I have written 735 posts for AA.
This could be the last, it depends upon you.
The fact of the matter is that Chas and I have kept this fine blog running for a few years now and we are both feeling the strain. I need to stress that the following is my viewpoint and not Chas’s, but I think he is likely to agree.
When AA started, many moons ago, there were a group of bloggers who chose to write an unbiased blog which allowed Gooners to express their opinion without fear of threats, bullying, abuse or profanity. Through a weeding out process and the banning of a number of bloggers (most of whom can be found on AFCTV or Le Grove) we created a great blog, a blog where no-one has ever earned a single penny. It is a labour of love
But …
Slowly but surely the founders of the blog stopped contributing. Others got bored, and sadly, one passed. Finally, it was just chas and I.
We put many hours into the blog, Fortunately, this season we have been helped by some fine posts from LBG and, in particular, GN5, but we still have to format, add pics and a header, write tags and categories and then publish. Neither Chas nor myself are willing to continue to do this.
In essence without more input from you, the reader and commentor, the blog will close. These are the options:-
1. We close the blog for summer. Start again at the start of the season and operate on one or two posts a week,
2. Through summer we have one post a week and try for more in August.
3. Some of you get involved and help us run the blog. We can give you access to the AA WordPress account and publish posts yourself.
4. We, as a group, move to another blog. Perhaps TA’s Bergkampesque (I haven’t asked him!) or another Arsenal blog which we agree upon.
5. We close the blog and say Goodbye to each other.
There have been bloggers who have been with us for many years and written thousands of comments, you know who you are ,and it would be sad to lose the camaraderie which AA has built all over the world but everything dies and perhaps it is time for AA to move to the Great Blog Heaven in the Sky.
It is up to you. Are you prepared to commit to helping run the blog (GN5 has already offered his assistance), not for a day or two but for the season?
Blogging has added much to my life, I am an ex-pat Gooner and have no outlet to discuss my passion but I recognise that the numbers who blog has diminished enormously – we are running at less than 20% of the viewers we had a few years ago though we still attract more than Barnet do for a home game.
This post will stay up for a few days so as many as possible can give their opinion, then we will make a decision as to the future.
Up the Gunners
BR
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Hey BR
it’s a great blog, one which I read whether we’ve won or lost. Please keep going, there’s not much balance around.
Jeff (Singapore)
As a regular reader – and not a contributor I stress – I would be very sad to see you fold. AA is one of my go to Arsenal blogs; for reasoned opinion; appreciated lack of ego; and an easy to read layout, happily not blighted by pop up ads ! Plus, as an anally retentive stats lover, I just devour the right hand side ongoing stats column whenever it is updated. Hopefully you can find some way to keep going: if not, you will be missed.
I’m willing to commit to writing something on a regular basis.
I think if enough people can make this pledge we can keep the blog going – by spreading the work.
I don’t often comment here as I’ve been super busy the last two years but I do read the posts and I really appreciate what you guys have done for us fans over the years.
I don’t mind helping but not sure I could write a post as fine as u all but maybe I can do the picture stuff
And I vote for not shooting it down
Sad stuff, BR, and I think you have had to bite the bullet or the rest of us have to put up or shut up,
I need to think about my reaction and will write to you again later.
In the meantime, I have written a whimsey below for today, which shows why I stopped writing Posts – but what the hell!! 🤪
What is it about football?
Come on – tell me — Why do so many of us go through psychological phases of extreme pleasure, when our chosen club team beats the larry out of near rivals, or wins an important competition? Hmm? The answer to that seems easy enough, doesn’t it.
Then again, why do we plummet into the depths of despair and ruin the day, not just for ourselves, but also those of friends and family when the team gets unexpectedly beaten despite, or because of, high expectations of a victory.
Look, speaking only for myself here, you understand, I think I should not have bothered watching the Arsenal last season, in fact, after a less than graceful, and far too swift descent from being one of the top two teams in the Premier League at the turn of the 21st Century, we now threaten no club in the top 5 or 6, and it hurts – it hurts badly, it hurts both mentally and physically.
I have become known as El Grumpy, after dismal games, and have also unbelievably lost interest in eating, as evidenced by dropping from a svelte 20 stone to an emaciated 18 or 19 stone because I can often only eat 3 sausage, egg and cheese bagels, 2 New York stacks, and 1 each of the Mississippi, Kansas City and South Carolina stacks and simply cannot manage any fries – well sometimes, maybe.
It is truly a sad state that my team have driven me to.
Let’s be truthful here, I have at times pretended that I was watching a more assertive Arsenal team, kidding myself that things were a-changing, that the team might be on the verge of shocking not just us Gooners, but the rest of the football world, by returning to the mesmerizing wonder of physically hard but eminently skilful players returning to the azimuth of the Premier League.
In effect I had imposed an intellectual embargo on reality, when I should have been brave enough to stand tall and accept the truth of what my eyes were seeing, of what my capacious gut was telling me, and to stop rationalizing and excuse-making for the thin gruel that was frequently being served up as high cuisine.
