Ian Dury and The Blockheads’ famous song ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll’ is often on my mind when something exciting happens in my life. The lyrics of this song are rubbish, but the title is very strong as it captures in a few words those diversions that provide us with a lot of pleasure in our lives – that help us to relieve our worries, fears and occasional boredom, a lot.
In a season when Arsenal had to play a more conventional, less sexy, style of football in order to reclaim a top-four spot, Robin van Persie has provided us with the rock ‘n’ roll in our lives. He treats us to the sort of sexy football that intoxicates us, that makes us proud to be a Gooner, and that makes us happy to be alive.
Robin is the kind of football player that makes people want to go to football matches, just like his Arsenal ‘PFA Player of the Year’ winning predecessors, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry (2x), did/do.
He scores the sort of goals that we fantasize about when we are bored in a meeting, in a class room, at home whilst doing the washing up, or when we are stuck in a traffic jam. His technical brilliance and spatial awareness are of the highest level, and the sheer quality of his performances this season has enriched our lives tremendously. He has scored many beautiful goals this season, but the ones against Everton (home), Liverpool (away) and Newcastle United (home) will stay in our minds forever, just as Bergkamps’ goals against Leicester and Newcastle United, and many others, do.
Last night’s announcement that Robin van Persie has won the PFA Player of the Year award is fantastic news for Arsenal supporters, in more ways than one. Firstly, it is a well deserved recognition for what he has brought to the English game, something in which we can all take pride. Secondly, it is the sort of recognition that will make him feel appreciated and, most importantly, fully at home in England. The latter is very important as I feel strongly it will help him decide to stay in England and with Arsenal for the rest of his career. Those Dutchmen who decide to work and live in England become very often anglophiles, and I am convinced it means a lot to Robin to get this prestigious award in England. It will make him feel he belongs here.
Judging from his comments last night, it did indeed mean a lot to him. He said: “If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it….”If they make up their minds that I’m the best player it is a big honour.” Winning this award might well lift his performance once more, and see him get back to scoring goals again in the final three games of the season. And we need him to as well!
Robin has been a great captain this season and he has done wonders in motivating the players around him. Even when he received the award he had time to praise his teammates: “Without them I could not have achieved it – for example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that”.
Robin, well done for winning the PFA Player of the Year award: you totally deserve it! Many thanks for the fantastic football and the great leadership of our beloved Arsenal this season. You belong at The Home Of Football, and you know what you have to do next: sign a new contract and lead our team to the title next year! Your reward would surely be Arsenal immortality.
TotalArsenal.
I would like to invite you to tell us what you think is so special about our captain, the PFA Player of the Year, Robin van Persie.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
True Leader praises pple around him vp plz stay you are aleader
Robin is the best of all! True Arsenal in-and-out. Love this guy and have high respect for him!
TA,
Great work.
I’d bribe him to stay. Here’s the deal Robin: sign up and we’ll give you a big brown envelope and a big brown statue.
Happy St George’s Day (no, not you Graham). Are we supposed to do or eat someting special. Yorkshire Puddings all day? Spotted Dick?
Okethi,
That’s a very good point about praising the people around him. You are so right. He’s always quick to acknowledge The Assister, and remember that great gesture of giving his shirt to Swampy.
Right, I’m off to slay dragons and things.
Was it a trophy I spied in Robins hand?…..may it be the first of many.
He is a proper captain unlike the last two Gallas & Fabregas. I hope we get Champions League and he stays, then it’s up le boss to sign top players in the summer.
A very timely post and I bet no one else came up with such a good idea for a title.
Sex and drugs and Robin van Persie.
Great stuff.
Reddawn – it’s great to see Robin holding a trophy! 🙂
John, the sequence will probably need to be: get CL football, offer RvP a decent package, keep our other top players, sign 1 to 2 quality players, and Boy Wonder will sign a new contract. Piece of cake!
Micky, got point about a St Robin’s day. We would only be allowed to drink coffee and discuss serious issues informally all day long.
Cheers LB 🙂
Nice one, TA.
I’m re-posting this vid from earlier because of the Feyenoord goals, many of which I hadn’t seen before. Annoying that the Arse goals are frozen out.
RA,
Loved your comment at the end of the last post. I probably laughed as much at your comment as you did at the original vid, cheers. 🙂
Just found a version with subtitles. Press CC at the bottom of the screen.
I feel the principal trait that marks RVP out is his humility and that for me is the mark of a true leader
Hi Chas, I watched the video earlier this morning and was planning to do a quick summary, but now that you have found subtitles it is not necessary any more. The total duration of the interview is 45 minutes, so we are only seeing 1/3 of it.
