So I have found some time before going out to dinner tonight to post for the first time in a while. I do apologise for the infrequency of these, the normal schedule will return as of next week when I return from the US.
Another goalless draw and I must say I was a little disappointed. We bossed the game again from what I saw and the stats back me up. We just couldn't find the net. As the game drew on I knew that changed were imminent but I must admit I think it was a poor decision to take Cazorla off, who again sparkled. We went for it though but that final clinical finish wasn't there as Podolski and Diaby fired wide. I thought just when it was over we were going to nick it as Giroud went charging down the left, but you could tell he hasn't gelled just yet, firing over the bar from distance when he should have played Ramsey through the middle. Talking of Ramsey I was disgusted to hear the Stoke fans booing him when he was brought on, it's low and I hope it was a minority but sadly I feel I am mistaken. Never have I wanted him to come on score the winner than I did then but it just wasn't to be. None the less, two clean sheets so maybe what Steve Bould is doing is working (fingers crossed).
Our attentions turn to Anfield on Sunday when we take on a new look Liverpool side and I must say I'm quite optimistic. From what I can gather, due to an absolute howler from Reina, their game with Hearts was taken to extra time. This gives us the advantage as many of the players will be tired and feeling the effects of tonight's match. I don't rate Liverpool as much of a side even with new signings and a new manager and it's a game that I think is definitely winnable. In terms of the team, its a difficult one with doubts over Szczesny and Koscielny. I think we're more likely to see SZCZ in the starting line up that Kos purely because that's the way Wenger is normally but we shall see. Wide positions are difficult at the moment, as personally I would have Walcott in over Gervinho every day but due to the issue with his contract I think Gerv could start again.
Now with reaction to the issue with Walcott and his ongoing contract. I've heard conflicting reports but it appears that he will be staying with the club and talks over his contract will continue over the next few weeks with his wage demands being the sticking point. He's asking for £100K a week whereas we offered him £75K, now I know this issue has divided Gooners so here's my opinion. Do I think Walcott is worth £100K a week? No. Do I think we should keep Theo? Absolutely. He is one of those players that can turn it on, he's "consistent patches" are good, admittedly when he's not firing he can be equally useless and that's where having additional firepower on the wings will come in handy. Basically I'm in Arsenal's position. I want him to stay but don't want to pay over the top for him.
So tomorrow is deadline day, one of the most frantic in the footballing calendar. According to Wenger we are still active and I can see us bringing in one or two players tomorrow. I'm not going to talk about rumours because there are simply too many, I suppose we will just have to wait and see. But I expect us to do some business, in and out.
So that's it from me for today, my next post will be from merry old England so fingers crossed for Sunday! COYG.
Prediction: Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal
OK so as you know I'm currently on my hols but as I have a few hours to kill I thought I'd just go over recent events and goings on.
Well let's start with the game on Saturday that sadly didn't get off to the start we all wanted. I didn't watch the game but was getting updates and saw the highlights after. It's always a gutter when you boss the game and create 20 plus chances to end up 0-0. We, in all honesty should have scored and won, the chance the fell to Giroud should have been 1-0 Arsenal but I think potentially nerves got the better of him and he put it wide. I said when we signed Giroud, it had the potential to be a really good buy, but I think he will take some time to settle. Podolski I'm not so worried about coming from a league with a much higher calibre of football, but Giroud may take a bit of time to bed in, let's hope it's not too long. Cazorla looked phenomenal, a real star, he could easily be our best player this season. His real test will come when we travel to middle earth on Sunday and take on that colony of orcs known as Stoke. If he stands up to them and still shines then we know we are most definitely on to a winner.
Unlike the RvP deal, I was really disappointed with Song. Firstly because the deal we struck was pitiful. £15m for someone of his quality with 3 years left, really Arsenal is that the best we can do? I am sad to see him leave after he said "I am happy at Arsenal" but once again greedy agent Darren Dein (wanker) turned his head away from us like countless other players over the last few seasons. I can't see Song playing much this season and it just feels like another deal that Dein had engineered in an effort to spite us fans. However the good news is that Song was our last player tethered to that unbearable fucker so we're rid of him at last.
