Bellerin – I think it is fair to say that we have by now all fallen in love with Hector’s pace and much improved defensive abilities. He has grown into a reliable and very promising full back so much so that he is the only AFC player in the EPL team of the year…He is definitely a keeper for a long time – glad he proved me wrong.
Monreal – an ok season. Relatively solid he also had some horrible games and his lack of pace gets exposed regularly….and his attacking contribution to our game has been lame oh so lame…
Gibbs – another season goes by and he still is not AFC’s starting left back. He is an ok player but he can be awkward defensively and his attacking inputs are also limited although much better than Monreal.
Jenkinson – was doing ok until his injury. Is he keeper?
Debuchy – not good enough since his injury. He s doing ok in Bordeaux.
Given the above and given the fact that FB have become key to attacks and defence, do we need upgrades?
Written by RC78
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Cheers RC
Nacho is my first defender on the team sheet. Pit bull with great engine and top attitude. One we can always count on…Love him.
Bellerina is soooo talented- big potential to become best in the world.
Gibbs is sound back up.
Just need cover for Hector Vector and focus on CBs.
RC
Glad you made the effort to write something but a tad harsh on Nacho, no? Have a look at the cross that came in for Giroud to score his first in Sunday.
I am sure Chas will put it up
Quiet day on AA. Must be the post holiday blues.
RC78. Thank you.
I expect Mr Wenger to invest in a young LB and possibly a back-up RB IF he thinks Jenks is below par; sady, I expect he does.
Of course he has the option of playing Chambers as our back up RB and as I recall he has done well there.
Thanks RC, I guess we’re still all recovering from the elation at the weekend.
I too think you are underestimating Monreal, he has been superb whenever I’ve seen him and certainly not lacked pace or work rate. He makes tireless runs to pull the defence wide but seldom gets the return ball – he just sprints back to his position knowing he’s done a job for the team.
I agree about Hector, he’s a real find, and his mate from Barca, Jon Toral is also looking a good prospect.
I don’t think Chambers has the attributes to be an overlapping fullback – he’s a centre back so I do see the need to bring in back up for RB.
Cheers, RC78.
Poor Nacho – I think he’s been excellent this season.
I still think Gibbo has some mileage in him as well. He’s just coming up to the age Nacho was when he joined us.
I like to think Jenks will come back desperate to impress his Grandad.
Maybe there’s another gem waiting to break through from the Academy.
Here’s that Nacho assist……….
Be great if Liverpool win tonight (maybe)
Beware bad language
I’m not sure, BR.
I don’t think I want Herr Klopp to win a trophy in his first season.
Ignominious defeat would be better for putting them in their place for next season.
Mind you if they win, they’ll be in the CL and that’ll put pressure on them next time around.
Oh, I don’t know. Plenty of goals would be nice. 🙂
Thanks RC
Personally I’d be livid if Arsene buys a Back of any flavour.
I’d never expect him to attempt to introduce 3, max, first teamers, and leadership, spine, and most importantly goals is where it’s at 🙂
I’m hoping for some early transfer action. Just wondering whether English clubs will try to move for any European players before Brexit vote, as if its an OUT, then prices to English clubs would presumably go even more crazy
Oooo, Europa final tonight eh
Agree with Chas re goals. Really like the look of that Pool striker. What’s his name?
Erik
Loved the sound of your gig in Italy.
Rate I’m going, I’ll be able to accompany you next year. Doing sharps and flats and shit like that already
Divock Origi is the Pool striker
Bloody hell, the final is in Basel
Guessed the stadium held about 12 fans, but google say 35,000
Still, that’s pathetic
12,000 tickets for Pool fans.
Some are estimating 100,000 have travelled. 🙂
It’s Happened Again.
Yes it’s happened again – Arsene Wenger has taken Arsenal to the Champions League for the 20th consecutive season – a record only exceeded by Sir Alex Ferguson who took Manchester Untied to the CL on 21 consecutive occasions.
