Goodbye Mr. Sanchez

January 26, 2018

Having written a fond farewell to Le Coq and Theo, it is only right  to contribute a few thoughts about Sanchez.

Let’s be honest, every time he got the ball there was excitement, he is a fantastic player. Sanchez has the ability to get you out of your seat, he can twist and turn like a spinning top, his centre of gravity is at knee-level, His ball control is excellent, his shooting and ability to see a chance exceptional. Thick as two short, not a true team play, capable of giving the ball to the opposition when a simple pass was available, greedy but nonetheless, a brilliant player. We will miss his ability.

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A difficult man to warm to which explains the lack of angst at his departure. When RvP left to join the same team, we were unhappy, very unhappy. Like Sanchez, RvP was our main goalscorer but unlike RvP his departure does not feel like a betrayal. Why? Because Sanchez has never been a Gooner, he has always been a mercenary. He continues to be one.

A top team needs world class players, we have had many during the Wenger era, Sanchez is, in my opinion, very close. If one was to pick the world’s best 11 players, Sanchez would be in the squad but probably not get a bench seat. Ozil? Make up your own mind. Mktiaryan? …?

AW’s gamble to keep Sanchez last summer has not worked (though there are mitigating circumstances) it is in everyone’s best interests for him to leave, though I am deeply saddened that we sell a player to MU and Merinho, any player. If it makes them a better team it will be painful.

For once, I do not wish an ex-player well. Alexis, thank you for your contribution to AFC but I hope you have a miserable couple of seasons at Old Trafford.

written by Big Raddy

 

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Posted by Erik the Red

Chelsea Pre-Match. Ozil’s Night?

January 24, 2018

Another semi-final. In the last one we smashed Man City.  Can we do the same to the Southern Oilers?

Team selection will be interesting as it will show how much of a priority Mr Wenger gives to the Carabao – very little is my guess. Though in a season which promises to end poorly, any silverware is important.

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Man City put out a full squad against Bristol, they are clearly focussed upon winning the CC, which indicates that AW will give it the beans tonight.

I fear the away goals rule, it could cost us dear, especially given the flakiness of our defence. We conceded twice against the Chavs last time we met at THOF, do so tonight and we wave goodbye to Wembley (until we play away to THFC).

No Miki, he is cup-tied. No OG, Welbz and possibly Nacho. So almost a full squad.

If we are to win Ozil has to perform. He has been in good form of late and his set-up for Lacazette last weekend was superb. More of the same tonight, please.

Conte, who like most Italian managers is blessed with magnificent hair,  will be prudent, adopting  defensive tactics and relying on the counter-attacking excellence of Willian and Hazard. As always, our wing backs will need to be wary.

My Team:

Ospina

Chambers      Mustafi    Koscielny

Bellerin   Wilshire    Xhaka    M_N

Ozil    Iwobi

Lacazette

We have little attacking threat on the bench with Theo gone, and OG/Welbz injured. Could it be the night when Eddie cements his Carabao and AFC career, scoring late in the game to seal a victory?

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I know I shouldn’t mention this but one of my worst football moments was late in a return leg CL game at Highbury against the Chavs, you know the one. That’s not going to happen tonight, is it?

We can win this.

COYRRG

 

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Posted by Erik the Red

Mr. Walcott. A Fond Farewell.

January 18, 2018

So long, Theo.

Let’s be honest, you played 400 games and yet never really established yourself, did you? Never showed consistently that you could achieve all you promised. We know some of the reasons why but perhaps part of the problem lay with you.

 

I was very excited when Theo signed from S’ton. Everyone was after him and he chose Arsenal. 16 y.o., already scoring in the PL, huge pace, confidence and trickery, he had it all. I expected Theo to become the new TH14. It was not to be.

Let us not forget that he scored over 100 goals, some amusing goals (Chavs),  some stunning indivual, goals and to a lesser extent team goals, and that he had the rare ability to score by shooting across the GK into the opposite corner. Let us also not forget that much of his time he spent running into blind alleys and being caught offside.

Walcott’s workrate improved immensely over the past 2 seasons as Bellerin developed and needed support. He scored 19 goals last season (who will match that number in 2018?), yet found himself unwanted.

Injuries damaged him. The shoulder injury came at an important time in his development.

IMO opinion the real problem was that Theo was at the wrong club with the wrong manager. Had he signed for MU under Ferguson he may well have sunk or swam, instead at Arsenal, for much of the time, he floated.

I will miss Theo. Having championed him for so many seasons I will be sad to see him go but it is right for him.; he needs first team footballl.

A lovely family man, who throughout his Arsenal career has spoken well of  both the club and the manager when others may have complained.

We wish you well .

    It’s up the M6, mate

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Time for Change?

January 15, 2018

There has been mis-management at our club for the last few years and it is not all down to Wenger. However I feel he has hugely contributed to where we currently are in spite of who might be responsible for things right now.

