Morning all, just got done watching Wenger’s Friday presser and to be honest, there are no real surprises. That said, the boss did have a full plate as he talked about injuries, transfers, about William Gallas switching to Tiny Totts, and about preparing for Blackpool. So, let’s get stuck in as they say in Sunderland.
Because Friday is one of the 7 days of the week that end in “Y” it’s always possible that Arsenal FC have some devastating injury news to report. Sure enough, the club confirmed that Frimpong did his ACL and will be out for 6 months. It used to be that an ACL was the end of your career and then it became a year long rehab and now they are saying 6 months. I hope for his sake that it is the latter.
Meanwhile, Denilson’s injury nightmare looks very close to being over as he has returned to training. Le Boss will not be including him this weekend, though, because he hasn’t trained much this Summer and is short of match fitness.
The good news that everyone has been waiting for is that Fabregas, van Persie, Djourou, and Alex Song are all back in the squad and available for selection tomorrow. Don’t be surprised if Fabregas gets a late cameo but van Persie, Djourou and Song get the start.
One of the reporters tried a little dig at the club by saying that we’ve already got a bunch of major injuries and the boss was quick to point out that unlike last year, the majority of the injuries this year are to bone and not muscular.
I’m going to disagree with him on this to some extent as we also had 5 broken bones last year — Cesc, Nasri, Gibbs, van Persie, and Rambo — and started the season off with a player getting knee surgery (Djourou). That was in addition to the problems we had with Rosicky at the start of the year, Denilson in the middle and end of the year, and Bendtner all over the year. And again, we are starting this year off with Denilson still recovering from an abdominal strain, Song recovered from a calf injury, and Bendtner still recovering from his groin. To say that the majority of the problems are bone and that this is different than last year, is simply not true.
As for transfers in, Arsene refused to confirm either Schwarzer or Squillaci only saying “I read the newspapers, like you.” Moreover when confronted with what Fulham have been saying to the press about Arsenal making the same bid we made before, the boss was very sharp in saying that he is “not responsible for Fulham’s statements.”
In a moment of shame, one reporter asked if we could be accused of unsettling Mark Schwarzer in the same way that Barcelona unsettled Cesc Fabregas. The fucking retard who asked that was lucky I wasn’t in the room or he would have gotten a stiff punch right to the cock. Followed by me breaking a chair over his head and stomping his face in WWF style. That is shit stirring at its best and doesn’t even deserve the inch I dedicated on this blog. I hope that person is the next reporter to find themselves unemployed, though with sensationalist headlines about Arsenal being the most successful kind, he’ll probably receive a promotion.
Getting back to transfers, Wenger was asked of our reported interest in Shay Given and interestingly, he toed a fine line between coming right out and saying that we are after him and not destroying what little is left of Almunia’s confidence ahead of what should be a very busy match for the Arsenal keeper.
I’m going to disagree with the majority and say that I think Arsene is not going to do business with Mark Hughes and Fulham over Schwarzer. I know Arseblog thinks that what’s happening is that both clubs are waiting for Fulham to find a replacement and I know that every newspaper and blog thinks that Schwarzer is a done deal but my gut tells me that there’s something more to the Shay Given rumors.
Wenger has been asked about Given and every time he’s asked, instead of saying ‘no’ which he does categorically if the club are not interested, he always answers ‘uhh, I am not going to name names.’ More importantly, I think Mark Hughes and Fulham have botched the deal for Schwarzer by thinking that they had us over the barrel and demanding too much for the player. So, don’t count out Arsene’s animosity over being dicked around in this deal. All that said, it could be that Wenger is using Given’s desire to come to Arsenal (which he expressed before he went to Citeh) in order to force Fulham’s hand on his real target, Schwarzer. Personally, I’d rather have Given, but hey I don’t manage one of the richest, most successful clubs in the world. If Wenger gets Schwarzer over Given, I’ll still be tickled pink and periwinkle. The thing to take away from this is that something is going on at Arsenal with the keeper situation and I trust that Arsene is actively looking for a replacement for Almunia. Thank the gods.
On William Gallas, the boss basically confirmed that ‘Cappy’ was a disruption to the side because he wasn’t very good at expressing himself and rather was “impulsive and brutal” in his assessments of others. Basically, he sounds like he’s an asshole, an asshole who wants to win, but an asshole none-the-less — and being an asshole cuts to the bone.