Henk Spaan writes for a Dutch arty football magazine called ‘Hard Gras’ (Hard Grass), which is fantastic. I cannot get it here in the UK, but it is full of football poetry and real quality articles. You, and many others here on AA would love it.
Spaan has made a new football TV programme called Heilig Gras (Holy Grass) and he had 1.5 hours with RvP in London recently to kick start the programme. Robin’s image in Holland is not as good as it is in England – when he left Holland he had a bit of a reputation for making trouble – but Spaan believes this interview will change that perception enormously.
Guess what Robin believes is his best goal ever?
Timmy, well said. RvP is humble and likes to share his success with others, which is a typical Dutch trait btw.
Congratulation RVP. You are a worthy captain and good ambassador of our great club. Gooners all over the world love you and appreciate your contributions to our darling club. Please the battle is not yet won. Give us the 3rd spot and sign a new contract Up Arsenaaal.
Good to see you back here Ade, and with a fine comment! 🙂
Great post TA and what a great captain. On twitter quite a few “football writers” disagree with Robin getting the award. They think shrek should have it. This says everything about the coverage we get in the press.
I’m going have to pull you up “rubbish lyrics” comment though TA
Every bit of clothing ought to make you pretty
You can cut the clothing, grey is such a pity
I should wear the clothing of Mr. Walter Mitty
See my tailor, he’s called Simon, I know it’s going to fit
That’s genius
The other side of Robin’s game!
GM, how could I argue against you! 🙂
Congrat my captain vantastic.
TA
Please, can we get the number of goals Rooney has scored from penalty this season in the Epl
Happy Saint George’s day!!!!!!!!
Timmy, a hell of a lot. In all competitions he scored 35 goals of which 12 were a referee’s gift.
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.statistics.html/wayne-rooney
Too late GM,
Not only have I done the Happy Daying, I’m already on me third Dragon 🙂
TA. As always a quality read.
RvP has humility and generosity. Two essential human traits. This makes him a top bloke as well as a genius of a footballer,
To see him develop both as a player and a man in an Arsenal shirt has been a privilege
Favourite goal? Must be Barca last season.
The Irish enjoy a Guiness on St Patricks – do we celebrate with a nice cup of Tea?
Great stuff Total, You are my 4th favourite Dutchman , after my best mate Piet, DB and RVP. 🙂
Best goal ?, Mine is the one against Charlton, KaBooooom !
Raddy, you are right: it’s the one against Barca.
G-Glic, this Piet must be a hell of a nice guy! 😀
Thanks TA got the link, but please is it that the 35 goals included other competitions?
Yes Timmy, except any goals for the national team (I think). See wiki link for Mancs season overview, including goals/penalties. They were awarded a lot more penalties since the start of the new year…
Thank you TA for coming up with an article on our best captain for a while and legend in the making. It always struck me how the atmosphere changed on the pitch when a Returning Robin (from injury) appeared. The sharpness of his passes was palpable and as someone pointed out yesterday how different would our seasons have ended up if he’d been as fit as this season.
I’m thrilled for him that he has won this award, he is such a joy to watch and a top man too. I really hope he finds his shooting boots for the rest of the season and signs a new contract.
In all honesty he has been Arsenal’s player of the year, playing a slightly unfamiliar role and after our dreadful start mentoring the younger players, especially Theo, and playing some equisite football and some wonderful goals,without us getting a penalty at Home all season.
Thanks TA for a great read, just hope it isn’t the kiss of death wearing the armband 🙂
Thanks TA, i bet you enjoyed writing that, and i enjoyed reading it, so thanks.
What RVP represents to me goes beyond the player itself, and is more a vindication of the clubs policy in nurturing young players to they reach maturity. There are other potential RVP’s in that squad, who need time to develop and hopefully stay with the mighty Arsenal.
There was a Dutch boy called RVP
Who through his injuries some said is not worth a pee
But now hes matured, and the boy is a man, hes perfected the goal scoring art to a tee
Chers Total….frankly I think you are spot on about how it adds further weight to his already made decision to stay.
He’s just a class act. Tough, determined, amazing technique. On top of all that he comes across as the sort of guy who has a lot of people who all claim him as their best friend. I think that would be the case even if he was schoolteacher or bus driver.
Top man
“To see him develop both as a player and a man in an Arsenal shirt has been a privilege” …and a joy !!!