Personally I think the real issue started in that summer TW when we got Cech and we famously were the only club in all the leagues not to bring in any outfield player. Arsene kept coming out with this “we only want super talented players” line and “there is nothing out there available that is better than what I already have”. I thought it was a load of crap then and feel that even more now. I think it started to prove then that his insight and vision had become flawed at the highest level.

None of us can know what happens behind the scene, but I feel fairly convinced that he was backed if he wanted someone and he was making the decision not to move for players.

I also have a gut feeling he has not moved on players we really needed if they slightly strayed over the price he deemed as being good value, and I feel his economic outlook when it comes to football transfers has also proven flawed.

I don’t believe that Sanchez and Ozil initially refrained from signing extensions purely to wind down their contracts. I think possibly in that summer they both thought WTF this doesn’t feel right and held back until they witnessed some positive signs of ambition and development of the side to one that could challenge for the big stuff. I think our current situation has not been manufactured in the here and now and can be traced back to the summer of 2015 and Arsene is hugely complicit in this.

Think on this. A few years ago Luis Suarez wanted to leave Liverpool and come to us because he looked at us as the club that was on the up and that was embarking on an exciting new period. The project has failed and quite frankly I think the perception of Liverpool and Arsenal then has been reversed in the eyes of the worlds top players.

At least with a new manager our club could once again be viewed as a top club that is embarking on something new and exciting.

written by Gooner B

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Posted by Erik the Red

Many questions, Few answers

January 14, 2018

Be honest, how excited are you about this game? Less than thrilled? Give a monkey’s? Stomach churning anticipation? Mildly interested?

How did you feel pre-game at season’s start?

What’s changed?

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Is it the surfeit of football since Xmas? Or that Buornemouth are likely to PTB? Or that Arsenal are not exciting viewing in recent times? Or all of these?

Whatever it is, I am struggling to find the enthusiasm to write this post which is a rarity. It is instructive that the Newsnow feeds, which are my usual source of game info, have nothing on the match and all on AFC’s potentially disastrous transfer window!

Onto the game. Bournemouth are a surprise insomuch as I hardly expected them to survive a season in the PL let alone become established mid-table. This season they sit just above the drop zone but in recent weeks have improved.

It is admirable that the much-in-demand Eddie Howe has stayed, and that the BoD and backroom staff at B’mouth have created an atmosphere which not only keeps Howe satisfied but also imbues the players with confidence. Much like our own club.

Could Howe manage AFC or do we need a higher profile more Internationall experienced manager? A discussion for later.

As usual we have a swathe of injuries – JW joining the chaps on the massage table. Ramsey may well return to continue his partnership with Xhaka.

My Team:

Cech

Chambers   Mustafi   Holding

Bellerin   Ramsey    Xhaka    M-N

Iwobi

Lacazette    Sanchez

It is time Iwobi came good. It is time Lacazette scored. Time Sanchez showed his undoubted class and repays some of the debt he owes Mr Wenger in keeping him at such cost this season.

If we want Top 4 winning games and going on a long unbeaten run is imperative.

Let it start this afternoon.

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

A Fond Farewell.

January 13, 2018

So, Mr Coquelin leaves the squad.

A player who resurrected a failing career in a manner which will inspire other players. He is proof that endeavour pays and his reward is a fat contract with a top Spanish club. Well done, Francis.

I cannot say that I have been a fan of Mr Coquelin, in fact to me he represents all that has been wrong at Arsenal over the past decade – a reliance upon players who simply are not good enough to propel my club forward. Neither good enough in defence nor attack, his skills lie in hard work, hard tackling and playing simple balls to more creative players. This may be harsh as we have had the occasional glimpse of a player who has great skill and can distribute accurately from midfield to attack, sadly, it was a rare glimpse.

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Squad players are necessary. We have many of them. It must be galling to be either on the bench or not even there week after week. To spend all that energy in training trying to impress the manager but rarely having a first team appearance. Knowing that only if a couple of players are injured you will have a chance.

Of course €30+k a week is a decent recompense for such trials.

Coquelin is only 26 y.o., played over 100 games for us, won 2 FA Cups, a Charity shield and became a multi-millionaire. Not bad for a man who was on loan at Lorient, Freiburg and Charlton in a career that seemed to have stalled.

Upon his return from Charlton Le Coq was a revelation in his DM role resulting in Mr Wenger calling him “the long-term solution”, it wasn’t to be .

Will he play first team football at Valencia? I guess so though Valencia currently sit 3rd in La Liga, 5 points ahead of Real Madrid, which must mean they have a settled team.

Valencia must be happy with AFC,having sold us Mustafi for €40m and used just €12m to buy a decent midfielder.

Thank you Francis Coquelin, Goonerdom wishes you well in your future.

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Wembley on the Horizon

January 10, 2018

Chelsea away. Injuries all over the shop. Porous defence. Lack of confidence. Fans less than enthusiastic.

Doesn’t bode well.

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Last game was a cracker; full of excitement and top quality attacking allied to dreadful defending from The Arsenal, diving and awful finishing from Chelsea. I expect much of the same tonight and would be thrilled with a similar result.

