Happy new year to all Gunners and non-gunners !

@Debosky

I would appreciate it if u could continue being as realistic as ur latest posts imply . . . AW must buy and we all have to know that ITS NOT YET UHURU . . .no need being so close now and yet being so far at the end . . .WE HAVE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, YET WE COULDN’T EXPLAIN FOR EXAMPLE OUR LOSS IN THE 07/08 SEASON

What has helped us this season isnt that our boys have been spectacular but rather we have for once capitulated on the mistakes of our rivals in the top echelon of the league . . .what explains that half way into the league the league leaders have dropped 15 points already remember y’all when I said whoever is gonna win this season will not notch up to 90 points . . . I bet IT WILL BE MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE BUT REALISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE (MAX CHELSEA, ARSENAL,MANURE,ASTON) TO PICK UP 90 POINTS, ANY DOUBTING THOMASES ??

YET . . .Eduardo is not still getting it right, forget the fact that he scored the winner . . .what of the squandered chances ? what about the fact that opponent defenders don’t even feel thre atened by his presence . . .I BET EDUARDO IS STILL AT ARSENAL COS OF HIS TRAUMATIC INJURY EXPERIENCE , Arsenal defo will not turn its back on a player in that manner BUT LET HIM WAKE UP . . .TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED !!!

Debo, what makes u think that Wenger is not introducing personal beef into Senderos’ issue Its absurd that the young man is being allowed to waste away on the bench . . .to boot, he is one of the most intelligent players in Arsenal !!!

Vela is a EFFING DISGRACE. . .sincerely I don’t see what people say they see in him, I would rather have Jorge Campos come and play in his position if it were about national/continental quota LOL

@Ibime

Ur comments about Gignac seems so true, but do u really think AW would want to buy him now that he isnt as hot as he was last season ?

Did someone say Darren BENT is AW’s target ? what a fat joke

Dr Kitaun:

Vela is a EFFING DISGRACE. . .sincerely I don’t see what people say they see in him, I would rather have Jorge Campos come and play in his position if it were about national/continental quota LOL

@Ibime

your comments about Gignac seems so true, but do u really think AW would want to buy him now that he isnt as hot as he was last season ?

Did someone say Darren BENT is AW’s target ? what a fat joke

Bros i beg to differ if not for Vela we woulda been out of the FA Cup by now! His two assists was man of the match stuff. If Vela has been disappointing this season then Wenger is to blame because that kid has hardly had any playing time if he was given half the chances that Danish Giraffe was given we would have someone that can challenge Eduardo for the top striker spot in Vela by now

rasputinn:

^^^
Yes boss,the balance is there in the January transfer market,_{and make that balances} as we need a left back too

I doubt Arsene would buy a LB

Please can someone tell that geriatric Silvestre to stop overlapping as he honestly does not add anything to our attack if you add the fact that he lacks the pace to get back to position in fast breaks then its not hard to tell that playing him at left back is like sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

I agree Diaby has improved no doubt but consistency is the key here

Wenger has to sign and if he insists he does not need a striker at least get a capable backup for Vermaelen and Gallas if we don't do that and either of these guys get injured or lose from i am afraid we would be singing the same hook we have been singing for some seasons now

@A-40

Vela wasnt the reason we are still in the FA Cup . . .the introduction of Nasri and Diaby ultimately changed the game, even if I felt it was an unhealthy risk for AW to have kept them that long on the bench before ringing the changes . . .

Vela, MERIDA, WILSHERE were piss-poor . . .I wonder why Wilshere wasnt subtituted as early as the 1st half . . .I am beginning to have my doubts on the boy what could be the problem ? the media ? AW ? himself ? a natural phase he has to go thru ?

My man Abel, am not gonna bother myself comparing Vela with Bendtner, THEY ARE BOTH NOT ARSENAL MATERIAL TO ME !!! ANYBODY COULD HAVE ASSISTED THE GOALS TO TAKE ARSENAL OUT OF ANY DOLDRUM, EVEN AN OWNGOAL COULD HAVE . . .SO WHAT ARE U ON ABOUT ?