Well said Randy
Thanks Peaches, Terry, Kelsey and super-Sharkey! 🙂
I didn’t know you are a rapper as well, Terry! Top stuff. 😛
Raddy, Sharkey, it is indeed fantastic to see how has developed into both a top athlete/performer and a fine, caring human being, and Wenger should get a lot of credit for this as well. As Terry said, hopefully we will see more super talents develop in the same way as Robin.
One Dutchman’s fine hymn of praise to a fellow countryman.
Well played TA!
I hadn’t realised that we have not had a single penalty awarded at home all season. That’s scandalous given how much possession we have and how much we play in the opposition box.
Never mind Podolski and Vertonghen – let’s put Webb top of our summer transfer list.
Great stuff Total …. RvP, ViP FtA 😛
I really enjoyed your Post, TA. 🙂
It has all the hallmarks of a love letter to our brilliant centre forward, and is axiomatic of your work that it has struck a chord with all reading it on here today.
That Rocky fellow will have to look to his laurels as the Doyen of AA writers, as you are fast coming up on the rails!! 🙂
[You may have noticed I love mixing my metaphors!] 🙄
So Telescope Terry, when you said ‘pee’ in your ode, did you mean the act of urination, {urggh} or did you mean ‘pea’ as in a small spherical green seed? Either way was this a drug induced reference in keeping with TA’s repeated headline?
The world awaits your answer with bated breath!! 🙂
RA. 4.31. Are you still under the influence of the dentists lidocaine injection or did he use the old fashioned nitrous oxide?
Either way, whatever you do, don’t drive anywhere 🙂
Randy Bear,
I never actually got to see the dentist for my checkup, thanks to that naughty Chas! 🙂
Anyway, back to cases, you know I hang on the words of my fellow AAers like a koala to a power line.
Terrydactile said in a suspiciously poetic tho’ idiosyncratic and non-scanning eulogy;
— There was a Dutch boy called RVP
— Who through his injuries some said is not worth a pee
— But now hes matured, and the boy is a man, hes perfected the goal scoring art to a tee
How can I not want to discover the working of a very fine mind such as that of my friend, aka Bald Eagle?? 🙂
hahaha, Redders. I blame Cornwall for my P obsession today. He sent me some strange looking Cornish mushrooms, promising they would improve my love life but all they have done is increase my visits to the little boys room.
Terry,
That award winning Cornish Puck [not a typo! 🙂 ] has a lot to answer for.
His mushroom delights work wonders on the libido especially when eaten straight out of the tin marked ‘Large Garden Peas’! 🙂
[I hope that gets a pass as a cryptic euphemism] 🙂
The absence of rejoinders makes me think I am speaking Martian in a football world, again, so it’s clearly time for me to sod off. 🙂
Ciao, Bambinos!
Redders, hahahaha, he was certainly taking the peas when he sent me them. I would have been better off rubbing them on my head. I can safley say without fear of contradiction, that there would have been more chance of me sprouting a mushroom on my hairline as opposed to any mushrooming down below.
Terry,
With your fascination for the Telescope, it`s hardly surprising there`s not mushroom for anything else down below !. 😆
Cornwall, hahahaha…………..if only that was true. hahahaha
There was an AAer called Arse Red
The cleverest Gooner egg-head
A naked beauty made a pass
She had a lovely Red Arse
No thanks, I`d rather do a Sudoku instead
TERRY MANCINI HAIR TRANSPLANT
SHOWED HIS TELESCOPE TO HIS AUNT
ONE LOOK AT THE `SCOPE
SHE SAID, HOW WILL I COPE
IT`S WAY TOO POWERFULL, I CANT
hehehe
There was a gooner called called Glic
whoose humour was known to be slick
But he sent me some mushrooms
And thats made my Telescope shrink
Look guys, is it any wonder that the blog goes quiet when you start going off on a tangent like the above comments. Anyone who wants to comment about the post or anything Arsenal is going to think they’ve walked into a private club of three which is exactly what we are trying to avoid.
Could you please try to remember that this is an Arsenal blog.
Also, we have a post for tomorrow but none for the rest of the week. So if anyone fancies writing something please send it through.
There seem to be some solid reports out of Cologne that the Podolski deal is done.
Frankly I haven’t seen much of him, but when you have a situation where, when we’re chasing a goal, not one of our back-up strikers is deemed worthy of getting any playing time, it shows we definitely need new blood.
If Podolski and Joel Campbell are in the first team squad next year it must mean that Chamakh and Park will be heading for the exit.
Kelsey
I am just about getting used to that picture of you next to your comments and you know what, every time I look at it now it makes me smile.
