Random Arsenal Shit (When it's not worth starting a thread)

[dazthegooner]

Good news for us next season the football visionaries Sourness and Robbie Average have said Arsenal will struggle next season.

[Gooner23]

I saw a theory going round a few weeks ago that Raul might have had more to do with Özil being frozen out than Arteta? The logic was that he was being selected before lockdown, but then disappeared once the disaster of no match day income and tv revenue started to become a reality, and it became more urgent to get him off the wage bill?

Not sure I believe that myself - this feels more like a simple olive branch being offered - but I dare say this will add fuel to that rumour.

Have heard all sorts of rumours about off field stuff, would love to know what's happened behind the scenes. It can't just be a lack of work rate in training.

[I am invisible]

Good news for us next season the football visionaries Sourness and Robbie Average have said Arsenal will struggle next season.
Souness is a massive prick, but tbf those two won’t be the only ones writing us off. All most people will see is Liverpool and City a mile out in front with Chelsea and Man U spending big to catch up - unless you study Arsenal in micro detail you’re probably not going to have much confidence in us closing the gap and competing. We’ll see, though.

[I am invisible]

Have heard all sorts of rumours about off field stuff, would love to know what's happened behind the scenes. It can't just be a lack of work rate in training.
I don’t know... Özil is notorious for missing games and being unreliable and we now know Arteta is a strict disciplinarian who demands 100% commitment and is trying to rebuild a culture of accountability - I suppose something else might of gone on, but in all honesty I don’t think you need to look too much further than that for your answer.

The difference between Özil and the other players is he’s already achieved everything he needs to in the game and he already has the best contract he’s ever going to get - there’s literally nothing we can do to motivate him and nothing we can threaten him with, and he knows it. He’s basically retired and getting paid £20m/yr for it - if we’re trying to get him to do anything more than play video games all day, then what’s in it for him?

[Globalgunner]

i think we are playing Ozil simply to prove to skeptics that he still exists and we havent actually had him topped off quietly

[Letters]

Highlights of Anfield ‘89 are randomly on ITV4 now!

[Letters]

Highlights of Anfield ‘89 are randomly on ITV4 now!

Arsenal won 2-0

[GP]

Aldridge is down, Barnes is down, Dalgliesh just stands there.

[Mac76]

This is a great watch if you haven't seen it

https://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/Gifts/By-Price/Gift-ideas-%C2%A311-%C2%A320/89-DVD/p/N01956

[Letters]

I have and it is :d

[Mac76]

decent new third kit tbf

https://www.arsenal.com/news/presenting-our-new-adidas-x-arsenal-third-kit

[GP]

I've already bought the home and away.

Don't know why, just feels more optimistic than usual.

[dazthegooner]

Might be able to get one from Sports direct.

[Mac76]

Might be able to get one from Sports direct.

yeah i just looked and saw i can get one direct from adidas

though tbh the sponsor logos put me off a bit

[Marc Overmars]

My sister in-laws fiancé has just started working for Adidas, he’s quite high up there and recently got me the away kit for free. I didn’t have the heart to tell him it’s shite but can’t knock a freebie tbf.

50% off everything on the website plus possible access to the Adidas hospitality boxes at the Emirates, whenever fans are allowed back. Me. :bow:

[Mac76]

you need to make sure she doesn't mess things up before the wedding...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arteta is our new manager.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/revealed-arteta-now-first-team-manager

[GP]

Arteta OUT!

[Niall_Quinn]

Building a new Wenger role? I hope not.

[Mac76]

BBC pundits having a go at predicting top four - Wrighty thinks we'll be fourth, Joleon Lescott thinks we'll be third

no-one thinks spuds will be there :haha:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54081636

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54038523

I'd 1-9 to be a West Ham fan.

[Niall_Quinn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54038523

I'd 1-9 to be a West Ham fan.

Tbf, WH were down to 10 men... no, wait!

[Mac76]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54038523

I'd 1-9 to be a West Ham fan.

They got hammered :rimshot:

[Mac76]

Interesting interview with Francis Cagigao, reading about the players he got to the club you do wonder whether we made a mistake lwtting him go...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54050027

[Letters]

Tbf, WH were down to 10 men... no, wait!

