Aug 06
Amsterdam Tournament:
103 Responses to “Friendlies…etc”
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Arsenal America
Official United States Supporters Club of Arsenal FC
Amsterdam Tournament:
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August 6th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Hello America. Even if the game today is friendly and looks easy, I think its important to show some strenght. In PL today you can,t miss against “easy teams” often, without paying badly in the end of the season. We have good preformance this summer against strong clubs, and must continue to delivered against underdogs. Not so important when it,s just a friendly match? Well, I think it is. However I,m sure our Gooners will have a great season. From a Norwegian Gooner.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Love the photo!
Does that refer to “friendlies” or Amsterdam?!!
Are these games being shown anywhere in the US?
August 6th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Why not both?
Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any coverage of any of these games on US TV.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
No coverage in US but you can watch online at http://www.justin.tv
Welcome to the forum nordvest, we love to have new people coming in to share their opinions.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Yes. Just don’t say anything negative about Arsenal.
Thats apparently not acceptable!
August 6th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Absotively, posilutely, unacceptable
August 6th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
In addition to justin. tv the game was also on: http://www3.myp2p.eu/index.php?part=sports.
Be passionate and be ‘balanced’ and you’ll be okay nordvest.
Disappointing 1st half from Ramsey, Vela, Walcott, Wilshere as Huddersfield looked the better side. Our young midfielders failed to track back leaving our defense exposed on numerous occasions. A lot of giveaways, poor passes only added to an uncharacteristic Arsenal performance. I don’t care who is on the pitch, if you’re wearing red and white, there are standards to uphold. Lansbury was nonexistent. Vela had a poor first touch and needed to show more strength on the ball. The back line was never really cohesive w/ J. Hoyte, Djourou, G. Hoyte and Gibbs. Our right side was particularly vulnerable w/ Wilshere leaving Hoyte and Gibbs exposed. G. Hoyte made an excellent goal saving tackle in the box on a clean breakaway.
Although Huddersfield scored the first goal in the 2nd half, it was the Arsenal reserve team on and they finally got it together against a weaken Huddersfield’s team. Sanchez Watt and Nacer Barazite the goal scorers. Our best players in the match were Jay Simpson and Barazite. Simpson has looked particulary lively this preseason w/ pace, strength, runs off the ball. IMO, he should be in the mix for a spot.
Doings around the world of football:
Arshavin’s agent claims his client is a ’slave’ to Zenit. Something must have got lost in the translation of the word slave. In Russian as in Swiss, it now means rich players who can’t get their way. How many ‘dream’ clubs is Arshavin up to now and counting.
Ljungberg has been ‘mutually’ released from his contract at WHU w/ a 6mil payoff. That was the longest wait for a punch line to a joke ever. First Rob Green is crying about no salary increase, then Bobby Zamora says WHU reneged on a letter telling him he’ll get an extension. I smell belt tightening at WHU.
Everton are playing like shite this preseason, haven’t brought in any players, nobody notable wants to come and now their Kirby stadium deal will be ‘reassessed’. Doesn’t sound good at Everton.
If I’m Hull and Stoke, maybe the Watford scenario is the better option. Take the promotion money, the TV money and parachute money and go back down as painlessly as possible w/ your future finances taken care of. You don’t have the talent, coaching, club infrastructure or a clue about what it will take to survive.
Pool just took a hit w/ Gerard sustaining a thigh injury. Playing against a bunch of nobodies. Not good for Pool and not good for us either. This means Alonso will stay to make up the numbers in MF. If he plays in the CL qualifier, he’s done as far as we are concern. Pity.
Arsenal should take a long hard look at Rangers today ahead of the Twente games. 10mil go poof.
Another thug is getting a trial at WHU, the possible return of Ben Thatcher.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
On Alonso, I’m not so sure - if they buy Barry, I think Alonso goes regardless of Gerrard’s injury (assuming it won’t keep him out for three months.) Pool will still need the cash.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_3935888,00.html.