I have decided that ‘un oeuff est un oeuff’ – whoops – ‘enough is enough’ – damn those Frenchies – eggs have nothing to do with this, except if you are hungry.
Next season I am going to call it as I see it, without those rose-tinted spectacles. No more wistful glances at the superb Man City and ‘Pool teams, a renewed RA will be punctilious in naming names, in chiding recalcitrant players, and of course, heaping praise on the boys when they play well, because they have read that I am on the warpath otherwise.
Who is with me? Who has had enough of the pretence?
Who wants to love the Arsenal because they are lovable and stimulatingly entertaining – just like they used to be – and in return, I can help McDonalds to increase their profits!
CYRRG
I’ve been in awe of last seasons quality and quantity of daily posts. I thought that this had contributed to a surge in AA being the go to in blogdom for Arsenal. So I am a bit shocked that it could fold.
I do fully appreciate the efforts of Chas, BR, GN5 & LBG, you have all been fantastic and have set the bar very high .
I am just not sure I scale those heights but to keep the sight going I would commit to regular contributions, especially during the quiet times etc. Let me know and I’ll make a start. But please, I’m thick skinned so if you think its shite or needs major editing than say so, I dont get offended.
Good luck and thank you again
Thanks Raddy
I am not the oldest on the blog but have been on here for a number of years now. The last couple of years slightly less so as time has become more limited for yours truly. As such I am only just now saying thank-you to yourself and GN5 for the last few posts.
I often miss the moment on posts and catch up belatedly these days, but still recognise and am grateful to yourself, Chas, GN5, and the others that have written posts and been the key contributors to the blog in recent seasons. It would be a big shame to lose all that.
On a personal level I did used to contribute with a few more posts than I have done in the last 2 years. As I say time has become a big factor, but that could change. The other reason I have kind of slacked off on the post contribution is purely because I felt the blog had developed a certain identity that wasn’t that compatible to my types of post.
That isn’t meant as a bad thing, because as you are hearing and will hear, this blog attracts people for many other reasons than pure football. The humour and intelligent diversions into other subject matters, other than pure football, make for great reading. I Really enjoy the diversity of posts from the other writers, and each writer has a different style and angle that makes this blog interesting.
Morning all.
I’ve been blogging in various forms for over 25 years and moved from site to site before Kelsey (who I met on another site) introduced me to AA in June of 2010. I wrote an introductory post the following month and have since written well over 300 posts (modest in comparison to Raddy’s huge contribution).
Over the last season as other key contributors disappeared the behind the scenes workload fell (unfairly) on the shoulders of Chas and Raddy, They have done a fantastic job and we are all in debt to them for a super blogging season.
Like the few of us left on the blog I’m on here due the remarkable diversity of the bloggers and the civil manner in which the blog has been administered.
I have no wish to see AA fade away – as it would leave a big hole in my Arsenal experience so I offered to do anything I could to avoid the blog just fading away. This morning I received an invitation to administer the blog and I’m happy to take on the task – but not without certain reservations –
I have no experience in operating a blog but both of my children
have an exceptional amount of computer savvy and will be there to guide me through the process, but it will not be a turnkey situation as it will take time for me to develop the knowledge required.
Of the options Raddy has listed my personal preference would be –
Operate with a reduced amount of daily posts while we discover who else will offer to become more involved in running AA and then we can access our future options, In the meantime I will begin to acquaint myself with in inner workings of AA.
I’ve not been on here for very long, but have enjoyed it immensely!! Whether it’s just to think aloud, have a little whinge, spread the gooner love or just take a trip to banter-ville! 😜
There are a lot of things I like about this site, so it’d be a shame if it does fold…
I have to say, that is a helluva lot of posts, BR & I take my hat off to you, chas, GN5 & LBG, for making this such a fine site.. that’s dedication for you 👍👏
It seems to me that the questions you raise BR come down to what you and Chas would like to do; that’s to say, whatever it is that you enjoy doing, just do that.
As you say this blog started from disgruntled bloggers from a site else where and for some reason the idea of producing a post every day came with it.
This has not made sense to me for some time and even more so right now, what’s to say, very little it seems to me.
I think your recent posts of He’s got no hair and How was it for you have been top drawer; they really are the kind of posts posts that I enjoy reading.
I am guessing that you feel pressured or you wouldn’t have written today’s post, my suggestion would be – stop, write them when you are in the mood and enjoy it.
Hi guys – sorry I didn’t contribute as much as I wanted. Sadly, I have been in hospital recently but am on the mend. I understand your point and I am OK with option 1 or 2 but this blog must continue. It is a clean and fun blog for Arsenal fans and the show must go on. I think having up to 3 posts a week is enough during the season and 1 post a week off season is totally fine. I ll commit to writing 1 per month if this is OK with you and encourage 3 fellow bloggers to join me in this commitment. This would mean that we have 4 posts a month from different bloggers and that would help keep the blog running. Am happy to focus on giving insights on potential targets or review of potential targets that could join arsenal from different leagues for example.