I hope you're not assuming their gender :sulk:

[Marc Overmars]

Interesting interview with Francis Cagigao, reading about the players he got to the club you do wonder whether we made a mistake lwtting him go...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54050027

Nah, we just see who's part of Kia's Whatsapp group now.

[Mac76]

clearly NQ won't be signing up as it's being run by a leftie commie paper, but some of the rest of you might be interested in this forthcoming interview with Arsene Wenger...

https://membership.theguardian.com/event/in-conversation-with-arsene-wenger-119218065443

[Chippy]

clearly NQ won't be signing up as it's being run by a leftie commie paper, but some of the rest of you might be interested in this forthcoming interview with Arsene Wenger...

https://membership.theguardian.com/event/in-conversation-with-arsene-wenger-119218065443

I'm with NQ :hug:

Would not use the Guardian to clean my Arsenal :)

[Marc Overmars]

clearly NQ won't be signing up as it's being run by a leftie commie paper, but some of the rest of you might be interested in this forthcoming interview with Arsene Wenger...

https://membership.theguardian.com/event/in-conversation-with-arsene-wenger-119218065443

Got his autobiography on pre-order. :popcorn:

[Niall_Quinn]

clearly NQ won't be signing up as it's being run by a leftie commie paper, but some of the rest of you might be interested in this forthcoming interview with Arsene Wenger...

https://membership.theguardian.com/event/in-conversation-with-arsene-wenger-119218065443

I won't be signing up because I'm not really watching football with any serious interest any more. Of course if the team starts playing entertaining football again, after all these years, I think I'd be drawn back to it. I still love a decent game of football. IIRC the last one I saw was a match between two South American teams, end to end stuff, high tempo, non-stop entertainment. Can't be doing with the tippety-tap bullshit here in Europe. Reached my limit with it.

Don't begrudge others who are still into it, of course. And if the grounds ever open again, I might try watching a few lower league games as suggested.

[Mac76]

Got his autobiography on pre-order. :popcorn:

me too, thought about asking for it for xmas but don't want to wait that long...

[Letters]

Arsenal Women 4 - Spurs Women 0
In the FA Cup Quarter Final

Spurs :haha:

[GP]

Arsenal Women 4 - Spurs Women 0
In the FA Cup Quarter Final

Spurs :haha:

https://streamable.com/tzjpb9

Nobbs :bow:

[GP]

The aggregate score of the last four games between Arsenal and Spurs Women

Arsenal 22 - 0 Spurs

[Globalgunner]

Bergkamp wants a job.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54299158

C`mon Edu. Do the right thing

[Niall_Quinn]

Bergkamp wants a job.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54299158

C`mon Edu. Do the right thing

No way. Bergie's a legend and doesn't need his name being dragged down. Leave him up there on his pedestal.

[Marc Overmars]

Wenger is appearing on the Graham Norton Show to plug his book. :lol:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/12810745/wenger-guest-graham-norton-jackson/

Must watch.

[Letters]

Wenger :bow:

[GP]

Great man.

It's all been downhill since he left.

Wenger IN!

[Letters]

No need to thank me :d

https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/an-evening-with-arsene-wenger

[Ollie the Optimist]

Arsenal have made Gunnersaurus redundant in order to save costs.


Apparently there are rumours on twitter he was on 25k a week plus image rights?? If that is true, no wonder Ozil managed to get 300k a week out of the club if we agreed to pay a bloke to dress up as a dinosaur 25k a week

[Marc Overmars]

25k a week? That can’t be true. :haha:

Though nothing would surprise me about football these days. It exists in its own bubble.

[Letters]

I guess Ozil could do it for now?

[GP]

There's no way a guy in a lizard suit is on 25k a week. No way.

He'd be lucky to get 25k a year

[Xhaka Can’t]

Nonsense! How could he afford to shoot all that merch into the crowd on £25k a year?

Also, while I haven’t checked out the prices of dry cleaning a dinosaur suit, I bet it’s a lot.

[GP]

25k + expenses.

[LDG]

I’d happily take over for 10k a week. Saves the club 3/4 of a million quid.