It’s Happened Again.
Arsene Wenger has kept the N17 recurring nightmare alive by ensuring that in his 20 years as our manager he has never allowed Tottenham to finish above Arsenal.
Poor Old Tottenham – It’s Happened Again
Be a good night for the touts and those swine who sell bogus tickets.
Hope the Scousers give them a good kicking.
Micky. Your teacher Mrs? must be a wizard
GN5. As you so rightly say
GN5
Are you sure about Man U with 21 consecutive?
I thought us and Real Madrid held the record?
You are probably correct Chas – also it was most likely not always known as the CL for all of AW’s 20 seasons.
Right. Fed and watered. Just looked up Sevilla. Scored 51, conceded 50 in the league, so a fairly cavalier approach bodes well for goals.
Sturridge over Origi
Cheers 78
What’s your problem with Monreal? Is it because he looks suspiciously Albanian?
If so, I can assure you, I have a Kosovan tenant who’s a very nice guy, always pays his rent on time and as far as I know has never committed a war crime.
Gibbs is a good back up. Plays just the right amount of games without bankrupting the National Health Service
Everybody loves Hector. Great young player. The only danger is Barca DNA? But why would he want to go there? The place is awful for pulling. As soon as a women gets to Barcalona she goes all cultural on you, You know your finished after that. Take her to the Gothic quarter and you will never have sex again.
Would like to see Jenks have another go as understudy but have doubts. The last time I saw him play for West Ham he was so shit Andy Carrol finished the game thinking he had brilliant technique.
I want Seville to win this. Read somewhere that if Liverpool win it will mean less money for us from the Champions League.
Stan won’t like that. He needs the cash to save his ranch and all the other good settlers from evil cattle rustlers.
One day people will see Stan in his true light. Riding into the sunset as some snotty nose kid yells “Come back Stan, I love you Stan. Mommy loves you to Stan and wants you to stay for Supper. Daddy doesn’t mind Stan, he loves you and you can tie him up again Stan”
But Stan rides off like the hero he is, leaving behind a desperate housewife, an impotent husband, and a battered Jack Palance
Yes RC, I agree with everyone who says what’s your problem with Nacho? I think both our fullbacks are brilliant. Nacho is quite aggressive when he’s in an attacking position, he knows what he wants to do and usually manages to do it.
In a bar in Mykonos 😃
Get in Daniel Sturridge!!! He already looks good in red 😃
superb goal
Peaches
Cocktails and olives?
Mykanos?
Hmmm, there is a lot that can be read into that……………….
Would he fit your requirements Micky? After all we don’t shoot from outside the box 😦
Yes LB there is ……. but I’m only here for a week and although my ex husband told me that Tom Conti was on the beach I stayed by the pool 😃
Cocktails yes, how did you guess 😃
Peaches
Don’t know if this helps, but Transplant has a cousin on Mykonos.
According to every free dating website in every country, he is very single and very available. 24/7. He’s called Zeus.
This afternoon I listened to the arseblog podcast from Monday, it’s very funny 😂😂😂😂😂
My baby spud that’s training with the first team had to go to Newcastle on Sunday ……. he’s the Gooner, can’t stop laughing 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 he said all he could think about was how much more fun it would be at The Emirates that afternoon
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks Micky, but I’m spoken for 😃
Peaches
Glad to hear that, although the news won’t deter Zeus 🙂
Bit behind on Twitter but this made me chuckle
wow great goals Chas
Shouldn’t that be Covet not Covert, and his name is Zeus.
Great to see TH14 in there 🙂
But Ollie IS “covert” 🙂
Theo is “covert”
I’m back to my opinion that we will add Granit to our midfield, but 50+m (euros) for Maura – surely not!
HEHEHEHEHEH
Klopp got them going at half time!
