The Silly Season calls for some silly pieces and this is unquestionably one of them.
In among the unending tedium of transfer-related babble my mind began a-wandering.
I was thinking about Arsenal… and cars… and Arsenal… and cars… then… BOOM!
The two thought strands came together and made sweet honey in my mind.
“If Arsenal were a car,” I thought, “what kind of car would they be?” (I told you it was a boring day).
A few years ago (during the early Wenger period) the answer to that question would have been easy: something racy, sporty and French but with a sense of history, like a Citroen DS.
But today?
It’s tempting to lean towards a stately British icon like the Rolls Royce (under Herbert Chapman that probably would have worked) – but these days we don’t spend enough to be considered a ‘Rolls Royce’ type of club. A Land Rover maybe? But that makes you think of the wide open countryside, whereas Arsenal are very much an urban club.
We’re too grand to be a nippy little sports convertible; too stylish to be a ‘work horse’ like a Ford Escort van; too successful to be anything that comes cheap.
On balance I would settle for us being a Jaguar XJ12, a “full size luxury car” that embodies grace, speed, history and power. Yep, that’ll do.
But what about our rivals?
Manchester United: they probably have a claim to being the UK’s ‘Rolls Royce club’ but there’s not much nasty about a Roller, whereas there’s plenty nasty about our friends in Manchester – from their bullying arrogance to the paranoid purple-conked Gorbalian who was behind the wheel for so long only to stand down and be replaced by Gollum. So what works?
Well, it has to be a BMW 7 Series. A car that looks good, runs better and seldom breaks down – but is loathed by every other road user because of the self-satisfied front bottoms who drive it.
Tottenham Hotspur: this one’s easy. The Spuds are a Lada Sport. Lots of show, lots of brashness, always in your face, but
however you dress it up, always still a sh*tty old Lada.
Manchester City: unsubtle, no taste, lacking in history or finesse,
driving straight through obstacles rather than round them and fuelled by never-ending amounts of petrol… yep, Man City are a Hummer.
Liverpool: a tricky one this, because it’s hard to tell what make the car actually is. All I can tell you is that it used to be red (I think) and that it’s sitting on piles of bricks where the wheels should be; the stereo’s been ripped out and the windows are broken. Oh, and someone’s done a poo in the back seat (police are looking for a Uruguayan man seen running away at speed).
Stoke City: one of those old fashion coaches that used to take work parties to the seaside on public holidays. Parked, of course.
Any Club Managed By Harry Redknapp: Del Boy and Rodney’s Reliant Robin. He could stand beside it shouting “I’m not a fackin wheeler dealer.”
Chelsea: an armoured limo, of the kind favoured by international diplomats and drug dealers. It’s dark on the outside, dark on the inside, heavy, ponderous and slow. It expects to get its way and you wouldn’t mess with it in a hurry. But there’s not a single hint of joy about it. It represents power, money and greed. And it was built in 2005.
West Ham United: a Bubble Car, of course.
Okay… over to you for some alternatives to the above or for suggestions for other teams I haven’t mentioned.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
We aint been the same since we lost our va-va-voooom! 🙂
if Arsene was likened to a car, it would be one that is going nowhere, cos he won’t spend on fuel.
Get shut of the old Jag and get us a Merc
There was some amazingly insightful, intelligent posts on here yesterday. It was a cathartic experience debating and reading opinions, especially those that were far more positive than how I currently feel.
So, thanks to all those involved.
Not you Steve obviously. 🙂
Moaning, moaning Gooners! Will someone please shut the bloody ‘transfer window’ today!
The only gospel i would love to hear.. I imagine quoting ivan saying “we are only going to spend £20m this window, i.e £17.2m on gustavo and a couple of 17year old french kids then will try our very best to finish in a champions league spot and make a real push next season with our reserve cash, cash from our new contracts and the money we didn’t spend this summer but not with wenger because we have decided it’s time to part ways, so all this cash will be spent by jurdgen klopp who has agreed to join us next summer, so let’s be patient and support the club through out this season for next season shall be our season” WELL SOMEONE WAKE ME UP, M PROBABLY DREAMING.
I suggest the BIG sleep for you sunshine!