The first letter is to paean to the greatness that is Wenger. We are truly in a golden age with him at our helm.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Excellent article CTPA, thanks for the link.
I had never really thought about it before, but you could say that Arsene Wenger is the “Father” of English football as we know it today.
A couple of things missing from the article is Wenger’s famed nutritional and dietary practices and the innovation he has brought to training techniques.
Still think he missed out on the “Eboue Experiment” though
August 6th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Stag, I don’t have any love with Everton, but I admire the way they outperformed themselves with limited resources.
i didn’t follow their preseason result, as i seem to remember someone said preseason means fu*king nothing.
as far as i m concerned, this is a side play with a lot of heart. they are not the most talented side around, so they rely heavily on their spirit and workrate. David Moyas had done an excellent job with them consider the budget he got. the signing of relatively unknowns such as Cahill, Arterta, Yobo, Lescott no matter how i look at it would make many other richer clubs who had wasted their money on big name flops hanging their heads in shame.
well, at the end of the day, i supposed it’s up to individual’s mentality. like the FM players, some like to manage a lower league side with no money to spend and try to build their way, work their way up. some would defaultly chosen Real Madrd, Barca, Man U, Chelsea so they could buy a fantasy side.
Me though, always start from the bottom, that is Blue Square South/North. so i admire those managers with great eyes for talents, note - TALENTS, not NAMES.
not just Wenger. George Graham was the same, his best signings arguably were all the unknowns he plucked from lower divisions, or smaller clubs, the Dixon, Nutty, Bouldy.
Everton, last i heard, finished 5th in the league, despite never had as much money to spend compare to City, Spurs, Villa, West Ham, Portsmouth the likes. That deserves some RESPECT.
The way u talked about them in the previous thread was a disgrace.
August 6th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Watched Barcelona thrash NY Red Bulls 6-2 tonight. I expected nothing less since the Red Bulls have been struggling this season.
Some thoughts: Hleb played in place of Messi and worked very well w/ Alves. Alves came inside alot and Hleb either stayed outside or came inside when Alves stayed back Hleb is releasing the ball quicker and doing less dribbling. Surprise, surprise, surprise. I don’t recall one shot, no surprise. So he’s no ‘threat’ to Messi. He had a nice assist on one of Eto’o’s 2 goals.
Henry was looking more robust. Beat his defender all night, got off 2 shots that the well position GK made solid saves on. Man to man, right now Eto’o looks like a tiger compared to Henry’s pussy cat. If Barcelona transfer Eto’o, they’re insane. If Eto’o stays healthy this season, he’s going to have a monster season.
The goals that Red Bulls scored were both Valdes mistakes and on the 2nd goal, some poor defensive marking as well. Defense is still a problem for Barcelona and that’s why Madrid will repeat. I’m hoping that Villareal can sneak in though.
Everton were a nice story but I think they’ll be in trouble this year. They’re going to be relying too much on Yakubu and he can get a little lazy at times and who will they have to pressure his place.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Saw the game also and the Barca first squad, minus Messi, looked awesome and Keita was impressive as a DM, even more so than Ya Ya when he came on for the second stanza.
They have now changed to 4-4-2 and this will probably utilize Henry’s talent more effectively than last year. In the second half, defensive lapses cost them two goals and they will suffer playing against better teams than Red Bulls. Piquet and Valdes were terrible.
Hleib played well in spurts but gave away the ball on numerous occasions with bad passes. As usual, he looked good on the dribble and had some defenders tied up in knots. Like you said, Henry looked sprite and Etoo was awesome.
Think they can beat Real if they remain relatively injury free at the back.
They are still the only other team which is a joy to watch apart from Arsenal. Just wish their management wasn’t so despicable.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/
I’ll leave you guys w/ a link to a blog after my own heart. A writer who really thinks it through before he writes about Arsenal. I think his points in supporting Wenger’s youth movement are interesting but weak. I thought our play against Madrid was good but I was not ecstatic about it because we failed to score in open play. A point I will be repeating until we do.
