The Goon Blog

Morning.

Lassana Diarra is a little dolphin headed cockmuncher isn’t he? I don’t know how he has the nerve to say Jose Mourinho is a better manager than Arsene Wenger, and after that, have the nerve to say that Wenger took no notice of him!

Diarra said:

“I didn’t learn anything from Wenger, all he taught me was how to doubt myself, how to doubt everything. Wenger never said a word to me until the day I left. He spoke to the others but not with me.

“I played only fifteen games and I did not have a good relationship with him [Wenger], I respect the way he coaches but I learnt more with Mourinho. He looked me in the eyes when he talked to me. Mourinho showed me how to fight. If he had any problem, we discussed it. I feel like I never played at Arsenal. If people don’t remind me of that fact, I just forget it. It has been wiped from my mind.”

Look my dolphin headed Arsenal reject: 1) You shouted your head off about not getting any games. That’s really going to endear yourself to Wenger isn’t it? 2) Did Wenger actually have a chance to talk to you? You were in and out faster than a sex addict in Amsterdam.

No player is bigger than Arsenal FC, not even a little scroat like you so enjoy your six months in Spain. Diarra, you are not a big enough name for Real Madrid and you will be replaced by a big name sooner or later, then its back to Portsmouth for you.

Less about that little rat and onto one player who is the exact opposite of Diarra, Andrey Arshavin.

He has barely been at Arsenal three months and he already wants to stay for life. To be totally honest I think its a message to the media as much as its a commitment to Arsenal, the underlying message is: ‘look, NOTW, The Sun, Daily Mail and all you gutter journo’s. I’m a gooner, I’m staying here and your little bullshit stories can’t change that. Stick that up your hole.’ From a fans point of view this is exactly what we want to hear from one of our best players, something tells me he is going to become a legend at the Grove, its early days but the potential is certainly there for him to become an Arsenal great. His words were:

“At Arsenal I feel at home. I like everything here, the friendly team, a wise and experienced manager, and fantastic fans, I won’t leave the club for any money. That we are fourth in The Premier League is an achievement of the whole team, not my own. I hope my real successes with Arsenal are still to come.”

I love you, Andrey.

Talking of fatigue Wenger is defiant that the team is able to cope with the tough schedule for the rest of the season, whilst it is true that some players (notably Denilson) will start to feel the strain, Arsene is convinced its more a matter of mental strength to overcome fatigue:

“Tiredness is more mental than physical. Sometimes when players come into the team they look as tired, if not more tired, than the players who played the game before. It is very unpredictable.

It is something you don’t want to talk about. My experience from France is that they always talk about ‘fatigue, fatigue.’ When you talk about it you are tired.

“The mysterious nature of football means that on any day the team can look flat as a unit. Even if you are rested sometimes you can look tired because we don’t really master how our body turns up.”

We should be alright, we have a wealth of attacking cover and that is probably most important. Defensively with Gallas out we have only Gibbs and Silvestre in reserve, that could be a problem but I’m sure the team will be rotated giving key players a rest when its needed. Remember Adebayor and Fabregas will be fresh, along with Eduardo and Silvestre.

Moving onto the game today and I feel we will win the game, we should do it comfortably but with the Villarreal game midweek and the Chelsea game after that we may see some players rested.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Denilson rested with Song and Fabregas in the middle of midfield and Bendtner partnering Adebayor. In defence Fabianski will start in goal with Sagna, Djourou and Gibbs certain to start, the only question is will Wenger rest Toure and play Silvestre? We will have to wait and see.

This is where the squad player really do earn their money and its timely that Wenger has backed his squad. One thing that they will need is confidence but we are on this unbeaten run and in that regard, there is no better time to come into the team. Looking at the fixture list however its probably the least convenient time this season.

Lets hope it pays off and on tomorrow morning there is a cheery post here celebrating another win and hopefully….no new injuries. We can hope..

Can’t we?

’til tomorrow.

We have reached half way, come on guys we can’t give up now. Please stay with me during the next seven days as the insanity of this international break continues.

Now, the title. You may think, ‘this blogger is such a twat’ or ‘not another of these idiots writing out their arse’, or along many other similar lines that are fairly unprintable on this blog. Actually its not unprintable. Its more like i can’t be fussed to write them.

You are probably right thinking it by the way because i am a twat and i am also an idiot writing out my arse, see? The last few lines prove that.

I have chosen to go with this title because it will be one you are all waking up to due to Cesc Fabregas’ dad saying his son is ‘flattered’ at interest from Barcelona. He has joined Gael Clichy and Amaury Bischoff in being ‘flattered’ this week. It seems some clubs are on the pull.