Hi Rocky, holiday man! 🙂
Were you imbibing the single malt when concocting your Post, preparatory to your holiday? 🙂
With our French manager and our preponderance of significant French players over the past few years, I think we may be seen by some as a Citroen.
Citroen have a world fame as a somewhat zany manufacturer renowned for innovative and revolutionary engineering.
As to which model? The quirky, long lasting and slightly wacky, sheep carrying 2CV, maybe, or the world leading disc brake clad, and Hydropneumatic suspended, spaceship look-a-like DS?
No, neither of these. I would suggest Arsenal are more like the Bugatti, famous for its beautiful design, high performance engines and with a classic German professionalism.
Yes, I would go for a Bugatti with its consummate French chicness and German sophistication which would encompass the image of our manager and the key members of the team over the last 15 years!!
[I would never write such drivel if I was not a devoted follower of the master!] 😀
@Ogban,hell yeah..wish dey would close dt window to save me some cholesterol here! Nice post..got something to finally delight on after a nasty transfer sags..
Its a pity Rocky is away as it I cannot congratulate him on comparing a Lada Sport to Spuds……much ROLFing
Even more ROLFing, i’ve just seen Gollum’s comments on their fixture list:
Manchester United manager David Moyes has criticised his side’s opening to the Premier League season, describing it as the “hardest start for 20 years”.
Among their first five games, the champions play Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea at home and travel to Manchester City and Liverpool.
Moyes is unhappy with the way the fixtures have come out for his side.
“I find it hard to believe that’s the way the balls came out of the bag, that’s for sure,” said the Scot.
“I hope it’s not because Manchester United won the league quite comfortably last year [that] the fixtures have been made much more difficult.”
No Gollum its nothing to do with the fact you won the league, its because there is no one at the FA now fearing the wrath of the Purple Conked one
it has to be an Audi – classy and beautifu without being OTT like Maseratti. They are reliable and hold the price, but won’t break the budget like overpriced beemers. Yeah, they are Arsenal amongst cars, take a look at this babe
http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/audigreen/?layer=0&src=audigreen/n1ab-all–2013-us&layer=1&src=audigreen/n1bb-all-423-2014&layer=2&src=audigreen/n1cb-all-423-2014&layer=3&src=audigreen/n1db-all-423-2014–14_c8c8&layer=4&src=audigreen/n1eb-all-423-2014–bav1lw-radv15&layer=5&src=audigreen/n1fb-all-423-2014–bbo6fq&layer=6&src=audigreen/n1gb-all-423-2014–hsw8ey&layer=7&src=audigreen/n1hb-all-423-2014-v1-abo6h3&layer=8&src=audigreen/n1ib-all-423-2014-v1-abo6h3&layer=9&src=audigreen/n1jb-all-423-2014-us-14_c8c8-eph7x8&layer=10&src=audigreen/n1lb-all-423-2014-v1-14_c8c8&layer=11&src=audigreen/n1mb-all-423-2014-v1usam&layer=12&src=audigreen/n1nb-all-423-2014-v1&layer=13&src=audigreen/n1os-all-423-2014&blendmode=screen&defaultImage=audigreen/error_image&layer=comp&resMode=sharp2&&cropN=0.16,0.32,0.68,0.459&qlt=90&wid=950
Has to be a Kia Cee’d, looks quite nice & the company are very wealthy but build their cars are the cheap side
Good morning to all you motoring Gooners.
What kind of car would Arsenal be? Hmmm. Difficult!
Well it would need to be reliable, it must start at the first touch and get up to speed quickly. It would need a couple of shiny new parts to satisfy the “we’ve got it so we must spend it” faction. A good climber to get us nearer the top of the Premiership mountain than our regular advanced base camp. It will need some Vorsprung Durch Technik to get us through the icy winter months ahead and the attributes of a Grand Tourer that could get us as far as both Wembley and Lisbon, come may next year.
this link might be better
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQl_b6jvWG3s0OQaWoGm68XuLYE57UiLLELLvhBWLHkbiXhlnkCb9l9j-aM
If Arsenal were a car it would have to be something with a Gallic feel, a car with quirks and one which is unreliable, plus it needs to be cheap …. the Citreon 2CV comes to mind.
A brilliant and much loved car
http://www.pbase.com/erichmangl/image/82763865
The Peugot i0n electric car comes to mind as it needs recharging quite regularly 🙂
Thanks to those who gave their good wishes.