I’m disappointed with Sevilla. I thought English football was supposed to be unsophisticated, but the Spaniards are the ones hoofing it forward. What is ‘ave it’ in Spanish?
Hahahaaa, I’m the king of talking bollix 🙂 1 all
chas. Those goals were fantastic. but I would have liked to see TH14’s goal vs MU at the Clock End. That was top top quality.
Come on L’pool. Do it for Kolo
Are you watching on delay, Rasp?
BR
That was more instep than outside of the foot?
I popped over to see a bit of celebrity master chef – the game wasn’t gripping me – I’m watching now. I’d like Sevilla to win because liverpool’s momentum from a victory is a greater positive than the negative of playing extra games in the CL
chas. I just said I would like to see the goal not which part of the foot he hit it with 🙂
HOOOOOOOFFFFF
Hmmmm pool have run out of steam, all that manic constant high pressing in the first half has taken its toll. The team need to press selectively not continuously
Grimandi “assist”. 🙂
I was at that game – and it was off the outside of his foot 🙂
Was it bollocks
It bent away from the keeper so he kinda used the outside of his foot 🙂
Goal seemed offside to me but L’pool have lost it in this half and look a shambles
Thanks chas. I was right behind the gaol when it went in and it was possibly definitely off the outside of the boot 🙂
Too much pressing first half, needed to make it count, they didn’t create much after they scored
Don’t you start!
Cutting across it with the instep is totally different to off the outside of the foot. Haven’t either of you ever played? 😆
Raddy, I was behind the goal too, we must have been literally feet apart
The outside of the foot can be either side. Denis used the instep mostly, th14 both 🙂
Time for another Pool comeback.
Where’s Stevie Me to win it for them?
Yep, king of talking bollix. “The outside of the foot can be either side” 😆
…. Meaning the foot has 2 sides, at least mine and th’s does 🙂
chas. When I played it was with heavy leather balls with laces – you couldn’t bend one of those unless you were Pele
I really don’t want to sound mean or sexist, but perhaps it would help the players if the Pool fans shifted the boilers away from the front row and put the babes there instead
Got to try everything.
Callum Chambers scored a good goal off the outside off his foot – a challenge to chas to find the clip 🙂
It’s all the outside of the boot Rasp
Could you be more specific 🙂
Thanks chas.
There you go Micky, he rolled it off the outside of the foot just like th14 😆
Nacho does not score any goals and does not provide more than 3 assists a season. He does not have long shot or long passing range. He is an aggressive defender yes with a good engine but he s not world class. I would rather sell him and buy a top notch LB that can really make a positive contribution on both sides of the pitch….
Pool comprehensively outplayed. No Europe for them next season which could be bad news
Yessssss a blubber 🙂
Sometimes Dennis used to roll it off the inside of the outside of his foot.
I always think it’s harsh to make the losing side wait around to get a losers medal. What they should do is provide a padded room with cats and crockery and baseball bats 🙂
Oops, scratch the cats, maybe referees
Are the Spanish teams so much better than the rest of Europe?
Night all
Who do you think we should buy, RC78?
Well, put like that RC I suppose you have a point.
I like Chas would be curious to know who would be your choice?
So Liverpool’s ridiculous celebrations after the Dortmund game prove to be a little premature! What a shame! 😂
fgg
They weren’t celebrating winning the trophy at that time, but their amazing comeback.
Always celebrate when something good happens; it might be the only chance you get.
Anyway, what’s wrong with being premature? 🙂
Still laughing ……
Morning All,
We were delighted to come second and so should Liverpool. Beating MU and BD was a fine effort,
Any sliders?
Ade Akinfenwa
Yikes. 102kg according to Wiki. Superb specimen
Shit a brick. That’s 16 stone at just 6′
6:53 One of the classics 🙂
He’s a big lad.
Agree Micky, ….. top sliding
Just you tubed the big man. He’s surprisingly nimble for a prop forward
the top photo – what cup are the lads holding – trophy for finishing second?