You look so bloody happy.
Living in Spain, three minutes away from the beach.
Where did it go wrong for me?
Top post Total.
Great season from our captain fantastic. I hope he signs a new contract ….and soon.
Happy St. George’s Day every one.
Hi Rocky, do you think we’re getting the Pod as:
1. A partner for RvP?
2. A second choice striker?
3. Insurance in case RvP goes?
4. A replacement for RvP
Rocky – I’ll be really disappointed if we start the season with Chamakh and Park still in the squad.
Actually thinking about the players that we couldn’t play this season – Jack, Frimpong – who can forget Frimpong, more of Coquelin and more of Jenkinson it’ll be exciting to have another to add to the team.
I wonder if we could do a deal for Yossi …… it’s good to have that kind of experience in the squad.
Rasp – all of those 😆
Peaches
I have been blogging with you for a long time now and I have to say that this is the biggest understatement you have ever made:
“I’ll be really disappointed if we start the season with Chamakh and Park still in the squad.”
I would run around screaming
Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Chamakh and Park
Arsenal’s forward line
lol
I’m just exercising a bit of restraint 🙂
Nice one
Rasp
I see him in a front three with RvP.
But also as an RvP replacement when we want to rest our main man.
It’s a real shame about Chamakh.
It’s easy to forget that he started well for us. After RvP came back he lost his starting place and his forced vanished at the same time.
For a while it looked like he could be a proper Plan B.
Evening all, only just had chance to read TA’s love letter, and what a love letter it is.
As I have said often his season RvP has been operating on a different plane to everyone else, he is seeing the game in slow motion, picking space, seeing a small goalkeeper, and a 20yd by 15ft goal. And he is making the most of it. On top of this he has been a surprisingly good captain, a side to him many of us didn’t know existed has come out, helping those around him, and defending the badge from the front.
Cesc wasn’t made for captaincy, I’m not sure he could handle the weight of expectation, RvP on the other hand has thrived on being the main man, and long may it continue.
That said he has been useless in front of goal for three games so I’d take the extra £20million the PFA title puts on his price tag and buy Benzema
(Just in case you were wondering Mr Gazidis (i know you’re reading) the last paragraph was a joke)
*his form vanished…
Hello VCC
Where you been?
Evening GiE
I wonder if Robin would have been as good a captain as he is now if he’d got the armband when he was 21, like Cesc did?
Almost certainly, the answer is ‘no’.
There are not many walks of life where 21-year-olds make good managers. Someone of age and experience is far more likely to do a better job.
(Mind you, TA6 got the job young and he was pretty awesome).
Chamakh is way too lightweight. He was fortunate to score as many goials as he did early on and it was probably due to other teams not expecting us to pose an aerial threat. What we need is a battering ram a la Drogba as a foil to RvP = the Pod 🙂
I found out something really annoying yesterday, those who went to the Wigan game wouldn’t have known about Weedy Nevilles excellent explanation of how Wigan had beaten the Manks and how Arsenal should set up to make sure that they didn’t capture our scalp aswell ……
I sky+’d the game and my son wanted to hear the Neville view on the Young penalty from the weekend and so I sat with him while the said Neville – who it has to be said is a great tactition – went through loads of pens that had been given, good shouts that hadn’t, talked openly about players cheating and refs not really knowing how to handle the situation. Some one should write a post about that …….
Anyway he went on to show how when Wigan set up as a 3-4-3 it’s very difficult to defend against as when they’re attacking they become 5 and the opposition become a deep lying 6 in defence causing too much space in front them and enabling Wigan to cause a lot of confusion. Well we didn’t get as far as the 6 in defence but they sure caused a lot of confusion – twice sadly 😦
Anyway I think we should get Neville on our team, come on Arsene he knows what he’s talking about – trouble is I really hate the weasel and probably so does Arsene.
Rocky it’s an interesting point.
I actually don’t think the captaincy hampered him early on. I think it was more last season when without Robin the onus was always on him to come up with something special. He appears to be happier out of the limelight at Barca where others will be seen to be the ones who are relied upon when the chips are down.
Time will tell I guess.
If Jack was given the Arsenal captaincy do you think it would affect him?
Hi Rocky.
I have been so busy lately (working at my age. It should be banned)
I manage to read most of the posts but struggle to get time to comment. Also have problems with wordpress.
Rasp 8:04 I have a nasty feeling he will be off this summer. Not seen much of Podolski but do know he will have a hard job to follow Van Persie if he is the replacement.