The McClaren quote is priceless. The NY Yankees had a player who is legendary for uttering such witticisms, Yogi Berra who uttered such phrases as: “this is like deja vu all over again” and “baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical”.
August 6th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Nice Blog CTPA, thanks for the info.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:42 am
The significance of the pic is lost on me. Is it sumthing that could be understood only by someone in the USA?
August 7th, 2008 at 11:36 am
In honor of this weekend’s tournament, it’s a picture of Amsterdam’s famous red light district.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Thnx…never been to Amsterdam..that explains it then
August 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
The misery begins: Nasri not in the Amsterdam lineup because of a knee injury and Diaby down w/ a thigh injury. Just our luck. Sevilla , Sunday’s opponent will be without Palop and Kanoute.
How does it happen that Andrew Johnson who scored 24 goals in 74 appearances for Everton keeps being transferred for ever increasing transfer fees. Amazing.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
I’m fed up of injuries. Hope this is not a sign of thngs to come. Why Why WHy do we get so many injuries???
August 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Wenger needs to go to Ireland and pick a few 5 leaf clovers.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:39 am
That exactly is why Wenger should go out and get about 2 extra competent mid 20s bodies in there for about 7 to 8 million each.
No point complaining now. No point complaining mid-season.
As it is now we are left with just Wilshere on the left and Walcott on the right OR Walcott on the left and Eboue on the right … or Traore on the left … or Diaby or Denilson ………..JEEEEZ !!!
When I say we need a couple more “Eduardos/Sagnas” to tide us through, you guys keep arguing it.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:26 am
That’d be great. No ones arguing it. The only thing is - which of the kids goes? Which of the kids is AW willing to let go? Coz they will go - sooner rather than later if they don’t get game time. if you’re willing to dump the kids - some of them atleast - what you say makes sense else its not going to work..you cant have the competent 25 year old and the talented raw 20 year old who would start in any other team and expect both to be happy. Guess thats why AW is paid though - but it sure is not as simple as you put it there.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Oh dear Lord …. what on earth does “which of the kids goes?” mean???
Wilshere is f-cking 16 and Ramsey is 17 for crying out loud!!!! And you are more worried about cutting ahead of them than solidifying the team???
Yet you are the first to start moaning about the injuries!
By this same type of logic, Weger should not have bought Sagna last season then since we already had TWO young right backs! Those two that Sagna cut in front of are older than Wilshere, Traore, Ramsey, Denilson and co. yet they didnt magically seem to want to leave.
Infact Hoyte has now come out to say how he wants to be like Sagna LOOOL.
There is no way you can argue it, our midfield both central and on the wings are light weight.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
PS: “”you cant have the competent 25 year old and the talented raw 20 year old who would start in any other team and expect both to be happy.”"
Hmmm…. every team in the world does that. Even Wenger used to do that when he was really concerned about team balance. Since when did we as a club become more interested in the player”s PERSONAL interest than on the club’s problems?????
Remember, well we all had no problem with that when the really talented Bendtner was being bounced by a competent Eduardo. Infact Bendtner BENEFITED from having Eduardo in the team. Hoyte also had the same kind of relationship with Sagna.
If Nasri is already getting injured NOW, then we can already catch a glimpse of his possible health record especially since he is adjusting to the rough and tumble.
Nasri is no god but without Nasri on the wings we are INCREDIBLY LIGHTWEIGHT on the wings - because Rosicky is also out, so we will be left with just Walcott, Eboue, Wilshere and Traore.
We have learnt absolutely NOTHING from last season. Nothing at all.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
B/c, ctpa, there’s a lot of people who run clubs who like to buy the hot commodity w/o doing thorough scouting & who unfortunately may be an over-hyped flash-in-the-pan type of player.