I just received the following email, LOL on spuds –
Europe’s best hit Melbourne this July!
Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus and Champions League finalists Atlético de Madrid are coming to Melbourne this July to play in the International Champions Cup Australia, presented by Audi.
Don’t miss the chance to see some of the best players in the world playing at the MCG!
VP – go to the bookies and put all your money on Spurs finishing 4th.
RC
Goals and assists are nice but not key for a FB. I would like him to produce more assists but the same goes for Alexis…..and it takes two to tango. 😜
We scored a lot of goals from the left and Nacho has been brilliant in stretching our play, giving us extra width to get behind defences and applying pressure on the opposition defences constantly. I bet he produced as many key passes as any other FB in the country. it would have been good if you had made a comparison on goals, assists, key passes, clean sheets, tackles, interceptions etc with the FBs of the other big teams as now it feels more like a personal dislike than an informed decision. Whoscored.com is a great source for info re this. 😄⚽️
The Dippers were getting way above their station, can’t say I am sorry.
LB. Love it.
It was a strange season when 3 small clubs performed far better than expected.
BR, and it will be complete if Palace take the cup this Saturday 😜
Full back reviews:
Bellerin, Monreal, Gibbs are keepers.
Jenkinson will depend on what Arsene’s has in mind for the stand-in solution to Bellerin.
Debuchy can be released as he is not keen on being a backup squad player in the team.
Possibly the one and only left-back, if he is available, I would personally take over Monreal is David Alaba from Bayern Munich.
Alaba
– key player for Bayern, as well as the Austrian national team.
– currently only 23 years of age and already a top class player and has a long career ahead to improve better.
– versatility in defence (LB, CB, DM)
– equally strong in defence and attack (passing, crossing, shooting, match intelligence and concentration level, power and technical ability etc)
Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna’s heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, ‘Edna, I have good news and bad news.
The good news is you’re being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love… I have concluded that your act displays sound-mindedness.
The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he’s dead.’
Edna replied, ‘He didn’t hang himself, I put him there to dry.
How soon can I go home?’
For anyone interested – Arsenal 2015/16 Season Review here: http://realsport101.com/missed-opportunities-the-arsenal-end-of-season-review/
(I used to be a long-time commenter on this site, but not for a while. Mainly just read the posts now.)
Enjoy 🙂
Total Arsenal – I will have that with you by end of the day 🙂
On top of my head:
Maxwell, Kurzawa, Rose, R. Rodriguez, Baines, Jonas Hector may have better stats per game overall than Monreal
And I agree with all that say that we need to get a good back-up in case Hector Vector gets injured
My hope is that now the season is over the club management will look back on the season in a constructive manner and put into place the system, training methods, players and coaches that put our club in a position to be successful in both the PL and CL.
I truly believe that we have as good a great core of players for AW to build around and that as few as 2 or 3 players will be enough to make the difference.
This season was spoiled for me – and not as you may think by the teams performance – but by the destructive comments on blogs, in the media and by a group of our home supporters.
I spent many weeks not bothering to blog as I found the comments to be very disturbing and they diminished my enjoyment of the game and the club that I have spent my life supporting.
I wandered around a few other blogs but it became apparent to me that the views expressed by the majority of AA bloggers and the manner in which they were stated was far more logical and more in line with my own feelings.
So here I am…………………….GN5
RC, sorry to be late but great thought provoking post. I agree about making sure we have the right back up to Hector. At LFB I am not sure but you have got me thinking. Gibbs always seemed more adept at getting into goal-scoring positions from LFB. I wonder why he has been so under utilised. Is Nacho significantly better than Gibbs? If he is what is it that makes him much better?
GN5, great to see you back. As you say even in disagreement between bloggers this site is much more balanced and the yin is always needed to the yang. Also a very funny joke earlier.