Many a blog has run its course, and often then sinks into the West without a murmur, mainly because of the inertia of its bloggers/readers, as well as the constant work needed in sorting out and preparing suitable Posts each day by administrators.
That seems a problem that can be readily addressed, now that the problem has been made more public — or at least you would think so, but the very limited number of responses so far today (12) and 3 of these from bloggers unheard of previously, does not bode too well methinks.
Perhaps the purpose of the site needs a re-think, as talking football, or more to the point, talking incessantly about Arsenal this, or Arsenal that, eventually becomes too boring to the vast majority of bloggers who have heard it all, many times over.
I
Producing (writing) Posts is not enough in itself, it seems to me, what Chas and Raddy need is more administrative help, and then Posts will take care of themselves provided they are interesting enough to entice others to read and comment on them.
And what is key, is that bloggers respond with comments, to those who take the time, and make the effort to write the original comments — no one likes, or could be bothered, to do so while feeling they are talking to themselves.
The success of the site in the past has been down in large part to the constant presence of Rasp(er) who acted as the focal point of AA and was effectively its manager, tho out of modesty he would deny that. 😛
If Rasp is no longer available, which would be very disappointing to many of us who respect and admire him, then perhaps we should be looking for a new site manager?
The demise of this site could be closer than many think, unfortunately.
I have blogged here from 2010, shortly after it started, and I will be very sad if we are going thru the last rites.
RA,
My feeling is that the blog will continue if there is enough support, so I’m staying positive.
Well that is a sad read.I wasn’t aware that the original founders had left AA if I read that correctly..I left for personal reasons as I wanted a site that more or less ran itself as I appreciate how hard it is to keep a site going based on this formula. If you look around many other sites are suffering as well.It is not for me to give an opinion as to what you should do but I enjoyed myself in the early years and dandan became a close friend.who I miss.Kind regards to you all.
Hi Friends
I too have only contributed recently and irregularly compared to many here, on the best Arsenal football site in existence.
I thank the originators, and then Raddy, Chas, GN5, LB et al for their magnificent effort recently.
I would be sad to see the demise of the site that feeds my passion for all things Arsenal, and am prepared to try to commit to RC’s suggested structure offering a post at least once a month. I am doubtful my technical expertise( or rather the lack of it) would be capable of actually putting the posts up, but I will commit to writing some.
Hoping for a positive outcome to this discussion and the continuation of an institution.
I, for one, who be most disappointed should I not be able to get my daily fix on this blog.
The friendly and cheerful atmosphere means that the bloggist’s passion, our beloved club, can be enjoyed without the rancour and negativity that pervades and ruins other blogs.
I appreciate that for some it is a labour of love, but also appreciate that it is hard work and can be difficult.
I have wanted to try to write a post for years but, as I do not go to games and cannot watch all the games on sky/Bt (I don’t and won’t have BT), I do feel at times that I will not have anything that our friends here will both enjoy and wish to comment on.
If it is ok, I will try to work on something in the next couple of weeks.
I assume it should be emailed to you, so can you confirm where?
In the meantime, thanks for all the enjoyment you have given me over the years.
There are some headers at the top of the page that give an email contact address, and info on the background to the blog, tho I am not sure how uptodate it is.
Nice to hear from you Kelsey and I hope all is well with you and yours.
BR, Chas
I hope you can keep the blog going as it is quality and it was the inspiration for setting up my own one years ago. I love coming here and have had some decent debates with most on here.
Like you I find it hard to keep it going all the time and a short break may not be a bad idea. Key is to spread the workload and keep it as simple as possible. A badge of text can be posted in no time and that is mostly what is needed (pictures, tags, etc are nice but not vital). Extra admin help (which GN5 appears to be offering) is of course really handy. I also think LBs advise not to feel that a post a day needs to be issued is sound. It wont be long before the friendlies start and there surely will be some transfer speculations to come and to be discussed. Maybe GN5 or GoonerB, etc, can do some season player reviews; plenty of stats to be used from Whoscored.com etc..
Keep trucking buddies and victory through harmony! 😀
Is it ok to talk about this?! But the fixtures have supposedly been leaked.. even though they come out tomorrow… August 10 & it says we’re away to Palace… ooh will Zaha be with us??!!
Happy 74th Birthday to the best Arsenal GK I witnessed playing for our great Club. Happy Birthday Pat Jennings.
Sue I don’t think that leak is accurate – the kick off times don’t tally with this coming season’s changes. Only have to wait one more day though to find out who the first team will be to come up against the mighty Arsenal. (Yes, I’m now out of my grieving phase after the Europa League final and starting to slowly feel more optimistic again haha – even talking to my Chelsea work colleagues again much to their annoyance).
I truly don’t believe we’ll end up with Zaha, he wants CL football right?! But Carrasco, Fraser etc. are all exciting me 🙂
And regards this blog, I too want to reiterate the sadness in my heart if it were to go under. I will do my best to respond to a lot more articles in future 🙂
Morning all,
I won’t be home for much of the day. I must say it’s good to hear from some of the readers who have not commented previously.