August 8th, 2008 at 7:53 am
The squad as currently constituted seems woefully inadequate in terms of mounting a possible title challenge. We’ve lost the cohesiveness and understanding in midfield with Hleb’s departure and we’ve replaced him with a couple of direct, ’spectacular’ players who look set to struggle to maintain the consistency needed to perform week in week out in the premiership. I’ve already seem more up and downs from Vela in the last week than a theme park rollcercoaster.
All this is understandable due to their youth but nevertheless, the best we can hope for is F.A Cup win and a good run in the champions league, as well as fighting for third or fourth spot. Which isn’t all that bad really.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
What a STUNNING Olympic opener!! well done Beijing! shame that football is never the major event in Olympic. when i saw all the world’s top athletes gathering together, Roger F. Kobe, Dirk, Yao, Nadal, and all top stars in other sports, it just felt such a shame that Henry, Ronaldo, Cesc the likes weren’t there.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Oh, please, Stag, does that cross ever get too heavy to bear?
(comments consolidated from the previous post)
You don’t like the negativity you receive back, maybe change the tune, otherwise get your head out of your a** & realize those people are only expressing the right to do the same as you, i.e. giving their opinion on someone’s comments, although you really don’t have freedom of speech on the internet, but that’s another topic.
Anyway, it’s hard to take anything you say seriously anymore after your dire prediction of a mid-table finish last year.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
@Fred: I’m not moaning about the injuries. Injuries are real - unlike speculation about players doing well in a league. We got screwed becuse of injuries, that is true. If it sounded like a moan then maybe it came out wrong..it was more a question…Why so many injuries - Training, bad medicals, wrong exercise, diet…whatever - Not moaning. Am frustrated yes - not moaning.
Thought it was obvious I was talking Diaby/Denilson/Song more than Wilshere/Ramsey. Does that clarify things?
Sagna was bought because of incompetence at RB. Its not that bad at CM IMO. Lauren was gone in his legs, Eboue was conceding goals, Hoyte was not good enough though he still is trying. It was a clear case of a big gulf in quality. Not many saw it though me included till Sagna came , that is true. Its hardly that bad at CM. I am not saying Barry/Alonso whoever will not be good - I’d welcome it - but it will defo mean that Diaby or Denilson leave next year. If thats fine - then yep we need a CM.
As for the 25-20 age bit…sure they all do it. When did Arsenal start doing things that way? The normal way? Who has a youth policy like ours? No one. So that way we do nothing the way other clubs do anyway. So we are always gonna play kids more. Kids are the main guys who are attracted to Arsenal anyway. The top top top players won’t come because we cant pay their wages. The inbetween are probably not Arsene’s cup of tea. So he goes for youth talent and builds. Some flop ..some get sold..a very few develop and he puts them into the team. What did you say when Cesc got in to the team anyway? I don’t know..I’m asking you.
All I am concluding is that AW has always always traditionally liked thin squads, even during the invincibles. Thats not gonna change , not now. If he buys someone great, gives us another body. if not - the kids will step up.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
You see, no one is talking about “top, top, top” players (only stag talks that)….I am just talking mid twenties COMPETENT Vidic, Sagna, Eduardo types. We can SURELY pay the wages of those types.
PS: Diaby and Denilson will go absolutely NO WHERE even if they dont start. Turns out young players have NO problem chilling when they can see clearly that the player infront of them is very competent. Afterall, Denilson and Diaby both signed extra long contracts recently even when Flamini, Gilberto and Diarra were in front of them. They KNOW their level.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
anyone no where to watch the game this afternoon?
I have found a few links, but they are showing Inter v. Sevilla
August 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
“anyone no where to watch the game this afternoon”
er….. know
August 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
http://www.justin.tv
The Arsenal game will come on after the Inter - Sevilla game.
August 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
cool, that is where I am watching now.
stream is down for the moment
August 8th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
myp2p.eu has the game w/ sopcast stream.