Hi all, Del boy and Rodney’s three wheeler comes to mind
Hi, I think in the recent years Arsenal has become somewhat of a kit car.
(Not those flashy ones mind you, but a classy looking one like this: http://autosupershield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kit-cars.jpg)
Home assembled from components. When it works, it’s great fun to experience. When it doesn’t, back to the garage for tinkering, parts replacements, tune-up. There no splashing out of cash, or going into debt, to get a factory built ones.
Rodgers refusing to make any more comments on Suarez….guess negotiations have reached the fine details.
Nice stuff Rock
If Tottenham were a car they would be like my Ford Fiesta. Crap, always breaking down, and never seen any action.
For Arsenal i agree its got to be a Jag. Bit like the one i nicked from my neighbours drive and shipped out to Mozambique. Classy, fast, and guaranteed to get you drooling.
And in my case, also make you a lot of money. hahaha
I’ve just read, in the early morning comments, about Kelsey’s wife falling and cracking bones in her shoulder and arm. The issues keep piling up in the Kelsey household.
I wish you and your family well Kelsey – sounds like you are all leading a bit of a dog’s life right now?
GIE
Clever.
Here is the latest news on our players fitness for the opening game.
If we assume the worst then these six players will not be available for the Volla game. That would leave us with only16 from the 1st team listed on Arsenal.com which includes Frimpong (who I have not seen or heard of in pre-season) and the untried Sanogo.
……………………………………………………………………………….
Arsène Wenger has revealed the following team news ahead of Arsenal’s first Premier League game of the season.
on the international players…
We have positive news from the players on international duty. All the texts we had have back are OK. The games were quite intense but we hope everyone comes back in good shape.
Twitter
on Cazorla’s international in Ecuador…
He played almost a full game. He only lands in London tonight [Thursday] so we’ll see how he is tomorrow.
on Mikel Arteta…
Mikel has a slight thigh problem. We have to check that. I don’t know if he will be out for the weekend. He has a scan today.
on Nacho Monreal (back)…
He should join up with the squad for full training in 10 days. He is out for the weekend of course.
on Thomas Vermaelen (back)…
It is a while longer for him. It is difficult to put a timescale on it but it will be a bit longer. He is progressing OK.
on Abou Diaby (knee)…
It is longer still for him but again the timescale is difficult. He is a few months in and it was expected to be nine months.
on Ryo (rib)…
He is close and he should be back with the training group next week.
It’s just a straw I’m clutching LB 🙂
I never answered te car question, maybe we are one of those Toyota Trucks that no matter how much shit is thrown at it, it continues to defy the odds and continue operating as it has done before although with a few more squeaks along the way.
GN5 I think Frimpong is in rehab as well, knee surgery following injury in Fulhams last game. So he was off for two months.
For those that forget what football is about occasionally…..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23710057
Lovely move by the club to its longest serving member of staff.
GIE;
That’s even further evidence of us lacking depth. I realize that I’m portraying the worst scenario but that could mean we are down to just 13 experienced players to face Villa. Which would mean drafting in 5 of our under 21’s to fill out the bench.
If Arsenal were a car it would have to be a flux capacitor fitted DeLorean because it looks cool in a quirky/unique way, and it feels like everyone riding in it is stuck in a time warp. We want our Arsenal back say one group, Forward say the club and others. 88miles an hour or 49 unbeaten games. You always keep going ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE!!!!’
Two news items that caught my attention just now. Both show how Arsenal are heading towards being a significant commercial entity. One additional sponsor for the Asian region, with Bodog as official Asian betting partner in a 3 year multi million pound deal.
The other about Arsenal appointing new people and promoting others in restructuring its events and sales department, combined with the news that there has been a 40m pound refurbishment of the stadium (although this isn’t an official source, and no time frame is mentioned)
“The stadium has undergone numerous improvements as part of the £40m investment. The Emirates Lounge space has been improved, wifi has been installed, new online ordering systems have been put in place for hospitality guests and event spaces have undergone improvements.”
Mr Wenger speaks on The Swerve:
“I made that decision [to sell Gervinho] because he looked to play with a lack of confidence, especially at the Emirates,” explained Wenger in his exclusive interview on Arsenal Player.