Quick question GN5, when you say the “club management” are you primarily referring to Arsene? Reading between the lines it looks like he holds sway over all aspects relating to systems, training methods, players and coaches, so any deficiency in those areas that thwarts us in our attempts to win EPL’s or ECL’s would come back to him. I too hope these areas are addressed next year GN5.
nice one, RC. 🙂 A bit too early in the calendar for me. The Bushy appears to be goner for me.
But Bellerin and Monreal certainly, also Gibbo (because I like him) and Jenks (because he is Gooner at heart). 🙂
fantastic vids, Chas. 🙂
GB,
I would hope that AW would get his whole team of advisors/assistants together and hold a serious brainstorming session so that he can come up with a plan to resolve our deficiencies.
In my mind it’s pretty obvious what we need to do.
Our goals scored in 2015/16 was the lowest in the past 15 seasons (65 goals) going back to 2000/1. In the previous (2001/2 – 2014/15) 14 seasons we scored an average of 74 goals per season. Last season we drew 11 games an extra goal in those game would have given us a further 22 points – I recognize that this is over simplifying the situation but to me it sticks out like a sore thumb.
I also realize that as each season passes double decker defenses are becoming more popular against the top teams – so it’s not just a matter of new strikers but there must also be an analysis of the best way to break open those defenses.
Welcome back GN5 🙂
Cheers Rasp.
Oh dear I am not one who sticks by the rules GN5 🙂
It is much more coplex than saying we scored the least amount of goals since 2000/1
Many have been saying the same thing for years so I won’t repeat it except to say that tikka takka is not suited to our team as we haven’t got enough quality players to play that way,and AW has stagnated and more and more teams regardless where they sit in the league, know exactly how to play against us.
Sorry,I won’t change my opinion and to frank it infuriates me that we make the same mistakes time and time again and rarely see us play well for a whole game.The crowd do want goals and do want to be entertained etc……
should say ….and to be frank
Kelsey,
Obviously our opinions are at opposite ends of the spectrum. I really don’t understand how finishing 2nd in (arguably) the best league in the world is being stagnant? If that is the case then I would have liked us to have been this stagnant for the 70+ years of my support.
Tikka Takka is simply a tactical decision and as I said earlier we need to find the way to break down the 5/9 man defenses. This could well mean a different style – although given that tikka takka is the prevalent style used by Arsenal at all levels then I doubt it will change.
Nice day here so the wife and I are going to go for a walk along the river.
Don’t fall in 😉
Christ,
They must have fallen in 😉
Kelsey. Why don’t you write a season review? I am still very happy after Sunday and need to be brought down to earth 🙂
What!!We finished second, only had 47 injuries,played well two or three times and Chas and Ant enjoyed every beer and crisps they could manage.back in the CL looking forwar to qualyfing into the group stages as runners up.sanogo will save us,fret not we will manage without Ozil and Sanchez.Welbeck and the ox won’t be missed for the whole season and what about 100K+ Wally will he be the robust CF no one fears a bit like diega Costa.So much to look forward to,much better than looking back 😉
Walking around Venice last weekend. Didn’t see a single Arsenal shirt for sale, but I did see a Vardy and Mahrez. That’s rather pathetic isn’t it.
I’d be willing to wager our fbs didn’t have 5 assists between them.
2nd is great, if your previous best was 10th.
I expect better.
As Wenger is finding out not daring to be great is no better than failing to be great.
It’s time to be great! Please wenger, dare to be great!
Tpg – tackles per game
Int = Intercerption
Cpg = Clearance per game
DRB = dribbled per game
Spg = shots per game
KP = key passes
Crpg = cross per game
drb = dribbles per game
Monreal – 37 games – No Goal – 3 Assists – 2.1 Tpg – 2.9 Int – 3.1 Cpg – 0.8 DRB – 0.8 Spg – 0.8 kpg – 0.5 Crpg – 0.4 drb
These are Monreal stats in the EPL…
Kurzawa – 19 games – 4 goals – 5 assists – 2.9 tpg – 3.3 int – 2.1 cpg – 0.6 DRB – 1 Spg – 0.9 kpg – 0.6 Crpg – 1.5 drb –
R. Rodriguez – 24 games – 2 goals – 3 assists – 1.5 tpg – 1.8 int – 1.7 cpg – 0.6 DRB – 1.1 Spg – 1.5 kpg – 1.4 Crpg – 0.8 drb
It is quite time consuming to get all the stats 😛 so I just did it for 3 players, including Monreal.
