hopefully to put last year’s Wembley nightmare behind us, and those who think the team need to concentrate upon other targets. Both arguments have their merits, the silverware hoodoo needs to be dealt with and we are just 3 games from lifting a Cup, on the other hand, how valuable is the CC? Does it really count as silverware? Would Birmingham have preferred to lose the final and stay in the PL? Their form fell apart after their victory and though I am not a Bluenose and haven’t discussed it with them, but my guess is that they would prefer to be in the Prem. Who won the CC two seasons ago?
My opinion is that we must stick to the principle of playing a young team in the CC and seeing how well they can perform. Taking it seriously didn’t work so why not have some fun and damn the consequences.
Best Forgotten
Man City are in a different situation, their squad players will be desperate to show Mancini they are worthy of a first team start. On Sunday Balotelli and Dzeko were on the bench! There is no need to talk about the quality of their squad, we all know it, even their cheapest reserve cost more than our most expensive signing (almost). They are playing really good football and are a joy to watch – if it is not AFC who win the PL I want it to be City because Mancini sends his teams out to entertain. Yes, they are solid in midfield and are not averse to a physical battle but they also have magic in the team which will hopefully be left up the M60 tonight.
Team selection is difficult. Do we have another RB to deputise for JD/Kos? Or another LB?
Mr Wenger has stated that he will play a team which has a chance to progress and could well play a couple of regular first teamers, Santos being the most likely, Not an easy game tonight and perhaps this will spur Chamakh on, he must want to play against the best and tonight he has the opportunity. The Ox is just bursting to show he deserves a starting role and it is no coincidence that Theo is playing the best football of his career following Alex’s arrival. Park will score…..
Today’s Gooner? Step forward Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury. Born in the East End, The Arsenal was George’s second love (God then Arsenal)
Sporting the Raspberry kit (badge hidden to look more holy)
We have home advantage, we have a fine squad of young, hungry players, we have the North Bank. Can we beat the best reserve team in World football? Of course we can!
Written by BigRaddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Thanks for the pre match Radders, always appreciated and especially coming from a fellow rocker, however Charlie Sheen may disagree with the title of your post.
I fall between the two schools of thought there, as per usual, in that I’m fearful of a ass-whipping for our B team but don’t really want injuries to our first teamers either should we play many of them.
I know, no bloody use as a comment 😦
Morning Mr Radders
I’m really struggling to decide about tonights game. Do we need more games, or less games..??
Part of me would take a Carling Cup win just to shut up those brain deads who talk about no trophies. But I also know that the Carling Cup will be dismissed, and that ‘no meaningful trophies’ will become their new mantra.
Lord Carey in raspberry kit……lol
Great pre-match BR,i like the look of the starting line-up. Perhaps we could see kozza play and miquel out at left back again?!
interesting read this one, just goes to show some thrive on pressure, some can’t handle it.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/2011/11/29/2779439/qpr-defender-armand-traore-reveals-his-arsenal-nightmare-i
Morning all, super pre-match Raddy.I particularly enjoyed Carey as that pet detective fella.
My take on the CC is simple. Don’t risk any of the important players (the whole first team), send out the youngsters and the B team players and tell them to have fun.
The risk of injuries far outweighs the importance of the CC to our season.
Supporters should ask themselves this one question; would we rather send out a strong team to try to win this game at the risk of losing a key player (or two) for the prem game against them in two weeks? – my answer is an emphatic no.
A run out for the likes of Park, Miquel, Frimpong, Yennaris and Coquelin is the main plus we should gain from this game.
Hi BR, thanks for another great pre-match. I believe Wenger will mix 4 regulars with 7 non-regulars and as a result we will see the strongest possible team on the night. Too many regulars really need a break and their fit replacements are simply the better option. I expect to play the following team:
————–Fabianski—————–
Djourou – Koz -Vermaelen – Santos
———–Coquelin—Arteta———-
The Ox——-Rosicky——–Bennayoun
—————–Chamakh—————-
I cannot believe you would like Citeh to win the PL if Arsenal don’t win it – especially when reading the title of your post. I agree with you on many issues Raddy, but on that one we could not be further apart. Nobody should ever be allowed to buy the league spending in surplus of £800m: it is a total disgrace. I hope we’ll beat them tonight just to show them that love is the real basis of success.
Another fine post Biggie, I agree, keep the Carling Cup for the fringe and young players, some need the playing time. Arsene has already said some of the players are in the “Red zone”, so they need to be rested, and imo the “goal” of 4th spot is the top priority.
I wouldn`t want to see City win the EPL. To me , It sends all the wrong messages, Buying the Trophy`s.
I now need to talk to the planners, about building my new Hareem. Any advise Evonne!
Agree with you there TotalA – we should adopt the Bundesliga model whereby you cannot run at a loss; small wonder that the german economyi sthe strongest at the moment with that kind of thinking.
And who are countries with the “Manyana” attitude to paying off debts? The ones most likely to go bankrupt, step forward Qatar FC as a prime example off, FU Barcelon.
Sorry, that should have been “award winning ” Hareem. 🙂
Wenger spoke the other day about some players being in the “red zone”. Walcott and van Persie in particular, Santos is another who must be in need of a break, so I think from a practical perspective he will go with a minimum of first choice players.
It would be good to put one over on City but I wold prefer to do that in the league rather than in the fourth rated competition.
Morning TA,
I like your team, but I would have Park up front not Chamakh. I can’t see us having the same width with the Ox and Benny as the wide midfielders so the aerial crosses that Chamakh needs will not be there, much better to have a player who makes runs into the box and looks to score with his feet.
For me, the Carling Cup will always be a bit of a ‘catch 22’ in that if we had won it last season or even win it this season, other fans will say “It’s only the Carling Cup” and we will also say much the same with a loss!
Personally, I would like us to get through and win the darn thing as I feel a trophy would kick start us, just like in 1987 against the scousers.
I am up in a very wet and windy Scotland once again, so am resigned to watching on the box, but I shall be cheering the boys on from the bar in my hotel.
i agree TA, personally city winning the league is up there with wanting spurs to win it.
Play the B team and hopefully we will see and inspired team of fringe players looking to show arsene why they should be starting! Last season first team players were needed as players like bendy, denilson, and co weren’t up to the task, their fight and determination was non-existant. I hope nasri gets booed all game. Beautiful start to the day, 3.30 CC match followed by a race to make it on time to work. Come on arsenal send me to work happy!
Spurs play better football then city,do u want them to win the lg too.
Part of the heading should be on City`s badge, “Money cant buy you love, but it will buy us loads of trophy`s”
tonight will show just how short the arse holes are in real players 0-3,
….. this is the only comment ‘city steve’ will be placing on the site, let’s hope any other city fans that want to be our guest on here represent their club more intelligently …. ed
Hi Chary, you are so right. There is a real buzz in Germany about their football and it there seems to be more fairness. The other day I heard that Bayern have best part of Euro1bn in the bank, that’s how rich they are. Yet they buy sensibly and face plenty of competition within their league every year.
GLiC, can I be the auditor of your award-winning harem – I have some fine criteria in mind? 🙂 You have already told us you’re a man with plenty of stamina, but 365 women in one harem, WOW!! No wonder the bulls come and distroy your award winning garden – they are flipping jealous!
Spurs play better football than city?
Hey, we have a City troll here: “City Steve” – thanks a lot, it always amuses me when we get kindergarten style comments here.
It’s put a smile on my face. 🙂
Good times.
TotalA – the german way is the way forward especially in the current financial climate, not City’s obscene and morally bankrupt approach.
Im with Rasp – let as many first teamers get a breather and let the young guns have a shot at City… dont want any injuries in the first team squad….
Hi Rasp, fair points there. I was thinking that Marouane would play a lot with his back towards the opposition’s goal and linking up well with the Ox, Benny, Arteta and Rosicky who can all score from just outside and inside the box. I would like to see Park play, but MC really needs to start a game again. Could we play them both in a 4-4-2? Don’t think so myself, but Wenger will surprise us all tonight anyway!
enjoy the walk back to Manchester Steven.
Total,
The job is yours, and i`m sorry but you will have to “audit” the new 365, just how far in you be calling me a bastard, I dont know !. 🙂
Nice one Raddy – Not so easy picking this line up, especially with some of our youngsters now out on loan – Anekes, Watt and Freeman to name a few….
The Goalie is the easy part…….there will be experience in the team and I expect Rosicky to Captain the team. Total, there is little chance Vermaelen will play, I might be wrong………..But there is no chance Arteta plays.
Park will play as does Frimpers, so I am struggling (deep squad see) to get Coquelin in there, he might revert to RB, but I feel Yennaris deserves another go. I think Diaby might have played but I think he is muscle sore and might be rested after so long out.
My guess:
Fabianski
Yennaris Kozzer Djourou Miquel
Frimpers Rosicky
Ox Benayoun Park
Chamakh
Subs:
Coquelin, Squillaci, Ozzy, Boateng, Mannone,Hajrovic,Ebecililo
He might throw an extra player with experience on the bench, but feel it should look like above.
I’ll be there and look forward to it………
On City winning the title, yes 100%, if we dont let them have it. Do I like them? NO, Do I want them to win it truly? NO, but I dont want United, Spurs, Chelsea or Liverpool (LOL) winning it, so if City do win it, we can all blame the money and realise that it ruins football…..and distorts standings……
Chamakh or Park – I would lean towards Park myself but the boss must have some reason that he prefers Chamakh – as TA probably his link up play. Would like to see him get a goal (and his mojo back).
I just noticed – the worlds number 2 on the team sheet – nice one 🙂
Hi pat, it looks like it may be down to us to stop city going the whole season unbeaten so a victory with a strong rested team against them at middle eastlands in 2 weeks would be very sweet indeed.
Hi Oz, we just cannot play an entire B-team. I don’t think Wenger will ever put out a team he knows has no chance of winning. It would not be fair on the fans either, and you would not be sent happy to work 🙂
harry ,Thats a good point ,maybe if City win it with ease for the next ten years, someone will say ,enough is enough.. !.