“He is a very creative player, an instinctive dribbler and for that you need a lot of confidence to be completely efficient. I felt that in the last six months it was very difficult for him to express his talent in a confident way.
GIE;
To me the most significant part of the statement is “especially at the Emirates” – it tell a whole story in just four words!
Well, the atmosphere at the Grove saturday has the potential to be unbearable IF Villa have the temerity to go a goal up!
I think Fabianski is lined up to play in midfield…
I still feel very bad for Gerv. Good enough as a squad player but never really given the chance to prove himself (although you have to admit that he was wasteful in front of goal).
Looking at the list of players on arse.com it would seem that Diaby has relinquished the No. 2 shirt, he now wears No. 24, could it be that we are about to sign a right back?
Oh! and don’t forget we still have that dynamic duo of strikers Ju-Young Park and Nicklas Bendtner.
I am absolutely amazed that Wenger didn’t give Gervinho another season. Seems out of character, a more ruthless Wenger maybe? I like it.
LB,
Considering the list of strikers we have, Podolski, Giroud, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanogo and the dynamic duo mentioned above, plus the “new signing” there wasn’t much room for Gervinho.
I have spent an hour flipping thru various Arsenal blogs, and a depressing read it was, with misquotes and opinions stated as fact and frankly a crassness that defies explanation.
It has long been held that we are all born ignorant, but some of these guys have been working really hard to remain utterly stupid.
So many people on the sites I have visited today, (not AA thankfully) show no desire to seek knowledge, understanding or empathy with the club they purport to support, just a blind quest to seek blame where none resides and apportion blame without pause for thought.
I might just have to grant myself a divorce from blogging (stop cheering) as some of the content is an insufferable insult to the Arsenal.
I liked what I saw of the Gerv as a person – I have no regret that he has gone.
Really good observation, GN5 @ 3:39pm. I remember last year someone (was it Wenger too?) said that Gervinho is quite a sensitive fellow, but I didn’t really think it could influence his performance so much.
Good luck to him, as long as he’s not playing against Arsenal. 🙂
RA,
I think you would make an excellent cyber missionary, you could post comments on those blogs frequented by the ill informed and just plain ignorant.
Point out to them the error of their way, remind them that most of what they read, and believe to be the gospel truth, is in fact speculative rubbish invented in large part by bloggers as ill informed and just plain ignorant as they themselves.
RA, are you willing to fight the good fight? Are you willing to take up the cyber missionary position? 😀
Let us agree that Gerv was sub-par at the Emirates, however it doesn’t explain why he was so poor at every other ground he played at, nor why his scoring record was better at home.
The sad fact was that he couldn’t adapt to the big league. Shame.
RA. Well, are you????
Thanks Rocky, wherever you are.
If Arsenal were a car, they’d be a beautiful gleaming Ferrari, minus the engine. And when the engine is put in, it is only allowed to be driven at 30 mph for fear of damaging the shiny exterior.
Four fit defenders to face Villa, who have added seven as well as keeping hold of Benteke? And three days after this, a crucial CL qualifier in Turkey. Arsenal are even more under-prepared than when they went to OT two years ago, is no-one to be held accountable for such gross neglect?
WATA,
Would you be any happier if Arsenal had signed the seven players that Villa have?
Norfolk,
Preaching to an anti Arsenal cyber flock would be an exercise in total futility and I feel that the position of cyber missionary will stay vacant for a long time. Just attempting to get our few members of that sect to see “the light” has proved to be impossible so imagine trying to enlighten the whole flock?
Norfolk,
In response to your 5:17 see my 5:17…………..
Hi Norfolk and you Randy, 🙂
Sad to say, I have foolishly tried to obliquely explain or reason, without rancour, on a number of occasions without even a glimmer of reciprocity from the other party.
I have found that it is the hardest and sometimes the most unedifying thing in the world to point out the inconsistencies in a comment or diatribe, even when it is glaringly and obviously wrong, when the person(s) concerned chooses to blind himself to an alternative view.
The incomprehension that greets my comments is almost as if I am speaking a foreign language. Perhaps I am.
So proselytising is obviously not a skill I have — over to you guys!! 😀
Hi Herb, 🙂
For a second there you lifted my spirits when you gave a positive comment regarding Arsenal being a beautiful gleaming Ferrari and even tho you then balanced that with a whole bunch of hyperbolic worst case conjecture, it was …………….. well at least the start of a balanced comment.