Vela is proving to be an inconsistent player, regardless of the playing time u are talking about he needs to prove himself, how does he achieve this ? he needs to make his marks from the games he gets as a fringe player, NOT JUST SCORING SPECTACULAR GOALS ONCE IN A WHILE!!! . . . .in the pecking order who is Vela in Arsenal attack


@RITCHBOY

I am tired of saying this; but I will say it again !

Obafemi Martins is by no means an extra-ordinary player . . .how many Extra-ordinary players have u watched play LIVE ? I have seen Extra-ordinary players play LIVE and I know what am talking about . . .Its not rocket science ! The fact that he plays spot kicks with both legs dont mean nada, or are u saying he is the only one u know that does this ?

You don't need to watch a player live to properly assess if they possess characteristics that can be likened to genius or otherwise. In actual sense, having access to matches captured from different angles and with the new technology available for gathering stats, watching a player live doesn't hold any particular advantage over captured video unless you're a trained scout who's in the field specifically to watch the player. Wenger's one of the best in the game and It's no secret that video and stats are his tools.
The composure of Song when he wins the ball back is what i'm afraid no other MF can replicate. So calm and confident(and incredibly strong too) when he wins back the ball, though short of pace.

Good morning y'all, still waking up to the shocker thet left me speechless for some minutes (anyways it'z dead & gone)!

Juz heard again thet Fran Merida has agreed a five year deal wiv Alt. Madrid and he could be allowed to go under the bosman ruling. .Gotta say this, though i like the kid, it won't be right for him to make THET move NOW. Reyes coulda done more then TH14, but he wasn't patient!, Could it be not getting regular play?, being sidelined for way too long?, or juz feeling "home-sick" ? Only heaven knows.

Anyways he'd always supported Alt. Madrid since he was a kid, would be unfair if we didn't let him live his dream of wearing they jersey.

I hope FAB4 convinces him it's not the best option for him right now.   but if he chooses to leave, he leaves wiv our blessing.

Debo, u be d man. thanks for the review, after bothering you for days i end up not being around to comment. The striker argument is going to go on until Wenger decides to buy i guess.
Funnily though how do we rack up stas showing we won most games, scored most goals and what not and still not end up with something baffles me though.

Dr Kitaun:

What has helped us this season isnt that our boys have been spectacular but rather we have for once capitulated on the mistakes of our rivals in the top echelon of the league . . .what explains that half way into the league the league leaders have dropped 15 points already

Seriously most times your arguments baffle me. This is the kind of drivel i expect Myles Palmer and the cunt over at Le Grove to be spitting. Arsenal has scored more goals than anybody this season. Since the infamous liverpool dressing room dress down, the defense has been very cohesive bar one or 2 mistakes (mind you after that incident Liverpool had no, not one single shot at goal) And your argument is that we are only in the mix because Chelsea is fumbling?!

Well coming fromm the same person who said we are lunatics for believing we still have a chance just less than a month ago im not all that surprised. While some kept the faith you were down talking the boys.

V3 where u take hear d gists. Been combing the net and i cant find any such news. Anyways its alrite if he goes. Really, look at the midifeld and look at his position in the pecking order. Keeping him wont be fair. But Wenger is sure going to get some stick for letting another leave without getting something for it. But meanwhile didnt we table an offer he was meant to sign sometimes late last year?!

If Merida goes, I wish him well. . . I won't be sad either - not ALL the players who join a club will make it there.

Dr Kitaun:

Happy new year to all Gunners and non-gunners !

@Debosky

I would appreciate it if u could continue being as realistic as your latest posts imply . . . AW must buy and we all have to know that ITS NOT YET UHURU . . .no need being so close now and yet being so far at the end . . .WE HAVE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, YET WE COULDN’T EXPLAIN FOR EXAMPLE OUR LOSS IN THE 07/08 SEASON

I agree fully - that's why I'm cautioning v3 not to celebrate prematurely. . . . .the bulk of the work is ahead of us.