Hi Harry, that is a decent line-up as well. Just think the defence would need either Mertesacker or TV to have a decent chance tonight. The Big Ferocious German was substituted early on Saturday, so maybe he was rested by Wenger to play today: that actually would make sense, thinking about it.
i agree TA a mix is needed, but just not as heavy as we have done in recent cup games, especially with so many coming back from injury and those ‘red zone’ players. I just want to see the likes of frim, coq, yennaris, park, yossi, rosicky, and miquel all get a gig
Fabianski
Jenkinson
Djourou
Squillaci
Miquel
Benayoun
Frimpong
Rosicky
Ox
Chamakh
Park
i think this line up fills the criterea of not risking first teamers whilst also giving us plenty of experience.
Hi fgg,
Wow, why didn’t I think of that – your line-up seems so logical now I look at it.
Is Jenks fit again though, and should he be risked I wonder?
FGG, Jenkinson is out till January, or do you know something I don’t? Anyway, with that line-up another 8-2 trashing by a Manc team is a serious possibility. I cannot see Wenger taking such a risk.
Hey is Jenks back – thats great…
TA,
Haven’t you seen in previous seasons that when we field a side like FGG’s they play without fear and often surprise the opposition. I don’t believe that side would get thrashed by city – we may find out in 9 hours time!
Fine pre-match BR, thanks.
I can’t say I’m too fussed about the CC.
The League is so much more important.
I think Park and Chamakh should both play with a fair amount of switching going on. Benayoun and Rosicky can provide the experience to help Frimpong and the Ox. Perhaps Le Coq at right back, Miquel left back with JD and the Squid in the middle. World’s number 2 in goal.
Mind you Arshavin needs another game to see if there’s any form left in him at all.
Perhaps we’ll sneak it on penalties!
Excellent Raddy,
Love the Carey pic in the Redcurrnt strip. Can’t help wondering whether owning an Archbish Kit would open doors.
….Fab
Yenn Squil JD Miqu
…Pong Coq
Ox AA Benny
….Park
Don’t think its the game to get the MC confidence back, and also, as I suspect he’ll be off in Jan, I want Park to get playing time.
Could switch AA for Rosicky very happily.
Hi Rasp, fair point. Playing without fear at home goes a long way. But this is not any opposition and Citeh’s attack will be top-class. I just cannot see us start with at least Koz in the middle and most possibly Mertesacker or Vermaelen as well.
I just don’t think Wenger wants to lose this game. The psychological impact of winning on the team is not to be underestimated, as is the opposite outcome.
I get where you’re coming from TA, but surely putting out a strong team and losing would be far more damaging and not worth the risk. I think Arsene is more than happy to risk losing gallantly this evening by giving some of the fringe players pitch time.
Hi micky, Chamakh out and Podolski in would be a tasty bit of business in January don’t you think?
Will be interesting to see how this City side comes out – I think they will be pretty nervy hopefully the crowd can make it uncomfortable for them and get behind our boys. Hopefully the young lads can spark the crowd early – maybe a certain Mr Chamberlain can get things started….
TA,
Have to say the players that need maximum protection are Robin, Alex, Verm and Sz. I would certainly not risk our spine under any circumstances.
Trust me, I know nothing about Jenks!
If u tell me hes injured then he’s injured. In that case we may have to go with Yennaris at right back and could possibly see Arshavin and Coq in there somewhere but I don’t think I will be too far away with my guess. Time will tell.
City will be resting players too n we should not be thinking of losing 8-2! If we take the game to em then we could defs win in 90 minutes.
I don’t understand what people are worried about tbh!
FGG,
Love your attitude. Absolutely no reason to be worried by £100m odd of talent. Pah.. 🙂
Cracking artice on Traore OZ, really enjoyable read.
I’ve heard him talk about regretting his tattoos before…wings on his back …lol. Wot a nutter. Personally, I just don’t get tattoos, never have never will.
I leave a bit of leeway for Arsenal ones, or kids names etc…but I just don’t get the large ones. How would I know (even at 44) that I’d want the same marks/images for so long in my life.
Things change in life…some weeks I want to divorce my wife and runaway with Peaches, other weeks its divorce and run away with Evonne…
…. OK dear soon to be ex-hubby, get yourself a good lawyer 👿
“No wonder the bulls come and distroy your award winning garden – they are flipping jealous!”
To put it Frankly….that was brilliant !!
Bishop and Priest
A bishop invites a young priest over for dinner. During the meal, the priest can’t help noticing how attractive and shapely the housekeeper is. Over the course of the evening he starts to wonder if there’s more between the bishop and the housekeeper than meets the eye. Reading the young priest’s thoughts, the bishop volunteers, “I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, my relationship with my housekeeper is purely professional.”
About a week later the housekeeper comes to the bishop and says, “Excellency, ever since the young Father came to dinner, I’ve been unable to find the beautiful silver gravy ladle. You don’t suppose he took it, do you?”
The bishop says, “Well, I doubt it, but I’ll write him a letter just to be sure.” So he sits down and writes: “Dear Father, I’m not saying that you ‘did’ take a gravy ladle from my house, and I’m not saying you ‘did not’ take a gravy ladle. But the fact remains that one has been missing ever since you were here for dinner.”
Several days later the bishop receives a letter from the young priest, which reads: “Your Excellency, I’m not saying that you ‘do’ sleep with your housekeeper, and I’m not saying that you ‘do not’ sleep with your housekeeper. But the fact remains that if you were sleeping in your own bed, you would have found the gravy ladle by now.”
2*13 – Can you give me a quick call….please.
Rocky…when are you back in London..??
Sharkey,
Unless you are about to change your appearence to a demented lunatic who plays for Stoke, then I would suggest that your chances with Evonne are slim indeed.
The Queen of England was showing the Archbishop of Canterbury around the Royal Stables when one of the stallions close by farted so loudly it couldn’t be ignored.
“Oh dear,” said the Queen, “How embarrassing. I’m frightfully sorry about that.”
“It’s quite understandable,” said the Archbishop, and after a moment added, “As a matter of fact I thought it was the horse.”
Well said Harry…I’d have Citeh win it (/devalue it.??) for the same reasons as you.
Hi Micky, I would add Ramsey, Theo and Gervinho to that but feel that Vermaelen needs the games at the moment and there is a strong chance he’ll at least start.
Rasp, I really don’t think that Wenger will approach a game – especially a home game – with a view of losing gallantly. That’s why I believe it will be a mixture of core and fringe players and no big risks will be taken in our back-five. I don’t care so much about winning the CC, but we are playing at home and we should always want to win a game and set ourselves up to do so. Especially against a team who treat us as their shopping basket, throwing silly money at us and our players to get what they want.
Harry/Sharkey,
The other advantage of a City win is how dreadful they will make the lives of Utd fans. Perks, you see.
I admire your winning mentality TA 🙂 I actually said ‘risk losing gallantly’ compared to the risk of losing an important first team player, but undoubtedly he’d rather win – he is a fierce competitor. Up until last season, Wenger had frequently risked losing CC games gallantly by keeping with the young guns whatever the opposition.
G5 🙂 🙂
The Fund Raising Problems of Father Murphy
Father Murphy was a priest in a very poor parish. He asked for
suggestions as to how he could raise money for his church. He was
told that horse owners always had money so ho went to a horse auction, but he made a very poor buy, as the horse turned out to be a donkey.
However, he thought that he might as well enter the donkey in a race. The donkey came in third, and the next day the headlines in the paper read, “Father Murphy’s Ass Shows.” The archbishop saw the paper and was very displeased. The next day, the donkey came in first and the headlines read “Father Murphy’s Ass out front. The Archbishop was up in arms and figured that something had to be done.
Father Murphy entered the donkey for the third time and this time
this time it came in second. Now the headlines read “Father Murphy’s Ass back in place.” The Archbishop thought this too much so he forbad the priest to enter the donkey the next day, which inspired the editor to write “Archbishop Scratches Father Murphy’s Ass.” Finally, the Archbishop heard this and ordered Father Murphy to get rid of the donkey. So he gave it to Sister Agatha for a pet. Now the headlines read “Nun Owns Best Ass in Town.” When the archbishop heard this, he ordered her to dispose of the animal at once, so she sold it for tendollars. The next day the headlines read “Sister Agatha Peddles Her
Ass for Ten Dollars.”
They buried the Archbishop.
Hi Rasp, that is very sharp of you; I did not spot the word ‘risk’ – you covered yourself there! 🙂
Hey Sharkey, why not run away with both! I am sure GLiC will allow you to stay in one of his many wings in his award-winning harem-mansion! 🙂
😀 Sharkey
Cracking pre match as ever Raddy, I’m definitely in the CC is least important camp. I think this feeling has been increased by what last seasons result did to our season.
Do we need two more games in January if we progress? We already have 5 games scheduled plus 1 more if we progress in the FA Cup (excl replays) plus if we win tonight two legs of the semi final, which could then lead to us playing 8 games in January after the tough December of seven games, and then into February and the resumption of CL football.
That being said as long as we don’t chase it like we did last year and can progress with the squad players I’ll take the win.
Wenger has revealed to Arsenal PLayer why he let Na$ri leave, interesting read http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-the-reason-i-let-nasri-leave
Spin or otherwise? TA and I discussed this on Saturday and I felt Wenger played a game to get max price out of City he knew what he had coming through in Ramsey and Wilshere so in reality keeping Nasri would have cost them or Theo a place in the side.
My team for tonight for what its worth:
…………………Fab……………………
Yenn…..Djourou….Squid….Miquel
…………..Pong……LeCoq………….
…………………Diaby…………………
AOC……………………………….Yossi
……………….Cham…………………….
I don’t think you can play AA23 in the hole if he only has the youthful inexperience of PongLeCoq behind him. They would have far too much work to do.
But its hard to select this team we actually have a lot of options, I assume TR7 is unfit.
Hi GiE, it was your point mainly, so it must be good to see it confirmed 🙂
I dont care much about the CC either, but this is a game against a main competitor at home. Arsene will want to win (but not at all cost of course).
What sort of ‘conversation’ with your wife where you refering to yesterday? 🙂
Great stuff as always Raddy
What ever the score tonight we win coz we are Arsenal and City are, well there just City.
Talking about multiple wifes, i had an uncle that was one of those bigamist geezer types. He had 2 separate familys and kept it a seceret for near on 20 years until he got caught. I always wondered why he looked so knackered.
Rory Delap…oh dear Evonne !!
GN5 @ 11:50 🙂
GLIC, I am surprised that you allowed TA to say the bulls were jealous of your wives.