No sue , he wants CL
Apparently the club in a bit of disarray but no head of recruitment and no further contact has been made with Fraser
Hi Chris.. glad to hear you’re out of the grieving phase! I am too, took a while, but we got there 😀 Ready to go through it all again next season!! Talking to your Chelsea colleagues – I’m impressed 😁
I have to say, when I saw that article about the fixtures, I did have my doubts.. I think the same thing happened last season & it was wrong! Like you say, only have to wait till 9am tomorrow.. I hope they’re kind to us, as I don’t want to lose interest after the first game, so a good win to start off with will suffice!!
Shame about Zaha… I also like Fraser though, don’t know a great deal about Carrasco if I’m honest.. I just hope we spend our peanuts (oops I mean money 😀) wisely, quality not quantity!!
Big countdown until preseason starts now… 😉
Hi Fred.. I wanted Zaha ☹ Palace probably won’t want to sell him anyway, as looks like Wan Bissaka wants to go to United (what’s wrong with him 😂) they’re their best 2 players, so can’t imagine Woy (haha Roy) letting both go!
I hope things start happening soon though.. as all these rumours are doing my head in 🤪
Do we really want to spend a lot of money on a serial diver, or is that the direction we are taking?
Jigsol.. I don’t think we’ll spend a lot of money on anyone, do you?
Serial diver is a little harsh imo.. I like him, he’s strong, has an eye for goal, is fast.. think he’d be great for us, but let’s be honest, it’s not going to happen is it?!
And as much as I don’t like to see it – everybody dives!!
Morning All,
I would like us to sign an Englishman.
It is embarrassing that we didn’t have a single player in the England squad.
Chilwell would be a good start.
Newcastle away!! (You were right, Chris.. that leak was so wrong 😀)
It’s good that we are at home for the final game, always special to lift the league trophy in front of the home fans.
Our 3rd game is Liverpool away (😩) then the spuds the following game.. what a start to the season.. having palpitations just thinking about it 😂
Fixtures are out and one thing is for sure – no time to settle in! Newcastle, Liverpool, Man Utd very early on…
Rumours:
– Carrasco keen on Arsenal move but AFC may stumble at 25 Mln EUR asking price…
– Sampdoria Joachim Andersen and Dennis Praet on Emery’s radar. The pair can leave for 50 Mln – may prove too much again for AFC.
– Ziyech and Bergwin would favour a move to AFC as they could see some playing time rather than going to Liverpool, City or Bayern.
– Pepe bound for Bayern while Saar is still monitored by AFC
– Ndombele between Tottenham and Juve as AFC is priced out of this transfer, again…
– Denis Suarez close to Valencia as Real Madrid’s Ceballos is keen to move on.
Spotlight on Real Madrid’s big spending spree already at 303 Mln EUR:
– Rodrygo Goes (Santos, 45 M€), 18 yo, lw, brazil
– Eder Militão (Porto, 50 M€), 21 yo, cb, brazil
– Luka Jovic (Francfort, 60 M€), 21 yo, striker, serbia
– Eden Hazard (Chelsea, 100 M€), 28 , attacking mid, belgium
– Mendy (Lyon, 48 M€), 24 yo, lb, france
Zidane keen to add a CM to his squad and pushing for Pogba.
Zidane to offload Navas, Nacho, Reguilon (loan), Ceballos, Valverde (loan)Bale, B. Diaz (loan), M.Diaz, Lucas Vazquez
So far for next year, their starting XI would be:
Courtois – Carvalaj, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo – Modric, Casemiro, Kross – Hazard – Jovic, Benzema
Back-up:
? – Ordiozola, Militao, Vallejo, Mendy – Kovacic, Llorente – Vinicius, Isco, Rodrygo – Asensio
Best would be to quickly offload the deadwood so Emery can build the best possible squad: Jenkinson, Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal (?), El Neny, Ozil (?) + all loaned out players except RN and SR.
Priorities are in order: DM, CB, FW, CM, back-up GK, back-up RB
and back-up Striker and if Monreal leaves, back-up LB
8 players including 4 back-ups…
I just want to throw 2 names in the ring for DM and CM: Pulgar from Bologna and Rabiot (former PSG)
Pulgar – Chilean DM – less than 15 Mln EUR
Rabiot – French CM – Free
BR, I think the premium you have to pay for English players will mean we will have to depend on developing the likes of Nelson, Willock, Nketiah and Smith Rowe before we can enjoy an Arsenal player representing the national side…
RC, I don’t see us getting 8 players, not without a serious sacrifice of a player worth some money like Laca or Torreira, but then that would just add to the list of what we need to replace and those players can’t really be replaced with anyone half their value.
There is what we can look to recruit in a Utopian sense, and what we can realistically do right now. I think much will also depend on the following aspects:
1 who departs
2 who we promote through from the academy
3 what system we would like to be able to play
On the third question we already can play the systems that employ our 2 senior strikers but haven’t had the players for the 4-3-3 system which many of the top teams favour. All the other considerations should be to allow us to do this.