YET . . .Eduardo is not still getting it right, forget the fact that he scored the winner . . .what of the squandered chances ? what about the fact that opponent defenders don’t even feel thre atened by his presence . . .I BET EDUARDO IS STILL AT ARSENAL COS OF HIS TRAUMATIC INJURY EXPERIENCE , Arsenal defo will not turn its back on a player in that manner BUT LET HIM WAKE UP . . .TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED !!!

Dudu has done what can be expected of a striker in the last couple of games - as long as he continues in that vein, I will have no complaints. He has scored, used his vision to open up chances for others and is gradually regaining form.

Debo, what makes u think that Wenger is not introducing personal beef into Senderos’ issue Its absurd that the young man is being allowed to waste away on the bench . . .to boot, he is one of the most intelligent players in Arsenal !!!

Ol boy it's not personal beef - Senderos has had a foot injury for a while now, whenever he trains the thing flares up again. Even prior to the FA Cup game, Wenger hoped he would complete a training session and thus feature but he didn't. He is intelligent alright, but when you see what Vermaelen is doing at a similar age, you know that he has to step up massively. Hopefully he will be fit for the next FA cup tie.

Vela is a EFFING DISGRACE. . .sincerely I don’t see what people say they see in him, I would rather have Jorge Campos come and play in his position if it were about national/continental quota LOL

I have to agree somewhat with this - somehow Vela isn't just cutting it at the moment. Yes he made two assists, yes he has some potential, but for crying out loud it's about time we start seeing some real end product. If I were a betting man, I'd say he'll leave at the end of this season once Wenger gets another striker of his liking. The only way to prevent that is a massive improvement in performance.

your comments about Gignac seems so true, but do u really think AW would want to buy him now that he isnt as hot as he was last season ?

Did someone say Darren BENT is AW’s target ? what a fat joke

Bent? Another Spurs reject? I doubt it - he might be scoring, but the day Wenger buys such a player is when I'll know he's gone Senile. If he's going to buy any of the strikers at Sunderland, it's definitely going to be Kenwyne Jones who has great physique and aerial ability.

Debo,

Point taken, but IMO. . Bent defo is a good buy for Arsenal (should AW sign him), he's got the same build as KJ, pace,good shooting ability and is a team player unlike KJ (remember the ish between him&Cisse?). Bent is looking to resurrect his dwindling career & Arsene said he was looking to offer him a helping hand but from AW'z history wiv "english" strikerz, signing Bent is pure fantasy

I don't mind him bringing a nuthead wiv a penchant for scoring goals, like Bellamy .

About Vela, gotta agree AGAIN wiv u. .yes he is good, but NOT showing the same potential thet saw an arsene scout bribing vela's father wiv "king size burger" in mexico juz to have a chat wiv his son. Remember he's at home in the CF forward but has been playing wide left of recent which has limited his abilities. .i STILL remember the vela-dudu combo that terrorised opponents when DUDU return from injury, same thing wiv walcott, it's the "playing outta position" thingy IMO.

Give em time Debo. .

First lemme say that anyone advocating on behalf of Darren Bent should be banned from the Sports Section.

The argument against him at Tottenham was that he lacks the technique to play for Spurs . Now they wanna recommend him for Arsenal? 

His England debut against Uruguay a few years back exposed his technical deficiency. He looked like a duck out of water. . . . and he still does at the highest level.

There are many strikers in England who have scored 20+ goals a season who couldnt get into the England team cos they simply lacked technique. . . . Ian Wright, Dion Dublin etc. . . .


@ Dr Kit

Dr Kitaun:

@Ibime

your comments about Gignac seems so true, but do u really think AW would want to buy him now that he isnt as hot as he was last season ?

I expect you should know that is Wenger's MODUS OPERANDI. . . . he loves signing players who are off-form or having problems with their club cos they come cheap. . . . Pires was literally on strike at Marseille when Wenger signed him. . . Vieira was on the bench at Milan, Henry was off-form on the left wing at Juve. . . . Gallas, Lassana Diarra and Flamini were having contractual disputes with Chelsea and Marseille respectively. . . . RVP and Hleb had fallen out with Van Maarjwick and Mathias Sammer respectively. . . .