Inter-Sevilla 0-0.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
our back line looks like they are struggling to hold.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
As each game passes, Eboue appears to be less and less the player he was when we first got him.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
ESPN 360 is showing the games….and Ade got his braids back, so does that mean the drought is over ?
August 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Ajax 1 - Gunners 0
August 8th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
f..k
ajax 2- gunners 0
August 8th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
ok…if you guys send me an email at dubsta(at)gmail.com i will give you an acct that you can use to access espn360
August 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
holy shit…2 goals in 1 min. Arsenal down 2-0. Suarez and Huntelaar
August 8th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
SHAMBOLIC DEFENDING!!!
SHAMEFUL!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Toure and Gallas look like they both been given day leave from a mental hospital.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
i know it’s not funny but I cant help laughing at this Arsenal team. The highlight of the comedy was Eboue’s cross from a very promising position - the ball boy had to get in the crowd at the corner flag to retrieve the ball.
Seriously though, it’s better now that at Twente
August 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
An excellent 1st half of football for Ajax fans.
Slooppy clearances put themselves under pressure before Toure’s poor defensive header sets up the Suarez volley.
Arsenal switch off on a quickly taken FK and Huntelaar makes 2-0.
Once again, we’ve yet to score in open play. I’ ll keep saying this until we do.
Not enough offensive pressure. Adebayor’ break away chance, everybody including my blind, dead grandmother knew what he was going to do-easy save.
Walcott should be beating the pants off Oleguer who was a liability at Barcelona. Eboue remains useless. He still cannot perform a simple cross, no, just a cross because a ’simple cross’ is obviously too difficult.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Toure and Gallas have escaped from a mental hospital and are feeling the effects of whatever medication there on…
blurred vision, lack of orientation, trouble concentrating…
Toure’s hair proves that!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Wenger has completely lost the plot, or should I say has still lost the plot. Sometimes the long summer can dilute your convictions in regards to the incompetance of certain players however it’s coming back to me now. Eboue still appears to be a regular fixture and prominent member of our squad. Has he got some De La Hoya style photos of Wenger in the buff or something?
August 8th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
this team is going to have a tough time until they learn to shoot the ball.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I like the fact that Theo standing up to V.Persie. However, I’ve never been an Adebayo fan and I probably never would so I can understand Robin’s umbrage at Theo attempting to pass to Ade
August 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
ADE!
Ajax 2- Gunners 1
August 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
…well…he just scored a beauty of a header!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Finally an open play goal. Sagna who knows how to cross and Adebayor who finally got a ball on goal.
Bendtner on for Walcott who had a good game defensively but that’s not what we want to see is it?
August 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Eboue with his annual good cross. It’s a pity he wasted it in a pre-season game.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Are you sure that annual cross is counted in friendlies?
If so then the next cross will arrive in Jan 2009 then. I am going by how it was his cross in Jan 2007 that led to Henry’s beautiful header against Man Utd. But I would not count on that cross arriving in Jan 2009 though. He might be burnt out by then especially if he gets a lot more responsibility this season. Maybe he can learn how to divert the ball with his dives and turn it into a thru pass.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Nicky B
2-2
Woohooo
August 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Nikki!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
2-2 and we’re back!…now to steal this game!
CMON YOU RED AND WHITE!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Who says Adebayor can’t play w/ Bendtner: 2-2 on Ade pullback off poor backpass by the defense.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
decent shot by Nick as well
August 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Ajax 2- Gunners 3, ADE with his second
August 8th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
YEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!
YEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!
YEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!
YEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
3-2 off 1-2 between Denilson & Adebayor. Beautiful. Denilson was calling to be subbed after being stepped on by Suarez.
Senderos, Ramsey, Wilshere now on.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
haha …3-2 to the gunners …..great play for the third goal.