[Niall_Quinn]

I’d happily take over for 10k a week. Saves the club 3/4 of a million quid.

I'll do it for 300k a week, provided I don't have to turn up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Gunnersarus.

I can't believe our big scaly boi is being given the boot. :(

[Xhaka Can’t]

25k + expenses.

That makes more sense now.

Sometimes I’m a little bit slow on the uptake.

[Letters]

Sometimes?

[Niall_Quinn]

Gunnersarus.

I can't believe our big scaly boi is being given the boot. :(

We must be pretty hard up if we can't afford one guy in a costume. Even kids with pocket money can afford that for birthday parties.

[dazthegooner]

Nicked of fb 'To be fair jack Whitehall’s comment about keeping the costume and putting Ozil in it is not only a good idea but also the funniest thing the fella has ever said'

[Mac76]

sacking Gunnersaurus is such a PR fail by Arsenal - whatever he costs, the damage they've done outweighs it - amazing how people can make such a stupid decision

[Letters]

sacking Gunnersaurus is such a PR fail by Arsenal - whatever he costs, the damage they've done outweighs it - amazing how people can make such a stupid decision

It's a pretty weird decision on the same day as they spent £45m on a player.

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah it’s a bit of a shitty move really. Maybe he’ll be back when the fans can return though?

[Letters]

Probably. But holy shit if you can pay Ozil £350k a week to sit around on his arse and spend £45m on a player you can surely pay a bloke to prat around in a costume a by comparison trivial salary

[Mac76]

exactly

[Globalgunner]

Never underestimate the ability of this club to shoot itself in the PR foot. A smart club would have him on AFTV giving his opinion on extinction level events and how they affect your family tree.

[Niall_Quinn]

sacking Gunnersaurus is such a PR fail by Arsenal - whatever he costs, the damage they've done outweighs it - amazing how people can make such a stupid decision

They'll probably spend more cash than they saved hiring an agency to change all the marketing stuff they send out to kids. Gunnersaurus featured heavily in all that. What are they going to use now? Mustafi's Kiddy Corner?

That doesn't sound so great, actually.

[Mac76]

They'll probably spend more cash than they saved hiring an agency to change all the marketing stuff they send out to kids. Gunnersaurus featured heavily in all that. What are they going to use now? Mustafi's Kiddy Corner?

That doesn't sound so great, actually.

no it doesn't :lol:

and exactly - how much were they making from gunnersaurus toys etc??

[GP]

They haven't scrapped gunnersaurus.

[Marc Overmars]

I’m pretty sure Gunnersaurus is the clubs IP.

They just didn’t need a man to wear a costume anymore.

[Mac76]

ok, so they just made the guy redundant - well still, it's a bit unnecessary given the amount of fuss - after all we don't know when fans will be returning but it might not be too long

[Niall_Quinn]

I’m pretty sure Gunnersaurus is the clubs IP.

They just didn’t need a man to wear a costume anymore.

Assuming we ever go back to having crowds at the games, won't they need the mascot to turn up if he's going to be featured in all the literature? That was the whole point, wasn't it? The kids could turn up and see a real life dinosaur (not a man in a costume as you callously claim - without proof).

[Ollie the Optimist]

Ozil’ s PR team are something else.

He has just tweeted that he will pay GUnnersaurus salary so he can have his job back :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

:lol:

It’s pretty clear the reason he’s not involved anymore is because there’s some political issue with the hierarchy. I don’t think it’s to do with his ability on the pitch.

[Globalgunner]

Ozil’ s PR team are something else.

He has just tweeted that he will pay GUnnersaurus salary so he can have his job back :lol:

The man is a maestro if nothing else. On and off the pitch

[Mac76]

https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088/status/1313486087181021190

[Niall_Quinn]

The club fucked up with this. Big time. It may seem a trivial issue, a guy in a dinosaur suit that nobody sees anymore because the stadium's shut. But the other view is the little guy getting the boot when times are tough while the fat cats sail on through. Are they still all on that pay cut btw? Or has that expired now? Did it actually ever happen?