Given that Tottenham pay notoriously poor wages and that Gallas was reportedly offered just a one year deal, I’m guessing Gallas chose Tottenham on purpose to give the V sign to us and the boss over not giving him whatever it was that he demanded in contract negotiations. He can’t possibly be earning more, with a 50% tax rate, on a 1 year deal, at Tottenham than Arsenal offered him and he turned down this Summer. He probably took the deal because, like I said, he’s an asshole.
Moreover, I wonder what he’ll be like in the dressing room as the backup to Bassong and Dawson? Or what he’ll be like when the fans boo him over some act of petulance? Or what reception he’ll get during a game when he’s screaming at fan favorite Gareth Bale over some defensive misstep? He either didn’t think all these exigencies through or he has such a massive ego that he thinks he can pull it off. Either way, it’s a deal that Redknapp called a ‘no-brainer’ and for once I’m going to agree with Sir Twitchy of Tottenham; it does in fact require a complete lack of brains on all parties to sign William Gallas to Tottenham Hotspurs.
As for Blackpool, Arsene reiterated what Nick said yesterday and warned his team that this is a dangerous squad we face tomorrow. Blackpool just won away to Wigan 4-0. This will not be a pushover team, we must treat them with the utmost respect and show maturity by preparing mentally for this game.
In fact, I’m thinking of this as the real first test for these players this year; several times when they were favorites last year they came out flat. Wenger warned them against this saying that, “you are only the favorite if you prepare mentally” and I completely agree. If we get Arshavin thinking he can coast through this game or if Almunia turns off for a second on a corner we will get stung. Give Blackpool any belief and because they have momentum, they play with freedom, and they are a dangerous, attacking team we could end up repeating the Hull City disaster of several years ago.
Arsene warned of Hull, saying that there are painful memories of the match against Hull and using it as a warning that these players have to prepare mentally. Funny, I’m more nervous going into this than I was against Liverpool. Get beat by Liverpool at Anfield, on opening day, missing most of your key players and people will forget about it pretty quickly. Get beat by Blackpool, who’s players are all paid less than £10k a week, on our home opener, with all the players we have in the side? As I said yesterday, it will be like a Tunguska event among the fans.
Stay focused red leader.
Finally, in light of the story about Steve Sidwell Dave Kitson saying that iPods cause a morose atmosphere in the dressing room, the boss was asked about whether iPods have any effect on his players and he responded “it depends what kind of music they are listening too!” I agree, Arsene, order them to listen to something inspirational like Flight of the Valkeries before the match tomorrow. Wouldja?
Right, you’ve made it this far, you deserve a treat! How about knowing that the game is on ESPN2 and kickoff is at 7am? Woo-fucking-hoo! Arsenal’s home opener in glorious high definition (for us “USA Americans”). I might stop and get some sausages and beans on the way home and have a drunken fry-up at 6am!
Until then…
Arsenal News 24/7
The football gods conspire against me. As an American Arsenal supporter, I spend most match days at odd hours bouncing around different streams trying to find the one that is least pixelated and choppy. For once, the match is on ESPN… and I have a random seminar for grad school. To say I’m annoyed would be a profound understatement.
Up the Gunners!
Yessss Tim.
I agree with your comments about Gallas and Arsene’s history with Hughes is a barrier
for any deal between the two clubs. Its a shame that Schwarzer is caught in the middle.
Don’t really rate Given as the keeper we need……but maybe any new presence in goal will be a psychological boost.
For me the season starts this weekend. Optimistic Arsenal will cruise to 3 points.
Small point but it was Dave Kitson not Sidwell. as for tomorrow, very much looking forward to it. Couldnt afford the trip last week, had a tacket but the wallet just didnt come up with the goods! I’m hoping tomorrow isn’t another Hull, im sure everyone is. Who knows, we could have a couple of new faces some time next week
August 20th, 2010 at 8:43 am
@Gareth26GOONER, doh, all Gingers look alike to me.
(Is that ‘racist’?)
August 20th, 2010 at 10:16 am
@Tim,
Probably is a bit racist, but WTF….never trust a ginger
Per “Fox Soccer Report”, Mancini has told Given, Robinho and Roque to look for new clubs..
I am off to the match tomorrow i will take any kind of a win enjoy some drinks and maybe spend some cash in the club shop.
How come nobody is writing their line ups?