Some of our players look adaptable to a couple of positions. I have already stated I see Iwobi as a more effective central BTB midfielder and would switch his main position.
As a real left field suggestion I would like to see us give Koli a go at right side wing forward. He is slightly suspect defending anyway and always looks dangerous getting into the box. He has historically shown an eye for goal and is quick and strong with a mean left foot.
A bit out there I know but it could work and then you have young Saka to bring through there. Nelson can primarily take the left wing forward role this season. That could be our forward line sorted.
I am all for having a transitional season with lots of youngsters coming through but making sure the right experience is in the squad. There are EPL proven and experienced players whose contracts are up that could be got on a free and still do a good job while the youngsters find their feet.
Players like Milner and Mata for instance. Would we really be worse off with Milner rather than Xhaka or Elneny, and Mata has the skills to pop into Ozil’s position with Smith Rowe and Willock still waiting in the wings.
We have Martinez as back up GK so why waste money there? Should we not try out Chambers and / or Bielik at holding midfield?
Chilwell would be a good shout thoug, and would not be cheap, but could be a mainstay LFB for years to come.
Overall I would recruit wisely and conservatively and then assess where we are as this season progresses. Keep the money till we really know which young players can step up or not.
Either No.1 & 2 with regards to the blog in the long term. No.3 shall involve recruiting & training a new generation of admins. to assist in managing the blog traffic and other regularities.
On a personal front, I have been watching highlights for both the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, where some potential talents are playing (the finals will be between South Korea vs Ukraine) and the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France (RC78’s home country) where some players (Little, Beattie & Evans for Scotland; Williamson & Mead for England; Veenendaal, van de Donk, Roord & Miedema for Netherlands; Peyraud-Magnin for France; Maier for Germany) in our Arsenal Women’s team are involved.
It is a slow moving summer for our men’s team, with management still in different opinions on players’ recruitment, retention and release. Sanllehí, Emery & Cagigao are in deliberation mode. The new techical director (presumably Edu) shall not arrived until early-mid July after the Copa Americas.
I say we promoted Bielik, Nketiah, Smith Rowe, Willock, Nelson to regular 1st team squad rotation duties and retain Chambers. With Čech, Lichtsteiner, Ramsey, Welbeck having left, the younger lads can fill in a few gaps, while we use whatever available funds for either 1 or 2 quality signings from outside. Some of the players with expiring contracts and are either not required by the club or have declined to renew should be let go on a free/sold.
WBA doesn’t really palace players don’t do well there just ask zaha
Sue to be honest I don’t think zaha is a big club player
Carrasco is basically Gervinho 2.0
Fred.. another Gervinho?? Minus the forehead of course 😆 not sure I like the sound of that!
Yea minus the forehead of course, give him time though
Good morning all (9:45am here) – but it’s pouring down, major storm passing through.
I just looked through the the 2019/20 for the top six teams, one of the things I look for are back to back game against each other in the top six.
Arsenal – 2
Chelsea – 2
Liverpool – 3
Man C – 3
Man U – 2
Spurs – 0
Advantage Spurs on this one.
Personally I don’t comment on transfer speculation as I believe a lot of the “news” we get is from outlets who are looking to increase sales or get more clicks – or it’s player agents spreading false information to increase the interest in and value of their clients.
However I do get concerned with the speculation that we will off load a lot of players as I feel we need to retain a core of the team to hang on to what little continuity we do have.
BR,
I understand your discombobulation about not one Arsenal player appearing for England.
The fact is — usually not one English player appears for Arsenal — as the French say; “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” or – the more things change the more they stay the same.
The Arsenal ‘Englishness” is in their kids. And the old club modus operandi is – “send them on loan – then tell them to eff off” – is still the club motto.
Don’t you think?
GB, JM, Allezkev, RC78, Sue,
Some great comments today — really top stuff.
With you guys there should be no concerns about the future quality and longevity of Arsenal Arsenal undertaken by a limited number of volunteers.
It is just a matter of how the Administrative Duties should be passed on and delegated.
Wish you luck – but don’t be disappointed when early enthusiasm wears off, and some decide it is not for them.
Referring back to the actual post itself, I cannot begin to know how much of a headache it must be to turn out a post on a daily basis as well as time consuming, but I have the highest regard for those that do.
The pre match posts, post match reports, historical facts, goalscorers, pictures of buses, it makes a visit to AA an enjoyable experience and one that most of us appreciate.
Cheers Red, I always enjoy your contributions…
Ok just renewed numbers, so hopefully they could buy a player or two with it
Membership
All sorted then, Fred! Ready for another season of pain, heartbreak & disappointment 😂😂 hahaha just kidding!!
Morning all.
GN5, your comment about being worried about continuity with so many going is a valid concern.
On the technical playing side this does not worry me so much, and I think we need to go through a transition in that sense anyway accepting a season with the promotion of a number of academy players, in excess of what would be normal.