Have you given them thar bulls some cause to hope that you will look favourably on one or all of them? 🙂
I bet it’s the big bugger with the long eyelashes!!
TMHT – Did your uncle walk like John Wayne..??
I’ve an ‘uncle’ who fathered approx 23-24 children, some in Jamaica, some in the US and a few in London. He’s in his 80’s now, still dapper and still has a twinkle in his eye.
He’s in a small threadbare council flat on his own now…how else could a lifetime of deceit and being so selfish end ??
Raddy, excellent pre-match, as per usual, sir. 🙂
There have been a number of interesting predictions from the other guys as to which team will be selected.
Just goes to show we have more quality in depth, as Harry said earlier, than many give us credit for.
I want us to win every game – even if it is an Arsenal old boys 5 a-side game. Carling Cup, FA Cup, Premier League or Champions League — I would take any or all of them!!
You want Citeh to win the prem if Arsenal don’t?
Their scum
Sorry, but to me you’ve lost all credibility as an Arsenal supporter.
Sharkey,
Every time i saw him he could hardly stand up never mind walk. Funny thing was, when the shit hit the fan, he had both wifes fighting over him. The kids (from one side) hate him now.
Well done dumbfounded on being newly promoted to President of the Club of KneeJerkiness, who would you prefer United, Spurs, Chelsea, or City?
As Harry has said earlier it shows how money has changed the game, it proves it can be bought, it makes the PL and football more about money than teamwork, team building and good management/coaching. Whats the point?
Frankly I don’t mind who wins the EPL
– as long as it’s Arsenal.
g5,
And it will be Arsenal.
having just worked out the value of City’s possible line up and Arsenal’s possible line up (i was bored on lunch!), it works out at £150m v £30m.
It will be interesting to see if Man City’s team is 5 times better than Arsenal’s tonight, and indeed, worth 5 times the money.
@ FGG
my gut feeling is we will control the match, and it will look like we are the team valued at 150!
@ Rasp
Podolski and Goetze in, AA and MC out. Sounds perfect to me!
@ Sharkey
Perhaps regrets the angel wings as he is a converted muslim?im no expert on their belief system but aren’t angels apart of christianity? and tattoos are not allowed in Islam.
As for tattoos i like them if they have meaning behind them. I currently have one covering my shoulder and upper arm, which is going to extend over to my chest so it covers my pectoral muscle. But that is going to be a proper heart with 3 banners over top, and one of my favourite bits of literature tied into it. I’m drawing it myself so i won’t ever regret it.
GiE – taken to it’s logical conclusion, why not just sit down the Premier Leagues chairman at the beginning of the season and the BPL can just ask them to show their current bank statments and be done with it?
Whoever’s got the most £££$$$$$’s wins.
That way we can get all the tedious rounds of actual matches out the way and the Arabs can parade their silverware(jewell encrusted of course) up and down Abu Dhabi main street ?
BTW GiE, thanks for the suggestions for naming my axe on twitter.
Arsenal’s artisans bid to bridge the divide
James Olley
29 Nov 2011
Arsenal are not exactly paupers but the princes of Manchester City continue their attempts to become kings of the English game tonight in a match that underlines the ideological and financial divide between the clubs.
City’s lavish spending continued over the summer, including the purchase of two Gunners first teamers who have struggled to achieve prominence in Roberto Mancini’s mission to turn cash into crowns.
The Carling Cup has long been a breeding ground for Arsene Wenger to help oil the machinery of the club’s player production line and prove the talent pool continues to run deep.
By contrast, City’s line-up tonight will be influenced by a need to rotate a squad of highly-paid luminaries, some of whom may quietly have expressed their discontent at previous omissions, while targeting a prize that has come to represent something of a test of squad depth among the top clubs.
It is not high on the list of either side’s priorities although both could use the silverware for differing reasons; Arsenal to mark the end of a trophyless period and prove they can again be successful under Wenger, and City, undefeated in the Premier League this season, to add further weight to the notion that football’s balance of power is shifting ever more in their favour.
But a more immediate opportunity is the chance for the Gunners to prove capable of equalling City in reserves without the resources.
Perhaps in an indication of an elevation in importance, Wenger opted against naming the majority of his side during his in-house press briefing as he has done in previous rounds.
The sense of City usurping the established order has been undeniable given their exorbitant wealth, some of which was redistributed in Arsenal’s favour, but they face clear evidence of such power if former Gunners Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri both start at Emirates Stadium
tonight.
Robin van Persie will almost certainly be rested to allow Park Chu-Young the chance to lead the line and prove the beautiful game remains the greatest leveller whatever the philosophy employed.
“Financially it is impossible to compete with them but on the football pitch it is possible,” said Wenger. “We are playing a game tonight and it is important to compete with them.
“As long as they [City] have not been beaten then, yes, they are capable of matching the Invincibles.
“It looks unlikely but you never know. I think in the modern game you need a bit of luck – watching the game against Liverpool they could have been beaten. Overall, we want to get as close as possible to them and it’s important to beat them. What you call a second-string side for Man City still involves some very good players.
“If you look at the team who played Wolves they still have seven or eight players who you don’t know if they are first or second string.
“The good news for us is that we expect to play against a strong side and we know we will only go through if we produce a top-class performance.”
Of course, for Arsenal, this competition allows them a freedom of expression but its return brings with it scars of last season. Defeat by Birmingham in last season’s Carling Cup Final is regarded by many as the point at which Arsenal’s season unravelled in a downward spiral that continued with the departures of Nasri, Clichy and Cesc Fabregas over the summer.
“You want to keep your young players,” said Wenger. “When we didn’t reach an agreement over a new contract I prepared myself to face it.
“I hope Samir gets a good reception. I want every player who has played for us to be respected when they return.
“In pre-season I felt that [Jack] Wilshere and [Aaron] Ramsey worked very well together. What we did not expect was to lose Wilshere on top of that.
“We had to admit then that we were a little bit exposed quality and number-wise. We would love to make up for last season’s final. It is a cup, so you go from round to round. We have the chance to play at home which means no big travel and, of course, we want to use the opportunity to do well and qualify.”
To do that, Wenger will need a mammoth effort from his fringe players. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be given another chance but City pose a huge test of his potential, while Andrey Arshavin could start in the hope he can rediscover his form.
The Gunners are used to the role of artisan but tonight their resilience will be tested. City’s luxury must be overcome by Arsenal’s industry.
Micky and Sharkey – ha ha ha ha 🙂 bloody funny 🙂
Micky – I have to tell you this, Sharkey made me laugh soooo much. We were talking about depression and I told him that the modern electric shock is a very effective treatment. I am not going to have it done though because one of the side effects is possible loss of memory. Sharkey said – ‘No, you can’t do it then, you might forget all about Arsenal and come out as a Spurs supporter’ !!
Raddy – thanks for the prematch, always a joy to read. And Lord Carey a Gunner, is it true?? Fantastic if it is
I have thought about another benefit of playing reserves – if we lose we can always say we don’t care, hence the 2nd team. But I recon we will win, Shitty will play reserves.
As much as I love CC I have to agree with others, that any injuries to 1st team players are not worth risking.
Whilst you lot have been exchanging pleasantry`s, I`ve been outside in the peeing down of rain putting up some new guttering on the stable extention, it`s brilliant, it takes the rain away to another place , wow, Isn`t technology great !.
Sharkey, I thought you would have had a Fin tattooed on your back !.
I`ve seen a nice spot for the “award winning” hareem. It`s also come to my attention that I will have a vacancy for a Harem Vagazler and a Beaver trimmer, any takers for these vacancies !
Anyone going to the Tavern tonight?
RA,
It`s hard to resist them long fluttering eyelashes.
At first I thought they were cows, the problems seemed to start when I attempted to milk them ! 🙂
Hey Gooner Lost in Cornwallflowers, you are in very fine form today 🙂
Afternoon all,
Up to your usual high standard Raddy thank you.
Like you I rate the CC as the least of our priorities, Lose today win in the league, In a fortnight, would take that any day.
Nasri and Clichy will both play tonight and I suspect will find their ex-team mates up for it..
Looking forward to seeing the OX going for it, have been impressed with his under 21 outings would be nice if he could chuck in a performance for us tonight
Park would also in my opinion rate a start as he needs a goal to kick-start his career and Citys reserves are proper players and bring the PL experience he needs to test his metal.
AA to start? I hope not, his heart appears to be somewhere far from the Emirates and we would do us and him a favour if we recycled the guy.
So hopefully the kids can show our returning money bags that we miss and need them less, than they will come regret their exodus
An intriguing night ahead, whichever way it goes
I Spoke to Kelsey this morning, he has all sorts of technical problems with the Spanish communication providers, he wishes you all well and will be back as soon as they sort out his systems.
Eighteen players have been selected for tonight’s Caring Cup tie against Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
Squad (in alphabetical order):
Andrey Arshavin
Yossi Benayoun
Marouane Chamakh
Francis Coquelin
Johan Djourou
Craig Eastmond
Lukasz Fabianski (GK)
Emmanuel Frimpong
Gervinho
Laurent Koscielny
Ju Young Park
Vito Mannone (GK)
Ignasi Miquel
Nico Yennaris
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Sebastien Squillaci
Thomas Vermaelen
GN5 – you pick some cracking articles out for us all to enjoy.
I said a while ago that I get all my Arsenal news just by coming here, your eye for a good article and excellent use of copy and paste (!) plays a big part in that.
Many thanks
I understand the personal view and the reasons why some people don’t really want to see Arshavin gracing the field of THOF tonight but from Wenger’s point of view surely he is a banker to start. Have I missed something, has Wenger said that he is not going to start or something?
TA – I just saw on Arsenal.com that Arsene had named an 18 man squad. I went through the names actually counting them as I went. !!!
I’m an accountant at a publicly owned bank (for now), and whilst here I’ve learnt to double check everything, and trust nothing.
Vermaelen in the squad………………..that’s fight talk.
SS
Hahahahaha
Tattoo a fin on my back GLIC…??
That is a truly award wining idea.
Very strange…….no Rosicky?
Here is my punt at the starting line up:
———————-Fabi
Djourou, Squilaci, Vermaelen, Koscielny
———- Frimpong, Coquelin
——-Oxo, Arshavin, Benayoun
—————–Gervinho
Good team.