It will be gutting if Persie does in fact leave as I think we could seriously challenge with an additional couple of players next season.
Carlito has just given the site a huge plug on twitter sending todays post to Mr van Persie himself.
TA – your love letter might get read afterall 😉
GiE – it would be ridiculous to give Jack the armband now, he needs to get his game back. I would hope that AW is more sensible than that.
Thank you from Robin …………….
http://robinvanpersie.com/2012/04/23/big-thank-you/
VCC, it’s been widely reported that the Pod deal is done – this means that the club may have the upper hand now as the contract negotiations with RvP will be less one-sided. Don’t get me wrong, I want RvP and reckon a 4 year deal for £150k a week is what he is worth. Rooney got £250k a week.
I’d be happy to ley 7 or 8 players go this summer if we just bought the right 3 and kept RvP.
Talking to myself ……. ho hum, everyone must be watching the hammers, waiting for Henri to come on 😉
Rasp. Please tell me the 3 players you would have on your shopping list.
Also the 7-8 players you would release.
VCC
Going
Almunia
Fabianski
Arshavin
Chamakh
Vela
Park
Bendtner
Lansbury
Coming
podolski
Pele
Maradonna
Lev Yashin
Evening folks, good to see discussions have picked up again.
Peaches, please thank Carlito for me! You are spot on about Neville. It is hard to dislike somebody who is both knowledgeable and enthusiastic, even though he was a nasty piece of work when he played at the Mancs.
VCC – good to see you back here – you just ooze enthusiasm. After your second team QPR damaged us badly a few weeks ago, I bet you got a bit worried it might cost us at the end of the season. But at least they did the same damage to the Spuds and you must feel good about that. I like QPR to stay up, but Hughes to go down 😆
Rasp, I don’t believe a player can be lucky for half a season. However, Chamakh’s time is surely up now as Wenger has not played him for ages. What will remain interesting is that we scored significantly more goals during the first half of the 2010/11 season, as we did in the 1.5 season after that. This season we did not score enough goals again and the big question is whether a lack of goal scorers is the cause of this, or the system of football that we played. It would interesting to know how this season’s chances to goals conversion compares with previous seasons.
I have been listening to an interview with Henk Spaan, the guy who did the RvP interview that Chas posted earlier. He was asked why RvP underperformed during the World Cup. Spaan’s answer was that he did not underperform as such but that Sneijder played too far away from him and did not (want to?) spot the running of RvP, and instead played the ball too many times to the wide-men. However, he did say that RvP had told him he was not at his very best during the WC.
Spaan believed that Holland should have played a system at the World Cup similar to the partnership between RvP and Fabregas, in which the latter played very close to RvP. I think we all agree that this season Arsenal have once again struggled with getting a man to play close to RvP, so he gets support in the middle and make things happen together. Hopefully this will be resolved next season.
My shopping list (if I’m being realistic) would not include Hazard or Goetze.
The three would be Podolski (because AW wants him), Vertongen and a ‘midfield playmaker’, I’d much prefer the Brazillian Hernanes but Montolivo may be available on a free – which I don’t like (look how Chamakh turned out?)
The ones to leave are easier,: Almunia, Denilson, Vela, Bendtner, Chamakh, Park, Squillaci and Arshavin
Once again we have to disagree TA. I think Adebarndoor was lucky to score as many goals as he did in the one good season he had for us, and I believe Chamakh was flattered by the number of goals he got when he first came. It was completely against his past record as a goalscorer which was pretty poor (as is Gervinho’s)
I can only think that AW thought he could bring something out in Chamakh’s game, but at his age, and in his case, it is clearly too late.
Rasp I agree with TA about Chamakh. Chamakh can’t be a good plan B because he’s a plan A. He needs to be playing all the time (as he did when Robin was injured) He’ll do ok when he moves to a club as a regular starter. He held a record for the scoring in the most consecutive games in the CL.
TA, I do agree with you that RvP is crying out to have a player to ‘play off’. That is probably why he has given so much encouragement to Theo. Maybe the pod is the man? We would be very left sided with the Pod and RvP in the central and left positions, but Podolsaki does have a half decent right foot.
Nah GM, the guy is way too timid. He’s got no cojones.
Watch him warm up at half time, he prances around on his tiptoes, he’s just too lightweight. He plays with his back to goal and yet never tries to turn a defender. Diaby would be a far superior front man to Chamakh even thouigh he normally plays deeper. Diaby at least has power and the skills to get past defenders.
gm, Chamakh’s career goals per game is less than 1 in 4.5 – that’s not good enough for anyone calling himself a striker.