His father (Cesc’s) has said:

“Any person in a job likes it if another company tells them they are fans and that they would like them to join their company. Of course, he likes to hear that Barca or Milan or Madrid like him, anyone would.”

Now the media will twist that, i put money on it. They will ignore the fact he also said this which, unlike any agent or perma-tanned northern loudmouth may say, shows what kind of guy Cesc is:

“The only thing that I can say about Florentino Perez is that four years ago he came to us and we said no. There was a lot of money on the table and we said no. We felt that it was not the best moment for Cesc to move. He has to think of himself and it is not all about money.”

That is music to my ears. You do start to lose the faith sometimes with all the mercenaries in football today, to hear a player plays the game because he just loves playing football with his club is, sadly, a rarity these days.

Not content with winning my love with the previous statement, Cesc’s father continued:

“We are all Barca fans in the family, but everyone must understand that we are with Arsenal. At this moment, he is happy and enjoying himself there. The club values him highly,”

Oh how that has just brightened my week. Seriously! Cesc is going to be around for a long time yet so Gooners you have no need to worry, our diamond is here to stay.

Yes Phil Brown, he is here to stay and you hopefully are not. Jog along with your petty little lie filled petitions, you and your sort are not welcome in English football.

A lot has been made this week of Adebayor’s call up to the Togo squad – Even more was made when it was announced that he was going to start. Wenger kindly cleared this up for us today:

“Adebayor has gone away with Togo. Will he play or not? He will have tests. For us, he was ready to play. Ideally it is good for us and for him to have a game. There is no problem.I had a meeting with their manager and we knew he would be ready for this weekend, whether it was for us or for Togo.”

So to summarise for all you dimwitted, lazy, hypocritical hacks out there:

Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor was FIT to play at the weekend but was not risked. Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor ISN’T disobeying orders from Arsene Wenger and Arsenal FC.

In addition. Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor will not be moving in a ’spectacular 34 million pound move to AC Milan. A) They can’t afford him. B) His agent says so.

I’m not quite so sure on the reliability of ‘B’ but as he signed a new contract in the summer i don’t think he will be going anywhere just yet.

Our little dancing Russian Andrey Arshavin is raking in the praise at the moment, Guus Hiddink has joined in the throng and picked up from where Dennis Lachter left off:

“One should show a stable high level of football for a long time to claim the Ballon d’Or trophy. And I am sure that Andrei Arshavin is able to do so.

“he is not only spectacular but also an effective player”

He is capable of reaching those heights, as many others have already said i wish we had brought him earlier in the season but one thing is for sure. We have one hell of a player on our hands here. Watch out. The article is a welcome read, find it here.

Nice to see this was hidden. Shameful, why don’t they put it on the back page where they misinformed an entire nation of a 20 year old’s character? One thinks they recieved a call from a certain someone’s lawyer.

Just before i bring this to a close i want to say i have it on good authority that the away kit for next season will not be green. I will bring you more when/if it is confirmed.

Thanks for you feedback – its all very helpful, if you want to add more feel free to do so in the comments section!

Right, get your mitts on that lot.

’til tomorrow

ps. Also cop a look at this fine article from our friends over there. Interesting reading.

These games are coming along rather fast and this is another game i am confident of winning, but as we know Hull can pull off suprises.

Just remember back to that very, very dull September evening.

It is the FA cup so Almunia will be on the bench, (he is injured anyway after that goal molester nearly snapped his ankle), Gibbs is set to start with Ramsey not being involved due to tiredness. At his age they really do have to watch out for that, it does sound a bit of a ’soft’ excuse but from personal experience pushing yourself too far in your younger years can hold you back for the rest of your life.

Eduardo misses out again due to that groin injury which is a shame.

The biggest doubt is over Arshavin who had to have eight stitches into his foot at half time against Blackburn, apparently he is ‘desperate’ to play:

“Arshavin had eight stitches in his foot but he is still in the squad we will make a decision tomorrow. He is desperate to be involved. He just wants to play. He couldn’t practice today but we’ll assess him tomorrow morning.”

I have a feeling he will start, he comes across as a player that would play with one leg if he had too. Injuries like that tend to be alright after 24/48 hours and by tomorrow night the pain should have subsided almost entirely, they can always give him an injection to make it a little less painful on the off chance it could still hurt.