Would be a bit funny though if the dinosaur asked to leave, rather than getting the push. Maybe, after 27 years, he'd had enough? Obviously I need to do a lot more research on this, but I probably won't.

[Letters]

It’s genuinely bizarre.
Let’s say he’s on a million a year. Which obviously he isn’t, but let’s pretend.
That’s still less than 3 weeks of Ozil’s salary.
And they do it on the same day they meet Partey’s £45m release clause.

Honestly. They are so ridiculously tone deaf. It just shows how detached clubs are from reality and the average fan.

[Mac76]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/976/cpsprodpb/4888/production/_114786581_mesutozil.jpg

[Letters]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54442979

Unexplained Wealth Orders. Could we get Ozil on this? :unsure:

[Letters]

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2020/10/06/gunnersaurus-killed-by-poachers-on-first-day-of-retirement/

:rose:

[fakeyank]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54453593

Tierney out of our game against City

FFS :banghead:

[Mac76]

bad news

[GP]

Kolasinac can also play there

[Globalgunner]

Kolasinac can also play there

Badly.

[I am invisible]

I hate international football so much.

[Niall_Quinn]

Mind you, it's a good idea to let players from many clubs join up and then fly around the world to meet players from many clubs from other nations. Provided no one player invites more than 5 of those players to his Christmas party, of course.

[Mac76]

I hate international football so much.

me too, got no interest in it at all

[I am invisible]

me too, got no interest in it at all
Inferior form of the game in every way that ruins players for the good stuff.

I’ll admit I enjoy the actual tournaments when the come around, but I’ve got absolutely zero interest in qualifiers and friendlies. And don’t even get me started on that nations league thing! I’m not even sure the nations care about that one?

[Mac76]

Yeah, i'm the same - and the Nations League is indeed pure BS

[Letters]

Happy Birthday Ozil :bow:

Don’t overdo it, fella - we want you fit for the weekend! Lolz

[dazthegooner]

Think we should have a collection get him somehting nice. Any suggestions? :sarcy:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Who ever decided it was a good idea to have an international break in the middle of a global pandemic deserves to be shot. Stupid decision.


However, Tieney has been told to self isolate for 14 days despite testing negative etc. Fair enough i suppose given the rules but the wolves players in the Portugal squad who were close to Ronaldo following his positive test, do not have to self isolate?

Who is making up these rules? Why we are not allowed our left back but wolves are allowed their players’?

[Mac76]

Think we should have a collection get him somehting nice. Any suggestions? :sarcy:


https://www.arsenal.com/sites/default/files/styles/large_16x9/public/gun__1394812646_Gunner_toy.jpg?itok=D12-yUdW

[GP]

Think we should have a collection get him somehting nice. Any suggestions? :sarcy:

couple gallons of unleaded and a box of matches.

[Mac76]

Arteta :bow:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54554427

[Chippy]

Off topic. How bloody hilarious was that collapse by the Scum yesterday :d

I hope that you have all seen the wonderful posts doing the rounds when they were leading 3-0. :rolleyes:

[Letters]

I hope that you have all seen the wonderful posts doing the rounds when they were leading 3-0. :rolleyes:
I have no idea what you mean :angry:

[Chippy]

I have no idea what you mean :angry:

:lol:

[Mac76]

This is Ozil's statement on his being left out

https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088/status/1318874490646953984/photo/1

got to say again, no-one's a winner or blameless but the club in particular really does have questions to answer IMO

[Marc Overmars]

Ironic isn’t it, the one time we have a decent player who is prepared to stay loyal to the club it’s actually us who turn our backs on him. :lol:

Mesut. :rose:

[Letters]

There must be so much going on behind the scenes here.
I doubt Ozil is blameless but seems like the club have messed this up.

[dostoy]

Fairycake is useless and doesn't give a shit, regardless of what he says.

I hope he goes in January, but I can't see how its going to happen, because nobody will want him.

What a pathetic human being he is.

Fuck off Ozil.

[Letters]

Fairycake is useless and doesn't give a shit, regardless of what he says.
Well firstly, no he isn't.
And secondly, you have as much of an idea what's going on with all this as the rest of us - which is practically none.
It seems unlikely that either party is completely to blame although something must have happened when football was suspended. Before that Ozil was first choice.