Alright LB…I have the same personal view as many others here.
Beyond that I doubt that Arsene would have left him on for so long on Sat if he intebnds to start him tonight.
Yeah, some of that might have been unplanned due to the Fulham game being a bit of a struggle, but I will be mightily surprised o see Arsh start.
Rocky’s excellent post on Mondy really struck a chord with me. From the Clock End upper with Evonne’s hand on my knee, I could see that Arshavin was shall we say ‘well positioned’ to leave the field but to have credible talk* of him wanting to leave the field in a game like that, at that stage, is patently unforgiveable in my book.
*I’ve yet to see any TV highlights myself for a better look
No I have not seen anything about him LB, Its just that he has had more starts than my old Morris minor, without ever firing on all cylinders. We need him to be a Rolls Royce and I just cant see that happening.
Hello friends. Tip-top prematcher, as ever, Raddy, thanks. After the Fulham game, am pleased Wenger’s rested a load of the first teamers, clearly they need a breather. And I think we’ll still end up with a pretty decent line-up, am particularly interested to see if Diaby’s latest come-back goes well.
Am with Total on the idea of preferring Abu Dhabi City for the title though: it’s a repugnant thought, no matter how beautifully they can play. They make a joke of everyone else’s efforts, and I genuinely hope they crash and burn. Liquidation would be karmic.
(Dumbfounded’s comment about lost credibility is however just silly and insulting hyperbole. Dial it down chum, don’t need that sort of nonsense here.)
@Sharkey: Re your 11:48, did you want to speak? If so, you’ll need to mail me via Peaches or Rasp.
Sharkey
I share the concern of many on here, I understand completely why Rocky wrote what he did on Monday but I would bet my last piece of Arsenal garb that Arshavin starts tonight.
Slightly more serious I think Wenger left him on longer that expected as preperation for tonight, you may also remember that Wenger moved him centrally before he finally came off, a small wager that AA starts centrally tonight?
LB: Perhaps TV and Kos will be swapped around in that line-up?
My guess:
——————-Fab
Djourou, Squillaci, Koscielny, Vermaelen
———- Frimpong, Coquelin
——-AOC, Benayoun, Gervinho
—————––Park
I have just realised that Diaby isn’t in the squad? He must be in the red zone as well, poor lamb.
We need a performance against city.
It is time the fringe 11 stepped up. We can’t play a whole season relying on the same people.
Squillaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Park and the Ox(though so far so good) have to prove they can push the first team. So I say go for it. But then I am feeling brave, as I won’t catch the second half as It is mid ceremony.
Hi 26
Interesting guess. I thought about Vermaelen at LB, he obviously can play there but I just reckon that Wenger will see it as a waste. All will be shortly revealed.
I really enjoy playing the game guess the team, Harry is usually very good at this, has he tried yet?
Jamie!!!!! Aren’t you getting married today? I know Arsenal is your first love but you might need to concentrate on something else for a while ……… 😉
Best of luck though to you and the new Mrs Jamie 😉
Blogging on your wedding day…………….top man, true gooner.
gm – I’ve had to give my tickets away as I’m still too uncomfortable from my trip to the dentist yesterday. Harry should get to the Tavern though I think.
I agree Jamie, sort of: whatever XI goes out tonight, it should feel free enough to perform, but that said, I’m pretty sure we’ll lose tonight. Hope not obviously, but I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep if we go out to the English game’s biggest cheats. It is only the League Cup after all.
I think I’ll miss the second half due to nuptials.
Got time for a bit of guess the team though.
Chamakh
Benayoun Arshavin Chamberlain
Frimpong Coquelin
Miguel Vermaelen Squillaci Koscielny
Fabianski
Getting married today??? You’re kidding! Respect, Jamie, I thought I’d done the business scheduling my wedding on a Friday so there was no football clash, but hats off for your devotion to the cause!
26m @ 4:17
Sharkey’s request to speak with you was as a result of some blog tomfoolery in the form of his wife coming on and suggesting he get a good lawyer – see @ 11:42 to 11:45
Jamie,
Exactly what does your wife-to-be think you are doing four hours before the big moment?
Have a great day, and we expect you back later!!!
Thanks for the kind words.
I guess Diaby and Rosicky are injured – I checked the Injury Room about Abou and zilch, so perhaps it is a slight muscle strain.
As to why I would prefer MC to win the title: They have been my second team since the Colin Bell/ Mike Summerbee era – I have always had a sft spot for them. And if it is not us, then I am sick of MU as Champs, plus they have also bought the tilte.
Or should it be the Chavs or the Miscreants?
On reflection, if it is not us, let it be Newcastle.
p.s. Dumbfounded. I couldn’t give a flying one if I have lost credibility to you!
Jamie. Chapeau. Good luck.
Jamie @ 4:37
“Think I’ll miss the second half” !!!!!!!!!!!!
This is by far the best performance ever. Unbelievable. 🙂
Only hours to go, and our Jamie is concerned about team selection for a CC Game. And….blogging his thoughts.
Micky. Jamie’s performance makes me proud to be a fellow Gooner.
Yes I did 260/10….I firstly need your casual advice on choosing which* of Peaches and Evonne I should run away with.
I’m sure that shortly after that I’ll need your professional (but charged casually?) advice re divorce and how I might go about minimising its financial impact.
*Which written very carefully there by the Typinsons king.
Thanks Rasp, should’ve known – tom-foolery!
BR,
In my book he has just elevated himself to Legendary Status.
Alright LB…does this bet have to be an item of clothing. Does it also have to be an item of mine…??
Can I bet you a pair of DanDans pants aginst one of your hats..?? Have you even got any hats left..??
Oh you meant a semi serious bet…?? Cool, stick me down for Malaria nets. £20.??
Sharkey. May I respectfully suggest you ask GM & I about the financial ramifications of divorce!
It will be cheaper 🙂
Rasp,
Are you there?
Sorry, I missed your comment to me earlier about Podolski and G(alt148)the.
My answer is: like a shot.
Sharkey, why choose when you can go for both??
On the subject of goalscorers (going on from London’s ‘who’s going to play centrally’) looking at the players available, what would be the order of most likely to score given a shooting opportunity:
Mine would be:
RvP
AA
Theo
Vermaelen
Santos
Ramsey
Park
Arteta
Gervinho
Chamakh
Just to put into perspective what were up against tonight.
Man City’s wage bill is 174 million
Man City’s Turnover is 153 million
Man City’s latest loss was 195 million
Man City believe that in six years time there revenue streams will be comparable with Man Utd and Arsenal and they will no longer require cash injections from there owners.
There short term strategy is feasable, but it is my belief that creating a brand over a period of several years to overtake football brands that have a 100 year history is nigh on impossible.
We will see them out, just like we are now begining to do with Chelsea.
Hi Micky, my suggestion was Chamakh for Podolski, I’m not sure Götz is still in our budget.
http://twitpic.com/7lokjh/full
Sharkey
Malaria nets it is then………………Arshavin to start.
Have just twigged that Charlton’s win last night ends Huddersfield’s assault on our 49 game run. They got to 43 games unbeaten.
Oh how we will titter when the Pong upends the Snood Bearer.
Advice on divorce from you and GM Radders..??
I suspect it would be something like …yeah Sharkey its great fun, go for it.
You are both living the life of ‘Reilly'(!?)’ judging by your blog demeanours. It seems odd to say it, but you are both sterling adverts for the old mantra of – if at first you don’t succeed, (divorce and), try try try again.
Funny how there’s 3 ‘try’s in there and you’re both on your fourth (and final?) wives after a third remarriage. Perfecto !!!
Rasp,
My feeling is there will be a January raid on a Chelsea forward.
Oh, and we will land G(alt148)the at some point.
Sharkey,
Make that 5 in both cases!
Micky, are we talking Drogba, Anelka or (god forbid) Kalu?
Considering we have loaned out so many players over the years it is strange that Benny is the first of any quality to come the other way. A striker on loan could be a good deal.
I certainly wouldn’t advocate singing nasty songs about the Snood Bearer…
Sounds like BR and GM are stocking up for their own Hareem aswell , nice one.
On the subject of loans, I think it is scandalous that city are being allowed to pay £100k a week of Ade’s wages, they are in reality subsidising totnum so that they can take points away from their rivals.
I think that if a player goes out on loan, the club that he goes to should have to pay all his wages otherwise they are getting a player of a quality far higher than they can afford and that is unfair to opposition teams.
A striker on loan…………..brilliant…………….seems so obvious now.
Terry
Just as Peter Kenyon’s prediction that Chelsea would break even by the 2009-10 season (still no sign of that happening any time soon) was shown to be Alice in Wonderland stuff, so will City’s. It’s all just lies to justify their ridiculous behaviour now, in a few years’ time fools like Brian Marwood will be glossing over the predictions made now, pretending it never happened, just as Chelsea do.
The wagebill is the one that really shows what a lie all of this is. Capital investment is one thing, and that could include investing a lot in transfer prices. But they’ve utterly wrecked their cost-base. Already having a wagebill at 107% of revenues (compared with United’s ±47% and our ±55%) means economically they have nowhere to go until they more than double their revenues. And that’s without the wagebill growing further, which it will.
However, I do fear that this use of football for ego massaging the oil rich is here to stay. English football, having become so popular around the world, has become the victim of its own success, offering the perfect opportunity for the dubiously wealthy to show how wonderful they are.
Bang on Rasp, I am surprised that has not become a bigger issue already.
26
Please excuse my ignorance but what does that little sign mean before 47% and 57%?
26m, going on from my point but relevant to yours: if a super rich club like city knew that they could only loan out a player if the club benefitting could pay all their wages, that might go some way to stopping them stockpiling players. I suspect with Arsenal for instance there was a lot of ‘what strengthens us makes them weaker’ in their thinking.
Rasp @5.16pm: Glad you said that, I completely agree – players should be paid by their current club and that club alone. As you say, it’s just cheating someone otherwise.
Rasp,
No idea who but Malouda or Kalou would not surprise me. Anelka or Torres like a shot, but from what I hear Drogba won’t be there next season.
LB = plus or minus = margin of error/variability
LB,
Its clever type for “whatever”.
LB – You originally said play centrally…if he drifts wide, even to take a corner…I win.