It is maybe not exactly ideal but the first goal is a need to get back to being one of the top 4 in the EPL again, which improves both the incoming revenue and the attractiveness of the club as a destination for top players, then we can focus on securing £60-£80m in their prime players to add to the squad again like our rivals. What I don’t want us to do is spend some of the valuable and limited current transfer funds on so-so players in positions where we have promising young players coming through.
I strongly believe that this crop of youngsters have the ability to take us forwards and, although there will be moments where the inexperience is exposed, I think they will become stronger and stronger as the season goes on if they know that the manager and fans have faith in them.
From a continuity perspective I feel what is more important is the senior leadership around these young players. More than anything they need proper mentors who can pull them up on attitude and application when needed but more often than not be that reassuring positive voice in their ear even when they make a mistake. Unfortunately GN5 in the departure of Cech, Ramsey and Wellbeck we have lost 3 players who are exactly that.
Mesut Ozil is 30 and has won the world cup and ECL so should be exactly that type of positive mentor for our young players. However, despite being a fine player technically he is more of an exasperated looking to the sky type player rather than a positive pat on the back type. I would now sacrifice his technical ability for some more positive players with greater leadership qualities, then look to the youngsters to develop and bring us that technical ability we will lose in him.
That is why I would look at players like Milner and Mata on a free and retain the likes of Kos and Monreal. They may not always be the 1st on the team sheet on may start to reduce the number of games they play but if you have Kos, Socratis, Milner, Mata in the side then you get that type of positive attitude and influence. We will still retain great technical ability in the side anyway.
I would also have a quiet word to Iwobi and Chambers and tell them that although they are young players still, they are now senior young players and need to step up and become mentors and leaders to those who are 5-6 years their junior. I still feel Chambers could become an excellent holding midfield player in the Gilberto mould, and Iwobi a great box to box CM. This is also their year to step up and prove they are top players that we don’t need to replace with external recruitment.
Personally I would be interested in Chilwell and maybe that young defender we are looking at (Andreason or something) as well as maybe Milner and Mata on a free, then look at Iwobi AMN, Chambers, Bielik, Holding, Bellerin, Willock, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Nelson, Douzi and Nketieh to all be senior squad players next year.
I would happily see Ozil, Micki, Elneny, Mustaffi, Lichtensteiner, and sadly corporal Jenks all depart to accommodate this and cleanse the squad and kick start a new and more positive dynasty.
Xhaka I am still in 2 minds about as I see some merit in him as a squad option, but don’t see him as a top class CM, so maybe it is better to let a player that could become that have his spot rather than thwart their progression.
Feel free to use this as a post Raddy / Chas 🙂
Morning folks,
Great comment GB, you are always the voice of reason and your summations are simply excellent.
If we end up buying so, so players or other teams left overs it would be an indication (to me) that we have lost our mojo and are happy to settle for 5th to 10th in the PL.
The most obvious flaw is our porous defense – we need our own Hans Brinker (The Prince of Haarlem) to put his finger in the dike to stop the flow of water (goals).
I like the idea of cashing in on Ozil to assist in buying new players.
Hiya, GB,
This would make an excellent Post – and I think we need to move on from the doom and doom one that all who need to know – now know. 👍
Actually, GB, I wish you would stop it!
I am finding it more and more difficult to fault your logic and aspirations in comments/Posts – and you know I do not like that!! 😁
Your suggestions as to which incoming players, or indeed the ones already here, who would and should have an influence on the youngsters is sound.
However they are subject to the vagaries of the Transfer rumour season, as for example, I understand that Arsenal are considering letting Kozzer go, and I also have read that Manure are giving another contract extension to Wassa Mata.
Of course that may all change again between now and the time it takes your camel to do the Times crossword. 🤪
Anyway, good man.
Afternoon, GN5,
I thought you would be bouncing on the blog, today following the terrific performance of the Raptors to win the NBA.
I only realised that the ‘founder’ of the NBA was in fact a Canadian — who’d athunk it? 😳
I will be spending a good part of today getting up to speed on Word Press administration and testing out my ability to assist in the background workload.
I will keep you updated on my progress – but if I’m successful then I will do my level best to keep AA up and running.
I don’t suppose we have any techie people on the blog now — but on my screen the comments section fills just over a third of the middle of the screen – sandwiched by two slabs of red — very Arsenal like — but makes comments like GB’s, and probably mine, look long and skinny.
Probably a Word Press settings issue – unless I am the only one who has it?
Are you all set up the same way — or is it just moi? 🥺
Well done, GN5,
The one potential problem you will have, is that you have a 5 hours, give or take, time lapse between Canada and the UK, as you know.
But maybe it will not be so problematic after all.
Time will tell — [no pun intended] 😏
Yes RA it was quite an achievement by the upstart Canadian team, Toronto was rocking.