Hi Rasp, why are you talking about Adebayoor and Gervinho? They really have nothing to do with Chamakh’s bizarre situation that he started so well, personally as well as for the team, after which he never got anywhere near that level. You say it was simply luck – fair enough that is your view, but I think it is too simplistic. There is still something for us to learn from that period with Chamakh when Arsenal scored 2.4 goals per game, instead of 1.9 when we play with RvP as our lone striker.
Rasp
He’s lost all interest in playing for us. He can’t even be bothered in the reserves. He kept us in it last season when Robin was out. looking at him now is pointless. In his head he’s already gone.
I don’t even rate Chamakh. I think he’ll be ok in a different team though. He’s never going to be prolific.
https://twitter.com/#!/HarryB2996/status/194525645416562688
GM
9.50
Three short sentences.
Says it all really.
Nothing more needs to be said.
Look, to be a top striker you have to at least have an eye for goal., Chamakh can’t score with his feet FFS. He has no power. He’s a good header of the ball and that’s all. He’s the most one dimensional striker I’ve ever seen at Arsenal and I shall be hugely relieved when he finds a new club. Its not personal, I have no idea what kind of guy he is because he doesn’t project himself on or off the pitch (except when he’s toking on a hooker)
haha Rasp
Did you mean toking on a hookah?
Or are you referring to the incident in which he was photographed in a certain situation with some young professional ladies in Las Vegas??
Now Aguero is a good striker. Feisty, aggressive, quick, tricky, can use both feet, only needs a glmpse of the goal to get a shot on target. If we had Aguero at Arsenal he’d win the golden boot every season.
Haha Rocky, yes, my spelling let me down there – although it may also be true for all I know 😆
I’d be interested to know the scoring return of some of our ‘second strikers’ over the years.
Wiltord, Kanu, Bendy, Hartson… what were their goals-per-game stats?
Your Aguero comparison is interesting rasp. Tevez would be another example – players who are like fighters and are constantly agitating to make something happen.
I get the impression (although I haven’t seen much of him) that Podolski is an all-action type of player.
Rasp
I don’t think Chamakh is a top striker. I’ll be glad when he’s gone. He’s better than he is at the moment though and he’ll prove it somewhere.
TA
Another reason that RvP did not have a great World Cup is that the horrible (but talented) little twerp Robben would rather have eaten his own foot than pass to RvP.
I lost count of the amount of times that Holland broke away and Robben was in a perfect position to play our Robin in, but every time he went on his own instead (and usually fecked up the move).
I heard there was no love lost between Robin and Robben and I wonder if this had something to do with it, or maybe Arjen is just a greedy glory-grabber.
Either way, I found it very obvious while watching the games.
If you could genetically re-engineer Chamakh and Aguero into one, it would be some striker! Chamaguero 🙂
The Dutch always (according to reports) seem to have internal problems
I hope Podolski has that level of goal hunger that Tevez and Aguero possess Rocky. One of our probelms when the ball goes wide is that we maybe have one player attacking the box and he’s usually behind 3 defenders – that’s why we often pull the ball back and try to create an opening that way. Just once in a while I’d like to see an Arsenal player make a run for the near post when the ball goes wide – it may be a cheap goal but they all count and at the very least it will draw a defender or two out of position.
Yea Robben didn’t like passing to RvP, the Dutch camp is seldom harmonious – in the same way, Fat Fwank wouldn’t pass to Theo. To give Rooney his due, he would try to bring Theo into the game when playing for England.
Like TR7 against Spuds?
Or RvP against Stoke?
We can do it…..but I agree we don’t appear to do it often enough.
Hi Rocky, yes Robben can be selfish which is good and bad in his position. I hope Van Marwijk will get the likes of Robben, Sneijder, vdFart and RvP to work together as a unit again this summer. If so, they can go all the way.
I cannot stand vdFart and I was really happy he did not join Arsenal. He never stuck to his role to stay out wide on the left, but simply felt that he was entitled to move into the middle, because he believed that is where he should be playing. A total twit.
I’m watching the POTY awards. What a load of tacky rubbish. The hairdressing awards piss all over this.
Actually that Stoke game is a case in point of why we don’t always run and cross near post, for most of the half we kept floating high balls, the crowd around me were moaning that we would never get anything, but eventually it paid off because when Gervinho drove to the byeline they were expecting yet another lofted ball. Instead RvP made a run at the near post and found space to score.