Now if I can only get you to stop asking the unfounded, unsubstantiated rhetorical questions, such as ‘when did you stop beating your wife’ — err, no, sorry, it was actually “is no-one to be held accountable for such gross neglect?” we would be getting somewhere.
Why would I ask that?
Because such a question assumes your pointed question is based on fact, when it is categorically not, and therefore is as wholly unanswerable as the ‘wife’ question, — and as you well know that is simply provocative.
Come on Herb, give us all, including yourself, a break — we do not want to descend into a comment slug-fest.
RA – I will step up and take the blame, I am solely responsible and should be held accountable for all that ails Arsenal.
My reason for accepting the blame is very simple, for the past 8 years I have not taken the “anti’s” seriously and now look at the mess we are in?
What is my punishment?
gunners is a good that every body no about bt for now i dnt lake the way officus hold the club for now in my own mind i wnt the club to be the best in the world bone about fashion
Hi Norfolk,
Every club in our division has strengthened significantly, especially those closest to us. Arsenal are operating a level above Villa with a completely different wage bill, but can you put your hand on heart and say with 100% confidence that Arsenal will beat Villa on Saturday?
At least Lambert has a vision that everyone can relate to, Arsenal haven’t had a plan for years, no mission statement, no semblance of ruthless leadership, just an acceptance that a few clubs can outspend them, and the gulf between them and Arsenal grows ever wider.
No GunnerN5, never ever anti-Arsenal, just the sanctimonious philosophy that is considerably damaging the product on the park, which IMO is poisoning the club. You don’t see that, many on here don’t, I strongly disagree with that view but naturally I respect everyones opinion.
People have been making poor decisions at Arsenal a long time without being held accountable. Bargain-basement footballers to do just enough and no more to qualify for a CL qualifier is where Arsenal are at, they’ve shown zero intent of challenging for either the title or CL.
Hi GN5, 🙂
Your willingness to take the blame for knowingly ignoring the threat of the ‘antis’ does you credit — I think!
In football, when referencing Arsenal, in general, and AW in particular, those who are ignorant frequently display a sure confidence.
In essence, it is those prepared to admit they do not know all the facts, or only know a certain amount, who are expected to defer to those who clearly know bugger all, and have the temerity to so positively assert that this or that problem, real or imagined, will never be solved by the club or the manager in their ‘professional’ judgement. Tssk!
No punishment for you, sir, is required! 😀
I am off, before my dejection becomes a pain to others.
(ahem ) Sperz would be a right car crash methinks! talking of those perennial thursday night clubbers …classic premiership games on BT sport have so far shown 3 sperz victories and 3 arsenal defeats by my calculation! are the sperz mafiosi running BT sport like the do talksh!t radio and the beeb?
AW states that Arsenal will be working hard to bring in players before the end of August. I believe him.
Should they be unsuccessful in their negotiations does not mean they have misled the fans. I find it hard to understand why people who have absolutely no idea whatsoever about transfer negotiations can make a judgement.
“Should have got them in earlier”, but you just don’t know what is going on or why deals cannot be concluded earlier. There isn’t a red button to be pressed to nullify the free will of the selling club and the player, everybody actually has to agree. (26)
Raddy,
You miss the point completely, the fact that they have “absolutely no idea” is a pre-requisit of being an “anti” In point of fact the biggest stars in the anti bridgade no sweet F.A. and are treated like diety.
Fortunately they are an isolated group that live in a cocoon which never seems to develope.
This has to be a Chav and City car !.
That DeLorean sure is speeding up fast.
This is a Scouse car !
http://ruthl.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/19-burnt-out-car.jpg?w=640&h=223
I only read 3 Arsenal blogs, all well written and balanced. The rest I avoid as every time I had a look at them, they were full of abuse for the team and each other (bloggers and slagging off each person’s comment if it did not sit with their opinion). The ones that really wound me up were full of people hoping we would lose so that it justified their opinions, and one recently where it was hoped that several players suffered serious injuries in order to highlight the folly of Arsenal not signing anyone. I gave up at that point!!!! Beyond the pale. Glad to see a host of varied and sensible arguments here, and we may not agree with each other all the time, but it is always good to be civil.