The only on-form player that Wenger has ever signed is Arshavin.

If Gignac was quoted at £15m last season, I expect Wenger to cop him for £10m right now.

Thats why Stan Kroenke and the rest of em are falling over themselves to buy Arsenal shares and thats why the share price keeps rising. . . .which other manager can turn a profit year on year in this climate?. . . . I dare say that as soon as Wenger leaves Arsenal, the shareprice will drop sharply!  

Dr Kitaun:

YET . . .Eduardo is not still getting it right, forget the fact that he scored the winner . . .what of the squandered chances ? what about the fact that opponent defenders don’t even feel thre atened by his presence . . .I BET EDUARDO IS STILL AT ARSENAL COS OF HIS TRAUMATIC INJURY EXPERIENCE , Arsenal defo will not turn its back on a player in that manner BUT LET HIM WAKE UP . . .TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED !!!

You av hit the nail on the head. . . . Eduardo cannot run in behind, he cannot work the channels, he cannot play with his back to goal and he cannot spin defenders. . . . he used to be able to do some of these things, but since the injury, I am not seeing it!!!

Even if he scores 20 goals a season, I dare say the opportunity cost of deploying Dudu instead of a genuine front man is too high. . . . he has nothing to offer the team. . . he might as well be the new Michael Owen.




@ gaypumpkin

kay_pumpin:

Didnt you verbosely infer the same about RVP's inability to flourish as the point man in a 4-3-3 formation earlier in the season

Ibime is never wrong!!!

First of all, it takes foresight to know that the introdution of Arshavin precipitates the need for a change of formation to 4-3-3 as opposed to the 4-4-2 that held previously.

Secondly, our argument was WHETHER RVP CAN PLAY A FULL SEASON ON THE WINGS in a 4-3-3.

My opponents believed that RVP would have no problem doing so.

Wenger agreed with me, thats why RVP was deployed as a striker, rather than a winger. Wenger knows!!!

Credit must go to RVP for mastering the lone striker role. Not even Nastradamus would have seen that coming. However Ibime was right in saying that going on antecedents, RVP would not enjoy playing on the wings all the time!!!

Darren bent at Arsenal
You have got to be kidding me.
I will rather Crouchy or Beattie

HNIC:

Darren bent at Arsenal
You have got to be kidding me.
I will rather Crouchy or Beattie

Nah H, twas from the horses mouth this time. . .i was shocked to hear it, hope it fizzles though.

Now it's "Hulk" from Porto who's been linked to the emirates for d third time today on diff soccer sites. . this one don pass be careful as it ain't the first time we've heard abt it, dude costs about 20mil though 

Arsenal told they must wait for Hulk

Manchester United and Arsenal must wait for Porto striker Hulk.

Arsene Wenger fancies Porto's Brazilian striker, real name Givanildo Vieira de Souza, who will cost around £20m.

Yet Hulk, 23, wants stability in Portugal ahead of the World Cup this summer.

His agent Teodoro Fonseca said: "Inclusion in Brazil's World Cup squad is the most important thing.

"If he gets in, it could act as a gateway to England for him and that is what we want."

Im glad to see debosky is singing a new song, one different from the beginning of the season annoying ballads.

Back to Arsenal and Arsene:
I'm a bit worried that Wenger will not buy a new striker this January. My fears come from the fact that he seems to have decided that he will be bringing in Chamack come summer transfer window. His recent comments show that he is only waiting for Chamack's contract with Bordeaux to wind up before signing him up on a free. Now if that will happen, I don't see Arsene bring in a new striker in January.

The only way for the above to happen is if he has plans to sell one of the guys upfront. Taking a closer look: Vela, Bendtner, Arshavin, RVP, Eduardo are all like Arsene's long lost kids. Its not likely he will sell any. Another option maybe bringing in someone on loan. Some have even suggested a certain TH14. Not sure if that will happen though. The only worry he may be having is that no striker seems to be coming up from the youth team. Most of them are midfielders and defenders and goalkeepers. Strikeres like Simpson, JET do not seem to be ready to step up yet. The only guy I expect to see great things from is Luke Freeman and he is still too young. Rhys Murphy is also very good but he seems to have an issue with injuries.