We do need a proper battering ram though as I said yesterday, after watching Everton goals I thought Fellaini could be that man….or whisper it NikB
I’m not advocating a near post run/delivery every time, just as an alternative. There is nothing more confusing and intimidating to a defense than if 3 or 4 of the opposition are attacking their box from different angles when the ball goes out wide. What is comfortable, is having 8 men behind the ball when the opposition is making 10 yard sideways passes around the periphery of their box.
Not sure about Fellaini’s consistency GiE. He had a great game against the Mancs, but I have seen him in other games losing a lot of balls/bad passes. Decent squad player, maybe?
gm, last word on Chamakh. I agree he is better than his current form suggests. It is probably true that he isn’t best suited to English football and is more likely to prosper in France or Italy.
Cabaye at Newcastle is looking like a tidy midfielder. If he can keep playing like he is now he is likely to secure a move to a big club.
I can get quite excited about this next season:
————————Podolski———————
————————–RvP————————
Gervinho————————————–Theo
or
————————RvP————————–
Podolski————-Jack——————-Theo
or
————————Podolski——————–
————————–RvP———————–
ANother—————————————-Theo
GM
“The hairdressing awards piss all over this” 😀
How will everyone feel about Robin if he leaves?
Rocky
I’m not joking. Haidressers know how to make an atmosphere. I also know for a fact that the British Hairdressing awards are the biggest awards thay have at the Grosvenor.
I bet the barnets are better than at the footy awards too GM.
Some of those players need to pay you a visit.
I bet you’ve got a string of awards!
I’ve got 1 Rocky. I also came 2nd (by 3 votes) in a worldwide award once. Hairdressing has become one big competition now. Some people put all thier energy into entering competitions. I can’t be bothered and it’s all subjective and politcal anyway.
Did anyone notice Song’s shoes?
Thanks to big daddy and red arse for their compliments on my ramsey comments yesterday. Im new to this and enjoy it immensely to chat with knowledgeable fans, and to abuse the irrational clowns when neccessary. Congrats to robin, please stay and talk song into staying too, but dont force us to overpay theo to stay, i know we can find a quality winger to replace him if we have to. Peace
RVP is much better tobe a striker than a second striker.. He already prove it this season with 27 goals (and will hits 31.. I hope.. to break a new record). So for me no need to bring any striker, unless RVP out or injure.. We just need a striker to backup him, and we already have it in Park or Walcott (I pretty sure..). But Park need to play regular too, at least for 15-20 minutes, and offcourse RVP must rest also for a while to protect him from injure..
The main problem is what kind of formula will Wenger play next season.. Will it remain 4-3-3, or back to 4-4-2 or maybe change to 4-5-1.. I do prefer the last.. If we have 3 attacking midfielders than RVP will score 40-45 goals.. and would go for golden shoe.. RVP can beat Messi and Ronaldo..
But the most important thing is.. with all effort, Arsenal must make RVP to stay.. He deserve better paycheck and better teams to support him.. And we just need to bring 2 more attacking midfielders.. (Kagawa and Sneijder for me is the top priority).. and we will get all the trophies.. Go Gunners.. EPL and UCL winner 2013..
Morning JNYC and Henry, 🙂
Good to see you both back on AA. You bring fresh ideas and an interesting perspectives, and I hope you will become regulars!
Morning all. RA. May I apologize for suggesting you were “under the influence” yesterday.
Interesting discussion last night.
What wasn’t mentioned was Why Park? Must be the strangest signing of AW’s career.
Was the signing foisted upon him? Had AW assessed Park before he signed and if so, how could he have been so wrong?
Why hasn’t AW given Park even a few minutes at the end of games to raise his confidence and profile? The little I have seen of him shows him to have pace and a striker’s instinct, the rest has surely been picked up over a season of the training ground.
It is a mystery.
Peaches,
I am just about to go for an appointment, and will not be around today, so this is rather rushed.
I have just read your 6:41, and I am slightly disappointed that you should feel the need to publicly castigate me after I had left the site.
I first commented at 4:25 p.m. to compliment TA, and 45 minutes and 4 comments to 5 AAers later, I left the site because, as I said at the time, it was so quiet.
It is unjustified to suggest that I was the cause of the blog being quiet. What about your ‘Ho hum’ comment at 9:08 p.m. because you said you were talking to yourself? Was I responsible for that too?
Did I use inappropriate language? Did I use offensive words?
Well apart from teasing TA about his ‘love letter to RVP’, something picked up and repeated by others later, the answer is NO.
Am I guilty of chatting to Glic and Terry? Yes.
Do I feel guilty for doing so? NO.