This is a Bindipper car ( if you prefer it to Scouse )
E va va vonne must have been treated like a Princess by her soon to be ex-scouse/bindipper hubby !. hahaha
And not forgetting our turd sandwich little neighbours !.
A Cardiff and Swansea car. Them Welsh sure know how to sweet talk the ladeez. I suppose it`s their version of dogging……sheeping !. hahaha
Too many ManU cars to count in this neck of the woods !
Cockney West Ham car !. Just going to the rub-a-dub !.
Now the cream !
My car !.
One for Irish !.
IUF – wrong on both counts 🙂
1 he will never be my ex-. always almost ex. He is Irish and does not do divorces.
2 he is a blue van man
And he bet me £1000 that Suarez will stay at Anfield.
Tony
If you’re talking about your uncle’s decision to leave you nothing in his will, then you really don’t deserve anything you red nosed pumpkin.
New season sat cant wait
Sheep
Bye
Sheep
Jamie,
lol
Tony.
Check this out. Maybe it can help you with your “issues”
Hi Jamie, good to have you on the site again. Have a read of the tab marked ‘Trolls’ at the top of the page
May I direct people to the new page on AA (clue it starts with a T)
So did Wolfsburg have a press conference today? I only ask because the Daily Fail said it was at midday UK time and would be the announcement of Gustavo joining them for £12.8m.
Amazes me that BBC are reporting Suarez’s apparent “I have decided to stay” comments and ignoring his comments post Uruguay match where he said he had said nothing of the sort.
Oops I penned that comment an hour ago, but iPhone asked for password and I had already shut browser.
Anyway there was a comment by Shard earlier about some £40m spend on stadium stuff, well here is someone from Arsenal’s thoughts.
GIE
I was careful enough to say that the refurbishment and 40m figure did not come from an official source, and that no time frame for this 40m being spent was mentioned. Which was basically my way of saying, take it with a pinch of salt.
Btw, is that Mark Gonnella’s official account? If so, why doesn’t it have the blue check sign that I think shows authenticity? (I don’t know much about twitter. Not on it myself)
Pretty sure it’s him been following him for a while and he has tweeted pics from Far East etc which I haven’t seen elsewhere, who is really going to want to impersonate him?
Btw Shard I wasn’t accusing you of stirring it up, but you and I both know that there are a number of bloggers who would run with that long enough for it to become another truth circulating in the myriad of Arsenal blogs.
I was going to reply that £40m of upgrades I would expect more than an online ordering system and improved wifi.
Haha. GIE. Really? In today’s world? 🙂
But I wasn’t asking just to doubt. I was also interested to know. It’s not very important either way.
Anyway. Goodnight. It’s late and I’m off to bed now.
I’m bored so I thought if research Villas new signings:
Jores Okore (Nordsjaelland, £4m)
Leandro Bacuna (Groningen £3m)
Aleksander Tonev (Lech Poznan, £2.5m)
Antonio Luna (Seville, £2m)
Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg, £1.2m rising to £2m)
Liam Prynn (Torquay, £50,000)
Jed Steer (Norwich, Free).
All household names I’m sure you’ll agree.
Wenger winning the Treble wouldn’t make amends for the dissension he’s wrought over the last 8 years.
I’m really pleased to hear about this 40 million pound upgrade at the Emirates; apparently, the money has been spent on foot warmers for people with season tickets so in winter when it is chilly they can keep their tootsies warm……..money well spent if you ask me.
Morning Guys, 🙂
40 million ponds, LB, are you sure? Carp, comets, goldfish, tiddlers or sea bream? 🙂
My eyes are going. Could have sworn that said ponds. 🙂
To be fair I’d expected a little hole to open in the floor beneath and deliver food to the fans, that way we would avoid the mass exodus of fans pre half time 😀
Arsenal.com are reporting that Arteta has a ‘slight thigh strain’ and will be assessed before the villa game. I’m pretty sure Coquelin would have made the bench for the game – as it is, the bench is likely to feature some new faces.
The web lies would have us believe that Ramsey and Cazorla are also nursing injuries. What is true is that Cazorla played 90 minutes in South America midweek and so may not be at his best. Jack doesn’t seem ready to play 90 minutes yet either.