People who have already written off Denilson..think again..he is just showing what a good run of games can do for your confidence. Most improved player over the preseason in my opinion
August 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
denilson is slotting in well. He had a decent game today.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I should have known Ajax wont pose a good enuf test seeing that the same dude that coached the Dutch to the Euros is now coaching them.
Not to take anything away from us though… Arsene’s not totally lost the Plot just yet
August 8th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Is Sendy playing a DM role?
August 8th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
It was a Eboue’s cross for Adebayor’s 1st goal. Credit where credit is due.
Hopefully Denilson can recover from his injury. No telling how long Diaby will be out. I never saw Flamini execute a 1-2 before. Maybe Denilson could be ‘The One’ w/ Senderos as backup:).
Nice response from Arsenal once they got the lead out.
A little hissy fit w/ RVP and Walcott. RVP was poor today.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
And it was Denilson who created the first goal in a way ..with his long range pass to Eboue ….hope the injury was not too serious.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Fair play for the comeback. Ajax are a dreadful side though and looked completely gassed after sixty minutes.
I still worry about our composure as a side when we’re playing a high tempo combatant team who can sustain that for ninety minutes. Those teams are a dime a dozen in the premier league.
I can see it now, Walcott gets dispossessed trying to shield….again….ball gets flung in, Gallas and Toure panic….again. Goal from the loose ball. Greening.
This season will be anything but dull anyway.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
It’s funny how the comments changed from 1st to second half, from doom to gloom
Although Denilson played relatively well, we still have the problem that he is a mirror of Cesc. If you look on the replays, the back 4 had no trailing support which a DM should be providing. When you freeze frame the goals, especially the first, we only had the true defenders in the frame.
Neither Denilson or Eboue (defensive winger) provided that defensive help which is necessary in our type of attacking game which is based on the overlapping fullback. We tend to chastise our central defenders a lot, but if they are not being assisted by the MF in the style of Essien, Makelele, Mascherano, Scholes and the likes, we will continue to bleed goals from the middle.
Also liked that Theo stood up to RVP, shows his growing up and maturity.
Ade was Ade, missed the easy ones and scored from a fantastic header, but in the final analysis, he scored 2 goals by instinctively being in a position to do so. Not many forwards have that instinct, contrary to Ade bashers who continuously say that any forward would score goals if they played for Arsenal.
Although supplying a good cross for the first Ade goal, I am still fervently of the belief that the Eboue experiment needs to end. He consistently missed tackles, fell down at the merest brush, made wayward crosses and looked like a chicken without a head for most part. Vela on the left and Theo on the right would have been better. Even Wilshere or Traore looks a better option as Eboue is the only Arsenal player who does not look fit to wear the uniform.
Notice how much better we looked when going to the 4-3-1-2/4-3-3. We have consistently looked awesome in this formation for the past 2 1/2 years and Arsene may have to think about using it from the onset against attacking teams like Ajax.
We absolutely need an experienced DM who can play a holding role in front of the back four, or we will be leaking goals all over the place.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I forgot, we found a new DM in Senderos
August 8th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
August 8th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
hehe, I love to see how people made a fool of themselves by couldn’t wait to write us off whenever we were down in a match…. only for the team to come back, time and time again, to make them eating their own words! Lovely!
more to come during the up coming season i m sure. great fun ahead!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
The key for us wrapping this up tomorrow is how fit we are as a team to keep the pressure on for 90″. Our fitness won us the game today. Our forwards pressured their back line and wore them out basically. The 2 Ajax goals were defensive lapses and not from Ajax offensive brilliance. I’m giving Toure and Fabregas passes on their play today because it was their first games back. Neither played badly but when you’re really match fit, you can more easily elevate your game.
Right now, I’d take Denilson over Diaby at DM. Denilson won’t get caught in possession, over dribble, make weak passes that give the ball away and make bad tackles as Diaby has done.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
We wont have to worry about Diaby at all. I think he will play and gets injured all the time. Doesn’t have the consistency to be a first team starter. Denilson on the other hand have shown if given more games under his belt, he can be strong in the midfield line. Plus, Diaby is very clumsy.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Saw the goals only today. Did Denilson got injured? What’s the status u all know?