Back in 1992/3 I was gifted two box seats to watch the Blue Jays and I took my 16 year old son. We were in a box just behind and to the right of home plate so we got a first class view of Joe Carter hitting his two run homer to win the World Series. When we left the stadium the roads and streets outside were complete pandemonium so we joined in and my son drove us through downtown Toronto, I’d imbibed far too much free single malt to drive. We still talk about it to this day.
My son is a major Raptors fan but I’m not really a fan of the game, his F/b page has only one word on it this morning – a huge YES!!.
RA, I’ve given some thought to the difference in time zones and If I’m successful in learning the background ropes then I will publish any new posts after midnight UK time – 7:00pm in Canada which will mean the new posts will be up as soon as you log on.
I’m usually up between 5:00 and 6:00 am so the earliest I can comment is midday UK time.
It must have been fantastic to be there, GN5.
That is the one sport that I have only a passing interest in – unless it is a spectacle like the Raptors — what a shock that must have been to the Warriors fans who were ‘shoe-in’ favourites.
I seem to recall that Rocky was/is a Blue Jays fan – and I used to take a look at their results, but not a big deal in truth.
That seems to be a good solution if there is in fact a problem.
I think that you do not want to make it too hard on yourself — and if you get help from a UK based volunteer too it might work out very well.
I know you will do your very best. 👍
[Sorry, GN5] that was obviously addressed to you — I was in a direct talk mode! — Oops. 😎
Cheers GN5 and RA. Thanks for agreeing with me RA. I have a wife to disagree with me on everything else 🙂
Half way through June already & I haven’t missed Soccer Saturday yet 😯 (although I have missed Soccer AM and a certain Mr Bullard)
Just over 2 weeks until the new kits are unveiled 😍.. July 6th our preseason kicks off at Boreham Wood… so looking forward to that.. just deciding which top to buy as they’re all lush!
Copa America starts tonight (well early hours).. Torreira is taking part, (gulp), so I just hope he comes back unscathed!! 🙏 looking forward to watching Aguero & those thighs (dayum 😝)
I’m a 55 year old ex-pat living in Houston. I’ve been a Gooner for 48 years (when I was old enough to figure out who the greatest team the world has ever seen are !!). I went to 500 plus games until I moved to the USA. During the 90’s it was very difficult to follow Arsenal here and since I’ve been here, I’ve been to 5 games in 27 years, all with my son – Liam !! (incidentally we’ve won all 5 incl. Barcelona in 2011 !!). I was an avid Arseblog follower until the latter part of 2016 when Mr Mangan decided to shove his opinion on politics of the country i live in. which in reality he can really know very little about.I was off the blogs for a while until one day I stumbled back across AA, which I had visited a few times in the past because it was linked to Arseblog. I read it every day and very seldom comment (I’m ashamed to admit). However, for the record, I think it’s absolutely the best Arsenal related site I’ve ever been on. I would hate to see it close. I’m self employed so quite busy but I’d like to contribute more if it would help. I could post most days. I have a long history and knowledge of Arsenal, i went to all 3 cup finals 78-81 and was at SHL when we won 5-0. This stuff is ancient history of course, but my son and I still are consumed by The Arsenal.
I’ll be visiting England at the end of the month and my Dad lives on Liverpool road about 3 mins from the stadium. No doubt a visit to the Emirates will be on the agenda.
I like this blog because there’s an honest and friendly tone to it and it’s a great read, usually to start my day (it’s 8.30 am !!).
If I can help, I will
Mike
Sue,
You are just the perfect person to have on blogsites — full of beans, knowledgeable, a transfer rumour chaser, and an outrageous fan of so many players, or parts of them, and a really nice person.
We would like to see you write a Post for AA on any subject that appeals to you — altho’ I know you have to spread your commenting talent over other blogs.
Hi Mike,
You are very welcome to join us on AA, and feel free to voice an opinion on any subject that has drawn your attention.
If you have a full-barrelled comment worthy of being thought of as a Post (say an essay length) then stick it on the comments until the latest administrative matters are sorted out.
You will probably already have spotted the different ‘info’ headings at the top of the screen but it makes interesting reading if not.
Yea I also didn’t know the RA
Reminds me how the English make football and they not the best at it
Good luck G5 make me proud
G5 didn’t know you from Canada, so what u thought of the game last night, I swear Toronto was trying do an Arsenal yesterday and give away the game
I am not English, Fred.
England were the best in the world at football, once — in 1966 when they won the World Cup. Before my time, but we must be accurate, don’t you know. 🤪
I use to like Copacabana America when I like the dog lover not sure who I want to win as yet
Fred,
Tying people to a country can be tricky. I live in England at the moment, but I am not English.
Mike above lived in England but he now lives in Houston.
GN5 ‘s family lived opposite the Highbury Stadium, but he now lives in Canada.