I’ll happily overlook him entering and leaving the field from a wide position…but thats it !
LB: It’s a “plus or minus” sign, meaning approximately.
Rasp: Once again, agreed. Money is of course irrelevant to City, as their fans now are (they’ve just become decorations, of no consequence to their club’s successes or failures). City could therefore just carry on stockpiling players. But if they couldn’t farm high quality but redundant players out on subsidised deals (Bellamy to Cardiff, Ade to Spurs and now possibly Tevez to Milan), as you say, they may be a bit more conservative about how they recruit in the first place.
260*2/20 – “Sharkey, why choose when you can go for both??”
Good point..I’ve got two knees haven’t I..??
MIDI – 5 a piece..?? No f****ing way. Them two with wives are like Imelda Marcos with shoes !
Rasp 5.20. Spot on. We did the same with Sunderland 😉
Micky, surely Anelka’s done now? Only good for the MLS, China or that dodgy Russian side in Dagastan.
I actually quite like Kalou – not as the “main man” striker but as a high quality squad option.
Rasp,
The Ade wage thing is something I did not know. Wow and Yuk. This must stop for all the reasons mentioned.
Rasp at 5.01. I reckon there’s a few blank spaces after Gervinho before you get to Chamakh. You’ve got to allow for random passers by who’ll do better, and/or Pat Rice, Arsene, VIc Akers etc…
Cue Chamakh hat trick tonight !!
SS. Just the 4 marriages and just the 3 wives!
26,
City and Chelsea want to eventuly break even, and i think in six years time they will (increased brand vaule, new stadiums, more tv money etc) be there or there abouts. By that stage we will have also increased our revenues. The playing field will level, and when it does we will overtake them.
26,
Drogba is off to the US from what I hear.
Kalou is where my money is. Can play across the front.
OMG , that Jamie is something else – worries about the squad for a CC game on his wedding day!!
and it looks like he plans to watch the first half, OMG!!
There is a tailor in Southgate that has a fantastic photo on display in his shop – a wedding jacket, like a morning suit on the outside, but when you turn it inside out it is an Arsenal shirt with long sleeves. Someone paid a fortune to have it made, but it looks dogs’ thingies. I wonder if the same could be done with a wedding dress? Perhaps I could be persuaded to get married for the 4th time?
TMHT. You are right – class will out.
Micky. I bet you a jar of Danish scmaltz herring to a pot of Devon Cream that we sign no-one in January
Evonne,
4th time??? You as well. Bloddy Nora.
Sharkey: Green Light..Go Go Go!
BR,
If that includes getting in someone on loan, you’re on.
Here`s a scary scenario but what if the spuds win the league and it`s all down to Adepaymours goals, City would have shot themselves well and truely in the foot !
Raddy,
Do you think we’ve part paid the wages of the players we’ve sent out on loan? – Wilshere, Bendtner etc
GliC,
He will have been shown an even larger envelope to ensure that won’t happen.
HELP…
Had hiccups all day. What to do?
Jamie just explained your days plans to my wife, dont know if its you or I thats in trouble but she has gone outside to fetch the horse whip .
Micky,
I know a few chav`s who think Kalou is as crap as we think some of our players are, and would pay for us to take him !. So I think I would give him a miss.
dandan,
I would keep your smutty little habits to yourself!
GliC,
Doesn’t Arsene have a thing about him and Malouda?
Thought something was in the air a year ago or so. Could be wrong on that.
Come on lads. Odds on Jamie dropping in after the final whistle?
Mickey:How the hell did you know I like my wife to wear a habbit 🙂
We really don’t want/need kalou. He is not an out and out goalscorer and we’ve got plenty of players that do what he does, better (if that’s not bad English 🙄 )
Micky – not really, just trying to make GM and BR jealous 🙂
What the hell is dannish schmaltz herring??? sounds gross
Dandan – your wife has a whip?? Hm.
A veritable frenzy on AA today in the warm up to a non game 😀
Sorry no one else has screamed it so i will…..EASTMOND?!?!?!?
I’m very surprised to see him back in a first team squad, especially one that already has PongLeCoq in it and has others who could step into the breach.
TommyV to skipper and start I guess, he said he wants to play as he has missed so much football.
Shame about Diaby picking up yet another injury, I said on the weekend that it seems when surrounded by players he is more worried about the incoming tackle than picking the pass and that is why he ends up holding the ball too long.
Intuition 🙂
Would prefer the Podolski-Chamakh swap to happen. But Kalou is a classic Wenger type player: good movement, good technique, not exactly clinical in shooting yet when he does score, does it in style. But misses a few along the way too.
Evonne, Like all women with Polish Genes she is not one to be crossed.
I think Kalou remarked a few years ago that he liked the football we played and would have liked to play for us.
evonne, you think that sounds bad, the Swedes have a delicacy called Surströmming. See here for more details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surströmming.
OMG 26 that sounds vile. Bloody hell would rather eat a WHL hotdog.
Micky. You have a wager Young Man. I look forward to introducing Mrs Raddy to the wonders of Devonish foodstuffs.
Rasp. The Sunderland thing was in jest but I wouldn’t be surprised!
26. I am going to Sweden tomorrow. I will try and pick up a can. Looks interesting
Evening all,
🙂 dd!
I thought LB was taking the piss about Diaby earlier, but I see that Wenger said yesterday that Diaby “has an MRI scan today and we’ll see what’s going on in his hamstring.” Unbelievable, a hamstring injury.
I know Diaby has ability, and it’s not his fault, but seriously, does anyone still really believe we should continue with him, after five years of this stuff?
BR,
And I too shall look forward to some Danish Scmaltz!
How exciting. My first bet in years.
26,
Wow, excellent Lobster bait.
Micky, lobster bait? I know he’s a problem, but that’s a bit harsh on Diaby.
26 🙂
Harsh but fair.
Dandan 🙂 Say Pozdrawiam! to your wife from me 🙂
26 – fermented herring, I am off to puke….
On a different note – for all of you going to games during cold winter months – Asda are selling small pouches of something that warms up when it gets into contact with air. It can be stuffed into gloves, shoes, etc
Only 80p and it works! It is called Hand Warmers, marvellous stuff
Micky/BR,
I am getting confused with the cross talk between wives and football.
Micky your 5:39 — “BR, If that includes getting in someone on loan, you’re on.”
Wife — I presume? Dirty devils!!
RA – Micky and RA are exchanging emails telling each other funny jokes excluding the rest of us from the fun, not nice. They’ll live even longer than LB.
YoungGunsBlog Jamie Sanderson
Here’s what I’m told: Fabiański; Eastmond, Squillaci, Koscielny, Miquel; Chamberlain, Frimpong, Coquelin, Benayoun; Park, Chamakh.
RA. Brilliant idea, I will ask Mrs BR. 🙂
Or gripped between the cheeks in the case of LB who has no clothes.
Irish. Good evening. How was your trip to THOF?
dziękuję Evonne from Anne
GIE,
There are times when I am lost for words — no – really.
The decision to include Eastmond in the CC squad defies belief, but if he is actually in the team — well, I’ll go to the bottom of your stairs — as the Mancs say, apparently.
He was loaned to Millwall, and according to a very nice but slightly deranged friend, who supports them, he was abysmal and could not get more than the occasional sub appearance, before getting injured and then being sent back to Arsenal PDQ, to the delight of their fans.
(I thought he was the weakest of the kids in our youth teams, but somehow he has escaped culling!)
Red Arse evening, Foot of our stairs sir not bottom
Evening BR – It was great thanks, albeit it far too short a stay. Great view, great win and a great company.
Would love to be back there again tonight.
Micky,
You again — how can he grip ‘it’ in his cheeks. Is he a gurning champion?
Oh wait — I think I see what you mean —– no. no —- I do not want to see — you have put me off my din dins. 😦
Thanks, Dandan,
Altho’ with my red soubriquet perhaps my mistake is oddly apt! 🙂
Micky, don’t believe a word LB says – he’s a fraud. I saw him with his scarf last Wednesday free of any signs of mastication!
The little snake!
I’m with RA on the Eastmond inclusion. We really do have a ridiculously large squad. A wee cull for one or two of quality.
Anyway, can’t wait to see the Ox, Park, Pong and Coq.
LB 4:21 “I would bet my last piece of Arsenal garb that Arshavin starts”.
That boy should be stark bollock naked by now 🙂
Apparently Eastmond not playing:
Arsenal lineup: Fabianski; Djourou, Koscielny, Miquel, Yennaris; Frimpong, Benayoun, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Park, Chamakh.
Man City lineup: Pantilimon; Onuoha, Savic, K. Toure, Zabaleta; Johnson, de Jong, Nasri, Hargreaves, Kolarov; Dzeko.
Rosicky wasn’t named in the squad though was he??? I’m going to stop posting teams until the official one comes out 😆
Sorry guys
I didn’t think Rosicky was in the squad. Good news if he is though.
Irish,
Rosicky is not in the squad according to Arsenal.com .
MickyDidIt89 says:
Sharkey: Green Light..Go Go Go!
Cheers Mickey….I’ll be at that shop in Southgate first thing. If the jackets not a perfect fit…I’m sure the tailor will be happy to alter it.
Ps. Are we doing a minutes silence for Jamie’s wedding tonight, or waiting til next week for his funeral..??
Yeah I didn’t remember seeing Rosexy in the squad – I would have remembered 😉
Arsenal: Fabianski, Djourou, Squillaci, Koscielny, Miquel, Frimpong, Coquelin, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Chamakh.
Substitutes: Mannone, Yennaris, Vermaelen, Eastmond, Ozyakup, Gervinho, Arshavin.
OFFICIAL
Looks like someone has lost his mosquito net, then! 🙂
Irish,
Any sign of the Arabian Team?
Not yet micky, Sheik Mansour is still hard at it rubbing his lamp !
RA,
Is Sharkey expecting an unseasonally warm and damp winter?
Strong team…definitely fancy us now.
Irish – Rosexy?? And I get so much stick for liking Rory Delap. We women have such strange fancies 🙂
Dandan – Ania Aneczka is a lovely name.
Sharkey – you!!!!
GiE – you were right bloody again about Eastmond
CC almost on…tra la la….!!