[Marc Overmars]

Don’t think the club have covered themselves in glory really. I get that we need him off the books so we can consolidate our finances, however when he made it clear he wasn’t going to leave, he should still have been involved and made to earn his money. Even from a footballing point of view we’re here moaning about the lack of creativity but there’s an option staring us right in the face. It’s bizarre.

No winners in this. I think the club have not really acted with much class and Ozil himself has clearly shown he has no real interest in furthering his career anymore. Sorry excuse of a footballer.

Imagine being paid 350k a week to do fuck all other than turn up for a few training sessions, furthermore, imagine willingly paying someone 350k to do it. We look stupid.

[Marc Overmars]

This last bit probably confirms the speculation as to why he was sidelined:


I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice."

[Letters]

It's funny. For years I've said (about players who want to leave) "Sod 'em, make them see out their contract, stick 'em in the reserves".
That's pretty much what we've done here but now I'm fuming.
I guess because it's a bit different - here we have a player who it seems actually does want to play for us and we've sidelined him.
Why? What could possibly have happened? Was it about him not accepting a pay cut? There surely has to be more to it than that, he's not obliged to agree to that and it sounds like he was willing to if the club gave him certain assurances which they refused to do.

It's all a complete shitshow.

[Niall_Quinn]

This is Ozil's statement on his being left out

https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088/status/1318874490646953984/photo/1

got to say again, no-one's a winner or blameless but the club in particular really does have questions to answer IMO

His last sentence is the best clue we have.

Guesswork here, but Ozil is very vocal on Muslim causes. He wouldn't be best pleased at how the sub-human communists in China behave, for example. So Maybe that's where the falling out lies? Ozil wanted to speak, the club said no because - money. Must be something like this or he wouldn't have added the final sentence.

Ironic, seeing as the club and all the players have been vigorously promoting racism and terrorism for the last few months.

[GP]

Don’t think the club have covered themselves in glory really. I get that we need him off the books so we can consolidate our finances, however when he made it clear he wasn’t going to leave, he should still have been involved and made to earn his money. Even from a footballing point of view we’re here moaning about the lack of creativity but there’s an option staring us right in the face. It’s bizarre.

No winners in this. I think the club have not really acted with much class and Ozil himself has clearly shown he has no real interest in furthering his career anymore. Sorry excuse of a footballer.

Imagine being paid 350k a week to do fuck all other than turn up for a few training sessions, furthermore, imagine willingly paying someone 350k to do it. We look stupid.

I agree, Arteta should have picked him, then he can sink or swim on his performances.

He played prior to lockdown, but I don't remember him pulling up and trees.
I just think he's a guy who doesn't want to play football any more.

[dostoy]

Well firstly, no he isn't.
And secondly, you have as much of an idea what's going on with all this as the rest of us - which is practically none.
It seems unlikely that either party is completely to blame although something must have happened when football was suspended. Before that Ozil was first choice.

He is completely useless and does not want to play anymore.

He is very happy getting paid a fortune to do virtually nothing.

Useless, shameless, soulless and gutless.

I hope he gets run over by a bus.

[Letters]

He is completely useless.
No he isn't. Just repeating something true doesn't make it true.
As for the rest, you have no idea what's going on any more than I do.

[dostoy]

He has been useless for years.

Massive mistake by Wenger to sign him, let his contract run down then give him a massive new one.

Two fucking idiots this club had to put up with for far too fucking long.

Anybody who thinks he is not useless is fucking stupid.

[Letters]

Well, I can't argue with that.



Mostly because it's gibberish.

[Mac76]

Well, I can't argue with that.



Mostly because it's gibberish.

:lol:

[dostoy]

Well, I can't argue with that.



Mostly because it's gibberish.

You know I'm right.

[Mac76]

You know I'm right.

Ozil is not useless, that's just a classic zero-nuance internet forum thing to say

and it wasn't Wenger's fault we signed that new deal with Ozil, it was mainly down to Ivan Gazidis

[dostoy]

If he wasn't useless he would be playing for Arsenal.

It was mostly Wenger's fault, he would have decided to keep the player not Gazidis.