August 8th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Denilson picked up a slight knock before setting up the third goal. Seems to be okay.
He played well, but is too similar to Fab and does not provide the steel at DM.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Leave this team at your peril - Diarra injured, Henry struggling, Bentley - just a wispy beared cunt in general!
And poor Jose… should have stayed and learned to cope with Henry’s thousand yard stares.
ARSENAL flop Jose Reyes has continued his fall from grace after being farmed out on loan to Portugal.
The former Gunners striker has joined Benfica for the season after being told he is not wanted at Atletico Madrid.
Reyes, 24, joined Arsenal in an £11.5million deal four years ago but struggled to impress during his time in North London.
The Spaniard persistently moaned about life in England before forcing through a loan move to Real Madrid.
Reyes eventually signed for Atletico a year later but has failed to hit the heights on his return to La Liga.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Just because of the London weather, he’s football career is taking a downturn. Poor lad. Wish he had stayed and be a super star.
btw macmac, he did impressed us a little bit. Just needed more time i guess to settle in. Patience always pays off. I guess he learned it the hard way.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:28 am
tAi - I agree. It’s a heartbreaker. I LOVED Reyes. Remeber his little Cruff turn when he first came on as a sub. One of my favorite goals is his debut screamer against Chelsea in the FA Cup. He was a sharp thinker on his feet - slipping in some exquisite passes - and had talent to burn. I think his farewell goal was a sublime picked out in-the-corner shot against Man City. And the way he tore apart Man U for a Charity Shield game planted the seed for their Neville Bros kick-him plan for the Battle of the Pizza defeat. But he just lacked that Premiership grit or really missed the paella. Who knows? I would have loved to see him stay and thrive.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:36 am
exactly macmac. i said at that time when Reyes left, it’s never about the weather. if London is so miserable they wouldn’t have become one of the world’s leading cities. it’s all about ATTITUDE.
when u struggle to adapt in the Premiership, or indeed, London. The WINNERS fight on and tries to overcome the obstacles. The LOSERS seek for an easy way out. but when a player having this loser attitude, he will find life equally difficult wherever he goes, unless he changes his mentality.
Pires found it a culture shock as well when he first arrived, and struggled badly in his first season. He fought on. And the rest was the history. so it didn’t really suprise me he again enjoyed a pretty good season when he moved to Spain. Those losers though, who gave us 101 reasons why they had to leave, seemingly inevitably struggling everywhere they go.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:48 am
when is d sevilla game on?
August 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Amsterdam Tournament
Amsterdam ArenA
Saturday, August 09, 2008, 6pm
August 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Is the game on that same link as yesterday?
August 9th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Yup, you can always find Arsenal there
August 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
hey guys is there a fantasy football link for ArseAm this year.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Decent first half. Watched 4-20″ and 43″-45″. Senderos/Djourou/Fabinaski have been bailing the team out. Tremendous goal by Vela - great upper body strength to hold off the right back. More than that the kid is calm and intelligent , doesnt thrash at the ball. NB was quiet as long as I saw him. Gibbs seems a more defensive option to Traore who is better going forward though he too is very young. Hoyte sad to say was not good at all - I think thats the umpteenth time he has failed to track back after losing the ball upfield/drifting forward too far. Ramsey misplaced too many passes while Wilshere was quiet as well. Really though its actually kids out there today and if we win this against Sevilla with this team..wow.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Yeah.. the kids did OK in the first half. Our midfield need to stop giving balls away though.
August 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
That was brutal to watch. A draw should see us win unless Ibrahimovich goes crazy. LDE has this game to a tee and he’s being kind. I think it can be clearly said that the difference the senior team and this Carling Cup caliber squad is the ability to maintain possession. The fact that Sevilla couldn’t take advantage of these kids bodes poorly for Sevilla’s La Liga campaign.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Actually it doesnt bode poorly for their La Liga campaign…La Liga begins at the beginning of September. Consider that!