Sanchez: According to the media we have received a €20m offer from City. How will that affect both the player and the manager? Would you sell him or let him go for nothing in summer? Is €20m enough?

VAR: Exciting and interesting development which will/could change the way football at the highest level will function. It works in other sports but can it work in football? Would Hazard’s clear dive be a penalty or not? Depends upon one’s viewpoint which is exactly the point!

Given that Chelsea and MC remain in the Carabao, was AW decision, to prioritise tonight over the FA Cup, pragmatism or stupidity?

We shall see.

There is no doubt in my mind that if Arsenal play well, particularly if we take the chances in attack, we can win. The question is – does the team share my faith?

COYRRG

 

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Posted by Erik the Red

Should we sign a Forward?

January 7, 2018

FA Cup. It has been good to us in recent years having only lost once in 4 seasons, can this run continue?

Away at Forest is a potential banana skin, especially as Mr Wenger  is expected to rotate his squad. Xhaka, Ramsey, Giroud, Kolasinac, Koscielny and Monreal are all injured, so the potential for rotation is limited. Wilshere needs to be rested and with Xhaka out we will struggle to be creative. Should be interesting to see if Iwobi, Coquelin and Elneny can find space and provide the ammunition for the front men.

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I know nothing about the current NF team. Once Cloughie left and they dropped out of the PL I lost interest. Thankfully for the Forest owners, their fans have not and they average over 25k attendance at the new City Ground (more than 7 PL teams).

Forest have a caretaker manager having sacked the previous incumbent, (what a lovely word) Mr Warburton after 9 months of difficulty. This is often bad news for The Arsenal as players try to impress the new manager.

My Team:

Ospina

Debuchy   Chambers   Holding

Nelson  Coquelin      Elneny    Maitland-Niles

Iwobi

Welbeck   Walcott

Not sure about this attack as Mr Wenger must have a reason to freeze out Walcott,  if it is because Theo is leaving then he is unlikely to play. In which case we are struggling to find a fit forward. Could Nelson be played upfront or Akpom? Mr Wenger has stated we are not interested in signing Aubameyang.

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Both teams could use The Lord

Mr Wenger starts his 3 match touchline ban, punished for telling the truth. Referees have ruined our season which may cost Arsenal millions of pounds. Where is their accountability (a post in the making?)?

Can we continue AW’s astonishing run of never having lost in the FAC 3rd round?

Hope so.

COYRRG

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Posted by Erik the Red

Lacazette to Score?

January 3, 2018

Hopefully we will be playing against 11 and not 12 tonight. Another points-robbing refereeing decision could see me give up watching.

For a decade Chelsea have been a team studded with A-holes. Lampard, Terry, Costa, etc there were loads of them. Today only Luiz really approaches the awfulness of the past. Instead they have pleasant folk like Hazard, Kante, Cahill and Courtois.

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Can we beat The Champions?

To be quite honest, I am doubtful unless we find some form. Chelsea will hopefully not PTB and allow some space for our forwards; if they do we can beat them but unlike Arsenal they have a full squad to pick from.

Chelsea also have a clever, charming manager with very good hair. Abramovich seems to like a good haircut.

With Ramsey, Giroud, Monreal and possibly Kos and Kol out, we have selection problems.

Win tonight and it will be a decent Xmas, lose and we fall behind.

My Team:

Cech

Chambers    BFG    Koscielny

Bellerin    Xhaka    Wilshere    M-N

Ozil

Lacazette    Sanchez

Given Chelsea use pace to attack it may be wise to start Holding rather than our Club Captain in the middle of defence and perhaps Elneny, or Coquelin, in place of M-N to add a touch of security.

This is an important night for Arsenal can we beat or even compete with a very good team in form? Can we get our potent front-line to fire. Lacazette needs to score and go on a run of scoring if we are to compete for the CL places. Trouble is, I am not sure he or AFC are capable.

That said, we beat Chelsea last time they came to The Emirates and at Wembley 😀, we can again.

COYRRG

 

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Posted by Erik the Red

Signings on the Horizon?

January 2, 2018

Windows open. We could use some new blood. Will we get any?

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Can Arsenal afford to let Sanchez go and if they decide they can, is there a viable transfer target to replace him?

Debuchy could go but we have no-one to back up as a RWB/FB. Our central defence is wobbly with Koscielny fragile, BFG pensionable and the others inconsistent. We are lacking a right winger as Mr Wenger refuses to play Theo (who is likely to leave). Giroud is 31 and ageing fast. Welbeck is as good a finisher as I am. We lack spark in midfield with no-one able to get a grip on the game. Heaven forbid that Ozil leaves in summer.

So … is Draxler good enough? Is Turan too old? Will AFC compete in a hugely inflated market? In summer it was shocking to read we paid €35m for Mustafi, but at today’s prices was a bargain.

And who could get sold? Akpom, Elneny, Perez, Walcott, Coquelin, Debuchy ++?

My guess is that we will not buy anyone, sell a couple and loan a few out.

What do you think?

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Posted by Erik the Red

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