Gosh, horrible thought – it is on TV,, it must be..going to check
phew….sky 2
tra la la
Here ye go:
City team: Pantilimon, Onuoha, Savic, K. Toure, Zabaleta, Johnson, de Jong, Na$ri, Hargreaves, Kolarov, Dzeko
Not bad Sharkster, Nine decent plyers +Squillaci and Chamakh ! 🙂
9 out of 11 but didn’t know Diaby was injured.
Am surprised he has gone for Kozzer and Djourou. Otherwise its as expected I guess.
So here’s the question who plays where up front?
Are we going to see Benny in middle the middle three (I think he has to be to help the youngsters out). Or do we more surprisingly go for AOC in the three Benny and Park wide.
Or the final thing maybe just maybe this line up is all set for 4-4-2?
………………………Fab…………………………….
JD………….Squid…………..Koz………….Miquel
AOC………….Pong……LeCoq……………Benny
………………Park……….Chamakh……………….
Evonne : Each to their own 😉
I love Rosicky facial bone structure, if a man has some defined facial features I’m already interested – those cheekbones on Johnny Depp … I actually need a minute 😳 those cheekbones ….
GIE – 4-2-3-1?
———————- Fab ————————
JD………….Squid…………..Koz………….Miquel
———— Frimmers ———– Coq —————-
AOC —————– Benny ———————- Park
——————– Chamakh ————————–
Woooah I’m surprised Mancini’s starting Na$ri given he played for 65 minutes or so on Saturday maybe thats what he gets for showing discontent, play in the CC with the Reserves….thought they had a big squad and they haven’t rested as many players as us!
Some how you just know the commentator is going to squeeze a pun in about their keeper and it being the season for “He’s Behind You” nonsense.
Irish thats dull its only a small tweak i want 4-4-2 a proper old school get out wide hit the box performance to ruffle a few City feathers.
Ok I am dreaming
😆 GIE I’m going to claim realism
I actually think its a pity Arshavin didn’t get a shot of playing down the middle for us tonight. He plays there for Russia and he made crap of Ireland in the two games they played against us – yes, we’re not world class, but we crowd that midfield and back line, and he opened it up.
Wenger out, the man simply cannot be trusted lol
Where do I buy a bloody mosquito net?
Not there tonight LB?
Here the 125th Anniversary game against Everton has sold out without going to General Sale, that’s the first for a while. I dense trips to THOF may start to reduce again.
Dense = sense obviously.
Mark Hughes just about as Gracious as a wheel clamper. Attitude personified.
Try Blacks LB
http://www.blacks.co.uk/browse/mosquito/net.html there you go LB
Jamie Redknapp showing how much he knows about footy by declaring that the move is working well for Na$ri.
LB,
How about tearing down some of those nasty net curtains you ponce about naked behind?
GiE – Jamie Redknapp – I can’t stand him. I even prefer Gary Neville. I think I am safe to say that – Chas and GM are at the Ems
Irish – Johnny Depp – now you are talking! Benny and Joone is my favourite movie
Right, off to plug into the TV.
Come on you Gunners
Bang goes the 4-4-2 Sky have just used it in their graphic for our lineup so it won’t be like that.
Something quite frustrating sitting in front of the TV at 330 waiting for the game only to hear hughes and redknapp dribble on for 30mins.
442, it’s been a long time. Squidge…i’m scared
@ Irish and Evonne
do you both need a minute?haha. all this bloke talk is making me queasy.
Super Rob is there ….aaaahh. And so it Viera.
I’ve had my minute Oz … might have one more at half time 😳
bugger so close
Oz – sssshhh….football is on
i thought park should of done better, but after seeing the replay it was a very good save. What a ball by Coq though
Superb save from Park. Unlucky after such a good move
Peaches – are you watching our Little Ox?
OX! he and coq have been playing very good!
Whose this bloody backup keeper? I thought with Given gone they had a nobody, but he’s kept them in it.
Taken off after 30mins, you wouldn’t be a happy camper
I don’t think Na$ri is enjoying the warm reception, he wanted to come off and looked disappointed it was Cholerov
ha ha Nasri wanna go home!
Chambo looking good!
god i hate zabaletta. I hope he gets a red again, such a dirty player
Pat are you a woman or a man?
Ox and Frimpong are the future.
hey evonne – I am male outnumbered by females here (wife and daughter) hopefully adjusting the balance by getting a boy cat for daughter this xmas!
Frimpong says – you shall not pass!!!!
Chambo is looking dangerous…. gotta love Frimpong too getting in their faces… its a great game!
one striker as back up for Van The Man and the squad is home and hosed. Like the look of young Miquel as well
Gotta love Frimpong, beasting anyone who gets near him, even Aguero, no fear.
LeCoq having a good game too… as is Ox…..Kos and JD look secure, Squid ok. Miquel growing into the game a tricky opponent for him today. Unfortunately I fear Fab1 has a goal in him or at least a minor heart attack for watching Gooners.
Need more from Yossi and Park. Cham looking up for it when he has ball and space to run into, starting to think he’d prefer the DB10 role too.
Evening all.
Pat, you’ll probably hate me but males dominate in my house, me and my 2 boys outnumber the other half 3 to 1.
Sounds like our second string have been acquitting themselves well so far.
Keep it like this and perhaps bring on a few more big guns later and you never know.
I’m sure the Abu Dhabi disciples, the likes of City Steve earlier, were predicting an 8-2 mauling to be meted out to us.
hows it going oz – studies all over for the year? I am handing in my last assignment then I am free (“yeah right” says wife, “get your butt out and get a job”)
zabaletta – might get an oportunity for a red card moment v Chamberlain, he ghosted past him a couple of times.
Whats up with subbing Cholera after half an hour?
Loads of good stuff in the half.
Unfortunately nothing coming from our CF’s. Park looking , well, … poor.
FFS Chamakh show that you want to play for Arsenal. Where is your pride?
hey chary – how old are your boys, hope they are enjoying the game!
I don’t mind too much re male / female numbers – I probably need their calming / feminine influence…
whos on the bench Rads – hopefully Wenger gives the front 2 u mentioned a bit of a hurry up – could have been different if park put that cross away – Coq has been excellent
I feel myself wanting Gerv out there now….
Pat – they are 12 & 14, the older one is taller than me but then that’s not saying much!
They are coming to the Everton game, hope they get a win to watch.
I’m very glad for the male domination in my house – I had 2 sisters and felt rather embattled as I grew up – for example Bond films were banned, out of order or what.
@ Pat
Sure are thankfully. However, in saying that i have to start working full time over the break so the studies are always missed. Haha your missus has it sorted!
Love pongs in your face attitude.
Come on boys a goal is coming surely we are peppering!
gee Chamberlain is quality isnt he??!!
Chelsea frontline tonight. Malouda, Torres, Lukaka, And still can’t score!! (yet)
miquel looks great also, besides johnsons first cut in he’s given him nothing
chary – no bond films, thats just torture (especilally the classic Sean Connery) hopefully that hasnt left too much of a mark!
Is anything going to happen for Chamakh – its like a mini raincloud is following him around – he needs some of Chambos mojo
Pat – I thought so 🙂
Fact – male bees, drones, are so lazy that female bees even feed them
Fact – female bees produce more honey if there are healthy drones in the hive 🙂
Back to the game.
Kozzer you are awesome!
@ Evonne
Fact – males have a larger brain
so therefore are the smarter + superior sex haha
Park has to come off. He is offering nothing
love the analogy evonne – I have a lovely queen bee and queen bee in training – I am a very lucky drone!
what do we need to do to change the game – do we give andrei a chance to spark it?
Chamakh not looking 100
oz – I love your sense of humour 🙂
Benny has had a decent game… good ball to Chamakh, pity nothing came of it
AVB is well worth the money!
Will the Siberians patience last with AvB, Radders ?
pat. He started quietly but is getting the team motoring now.
Kolo is playing well unfortunately
Loving the young guns. Effort and quality.
Crowd good too.
YES – THE VERMINATOR IS GOING TO CLEAN HOUSE
Raddy – are Chavs losing at home??
The chavs have lost 2 nil to the ‘dippers at home Evonne.
AVB – you’re getting the sack in the morning ! LOL.
We don’t deserve that. Fine goal though
Darn it …
Strange substitution. The Ox looked our most dangerous player
cmon andrei be the hero
Great performance from the kids. An enjoyable game.
boo – aguero i hate u…..
“a tribute to Man Citys resources” you mean cash!!!!
Chamakh is complete shit and a disgrace to our team. He showed zero effort, I can’t remember him making a single tackle, he just trots around like a show pony. All the other players gave maximum effort, he is just a passenger.
yup they did well – the youngsters showed the way forward….
Could’ve gone on for another hour and we wouldn’t have scored – we’ve no goalscorers besides Robin. Very worrying.
Didn’t deserve to lose that but hey ho…
Great effort tonight, just lacked that little bit up front. Chamberlain and Frimpong could probably be used more often to keep the squad fresh in the EPL/FA Cup. Give Walcott/Gervinho and especially Song a rest.
Without RVP: we are like a bee without a sting.
Oh well fun as that was they had just a few more million up front than us and I’m pleased with the performance from most.
The only criticism of the Ox tonight is his corner taking and unfortunately it led to the goal with yet another not clearing first man.
To keep the likes of Nasri, Aguero, Dzeko, Johnson quiet for 80minutes and limit them to one shot on target is good for the defences confidence, and I thought our centre midfield two were joint MotM with Kos and Ox not far behind.
The younger ones tired in the second half and it is a shame young Afobe is injured. Maybe he will be our secret weapon when fit.
Park looks a little out of his depth the way we play but I look at him and think goalscorer. Shame we couldn’t connect with anything at the end.
Park and Chamakh must have been given the nod about my bet with Micky!
Pantomine kept MC in the game whereas the one save Fabianski had to make he couldn’t – not that Aguero gave him much chance.
The defence were excellent with Kos showing why he has become such a hero. Miquel improved in the second half as evidenced by Johnson’s disappearance from the game.
Ox, Coq and Frimpong all had good games but playing with 9 men made winning very difficult.
Koscielny my MoM.
The Ox was my MotM, but Benny, Coquelin, kozzer, Miquel and Frimpong were all superb.
Thank god we’ve got Szczesny, because Fabianski still never knows whether to come out or stay back and when he does come out he seldom gets the ball. I’m pretty sure Sz would have been bearing down on Aguero and may well have blocked that shot.