Either way, we have really out-Arsenaled ourselves this transfer window. If you’d asked me to write the script for exactly what we didn’t need, then this shambles would be very close.
We need a post for today folks so see if anyone can come up with a few lines. I think we can all agree it would be better if I don’t write anything 😆
Hi Rasp/GIE,
What is needed first thing in the morning (apart from Chas and tricky Micky) is the upbeat views of Terrible Terry and 26M. 🙂
Morning All,
Some fun discussions yesterday. On AA one is sure to get a dose of good humour – especially enjoyed RA’s pond quip.
Post to start and research to be done – apart from AV’s new Danish players who are in all the papers over here.
Morning
Sorry Rasp
I really wanted to write a post but circumstances don’t allow it at the moment andd I am having to spend nearly all my time helping my wife 24/7 and I don’t feel great myself.
If and when I do get round to it I would like to ask anyone on here how they can remain positive that we will do better than last season.
Shard when you long on can I ask you how long you have been supporting Arsenal ?
I will say this this whole Summer transfer window has been a complete cock up, especially the PR, by Gazidis,Laws and Wenger but kroenke is ultimately responsible.
How we can start the season with hardly able to assemble 17 players for the start of the season amounts to negligence by all concerned.
Quite honestly I find it harder and harder to vent my views on here as some of you don’t realise what an almighty mess we are in. “The club lacks ambition” and that is the real reason quality players are hesitant to join.
Some will argue that we have until Sept2nd to supplement the squad but that is not an ideal preparation.
I am disappointed but my expectations are low by my support will never waver.
Just think about this. This is the first season in 4 that we haven’t sold a star player and that makes me wonder despite the new shirt deals,TV revenue and possibility of CL proper (which isn’t a given) that the club are being over cautious and if we qualify we might see the odd signing.
Strange way to do business IMO
Finally I honestly believe the window should be closed a week before the season begins which I believe would be a lot fairer and make much more sense for all clubs concerned.
Morning all,
Kelsey I feel very similar to you in my view of the summer transfer window and it feels like an opportunity missed to close the gap on the top 3.
I don’t know if this is coincidental but I’ve been playing this ditty a lot lately:
Drifting down what we passed
It’s done over and over again
We’ve just been losing a part
To be in another winning team
We turned the tables and times
Reject the failures for the pride
It’s a replay or a change
Who knows when the new game starts
What have we done
What a deal
We’re bound to fail
’cause you failed before
We’re bound to fail
’cause you failed before
While you have been so wrong
We have to live by self defence
We are mistaken by you
There is no way we can win
We wanna change it
Is it true
We’re bound to fail
’cause you failed before
We’re bound to fail
’cause you failed before
We wanna change it
What have we done
Can anyone identify who this is by ?
Thought not.
That is a good point about the window closing a week before the season starts. Could it be that the season starts later abroad?
Chary. I googled it and still know nothing about the band! I had some of their albums in the shops but never played them. I guess it was the colourful covers that attracted you
Ha, I forgot Big and Dandy you would be the only one who might possibly know, although googling is cheating a bit.
Actually I liked the seminal neo classical feel to this track and many others by them, quoting Fur Elise, Marche Slav and various Beethoven excerpts.
I’m a bit annoyed they played in the UK last weekend while I was away in Italy. 😦
Hi Raddy,
You are perhaps suggesting that CharyB is a peacock, or a magpie attracted by bright colours? 🙂
I’ve been called a bit of a cock before Redders. 🙂
Morning all
We have nothing to publish this morning …… anyone got time to pen a quickie?
Hi Kelsey,
You should not think you cannot vent here on AA. Many others would agree with your views, and why not?
Perhaps your opinion that some us do not know what a mess the club is in is correct, also, but it might just be that others do not believe the club is in a mess.
You are clearly referring to the transfer window ‘inactivity’, but without wanting to get back into all that again, for myself I think the confirmation from Liverpool that a £40m + £1 bid was made for Suarez shows AW’s intent.
You cannot ‘blame’ one person in a troika for being at fault, it takes all of them, the two clubs and the player to want to tango.
As an alternative, would you suggest that £40m spent on cheaper, available, but not so good players is acceptable? I don’t.
But you have every right to feel differently — so do I. 🙂
Peaches,
I am prepared to write something based on what Kelsey and I were discussing this morning.