Surprisingly, this season – Alaba, Alba, Baines do not necessarily have overall better stats than Monreal
Thats a good stats dig, RC. Very informative. 🙂
Does anyone know what kind of stats this Kroenke firm produces? It will be good to know whether they are any good, or are just pulling the team down.
9 in the League, Wally – but who’s counting?
ha ha ha
excellent dragging down this morning 🙂
Would definitely like to hear more from Eddie
Cannot believe her life has moved on to a tranquil and uneventful path
OMG – tranquil and uneventful???!!! ffs I am soooooo drained with events and things
She’s still fuming we only got 2nd placed trophy this year like Wally.
But I’m sure her attendance at the St Arsenalingham party thrown by the Oakwood spuds was an event she attended that produced some belting litlle stories. 🙂
Cat went missing for 3 days. Strangely I was very upset, after all it is only a cat. Posters on every lamppost, calling RSPCA and other find the cat orgs, nothing. And then last night a 3am I could hear cats fighting, went out, started calling her and she is back 🙂 My Lilly La La, top cat
Eddie
You should feel sorry for Ant and me.
We have to attend a 50th birthday do at York Races tomorrow.
When will it ever end?
Hooray for Lilly La La – luckiest cat in the world.
Morning
Sorry if this has already done the rounds
A week in Mykonos is a very tranquil and uneventful path, well for me anyway 😃
Gotta go, I’m back on two wheels.
BR
Any video of your party last Sunday? I’d particularly like to see the Go West song and the “Happened Again” one.
of course I am fuming. We should have won it and we didn’t. Nothing to be happy about unless you are a moron and are happy for Leicester.
I was trying to let out the house in Oakwood. I have no money to pay 2 mortgages next month. But people are viewing thinking of moving in in October! Others complain about inefficient heating system, or want me to remove the fireplace to make it easier for them to get out of bed. Or carpet the whole place. One said she had a French bulldog which turned out to be Dog de Bordeaux
Noooo, that is not for MY nerves. I am selling instead.
peaches 🙂 when I was looking for my cat I met a spud who’s done your splashbacks. He ain’t a happy bunny 🙂 said you are a nice lady 🙂
Hi Eddie, yes he lives in your road. Small world, I think he and his wife have signed up to be hosts next season.
POST
Praying someone has sent an improvement on the garbage I just dispatched. Still, times are tough and all that. Post sent.
Damn
Sod off to pen a post and miss all the action
Must go meself. Back later
Morning All,
Some fine work from the morning crew. Love the cats.
I am off to work early as well but perhaps I should publish Micky’s post before I go at @8.15 GMT.
All in favour say, Aye
Cheers RC 😄⚽️
Don’t know much about the players you put up but I like your last line about Nacho comparing well against Baines etc.
I had a look at assists – something lazy Wally cannot be bothered about – and Bellerin and Nacho have as many PL assists as Alexis, Ox, Theo and Danny combined…. Which, imo, paints a more interesting picture. 👀
Chas. Thankfully there is no video evidence of my endeavours
TA. Sadly your stats say much about our injury problems last season and the damaging effect they had upon our attack 😦
Aye
Agreed Raddy, but still, just eight assist between the four of them in the whole season is pretty poor..
Chas, fine images and vids but I reckon the summer job is impacting negatively on your creativity; it is not eclectic enough. 🙃
Thanks RA
There is a New Post
TA. I agree completely