ArsenalGent Arsenal Gentleman
A billion pounds and the best player on the pitch is an eighteen year-old brick outhouse from Southampton.
Well, I think you’ve all covered it.
Good performance. No cutting edge. Arsene has to dip into the transfer market for another goalscorer as back up. Loved Pong, Ox and Coq.
More games for Pool that’s good. Less for us 🙂 with a little 😦
Oh well silver lining – we can focus on the other competitions now…
Eh?
I’m not Ell
Rasp: You are so right Chamakh is nothing more than a show pony.
He kept looking at the bench almost begging to be taken off.
Well he sure turned me off – I hope I never see him on then field again………………….
I pray that we get rid of Chamakh in January, I’d take tuppence for him. It will stop Wenger once again persisting with a player who consistently lets the side down. I don’t remember him once trying to cut out a pass or make a tackle. Benayoun in comparison, didn’t stop running and working for the side. Chamakh is 27, there’s nothing more to come from him.
I echo your comments ell – sums it up nicely in a nutshe-ell 🙂
Chamakh, Chamakh, Chamakh – not alot happening…. at least as other people mentioned with Park you get the feeling there are goals in him despite other problems with his game. Chamakh got no game – sad.
RedActionAFC (twitter):
“Felt like thy deserved a goal for their efforts. Brilliant support tonight. Well done the replacements in Block 6, put the regs to shame.”
Complete shit and disgrace? Ah, I need to be a regular here as fast as I can so that I will have a free pass to curse Arsenal player every time they had a bad game..
oh well nice chatting folks – take care – talk later!
I said yesterday I wanted MC to score for his confidence, and I hate to say this but during the second half I wanted us to score but absolutely not him as he would not have deserved the credit. Appalling work rate.
Rob, if only it was the first time Chamakh has had a bad game. Its over a year since he put in a half decent performance.
Rasp, I think you’re a little hars h on Chamakh, he seemed to get about a bit more today. Having said that I can only agree that today our strikers gave us very very little.
Park was woeful. At tuimes i wonderdif he wasn’t a Championship player. On two or three occasions he jumped for headers he had no chance of reaching, with the ball dropping behind him each time. Thats something I currently tell 10yr olds to avoid. If you miss it by that much you really should know you’re going to miss it and take a defensive/covering stance.
BennyTheGoon also disappointed me. Seemed to lack his usual drive. Often seen actually walking when moves broke down. I never want to see an Arsenal captain throwing his hands in the air in despair…ever!!
Right thats my negatives out of the way….
Oops almost.
Coquelin causes their goal…as do Tommy and Benny who both go to ground allowing Dzeko a free run. Coquelin then has a decision to make when Dzeko starts moving forward. He should drop deep and fill the space between his two defenders cutting off any chance of a thru ball to Johnsons diagonal run from R to L. Pretty basic error in my book.
Arseblog on Twitter:
“Told there’s been a fight in the tunnel. Nasri threw a punch at Frimpong then ran off into the away dressing room.”
Sharkey, believe me I’m being restrained in my comments. I’m furious on behalf of the other 9 outfield players who really gave their all and didn’t deserve to lose. I watched Chamakh closely and could not believe the lack of effort, he goes through the motions but it is obvious that he doesn’t want to put his body on the line. Look at van Persie’s reaction when he had a chance to score at the end.
Chamakh wasn’t directly responsible for the loss but if he’d worked harder closing down their players high up the pitch the pattern of play would have been quite different.
according to the tv Chamack is sick.
😆 Nasri was a fucking twat
AOC – wot a talent !!
Coquelin, I thought he ran Kozzer close for MoM. But for his error on the goal, he might have pinched it. Always wanted the ball, and more creative than I expected, and that one turn on Hong Kong De Jong, marvellous !!
Kozzer. If there’s a better CB in world football at the moment then I haven’t seen him. He might not be as inspirational as Tommy V, but I honestly think Kozzer is the better of the two. Another simply masterful showing from him.
Miquel looks top class. Full of energy, fantastic technique, and a fast learner. Got beaten once by Johnson, never again.
Another solid game from big Yoyo at RB as well.
A pleasing night overall
Hi neamman, well obviously if he was sick he shouldn’t have been on the pitch. To be honest I think that was a typical Chamakh performance, its usually just the rest of us who feel sick.
Thought the lads did themselves proud tonight. Coquelin was excellent as was Ox. Frimpong played well also but I think Coquelin is starting to push ahead of him in the pecking order. Miquel looks very assured at the back. Chamakh and Arshavin should be sold in January and more importantly, replaced. I’ve liked them both during there time at Arsenal and keep praying for them to improve, but it’s not happening and its time to move on.
*what
SS. Good spot re: the goal. AW said it was naive taking the corner too fast which did not allow the covering defender to get back in position (probably Coquelin).
AC’s corners were poor. Why didn’t Benny take them?
I saw those shots of him looking ill too Irish.
Fair do’s Rasp. Whilst Chamakh was far from good, I just felt that he harried Savic a bit, won a few headers, and at least had some threat today.
Decent bit of movement for his off target shot, which I was glad to see him take on.
So I saw a little improvement, but nowhere near enough for me to think we shoudn’t move him on in Jan.
Agreed get him sold.
Sharkey,
Its good of you to back our boys, but I agree with Rasp, his performance was simply unfair to his team mates and the effort they put in. I think that kind of blind loyalty by a manager is something that can cause grievances in the dressing room.
I actually think if you watch first half again you will see Cham shutting down ball but no one backing him up so it becomes a fruitless exercise.
One thing you can’t accuse him of is hiding, he makes himself available. And I thought first half he showed signs of life and did a lot of work without getting supported by midfield (the distance between midfield and attack was too great).
However second half when we played further up the pitch and City packed defence he doesn’t appear to have the nous to find space.
I don’t think Benny, Park or Cham score over 6.5, everyone else at least an 8 (even Squid). Fab a 6.5 too
Just seen your comment Sharkey.
I agree with you. Out in Jan.
Ha ha Red Arse …yeah malaria is a big problem in Sarf London thru the warm and wet winters we have in our micro climate
This charity hands out mosquito nets to those who can’t afford their own, not just in S. London I hasten to add – for Reds benefit
http://malarianomore.org.uk/
There you go London.
Sincere apologies to anyone offended by the group of morons pictured on the front page of that site. Apparently they are celebrities (whatever that means).
GiE, I completely accuse him of hiding. He holds out his hands asking for the ball when he’s surrounded by defenders and therefore the pass isn’t on. He never tries to turn defenders. I can’t believe a passionate supporter like you would excuse him because he wasn’t getting back up and justifying a total lack of effort defensively. He did a couple of OK things in the first half in terms of his link up play, but he offers zero goal threat with the ball at his feet and doesn’t compensate for that by adding anything defensively. I’d bet he was the only Arsenal player who didn’t win a single tackle tonight.
OK GiE…so like me, you saw some signs of life from Chamakh. Enough to keep him..??
Our fromt two had no devilment about them, no malice, no serious intent of terrorising Citeh at any point.
Strikers generally have a certain swagger about them, that tells you they mean business. I really don’t see any of that with our two back ups.
Park looked completely lost, but it is early days for him.
Im sure the council tax evader next door is watch the developments of the chamkh issue.Dont be shocked if you see him playing for them in two to three years time.
In my very limited experience that’s the first time I’ve seen us lose. For all their money shitty play shit football. Shit fans too.
Thats it Rasp…zero goal threat with the ball at his feet. Exactement !!!
Even if he chased down everything, had great link up play..etc etc etc..with little or no goal threat, is simply not an Arsenal striker.
Baptista wasn’t the best player ever but he had a bit of menace about him.
I just want to know what happened Chamack – he was immense when he came, then in the matter of one game he was so below par and he’s stayed like that. He has no confidence, it was like he just … stopped or something.
I think in Arshavin’s case, he is more used to been central and the focus point of the team.
I feel for Chamakh but he needs to go. he has no confidence and brings nothing to the team. Park needs more time but Chamakh has had enough.
I’m making no comparisons to our strikers here, but I thought Dzeko looked top top quality tonight.
I hadn’t seem too much of him before tonight, and had figured he was just good in the air and a decent finisher.
Tonight he showed that he is a very good player with a proper understanding of his role. He has everything – touch, pace, control, vision, strength, work rate.
He’d be absolutely mental in a team like ours.
I didn’t think dzeko was that good
Sharkey,
Just saw your link. That’s a great idea. The currency of all future bets on this site should be in Malaria Nets, rather than expensive smelly fish, each other’s houses or LB’s clothing.
GiE@10.28 you are spot on re Chamakh. All game he worked hard for the team but seldom or never did he get service in the box. He had two half opportunities which he did not take. It was not a great performance, but to call it a lazy performance is not on. The negative comments about him come as no surprise though.
😆
For those of you on Twitter, you will know that Frimpong likes to sign off with #DEEEEENCH well tonight apparently he had a special t-shirt for Nasri, it said #BEEEEENCH 😆
TA
He’s not worth keeping.
His shirt he was wearing said #DENCH but apparently he told Nasri he’d get a BENCH one made for him or something
https://p.twimg.com/Afc9i7lCEAAmuWJ.jpg:large
Come on TA, being nice is one thing, but let’s face it. One word. Pants.
TA, we’ve met, you’re a great bloke, but “All game he worked hard”, noooooo, not in a million years. If you’ve recorded the game watch what happens when we lose possession and he is the nearest player to the ball, he doesn’t even try to put pressure on the ball. Fair enough if he was a razor sharp goalscorer and has been told to preserve his energy for surging runs on goal, but he clearly isn’t.
Rasp
I don’t like to say bad things about our players but Chamakh needs to go. He gives us nothing.
GM, agreed but I hate character assassination. Out of form, ineffective at times, not making the clever runs: yes – lazy, trying to hide: a big NO.
Irish 🙂 Love the man. Spirit of the new Arsenal.
Ta
I like him. I really wanted him to do well but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I’d rather have someone like yakubu to be honest
Rasp, I watched him all game. We have watched a different game, or maybe we watched with different anticipations/filters.
Look, we can all agree on one thing.
The Carling Cup is for looooseeers.
Goodnight.