So who am I expecting to see in January - For one, Ild love to see a back up CB. I cried when we let Toure go last summer and even though Wenger kept telling us he had 7 CBs, I couldn't get to bring myself to listen to him. Senderous and Silvestre were not it for me at all and with the Arsenal history with injuries, I wasn't sure the rest were enough back ups. Thank goodness Wenger has finally agreed with me. He has 'officially' named Silvestre as his fourth choice LB and with Djorou out for the season, Il def need to see a back up CB. It doesnt have to be a big name just someone of enough quality to hold forth in FA Cup games and some EPL games to give Gallas and Verm a rest. Any suggestions?

Upfront I think Il go for my second suggestion above. If Wenger has set his sights on Chamakh, then lets bring in someone on loan for the rest of the season and it has to be a proven striker. Ild have gone with Carlton Cole like some people have suggested but he is on the treatment table as we speak and I wouldn't want anyone who can't play till end of season injury free. Bent is a no go area. Roque would have been good bt for same reason with Cole and the fact that I don't think City will sell (who knows?), he may not be a possible option. Maybe Huntelaar on loan from Milan?

Finally, goalkeeping. While I don't expect us to do anything this January in this area, I seriously think that Almunia should be allowed to leave at the end of the season and let's give Fabianki and Manone a chance. In the long run, I see Sceczny becoming our number one but let him horne his skills on loan first.

For all those bashing Wishere, please take it easy on the guy, he is still very young. See how Song and Denilson and Diaby have turned out. I believe so much in Jack. He's got amazing skills and all he needs is games. A loan deal wouldn't be bad for him.
If we lose Merida like some people have reported, Il be sad but again, we have too many midfielders and I wish him well whereeve he moves on to.

Merida leaves

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5832133,00.html

Maybe Arsenal can get this goalkeeper:


[flash=400,300]http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/2XlG6QyM7iI[/flash]

Does any one on Nairaland know if the match between Arsenal and Bolton will be live tomorrow? I am currently in Cotonou but I have access to both DSTV and HITV but not sure if any of this cable stations will air the match live.

Please enough of the Darren Bent talk abeg, we dont sign oevrpriced english strikers. The tiny neighbors paid £20miliion for this gyy, £20million?!!!

As long as Chamakh is one Arsene's mind, no other striker will come in this January at least not long term. But he has turned down Huntelaar (from reports) on loan. So basically the saga continues.

It's the silly season we have not heard the last of it.

@ Debo you are making the same mistake you made with Diaby and Song. Let them play football and develop accordingly. Vela's talnt and i dare say performance is never on trial. He's like the 'thing' for Mexico what he needs is games. So he didnt sore on Sunday, but 2 assists and a good showing, good enough for me for the day. his he the answer to the central striker question, i wont stick mty neck out. But for now i wont chop his off either.

If we decide to replace our coming ups with already finished we will have say 2 players per position. With our injury situation isnt it a wonder we are winning games with 4th choice left backs and 3rd choice centre forwards.

@ Ibime, we didnt beg to buy Vermaleen either, stop staying Arserne buys cheap, Arsene recognises quality when other managers are busy listening to scouts who are busy listening to media analysis to determine which player is good or not. FFS even the Dutch media wrote Vermaleen off!! And they labeled Van Persie unmanageable.

Dr Kitaun:

What has helped us this season isnt that our boys have been spectacular but rather we have for once capitulated on the mistakes of our rivals in the top echelon of the league . . .what explains that half way into the league the league leaders have dropped 15 points already remember y’all when I said whoever is gonna win this season will not notch up to 90 points . . . I bet IT WILL BE MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE BUT REALISTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE (MAX CHELSEA, ARSENAL,MANURE,ASTON) TO PICK UP 90 POINTS, ANY DOUBTING THOMASES ??

I don't really understand this logic  Kit. . .