Almunia
Sagna Djorou Verm Clichy
Diaby Song Rosicky
Eboue Chamakh Arsha
Also I remember Tim you twitered that AW went with a diamond 4-4-2, I think it was when Theo went in. I couldnt quite get that formation during the match. Was it so? Is that our Plan B?
August 20th, 2010 at 11:05 am
@Yan, It might be. Chelsea used it to great effect last year.
So “Sky Sports News” showed video of Gallas arive at Spuds for a medical.
I’m curious, when they say medical test what kind of test do they run?
August 20th, 2010 at 9:17 am
@Akash, On the same show they showed an interview with Wenger where he talks about Arsenal making a bid for Squillaci but denied any reports about Schwarzer. Wenger would never agree to making a bid unless he thinks that it would go through.. So the Squillaci thing just might end up happening.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Akash,
In Gallas’ case the medical would most likely be a brain scan.
August 20th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
The Sp*ds don’t have an equipment to scan brains because there is no use for it in there.
Fortunately, 7 AM is when I have to get up, and then stuff my face, get dressed, get on a bus to New York, and get on the subway to reach my “local” by 9:15 so I can see the 10:00 Eastern Time match.
Gallas at Spurs. I guess that makes him both a Willie AND a cunt! They are not going to like him there, and, for once, I’m going to agree with the Scumfans.
And if all gingers look alike to you, well, I’m not one so I shouldn’t care, but perhaps you should apologize to a certain Number 15, and I don’t mean Denilson. (Denilson means we never have to say we’re sorry.) I’ve said many times that if I ever bought a bar, I’d change its name to Ray’s Parlour.
Wenger on Gallas: “He can be sometimes a little bit brutal in his reaction or impulsive in his reactions…” As Tim said those are code words for Asshole. As I intimated yesterday and Tim detailed today, his modus operandi is to rip new assholes into his team mates when they f**k up in his opinion. Dawson’s performance against Young Boys would get him eviscerated by Gallas. He is a typical ‘Arry player signing: old, experienced and on the outs at their previous clubs for various reasons. I consider Gallas our ‘trojan horse’ to Sp**s.
Wenger on ‘unsettling’ Schwarzer: “we speak to the club”.
Don’t forget the little matter of a transfer request from Schwarzer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/8913924.stm Hughes is such a smarmy asshole.
Fox Soccer Channel does say that Mancini told Given to find another club (contradicting his earlier statements) but there is nothing on the web site or on Newsnow: Man City to confirm those statements. Robinho though maybe on his way to Besiktas for 16mil.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:22 am
@ctpa, Hughes saying that Schwarzer wouldn’t be guaranteed first team football at Arsenal. You are shi**ing me right.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:24 am
@ctpa, So you think Gallas wasn’t Chelsea’s Trojan?
August 20th, 2010 at 9:25 am
@ctpa, Where are the Turks getting all the money from?
August 20th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@Akash, http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/europa-league/besiktas-launch-16m-bid-for-man-city-wantaway-robinho.html
The key word is “structured” as in sell us the player for cash and performance iou’s.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@ctpa, I meant in general this transfer season it seems to be just Turkish and German clubs doing all the buying.
Getting the 8am flight from Dublin to London Thats me getting up at around 05.30am and heading to the airport.
i think we gooner can get a bit hypocritical at times… i think i have heard many people including myself say that barca are not respecting cecs with the bid made. we all felt it was too low.. and fulham feel the same.. yeah he is 37.. no where near cecs but the money is also different.
its completely unwanted i feel for such a big club like arsenal to make fuss over 1-2 mil. yes i have never seen so much money ever but hey arsenals turnover was the highest around 300mil? we all keep saying arsenal are good in financial state so i dont think arsenal should mess around with such an important position if we want to win trophies. i am not dying for trophies. but this is just being over critical in terms of money. its like fulham want 10 mil for him.
cause we gamble not paying 2-3 mil more right now. almunia fucks up again like always. we get knocked out of champions league. we dont win the league… we loose more money then we save.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:43 am
@munawwar, its not* like fulham want 10 mil for him.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@munawwar, It’s a negotiation, it evolving, and we are trying to protect our downside oon this deal because Schwarzer is ‘dead’ money. At 37, we’ll never recoup our initial investment on him, there’s no sell value here. The deal has to make financial sense to us as well. I’m not disagreeing with you, just playing ‘bean counter’.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:22 am
@ctpa,
There is a slight upside as it was (is) intended for him to remain on as GK coach when he retires from playing.