If I do it on here, now, you can transfer it to a new Post afterwards.
Just say the word. 🙂
Start writing RA ……
Thanks RA that would be fantastic 😉
So it’s now offficial, Gustavo has signed for Wolfsburg, a team who finished 11th last year and don’t have Champions League, or even Europa, football.
So how attractive are we as a destination for top players now ?
Hmmm.
La Liga usually starts later but not this year,they kick off tomorrow.
Hi RA,
No ,but on balance if Suarez was say three quarters of our budget it would be a wrong decision we are in extreme need of cover in other areas and that would cost how much ?.
chary said
“So how attractive are we as a destination for top players now ?”
That was my whole point 🙂
Morning kelsey
I’ve been an Arsenal supporter since 97.
Ariived just in time Shard 🙂
Reports are suggesting Arteta is out for 5 weeks .
Well, I have taken you at your word, Randy, so here goes! 🙂
“So much angst has been expended and so many blogging hours have been spent fretting about the capability of AW to do some business on the Transfer Market, and yet what are we talking about?
After 8 fruitless years or so, Gazidis has told us the club are now in the happy position of being able to afford new, quality players. Yippee!
We have all become impatient watching the big spenders go out and buy all the goodies in the shop with a plethora of top quality players ending up with Real, Barca, Citeh, Chelsea etc, and all of them winning trophies while we end up holding the wooden spoon after buying Denilson, Santos, Arshavi, gervinho et al.
But, so far in this window what has changed? We have only one token freebie player in Sanogo to show for it. Although to be fair we have made promising noises about Suarez, Rooney and various others rumoured to be ‘eyed’ or ‘trialled’ by our illustrious manager.
This state of affairs has made even some of the longtime Wenger supporters, including me, get itchy under the collar, and others to become genuinely depressed.
There has been much understandable grumbling from fans about the cost of season tickets in an economically difficult climate, as well as the increased travel costs etc, whereas Arsenal we are told are coining it with TV deals, gimormous sponsorship deals and money flowing in from our Asian fanbase, blah, blah. We have dosh coming out of every orifice it would seem.
But where is the pay back? Why have we come to within one day of the start of the season and sod all has happened with regard to transfers?
As someone who might be called a Wenger loyalist, I have to agree that many of my fellow Gooners are on edge, and if the window closes without significant additions, there is likely to be an Arsenal fans summer revolution with boos sounding out around the ground at the first sign of a poor performance and goodness knows what will happen when we lose, heralding protest groups who will arrange marches at every turn.
The tom tom beats of disgruntled fans on the blogs should send out a wake-up call to AW and the Board that they must buy and buy now, but not just any old player, there must be at least one marquee signing!
Arsene has enjoyed considerable support from the fans over the years, but many of us will feel the urge to call for his head if this season peters out to being yet another massive disappointment as regards trophies or even at least fighting for the top 3 in the EPL.
Frankly it cannot be denied that the Board have given Arsene a huge amount of leeway in which to run the football part of the club, and if he does not deliver this season, sadly it might be time to call for an end to his era.”
Hope this helps!! 😀
correction:
Arsene Wenger has confirmed Mikel Arteta will miss Arsenal’s season opener against Aston Villa through injury and could be out for up to six weeks. (in case LB asks 🙂 )
Official:
Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich to VfL Wolfsburg)
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/liga/news/2013/0000265082.php
£15.4 Million (5 year deal till 2018)
Ok, one less player to care about.
RA
is that your post or just a short summary of your intended post 🙂
Thanks RA, I’m going to remove it now ………. have you got a title in mind?
New Post ….. sorry Peaches, we crossed in the ether!!
Thats ok Raddy …… good thing I came back 😉
We’re obviously not an attractive proposition for some targets and I can quite understand why. We are the architects of our own negative press by proving them right so often
Hi Rasp, I think one additional consideration for players this year, with the WC coming up, would be playing time. Starter at XYZ vs fighting for position at Arsenal, BayernM, etc. I’m sure this is a consideration for players like Julio Cesar, and Luiz Gustavo.
Arsenal might have to pay an additional premium this year to the player in order to overcome that barrier. Somehow I don’t see that happening though.
Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup.
Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog from
my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Keep up the superb work!
qibtldvofyr That’s a good post. qibtldvofyr