One player that will probably shine will be 20 year old Theo Walcott and Wenger has been singing his praises from the rooftops. There have been times when his development has really had question marks over it but at the tail end of last season he really started to shine and that England hat-trick has transformed him into a hell of a player. It really is amazing what a little confidence can do and this Arsenal side are buzzing with it at the moment. Back to Theo, and Wenger said:

“Compared to one year ago there is no comparison,That is what people have problems to accept because at that age every three months you improve. You can never predict how much he will improve but there is still a lot more to come from Theo. He had a good start [against Blackburn] and he became stronger and stronger,” continued Wenger. “He gives us something which is important as well when we play at home when he goes behind the defenders. He creates room and has a direct game. We need that. I don’t know [how big a player he will be in the rest of the season] but it’s important to have him back because he gives you something that can make a difference in any game.”

His pace gives defenders nightmares and in a one on one situation there are two outcomes, Theo goes flying past the defender or the defender clatters Theo and takes him down. He is a player that defenders do not like to see on the teamsheet.

One rather amusing comment by Wenger was on Diouf’s attempted assault on Almunia with Wenger admitting if it had been Jens in goal he would have headbutted Diouf:

“I spoke to him about it at half time of course. I had some experience with Jens Lehmann before – I think he would’ve headbutted him [if he was on the end of that sort of tackle].

That would be one thing i would have paid to see, this moment still cracks me up!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNHOBdHyRfM]

Good ‘ol Jens, a legend!

Just before i leave you there is some sad news about Thomas Rosicky who has suffered another two week setback. He is due to be back after two weeks after the two weeks after the two weeks. Another two weeks after that he will return to training. Seriously, i hope he does recover because he is a fantastic player and it would be a real shame for everyone for his career to end on such a sour year.

Good luck Thomas, you can return.

Right, heres to a good win tonight and our boys visiting the overpriced show ground in the West for the first time!

Up the Gunners!

’til tomorrow.

Its Monday…again.

Who would have guessed it? Darren Bent and Jermain Jenas do the Arsenal a favour!

Aston Villa have hit a catastrophic run of form and have gone from being minutes from an eight point lead over Arsenal to being dead level on points and behind on goal difference. What a turnaround we have seen, the thing is the best is probably yet to come. This season could just be the most important in Arsene Wengers reign, the once pampered youth have been let out into the big wide world and it looks like they are coming through it bigger and better players.

Take Denilson for example, i have been very supportive of him this season and he has got a hard time from some blogs and fans. Last season he had made only a couple of appearances because of injury and over the course of the summer had become a first choice central midfielder with only just over 20 appearances for the club.  Sounds stupid really, but he has had some immense performances and is well on the way to being Cesc’s long term partner. His compatriot Alex Song seems to have turned a corner in his Arsenal career as well, he is a year or so older but was in a similar situation to Denilson at the start of the season. The last nine months might just have been the making of them as players.

I am really starting to see the light, and why the boss has been so protective of the players and reticent to add to the squad. Arshavin could well be the missing link we have been craving, no matter what the so called experts think. I am of the opinion we need cover now, not replacements for players.

I’m getting carried away now so i will stop there, im excited about what this team can do. They have given us so many glimpses over the last season and a half, it has been tough for the past three quarters of a year but i can see what Wenger see’s.

Things are looking up and we have two big cup’s to try and win. Good times after the season was looking so very bleak a matter of weeks ago.

After a fantastic performance yesterday Andrei Arshavin has been given a bucket-load of compliments by Wenger who claims we have been missing a player like him with Hleb sold last summer and Rosicky injured for well over a year now:

“I like players like him who, in the final third, can give you hope and create something you don’t expect. I felt we needed that with the players we have and with the type of game we like to play.”

I think he is a mixture between Bergkamp and Pires from what i have seen, he has the goals of Pires with the vision and eye for a pass that Bergkamp has. Add that with pace and he is almost the perfect player, every time he is on the ball i am excited and i don’t think i have felt that since Henry. I’m not comparing him to the big man but he has that kind of aura around him when he has the ball.

He puts in extrordonary effort as well according to the boss:

“He has worked hard. I think he’s quite surprised how hard he’s worked. But I think he is a man of challenges. To leave St Petersburg, where he was the star, and to go to England at 28 years of age and to say ‘okay, I want to start it all again’, you need to have character and to like challenges.”

I get the impression he has stickability and wont run off if any team comes calling for him, you can tell he has struck up a good relationship with the players already and they know what he can do and where he likes to go.

I have a feeling we have a special player here.

Meanwhile the rumours about Kolo’s future refuse to go away, the media really do like causing trouble don’t they? I just wish our players did not give them any ammo to create crap stories with because it was Adebayor last summer, Van Persie with his new contract, (fair play he has since said he is going nowhere), continuous doubts over Cesc (who has also repeatedly said he is staying put) and now its Kolo.