Finally and I must say take this with a pinch of salt, the Sahin deal seems to be moving in the right direction with 'according to sky sources: a deal has been struck'. I suggest much of this has to do with the fact that the Luka Modric deal also seems to be moving in that direction. But please don't take this deal as done these are the same sky sources that claimed RvP was staying at Arsenal a day before he signed for United so...
Anyway looking ahead to Stoke on Sunday where hopefully we can get our first win of the season. Until then have a good week from a rather stormy Orlando.
Well there you have it, in a way we all knew it was inevitable. The destination wasn't inevitable however and I can completely understand all the bitterness that followed and all the hatred. That's just football...
Where to begin? OK those who know me personally and follow me on twitter
(https://twitter.com/fisher_mr) will know that last night, far from being hurt and disappointed I was actually in a rather cheery mood. I'll explain. £24m for a 29 year old, injury prone player with one year left on his contract, to me is brilliant business. As always we've made an enormous profit and I think United have taken a huge gamble for a number of reasons.
Firstly, with a injury sheet longer than the Olympics bill, there is always that question mark over RVP and his fitness. With his many injuries over the years every time he goes down there is always that fear that he might stay down. At 29, one more big injury could spell real trouble for him. I don't want to wish injury or anything like that upon him, even when a player moves to sp*rs you still don't think like that. But I do have a niggling feeling he may be seeing a lot of the United physio.
Secondly I have real reservations about how he will work with Rooney. I can't see them working together, he won't score 20+ goals I will put money on that. Can he feed Rooney as a Shadow Striker? Is that worth £24m? I don't think so. I'm sure Ferguson will play them side-by-side upfront, but considering they have problems in centre midfield will they get the support they need?
So it's a big risk. In terms of my personal feelings, I don't feel betrayed or angry. Just a little disappointed that he could have been up there with Henry, Wright, Bergkamp and now he'll just be that dutch bloke that scored some good goals for us. He won't be remembered as a legend and I'm sure that one day he'll look back and regret it. But he engineered this move himself and now he has to deal with whatever it brings.
We need to continue our build up to the new season now and re-invest the money that we will get from the deal. A striker should be right at the top of the list, I worry about Giroud coming from Ligue 1, yes he looks promising and he certainly knows how to find the net but it's a big step for him. Podolski I'm less worried about but I don't really think Wenger wants to play his as another striker as such more as a versatile attacker. I'd like to see us buy Llorente but I can't see it, Wenger now surely knows that we need to bring in some players and it's just a case of waiting and seeing what happens.
As I'm jetting off to the USA tomorrow posts will be limited, but I will do my pre-match posts as the new season FINALLY kicks off! In the words of Thomas Vermaelen "Life go's on".
Ah I have returned from my holidays after barely keeping track with all that's been going on I think I'm on top of it all. So we took on FC Koln or Cologne, whatever you prefer, yesterday and as we were expected to do won easily. Again the result comes second to the pre-season preparation but it was nice to see our new boys out, with Podolski grabbing a smart brace against his old club. Giroud had chances too but their keeper made some nice saves. Cazorla looked very impressive, he's fast and very very creative, obviously this is one game and against a side that got relegated last season, but I think he could be a really good signing. Vermaelen scored first with a move that will have (slightly) older fans relieving many goals with a classic Arsenal corner that Steve Bould would have taken part in many times. The flick on at the near post and headed in.
In the second half we made wholesale changes and Gervinho continued his impressive pre-season with yet another goal that was a great piece of individual work down the wing and he finished well from a tight angle. It was a good match and it has really got people excited about the highly anticipated return of the Premier League this weekend, me included! However the main talking point of the whole thing is something that has been rumbling on since the start of the summer.
Robin Van Persie came on after the 69th minute, not the 45 he said he'd play but he still played. I think it sent a message to various people (Robin included), to just say, he's still contracted and he's still an Arsenal player. As expected he came on and played his part, he didn't do anything of note, but he played with professionalism and at the moment that's all he can do. Wenger again re-iterated we want to keep him and that he is part of our plans. What we must remember is that deadline day is not Saturday and if he plays on Saturday it doesn't mean he will be our player for the rest of the season so at the moment, much like the rest of the summer we can only wait and see.
But there are positives to take from yesterday and we look relatively sharp going into the first game of the season. Let's hope for a repeat of the scoreline against Sunderland!