August 20th, 2010 at 11:10 am
@munawwar, I think I get your point, but Schwarzer isn’t in the top two or three keepers in the world. He also doesn’t have the potential to be one of the best keepers in the world. £3m is more than respectable.
Plus, Schwarzer has asked for a transfer twice, Cesc, as far as I know never asked for a transfer.
It’s apples and Schwarzers as far as I’m concerned.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:04 pm
@Tim, yeah man.. agreed… but its not like we are making a huge statement to win “trophies” by getting mark. given would be an improvement. but both of them have not played champions league football.
does “making a statement” of getting some “big” name players effect players morale and confidence and team confidence? like citeh are making statement.. which is stupid.. cause its a waste of money. apart from few good players most of them suck. its now always how many million bench they have.. like thats supposed to scare people.. all players suck. how they let bellamy go is still beyond me!
so getting all philosophical i dont know how this effects players mentally as a team… i really really hope by the end of the month something happens for our gk. i think after the squad list has gone through i will start panicking! lets hope mark is there… given is there… 2 more defenders.. !
As regards the Gallas issue,Arsenal messed up.
Gallas was not treated well,considering he was the most cosistent and exprience defender on our side and considering the fact how he handled the issue of withdrawal of arm band from him (captainship).Because Gallas decided he will not talk again so that the press will not twist his word does not mean he is a fool,more than 4clubs came for him when he lost the captainship but he stayed with us and did his job diligently but how did we pay him? our chairman morked him openly about his demand that was wrong you dont go to the press and anounce the negotiation you are having with your player in the press.
Tell me if we strip Fabregars of the arm band today you think he will not move on at the next available transfer window if clubs come for him.
I beleived Gallas went to shite-lane not for money but to make a statement.And we need to follow event this is not the first time it will happen in our club ask PIRES and FLAMINI he will tell you,why is it that those players that are ready to serve us and also good at doing their job are not apreiciated but we tend to pamper those who their loyalty have starded fading e.g. HENRY left us after we paid him 5m sign on fee and inproved contract of another 5m/year,ADEBAYO left us after we increase his contract to 80,000 per week and FARBREGAS agitating to go after we made him the highest paid in our club at age 21 and also give him captainship.
But Gallas never wanted to go but we made him a subject of ridicule just as we did to Pires and Flamini(we almost force him to Birmigham that year and refuseto him another contract untill 3months to end of season)what does that tell you.Gallas served his term with us with all his strenght and ability but we did not fancy it to the optimum but we always prefer want away players to pamper like Hemry,Adebayo and now Farbregas.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:08 am
@bedy, He wanted more, we wanted him to sign for less and he cost us Toure whose position he took and Nasri said at least 4-5 players could not stand him. In the US we’d call Gallas a “cancer in the locker room”.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:11 am
@ctpa, http://anotherarsenalblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/overpaid-redknapps-no-brainer-and.html?
August 20th, 2010 at 10:45 am
If he was such a cancer, what does that say about Wenger’s personnel evaluation, since he let Gilberto go and appointed Gallas as captain.
August 20th, 2010 at 11:26 am
@Caribkid69, apples and Gilberto’s.
Gio’s fitness levels were not up to what Arsene wanted, he let him go. And before you mention the Brazil team, we are talking about the difference between playing a few games in a few weeks with refs who usually whistle for every foul and playing 55 matches for Arsenal FC at the highest level in a league of leg breaking neanderthals.
As for Gallas’ captains role, Wenger admitted that he took a chance in appointing Gallas captain. He believed that the responsibility would temper him and he also admitted that failed.
In general, when the history of these 5 years is written in the anals of history I think it will be remembered as the time Arsene “made do” with what he had.
Don’t forget that Gallas was essentially forced on Arsenal; Ashley Cole had fucked this team and left us on deadline day with no one to replace one of the world’s best defenders. Arsene saw a good defender in Gallas and took him rather than be left with tiny pile of cash that wouldn’t help at all.
After that we were stuck with this cantankerous defender who was technically good but basically an asshole of a human being. All things considered, I think Arsene handled the situation in the best possible way and now we can say “go have fun with your new anti-foreigner team, Cappy” and be done with it.