Right, happy post today! Enjoy your day at the workhouse or wherever you may be.

’til tomorrow and up the Gunners.

Our pint sized Russian looks like one hell of a player doesn’t he?

Ive said this before, he is the only player in the Arsenal squad that when he is running at people i think ‘he can beat this man’. There is no other player i have that sort of confidence in. He can be our Ronaldo, Gerrard or Lampard, he can really be the shining light in this team ahead of Fabregas and Van Persie. He really does have a rare talent and it is a shame he has only just come to light in his mid to late twenties. Here are his goals and the two goals from our Ivorian goal machine. Yes, its Emmanuel Eboue.

Catch the highlights here.

Arshavin’s second goal, (or first depending on your opinion of the goal after 2 minutes), was one of the purest quality and class. It was truly out of this world and you just sense that the confidence is returning to this side at just the right time. They seem tougher, stronger and really ready for the last few months of this season that can still be a massive success.

On a slightly darker note i thought the fans treatment of Bendtner was disgraceful, at least he was in the positions to get those chances because at the start of the season, or even a month ago, he would not have been in those positions to even have a chance of scoring. I feel the big man was very very unlucky today and credit to the die hard fans that chanted his name when he came off. His game is improving, just look at the pass to Walcott for the first goal. Brilliant.

I want to say this now, El Hadji Diouf is an animal that should not be playing football. He is the most despicable being on the planet, up there with Robert Mugabe in my view. A simply horrible person and one if dearly love to punch, he has a horrible square face with stupid hair. That assault on Almunia could have done serious damage and he warrants a ten game ban for it. Horrible, horrible, horrible, odious little man.

Eboue has been redeemed to a certain extent, he is on four goals this season now and it looks like the fans are starting to side with him again. There is no doubt he is one of the most popular people in the dressing room and the others love him, ‘goal machine Eboue’ as the stadium announcer said is back, and scoring goals.

Now that is something i have never thought i would say.

Wenger was chuffed to meatballs with the performance and it is sure to spread the confidence around the side, we quickly move on to Hull midweek and it may be another chance to keep this scoring run going as they have been far from stable recently and their priorities certainly lie with Premiership survival, though an appearance at Wembley would be welcomed by anyone.

It may well still be our season in two of the worlds biggest competitions, even two weeks ago saying that seemed pretty stupid. It is not so now is it?

Just as we were staring at fifth place misery we are now in fourth (albeit with Villa having a game in hand), but it has changed remarkably.

Its been a day of fours, four goals to nil, fourth place and a fourth goal of the season for our goal machine.

Up the Gunners!

‘Til tomorrow, happy Sunday.

This team is back

Right sorry to have to tell you this but i am back!

Sorry for not writing yesterday but i was literally so sleepy i felt like i was just about to drop into a coma. I hate winter, i wish i could hibernate like a hedgehog, it would be a lot warmer too. Anyway, less of the rambling and onto the news.

I will go straight onto the transfer speculation from the Mirror concerning defender Raul Albiol, it claims Wenger is chasing the 23 year old. To be fair, i have seen nothing of him and any information any of you readers have you could share in the comments, we have Senderos returning at the end of the season by the looks of things, with Gallas looking more likely to stay along with Kolo Toure and Djourou third choice with Song and Fishface able to slot in there as well it would add great depth to that area. Is it rubbish? We will have to wait and see.

Some breaking news is in. Abou Diaby…. IS FIT.

I mean, he can actually play in his second game in a row!

If he continues in the vein of form he was in against Roma he adds a different dimention to the team, he has great talent and i hope he can fulfil it. He is injury prone and because of this he is inconsistant but if he, like Van Persie, can get a good run going we could see him develop into a very fine player indeed. Good luck Abou, you are going to need it.

Our 18 year old defender Havard Nordveit is being linked with another loan spell abroad, i wonder if going home for a period of time at that age may be a bad move. Once he goes he might decide he does not want to up roots for a second time at such a young age, any move like that will need thinking through a lot in my personal opinion. He is a very good prospect and he is apparently developing well, a Carling Cup spell next season would be ideal for him.

On the financial front its looking rosey, but im sure that this recession is going to get worse and worse, if the experts are anything to go by it looks like it could even end up a depression and that could have massive effects on the football industry as a whole. As things stand at the moment we are making good, healthy progress but a season without CL football could give that a right, hard, painfull kick in the metaphorical bollocks. Lets just see what happens there IF it comes to it. Right now we have to be positive.