I like that Frimpong stands up for himself on the pitch, he’s not intimidated. Yes, he got a silly sending off and some yellows at the start of the season, but he’s learning. Proper Gooner as well, hasn’t he come right up through the academy?
GM, I am pretty sure he will be sold. It is not happening for him, and I have very little hope that Park will be the man. Joel Campbell looks a better prospect.
OK TA, but presumably in your game he scored a hattrick 🙄
This is not character assassination, just an expression of my exasperation that we are persisting with this player who let’s his teammates down – they deserve better.
I agree Park was equally ineffective, but he made more effort and deserves more time.
Well, as others have said, always a shame to lose a game, but it was a pretty good performance for the most part. The highlight was Coquelin and Frimpong, who outshone their far more expensive and numerous MCFC counterparts. And the defence looked pretty good throughout.
Chamakh, I’m sorry to say, is a busted flush. For his sake and ours, he needs to move on. We lack a cutting edge sometimes and we need to recruit to address that.
I thought Aguerro was embarrassingly bad until he scored. Dzeko and de Jong weren’t much better but MCFC were as solid in defence as we were. Kolo’s best game at The Ems for years!
Agreed about Joel Campbell TA. I love a precocious striker. Like I was saying the other day, Balotelli may be a pain in the arse but he is a real handful on the pitch and is capable of brilliance.
From what I saw this evening, it looks like either Frimpong or Coquelin could be used to give Arteta a rest.
I’m upset, because this was a cup game and Chamakh and Park really didn’t play with enough urgency. Added to that Frimpong, Ox, Coquelin and Yossi together with Miquel, Koscielny and Djourou left their hearts on the pitch and deserved to get more from the game.
Arsenal 0 – Moneycity 1, That’s no disgrace, but it does show that we need to buy a striker in the January transfer window. Park and Chamakh are just not good enough
Agreed Rasp. Good debating with you, better start writing the match report now. 🙂
Night all.
Thanks TA, likewise 😛
Night 26m.
The performance was very good in general and we certainly lost gallantly. Its not a bad thing to reduce the number of games but a shame for the likes of Miquel who will probably see little first team action for the rest of the season unless we get some easy draws in the FA cup. Actually, that’s not true. Quite a few of tonight’s players may well be catching the plane to Olympiakos next week – best of luck to them they did us proud this evening.
I miss Eduardo 😦
Just spent 45 minutes speaking to a bt call centre in India. In the end she told me to press the reset button which seemed to work. I told her “I think I love you” and she got the hump. No sense of humour.
I thought we outplayed them in most departments. I actually went with a man united fan and he said “this is how they play, they’ll get a chance and they’ll probably score. Without silva they are just a load of big lumps”.
BTW I thought there was a good atmosphere in the ground. The shitty fans reallly didn’t sing until they scored.
It was a real shame about Eduardo Irish. I really liked him.
agreed irish, he was a quality player. Such a shame because he could of achieved great things at arsenal
@ Rasp and Co
I completely agree, MC was woeful. All i saw of him was coughing and spluttering and looking over to the bench (denilson used to look over to the bench in hope for a sub, but pat rice would tell him to get on with it) and it really sh*ts me.
It really is a shame because so many tried their hearts out. Kozzer is an out an out gun, hand him a new contract now and pay him whatever he wants!
Ox, frim and coq were great (as someone said coq could be used as a replacement for arteta as he offers quite a bit offensively, and is really good defensively (another flamini i think).
As for the ox, theo must be thanking his lucky stars hes in great form because if he wasn’t this kid would be starting at RM. Future legend no question.
Disappointing finish to a game that deserved better.
Dzeko has changed my opinion also he is quality
Chelsea played full first team (bar John Terry and Cech) and lost to Liverpool, at HOME!
Nice picture..hehehe..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2067866/Samir-Nasri-scraps-Emmanuel-Frimpong-Arsenal-return.html?
Morning all
Just off to work but I have to say that Frimpong is a monster that we will love, hopefully, for many years to come.
Na$ri is a loser – love the idea that Frimpong offered him a t-shirt with BENCH on it 😉
Rob – I saw your request to know how to do the smilies, I’ll sort it for you later unless someone gets there first.
Morning all
I fucking hate losing. I am in a bad mood.
We were the better team, player for player (except MC) and as a team.
So we only have FA cup to fight for, realistically. And 3rd spot in PL. Ok, lets concentrate.
Frimpong is awesome and he can do the eyeballing, love him
Morning all
@ Evonne
hey what about champions league huh?!
He is a gun, especially staring down aguero, he should of snapped him then and there!
If you watch the goal again you will see Nasri cop an elbow in the face during the celebration. Yeah we lost but after a few rewinds that made me happier
@ Rob
chelsea have had it! I like how they say the 50 million dallar man is struggling for form again. My question is when was he ever not struggling at chelsea? a couple of goals against genk doesn’t mean you are firing on all cylinders again.
Such a shame about Chamakh, he looked a great free transfer when he arrived and provided perfect cover for RvP whilst he was injured. He played a lot of games when he first arrived and I think that took its toll on him. Maybe the fact that he has been unable to get back in the team has knocked his confidence so much that it’s affected his game badly. If that was the case then maybe a loan to someone like Sunderland would get him back upto speed. His stats show that he scores goals when he starts games do maybe he’s the type of player who needs a good run of games. Either way, he was a free transfer and could probably fetch £5m so if we get rid its not the end of the world as long as he’s replaced.
As for Arshavin, his game has always been 70% lazy wing play and 30% pure genius, but when form is missing and the head drops then that exposes the weaker side of his game and it becomes more like 99% lazy wing play 1% genius.
I think it’s time for both to move on. As for replacing them, Podolski has been named a few times on here and he is similar to RvP in the way he plays. Maybe Campbell could come in and do a job as a number 2 striker. Victor Moses was linked with us a few year ago and he’s starting to show promise at Wigan, could be worth a go. To replace Arshavin I think the young Swiss winger could be good but can’t remember his name, or Marin who was at Bremen.
I just hope AW doesn’t start showing faith in useless players again
@ FGG
podolski and Goetze and we have the best squad in the world.
You are right the run of games definently took its toll on him. When he first came he was fearless, and because of that he was knocked around from pillar to post. Then all of a sudden he stopped getting into those good positions and his formed dipped dramatically. I feel he lacks the physicality needed for this league, and because he reverted back into his shell he’s in a slump he will never get out of while playing here
Such a shame that we are concentrating on a poor performance rather than the flowering of some serious talent. We played 4 kids who outshone their multi-million counterparts.
I felt we were too fluid upfront, there was no attack on the left worth speaking of; until Gerv came on there was hardly a cross from the left and no outlet ball. I don’t blame Miquel – he is a converted CB, but where was Bennie? And Park should have stayed left and stretched MC
I can’t be down on the loss BR, yes MC disappointed me but i’m to happy about the ox, frim, coq and miquel. Plus another great game by djourou, and the worlds number 1…defender in Kozza!
Kos was a monster last night. One of his tackles on Agueo in the box was world class
Someone posted on Twitter that Koz needs new trousers with bigger pockets to make room for all the players he is collecting in there.
There’s a second important discussion to be had today and it’s about the way we set up. 4-4-2. Did it work? Firstly we didn’t get out muscled in a midfield Frimpong and LeCoq gave us a view of how it can be done. Neither Hargreaves or DeJong could outmuscle or out think them. Nasri in the hole and then Aguero were well marshalled without them finding space. Our full backs were disciplined and we kept good shape for 89 minutes only their goal did we lose it. Question is can it be adopted in the PL. We would still need a greater aerial threat.
I have said before that the youngsters emerging now are the real project youth. Frimpong, Sz and Wilshere have the club deep in their hearts and it shows when they play. There are others too that will emerge. Coquelin has surprised us all, and Wenger has picked up Jenks and AOC who offer us more still.
The best performances on the pitch yesterday came from three players under 20. Not in a didn’t they do well way but head and shoulders above others performance. Raddy you are right today we should focus on the positives from that game and there were plenty.
Chamakh! Can anyone please tell me exactly what he brings to the party, aside from hair gel?! He is lazy, could not finish a sentence, let along a move. He is about as effective as a pea shooter against a charging bull elephant!
Loved the fact that Frimpong got at that little tart Na$ri and lets face it, in a straight fight, toe to toe, Na$ri would get battered. Na$ri is built like a thirteen year old girl and Frimpong like a middleweight boxer – only one winner there then.
Was impressed with the Ox last night and he showed some good skills and impressive running. Young Coq was also very good in midfield and showed he can out muscle others easily.
For their goal, as good as it was, who was supposed to have been tracking Aquero? Whoever it was switched off there.
Wish we would have won the game, but hey-ho, onwards and upwards.
COYRRG
From a very wet and windy Scotland.
did we set up 442 or was it just that Park played quite tucked in on the left?
i thought the performance overall was great, espescially the youngsters. lots of positives from the game and lets be honest, a few less games this season wont harm our chances of top 4
In some ways that was the perfect game for us last night. We were the better side; no injuries; fantastic performances from the Ox, Frimpong, Coquelin and kozzer; city looked ordinary and, most importantly, it highlighted the need for a new striker.
If the worst happens and RvP gets injured, I’d play the Ox on the right, Theo centrally and Gerv on the left. Both the Ox and Gerv like to work the ball into the box on the ground and Theo’s pace on the last man and cool finishing could get us the goals.
Rasp, totally agree with that post mate and lets hope that Arsene gets us one in the January window. Still think we could have done a little bit more to try and win the game last night though. For example, Chamakh should have been subbed and we should have gone 3-4-3 at the very least for those last few minutes. City were counter attacking most of the game anyway.
I think we now know who was the bad seed in the dressing room last season. I didn’t notice too many chummy “ello me old mucker” hugs going Nasri’s way as the players left the pitch.
The Carling Cup is for drips.
Raddy – I know exactly which tackle you mean- when he slidded down and took the ball off Aqu~somthing. He made it look so simple, second nature to him.
Slidded is a brilliant word.
With the likes of Pong, Coq, Miguel, Ox and Co, we have the makings of a very strong squad with real passion and hunger. I really believe that there are now three or four players we could let go and bring in the one or two to complete the jigsaw and the sky would be the limit for many years to come.
Time for a Total match report….
…. New post ………
Micky – how do you spell it then ?
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