What do you think of that? 🙃
copa
Didn’t imply u were English, was implying that Canada made basketball and took ages to win basketball most coveted price allah England
Oh Fred… you just had to…..you had to mention the dog lover!! Well I can’t see him being picked to play for Chile.. maybe Atom & Humber should play instead of him 😆
I will certainty steer clear of Chile’s fixtures, just in case 😜
I think you and Mike are extremely look, I would love to live in England lol
Ooh RA.. what is this I see? A compliment? Or maybe more than 1? Have you been possessed by the TGIF phantom?! 😃
Haha all joking aside, thank you for your kind words, that’s very sweet of you – but please don’t make a habit of it, as I don’t like hitting the deck having passed out 😂😂
Hmm an article.. I’ll have you know, I’m an article virgin! So if I did ever venture into the unknown, i may sign off with some completely random name, as to avoid all the backlash of who wrote this piece of crap etc 🤣
Any subject that appeals to me?! 😜 well in that case, it may include pecs & thighs! And I may even throw in Wichita too haha!
RA.. 1966 was before your time?!!! 😜
Cheers Raddy
I really appreciate what you and the other stalwarts are doing to keep the blog going.
However, unfortunately I have realised that I am a horrendous parasite with an insatiable thirst to feed on other people’s good work.
Today I particularly like Redders and GB comments so claim them as my own. I am also that Mike bloke so deserve credit for not voting for Trump
Would like to claim Sues comments too, but don’t want the truth that I like men’s thighs exposed
Will write some posts during the inter lull to help things tick over
Probably about men’s thighs
😂😂😂 Terry!! 👍 brilliant!
Dare I ask about the hair transplant??
Unfortunately it’s a failed Transplant Sue. I now look like I have the island of Gibraltar situated on my head.
The good news though is that a Robin has nested down so I now longer need an alarm clock
I’m also terrified that a no deal brexit could mean my head will require a visa
Let me guess – you were trying to do a Wayne Rooney?! So I just had to google the map of Gibraltar (not been there) 😂😂 was an unusual shape 🤣 no comment 😜
The few comments I’ve seen from you, on here, have been hilarious – defo on par with Le Coq!! 👍
😁😁😁😁 Terry, you’re a marvel!!! 😁😁😀😀
Watch out for Sue — for her, the thighs the limit.
Ooops – sorry – the sky’s the limit. 😜
Love to see more of your Posts!
Because of the current situation, and providing he is a good boy, Le Coq might be able to amuse us on here too. 🤩 The last I heard, his wife keeps using a frying pan as a Coq racket, sensible – very sensible.
Good to see you — and do not tell Sue about your telescope!! 👨🏼🌾
Sue,
Terry has a rather nice car – but he is absent minded.
Ask him to tell you about the two tickets he had for Arsenal v Brighton. He forgot he had them, and when he got to work he left them on the dashboard.
After work he found someone had smashed his window — and left two more!
Le Coq is the major suspect!! 😭
C’mon, Raddy, this Post is now killing the blog — there are more than enough volunteers who have responded – and are happy to keep the loonies away — they are already here, [not me, of course!] I was thinking Terry, and Sue. 🤩
Anyway — by talking to myself, as usual, I can keep the blog going indefinitely — go count the responses – even Fred’s and he is talking Swahili. 🥺
I am sure that the volunteers we have heard from have been drawn by the promise that if they join us the day after tomorrow that will be the first day of the rest of their lives — well it gives them a couple of days before —- well you know, dunnit?
This is one of the reasons I love coming on here – cried with laughter reading some of today’s comments… I think Le Coq on here too would be the icing on the cake!!
Thank you Terry & RA 👍👏🤣
Telescope?!! Now I’m intrigued…😜
Le Coq?? The icing?
You’re just after his pastie, Sue — Terry and I know Le Coq-a-Doodle all too well!! And his Love Shack — well Terry does! 😂
Yes, he and Terry are brilliant comedians!! Damn it! 🤴
McDonalds are calling — wait — I have a counter-offer from the Golden House, Chinese restaurant — hmph – they only want my money!
But I only want their Cheung Fun, Roast Crispy Duck, and ……………………. gotta go!
RA.. Le Coq has told me all about his pastie 😉😜
At the risk of breaking up the love affair…
” Clear and obvious error”
Watch the VAR decision in the Italy ladies game last night.
Handball, penalties….if this happens next season, I for one will reconsider my affiliation to the great game.
https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Diaporama/Comme-adrien-rabiot-ils-seront-libres-le-1er-juillet/7573
Free agents
Good Morning,
Chas and BR …. if you are still around, perhaps you could put up a different Post, as the current one is long past its usefulness, and is developing gangrene, or perhaps just shut the site down, please.
If Chas and BR have ALREADY gone?
RASP, if you could come out of retirement for a short time to get shut of this doom-laden Post, and put Gooner B’s comment in as a Post instead, and better still, let the rest of us know what is happening, we would ALL be grateful.
Bonjour, RC,
It is strange that there has not been any transfer rumours linking Rabiot to Arsenal — or any other club – especially as he will be a free transfer — and that would be about the cost level that Kroenke is allowing Emery — the failure to reach the CL is rumoured to cost Arsenal £50m when the previous seasons transfer are taken into account.
Lol
Ok the hell is Swahili
About about VAR decision for Brazil last night
I just noticed – NEW POST