Wenger has a chirp about some of FIFA’s new ideas. Surfice to say, he doesn’t like the majority of them. You know why? Because they are utter shit.

Wenger has also said once again that he bid for Kalou from Chelsea, we knew this and because of some comments from Kalou its ended up in the media again; coy, Wenger said this:

“I don’t know what I will do at the end of the season. But you are right, we tried to get him last year. But Chelsea refused and I have never spoken to him [Kalou]. I just asked Chelsea if we could talk about him.”

Not no, not yes, who cares? Its February and lets concentrate on the players we have at the moment. Kalou is not even that good.

Here, Wenger admits that the side have got to create a ‘positive vibe’ around the Grove, i think he understands why some fans are getting annoyed but also points out that the press are partly responsible for some of the pressure they are under saying that they bring up the trophy issue every time. He has a point, but success is usually counted in trophy’s im afraid.

Manuel Almunia is world class says Arsene Wenger; he is a good keeper but not in that bracket yet. Ive said this before but the mental part of a keeper is very very under-rated, keepers like Cech and Casillas have a massive reputation and that will always be in the strikers mind. With Almunia that is not there yet, he has another 9 years left at the top level and that is long enough to develop that. Wenger also backs Bendtner to come good, whilst he has the ability and his attitude is improving he has got to start netting the chances or i really feel the fans will force him out which is really not a nice thing for a 20 year old. I hope he fulful’s his big potential.

Now onto the game later and  really think we can, should and will win this one. Im not going to go too deeply into it but to get fourth, we have to win tomorrow or it really is goodbye CL. I would love to see the Roma formation played again with Arshavin on the right, it would be more of a 4-2-4 formation without Eboue, very attacking and it will win us the game if we play that way.

3-0 i reckon. Though i did say that last time…

Just a moment left to thank gooner14 for his great new icons in the sidebar, you can sign up to a bloggy mail-list or join me on twitter for the expletive ridden rants best not posted on here!

Right, more tomorrow

Up The Gunners!

Morning all – another day of shitness from me im afraid;

I looked at an article on skysports.com about our very own Denilson. He seemed to say that we are winning the games we need to, thus meaning all these drawn games are utterly pointless and we don’t really need to win them. In his very own words;

“I believe we are way more resilient. Since January we have been quite balanced and we have been winning the games we need.”

I’m afraid we have not been doing that Denny; draws are ok sometimes but all the time? Its getting rediculous now.

But, there is always the chance that some little short, hairy meddling bastard has taken his words out of context, we saw it happen on a big scale with Bendtner last week. I like Denilson, he is a nice person and a player that does have a lot of potential, he recognises this and says his game has improved since making the switch from a squad player to a full blown starter, one that has made the most appearances in an Arsenal shirt this season,

“I feel I have improved a lot and every day there is room to improve more. Nobody is perfect and I wish I could perform brilliantly every match, but I always do my best to stay on in the team. I have been given the opportunity and I believe I am making the most of it. I know about my potential and I am still working to stay as long as possible in the first team. When you arrive at the training ground you have to forget everything outside and focus on your job – you have to think not only about yourself, but also of the team and the manager who is the one giving you that trust.”

Many gooners do not rate him, i don’t know why they don’t. He will be a fantastic midfielder, not all players progress at the rate Cesc does.

I think much of our recent problems have stemmed from a lack of ambition, our central midfield is vital to our game but without Cesc who could pick out a runner a mile off, we have no attacking ambition in Denilson and Song who are defensive orientated. Nasri is no Premiership central midfielder whilst Arshavin is not a central midfielder of the type we need, he is just fine out wide.

Its not only on pitch we lack the ambition, its off it. It seems the board are quite content with the top four and a green coloured figure in the financial reports. As pretty as that colour is i would rather it be the Premiership we are aiming for rather than a number.

The day we become a club obsessed with figures is the day this club turns into what i hate.

Arsene Wengers criticism of Sunderlands ‘team bus’ tactics is very untactful. He is in the results businuess, not an entertainment businuess and no matter how much me moans he aint going to change anything. He said,

“They put a lot of men in front of the ball, with one striker up front, like everybody does here. You can give them credit, they defended well, but I do not want to go overboard because if everybody plays like that it would be very boring in the Premier League.”

Its the way it is now, if its going to get your side points you are going to do it. Didn’t we just defend for most of the game at Spu*s? Get used to it Wenger, moaning more makes you look like a prat and you are not a prat, you are a great manager.

He is expecting a more open game against Roma. They will come and defend then.

Right, sorry for the shit blog.

Back with a preview tomorrow, don’t miss it.

Up the gunners.