It was utter and complete luck that they did not batter us 5-1 in this game.
Dont worry about Sevilla, brace yourself for a lot of matches like this in the coming season. Should be fun!
August 9th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Fabianski looked good for the first time. He saved us from total destruction.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
This kinda backs up what I’ve been saying for a while. Ninety per cent of our youngsters are complete shite or are so young and green that they shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team squad in the first place.
Ramsay, Wilshere, Randall etc all nowhere near ready.
Vela looks the most mature of the bunch.
August 9th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Welcome back to the fray Mazza, missed your fervent opinions
August 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I was keeping the powder dry….keeping the powder dry.
August 9th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I told you guys about Vela. He’s looks like he’s going to be the real deal. Fabianski is also looking to ensure we don’t miss Lehmann. Time will tell.
I’m glad that Denilson is fit again and doing what he does. He’s always been cover for Fab but was injured last season and Fab got flogged. He’s a proper CM with good vision and touch, unlike Diaby. It’s why I’ve always favored the Brazilian to the lanky Frenchman. Unfortunately, he seems to lack the discipline to track back. Again, we’ll see.
Adebayor is a fantastic player with great potential. I can’t wait to see how good he becomes. I’m glad he’s still an Arsenal player. I know Milan now wish they would have put up the money to buy him as they have no strikers.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Denilson is still not our solution at DM. Like you said, he is cover for Fab and can partner Fab in a pinch. His lack of aerial ability and tackling prowess rules him out as the steel required at DM.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Its not that the kids are shite….its that they are way too young and there is no sense of relativity for their progress.
Fabregas came thru playing beside Pires, Gilberto, Ljunberg, Henry and Bergkamp!
For the new set they will be looking to people like Denilson and Eboue!
As it is now, Fabregas, Nasri and Rosicky (whenever he decides to join us) will be flogged to death by the end of January - that is when the sh-t will hit the fan as we start to roll out teams like this.
Why Wenger utterly refuses to flood the team with proper AMs I will never understand. I really hope he knows the bench is now 7 rather than 5.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Legitimately, our starting lineup now would be:
Almunia,
Sagna, Toure,Gallas, Clichy, Cesc, Denilson, Nasri, Walcott, RVP, Ade
Quality subs are:
Vela, Bendtner, Diaby, Djourou, Song, Senderos
Injured are: Rosicky, Eduardo
Possibles: Ramsey, Wilshere, Traore, Gibbs, Coquelin, Bischoff, Fabianski
Total S$$T are Eboue and Hoyte
Which basically means we currently have a healthy, quality squad of 17 plus 2 on the walking wounded list.
I have severe doubts that will be sufficient to sustain us on all fronts, even if we use all kids in the CC. Unless some of the “possibles” step up their game immediately which is more hope than reality, we will once again depend on the “GODS” to keep all our players fresh and healthy.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
We will have to chuck the CC and FA cup quickly (AGAIN!) because a lot of the players that play in those normally will be playing in the first team.
Its gonna be tough this next season.
August 9th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Agree with you on that one. Even if we get 1 more established body we will be thin unless 2 of the “Possibles” step up within the next 2-3 months.
We realistically can’t expect Eduardo completely fit before January and a big question mark is whether he will emotionally get over his injury this season.
If Rosicky can remain healthy with his new Titanium ligament it would be a tremendous boost for us.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I already ruled out Rosicky and Dudu for the first half of the season. I am not counting on them to make any contributions yet.
What I hope is, say we are depleted with injuries by the end of the season, I truly hope Wenger won’t use this as an excuse for anything. I am praying for that. He knows that 2-3 players in our squad are very injury prone and yet no solutions.
Please no BS about injuries. I am tired of it. Please find other excuses.