Isn't it the same set of teams both Chelsea and Arsenal met over the course of 18 games?   It's ridiculous how Chesea are given "the poor frm" leeway anytime they lose but we are termed rubbish anytime we lose.Truth is,the smaller teams[with the exceptin of Wolves rolling over at OT] have woken up to their duties and the gorge is gradually closing up.Arsenal though with the dissapointments of seasons past seems to know that the 'big' games ALONE doesnt win the league and now bring their A game to the fore as against what was obtainable.

While i agree it's not yet uhuru,sincerely all the teams in the EPL are deservedly in their rightful positions on the table

@Ibi[b]mess[/b]

Ibime:

Ibime is never wrong!!!

First of all, it takes foresight to know that the introdution of Arshavin precipitates the need for a change of formation to 4-3-3 as opposed to the 4-4-2 that held previously.

Secondly, our argument was WHETHER RVP CAN PLAY A FULL SEASON ON THE WINGS in a 4-3-3.

My opponents believed that RVP would have no problem doing so.

Wenger agreed with me, thats why RVP was deployed as a striker, rather than a winger. Wenger knows!!!

Credit must go to RVP for mastering the lone striker role. Not even Nastradamus would have seen that coming. However Ibime was right in saying that going on antecedents, RVP would not enjoy playing on the wings all the time!!!

Mea maxima culpa as per the RVP issue but i could have sworn you were of the opinion he wouldn't cut it as a lone striker in the 4-3-3.
That said,i think only a disjointed foresight will make anyone opined that wenger changed to 4-3-3 cos of just one payer;Arshavin.The open channel our midfied became after the loss of Famini,and the inability of none of the  player designated for the DM position to immediatey take up the gauntlet was more of the reason.

Moreso,isn't it obvious most of the players in our rank are central players as against the wing in which they are "forced" to play in a 4-4-2?

Wenger didn't have to look too far,Barca were playing one of the most entertaining football on earth yet they were decent defensively,it wouldn't be far fecthed to say we took a cue.

News on Cesc's injury,Rosicky's new contract and Gael's back in training

Fàbregas has not suffered a significant setback to the injury that he aggravated in last week’s 3-0 win over Villa, although his recovery is taking longer than was expected. The 22-year-old is targeting a comeback for Arsenal’s trip to face Bolton Wanderers on January 17, when Theo Walcott may also return from a muscle strain.

The Arsenal captain’s continued absence is more of a blow, given that Alexandre Song left yesterday to join Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations, leaving Wenger short of numbers for the Premier League match at home to Bolton tomorrow. Victory would take Arsenal to second place in the table, one point behind Chelsea. Denilson is set to take Song’s place, provided he shakes off a back injury. Gaël Clichy and Tomas Rosicky have returned to training after back and groin problems respectively.

Rosicky signed a four-year contract yesterday despite having made limited appearances over the past two seasons because of injury. The 29-year-old becomes the fifteenth player to have agreed a new deal at Arsenal since last May, reflecting the club’s desire to maintain their existing squad rather than bolster it with signings.

Cichy!!! Wooow. I fit no recognise dat guy again sef. Infact he will be like a new signing (trademark Arsene Wenger)

I will be surprised if Wenger gets a player in by the end of this transfer Window.

Dr Kitaun:

Vela, MERIDA, WILSHERE were piss-poor . . .I wonder why Wilshere wasnt subtituted as early as the 1st half . . .I am beginning to have my doubts on the boy what could be the problem ? the media ? AW ? himself ? a natural phase he has to go thru ?

It is too early to start making these types of assesments (remember what some said abt Diaby barely 2 mnths ago?), those guys were anything but piss poor against a WH side that gave everything and was allowed by the ref to be so physical in the 1st half, WH waned in the 2nd and we were in the ascendancy before the addition of fresh legs finally nailed their coffin. Also yu've got to consider the statement by Arsene that such players who get few appearances are under additional pressure to do something special in their cameos, team chemistry and synergies between players is also a factor. Even if I agree about the younger ones I've got to disagree about Vela who gave Faubert an absolutely torrid time with his running and movement on the left.