Fans talking in pubs over a pint do not limit themselves to 100% football. There is room for humor and other subjects such as music, poetry and science which are all subjects which many on here enjoy as well.
Why should you wish to impose a restriction insisting on football only?
I have to go now – I am not looking forward to my treatment, but I am really hurt by your criticism – and that it was made public!
Regarding Podolski, Gervinho, Walcott and Van Persie: There is no chance AW will play all 4, so someone is going to get dropped or is leaving.
Add to that the need to find space for Miyachi and O-C emergence into top players, and we can see how difficult it will be for AW.
It is to AFC’s benefit to see NB and Vela doing well – they will be attractive in the summer, but if they are not bought, will they return or stay on loan?
RA. Synchronicity.
Perhaps you are being a mite sensitive, but your comment was addressed to Peaches and I will leave it to her to answer, preferably off-site.
Morning all,
Good comments from both Jnyc and Henry. For me as you both say we don’t necessarily need another striker but what we do need is five or six players that can play anywhere across the front three. They all have to have the intelligence to go where needed at the right time. If we can do that it doesn’t become as essential that Robin starts every game and gives us the ability to rotate the squad.
TA Fellaini is only just reaching an age where he could e consistent but yes I was thinking as a squad player, if he is too good to sit on the bench he will force better performances from those ahead of him.
Peaches I wasn’t offering Jack the armband I was just asking if anyone thought that of he did have it now would it after him like it appears to affect Cesc in his last couple of seasons. My thought is no, he is a different character.
Morning GiE
could you remind me whose contracts are up for renewals this summer? RvP and Song, and who else?
If Juventus are the only club offering I think we will be keeping Robin
https://twitter.com/mickthegooner/status/194657442649481217
GiE – agree about Jack and having him as the future captain. Cesc was not cut out to be a skipper, Jack is – a proper English bulldog
Robin to Juve – NO fecking way jose
Evonne none are up this year apart from Almunia so he will just be released.
For a pretty good stab at contract expirys you can look here:
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/manuel-almunia/profil/spieler_16621.html
Almunia – 30.6.2012
RvP – 30.6.2013
Theo – 30.6.2013
Squillacci – 30.6.2013
Sagna – 30.6.2014
Song – 30.6.2014
Koscielny – 30.6.2014
So the only really important ones to be sorted in the summer are Theo and RvP. Obviously if we leave it a year they can go on a free, and talk to any club from January 2013.
More worryingly in terms of shifting players
Vela – 30.6.2015
NikB – 30.6.2014
Wellington Silva – 30.6.2016 (will he ever get work permit?)
Denilson – 30.6.2014
GIE Good work.
Hi evonne. I agree RvP will not to go to Juve although they will win Serie A, which is brilliant for Pirlo and in particular Del Piero.
Oh and Miquel needs a new contract he expires at the same time as Robin & Theo
Fab1 is out of contract in summer too,
Thank you GiE
Theo a year?! Gosh, it was just a while ago he signed a loooong contract with us, time flies when you are having fun 🙂
Sagna and Song in 2014, that’s good, they’ll be at their best next season 🙂
Wellington Silva – we signed a long contract with him without him having a work permit? Hm, not wise, but I guess there were good reason for doing that
Hiya Raddy, well if Juve are flighing high at the mo, they don’t need Robbin, matter closed 🙂
Thanks all for welcoming comments.. We do have something in common (I guest..) We love Arsenal verymuch.. hehehe.. And I do like this forum indeed.. I can practice my english and also have a nice guys like you all as my friends..
But I can only do this chat once a while.. Trough the difference of time.. (Indonesia is GMT+7) and my jobs that not allowed me to face the computer all day.. (I guest we all do the same.. hehehe..).
But I will try to get intouch with all you guys regulary.. Wish you all the best.. Sincerely – henry
HenryC. Where in Indonesia are you?
Henry we have a few australians who probably operate in a similar timezone to you.
And don’t worry about posting in the early hours as I’m sure most of us read the previous posts comments before we move on to the new offering.
I know where your coming from Redders.
I hope your appointment goes well.
In Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia.. But BALI is the most famous island and place in Indonesia.. Sometime people know Bali more than Indonesia.. hehehe..
RA@7.33 fully sympathise with you.
For what it is worth, I thought your ‘love letter to Robin’ comment was great: I had not thought about it like that, but I guess that’s what it was. So, top comment. 🙂
Hope your weekly treatment is not too awkward and to see you back here later today, with beaucoup de joie de vivre!
Morning all…..
…. New post ………
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