August 20th, 2010 at 11:28 am
@Caribkid69, I would say that’s one of biggest mistakes Arsene’s ever made
August 20th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
@nycgunner,
Totally agreed. I have said so in the previous…
Good riddance! Gallas!
I like to raise objection on one point. Gallas DID NOT CHOOSE to irritate the arsenal by joining the spuds. Plain fact is no team approaches him when he left Arsenal and finished playing in the world cup; he has no choice but to join the Spuds.
Mancity should be happy that they sure can come before the Spuds this season.
I see the game is also on satellite radio in North America.
Sirius 125, XM 241 10 a.m. et.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@bcgunner, Try iraqgoals.net. Its usually okay, except the background music is load due to copyright laws
LONDON CALLING: Hello everyone in cyberspace. Tim my man another well written blog. I have very little to say having looked and listened to Arsene Press Comference. I am a little perturb by all that Gallas chat. I cannot see the Spunks fans giving him stick, say as Ashley or Sol received and continue to receive. Gallas never rocked my world as a Captain(Gilberto should have received that band). I will not miss him, new faces new era.
I hear you when you say Mark S may not be the one we are chasing, and all that chat could be grey mist whilst he search elsewhere. But Given is so expensive and will Man C really loan to a top four competitor. Arsenal would’nt.
I am attending the game tomorrow, and look forward to seeing our world cup Captian do his stuff. Come on your Arse!!!!
London Out
August 20th, 2010 at 11:37 am
@margarette adrien, Make sure you get a program, Cesc reveals everything: the feeling he had winning the World Cup, what he ate for dinner the night before, how much his DNA has changed since he’s been in London.
EVERYTHING
August 20th, 2010 at 11:48 am
@Tim, Righto
August 20th, 2010 at 11:49 am
@margarette adrien, do you want a copy?
August 20th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@margarette adrien, I couldn’t ask that. Besides, I believe I can subscribe via the post if I really wanted.
August 20th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
@Tim,
If possible share those Cesc words with us…
August 20th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@DF, Righto. London Out
As far as injuries go, I think we need some kung-fu style bone and muscle conditioning. I can recommend my old sifu if one is needed. A hundred hits everday to the shin and knees should do the trick. Next time someone like a Ryan Shawcross comes in with a scythe, our masters of the chi will use that cunt’s own force to break his own leg. Fuck you Ryan Shawcross.
So I guess Rosicky gets the starting nod tomorrow yeah? Too bad Nasri got injured cos I would have liked to see Arshavin on the bench. I fear that this season his laziness is going to go from bad to worse if the liverpool game is anything to go by. Hopefully it was an one off and Arsene’s knocked some sense into him.
4-1 to the Arsenal tomorrow.
August 20th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
@nycgunner,Arshavin wasn’t lazy, he was carrying an injury.
Gallas is their Silvestre now
August 20th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
@Jet Pinoy Gooner, Now Now. Give him his dues, he is better than Silvestre
August 20th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
@Jet Pinoy Gooner, Sp**s already had Dawson as their Silvestre.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
@Jet Pinoy Gooner, Charlie George told me this morning* that he would have kept Gallas, just b/c he thinks that we need more bodies. However, he also said he would have kept Sylvester — gulp. But with us so light at center half, maybe he has a point. Well, not about Sylvestre…
*No joke. I took a “Legends Tour” at the stadium today.
This is an interesting topic. We’re always looking for valuable resources to show clients and my colleagues, and your article is definitely worth sharing!
We apparently offered 4.5 milGBP and Sevilla want 6.5mil. An undisclosed amount will settled this transfer
August 20th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
@ctpa, if Koscielny was worth 10M then Squillaci has to be worth 6.5M.
3 players concern me for tomorrow.
Almunia because he is so unsettled
Suck it up.
Djourou needs a good game and needs a complete game.
Arshavin needs to show up for change. No post international hangover excuse.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
@ctpa, Arshavin is really starting to annoy me… but it’s only been one game so I’ll hold back on the rant. For now.
August 21st, 2010 at 4:55 am
@ctpa, arshavin will be much improved today. Guarantee you. If we can get him fully fit he’ll be unreal again. We’re only one game in, give him some time
myp2p.eu is a great site to watch online and has many links, and its free
Do you ban I.p ‘s so the site wont even load for somebody.
I can’t get on your site at work
August 21st, 2010 at 6:22 am
@Chief Gooner, no. Your work prolly red listed me for saying “cunt”