Dr Kitaun:

My man Abel, am not gonna bother myself comparing Vela with Bendtner, THEY ARE BOTH NOT ARSENAL MATERIAL TO ME !!! ANYBODY COULD HAVE ASSISTED THE GOALS TO TAKE ARSENAL OUT OF ANY DOLDRUM, EVEN AN OWNGOAL COULD HAVE . . .SO WHAT ARE U ON ABOUT ?

Doki, lets not go down this route, when we begin to disregard critical stats such as goal related contributions. On the day, Vela was a major part of our success and long may that continue.

kay_pumpin:

Rosicky signed a four-year contract yesterday despite having made limited appearances over the past two seasons because of injury. The 29-year-old becomes the fifteenth player to have agreed a new deal at Arsenal since last May, reflecting the club’s desire to maintain their existing squad rather than bolster it with signings.

This is good news but does nothing to ease my apprehension about Merida's situation, good thing Arsene has learnt from the breakup of the invincibles and is keeping some good old heads around, having a player of Rosicky's calibre around into his early thirties can only be a good thing. I'm almost resigned to us losing Merida (but wld be glad if its done on our own terms with regards to bringing him back sometime in the future or getting a lot of money to soothe his exit). Letting him go would allow Nacer Barazite (who I personally feel is more physically suited to the PL at 6ft 2) more opportunity to push for a first team place and we've still got Lansbury and JET who are already tied down to long term contracts waiting in the wings. Wenger's statements at the beginning of the season and his being assigned a first team number convinced me he wanted to keep him but he would definitely have to prove himself better than Rosicky, Arshavin and possibly Nasri (a tough ask for a 19 year old) to become a consistent first teamer.
I'm sure Athletico are promising him a better chance to become a full spanish international by putting him into their first team right away and one might be a bit selfish to begrudge him such an opportunity.

Darren Bent Why don't we just buy Berba instead if we wanted to be the laughing stock of the Prem

But funny enough i would rather we buy local than go foreign, we could raid Pompey and buy their entire 1st team (Plus Avram Grant as coach) or we could just piss off Harry and inquire about Defoe [i] RETURN OF ADEBAYOR ANYONE[/i] Or maybe Saha

I just think we need someone that already is used to the league, not someone that will find form during the off season.

As for Senderos, only AW knows wehat that boy has done to him, i don't buy the injury stories (Na only him get injury )

To wet your appetite folks, here is Goodplaya's Arsenal Goals of the decade;

http://www.goodplaya.com/

My choices are;

1. Dennis Bergy against the Toon Army.
2. Henry against Madrid.
3. RVP against Charlton.
Extra prize - All Lungberg's goals against Scum United

Heres to another decade of wonder goals Boy i do miss Pires, Bergy and all THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!

GOONER 89

P.S Check out the Arab commentary on the Arshavin vs Liverpool vid (This season) hella funny

I'd take Piquionne (sp) from Pompey before Bent. . . .he's French and good friends with Gallas.

My choices (if in the premiership) would be Saha>Jones> Piquionne> at first glance.

@ loyika
The commentary was a war cry lol
I am sure the commentator is a gunner's fan!

Where'd u dig those from?

I'm crying like a baby. . .loved the Henry special @ d bernabeu & cesc's intro goal against Juve. . Now i'm laffin me butt off @ d funny commentator.

Damn, those were the days

Debo, iwo ati Saha e yi sha. U and dis ur Saha, dont we have enough injury problems as it is? Leave saha out of this matter jare, infact leave evry footballer that has ever had an injury in his life jare   na injury bring us reach where we dey now.

Also watch the Lungberg against Chelsea, just look at the guy behind the goal as the goal goes in The way he ran, where exactly was he running too

And the commentator for Bergy against Bayern Lever sounded as if he was having an heavenly feeling

Memory Lane



GOONER 89

What language was that commentator speaking,loyika?

He kept repeating. . Al hi Arshaaaaaaaaaa Arshaaaaaabab. . .Goalllaaarsha  , simply hilarious!rotflol

Arsshahahahahahahahahhahahah championa maha karusi, mara kurahu!. .liverpool