I saw Wenger on TV last week, what a senile, doddery old cunt he was and still is.

[GP]

This is just low-effort trolling.

[Letters]

This is just low-effort trolling.

Actually made me miss Cripps a bit. At least he was good at it.

[dostoy]

This is just low-effort trolling.

Good.

She was scum.

This was your disgusting/depraved/retarded response to Caroline Flacks death.

Who is a fucking troll now ?

[Globalgunner]

When the shit is bad its Gazidis fault. When it's good. It's all Wenger. Neglecting the part where Wenger is a known control freak. Classic

[Mac76]

i've read and listened to a lot of people who have followed the club very closely over the years, and in some cases some of them talk to people at the club, and the general version of events is that the Ozil deal was at least 50% Gazidis, I'm not exonerating Wenger and i wanted him to leave, but it's not all down to him

[Globalgunner]

i've read and listened to a lot of people who have followed the club very closely over the years, and in some cases some of them talk to people at the club, and the general version of events is that the Ozil deal was at least 50% Gazidis, I'm not exonerating Wenger and i wanted him to leave, but it's not all down to him

According to Letters. Nobody knows what's going on at the club so all opinions are just speculation. Wenger however is on record as saying he is in charge and will stand for no one dictating football matters to him. It may even be in his crap book.

[GP]

Good.

She was scum.

This was your disgusting/depraved/retarded response to Caroline Flacks death.

Who is a fucking troll now ?

You are.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Fairycake is useless and doesn't give a shit, regardless of what he says.

I hope he goes in January, but I can't see how its going to happen, because nobody will want him.

What a pathetic human being he is.

Fuck off Ozil.

Did he run off with your missus?

[Xhaka Can’t]

Good.

She was scum.

This was your disgusting/depraved/retarded response to Caroline Flacks death.

Who is a fucking troll now ?

Now?

You.

[Marc Overmars]

i've read and listened to a lot of people who have followed the club very closely over the years, and in some cases some of them talk to people at the club, and the general version of events is that the Ozil deal was at least 50% Gazidis, I'm not exonerating Wenger and i wanted him to leave, but it's not all down to him

This is why I have a little bit of sympathy with the club because the people in charge now didn’t have anything to do with his contract. They know he’s not worth it and just want him gone. It’s business but then there is the side of it I don’t like and that’s turning their back on him like he’s some nothing player who’s never done anything in his career.

It’s just one big mess and the sooner he is gone we can just move on and hopefully learn from it.

[dostoy]

Did he run off with your missus?

Go away you stupid little man.

[dostoy]

You are.

A troll is far too good a word for you.

You are below that.

[Niall_Quinn]

A troll is far too good a word for you.

You are below that.

Don't get drawn in by that troll. He's been performing this routine for years on GW. He's sitting there jerking off with tweezers, getting more frantic as you get angrier. Step away. Not worth it. Nobody on here has the guts to call this guy out as the troll he is, for whatever reason. He gets a free pass. You won't.

[dostoy]

Don't get drawn in by that troll. He's been performing this routine for years on GW. He's sitting there jerking off with tweezers, getting more frantic as you get angrier. Step away. Not worth it. Nobody on here has the guts to call this guy out as the troll he is, for whatever reason. He gets a free pass. You won't.

Interesting.

I'm not angry at all though.

It never ceases to amaze me how much stupidity there is in the world.

What has happened this year has confirmed that stupidity knows no boundaries and there is a lot of it on here.

[Letters]

According to Letters. Nobody knows what's going on at the club so all opinions are just speculation.
Is that a particularly controversial stance?
I mean, it’s not baseless speculation, there’s lots of “he said, she said”, but none of us really know.
What I find odd in all this is that when the kits were revealed photos of Ozil in them were all over Arsenal’s social media. And now this.
Arteta’s saying it’s for footballing reasons. Not entirely sure I believe him.
I think it’s pretty easy to have 20:20 hindsight and say we shouldn’t have given Ozil that contract.
But it was when Sanchez had left, we didn’t want him to leave too and how could anyone have anticipated that a couple of years later we wouldn’t even register him in the squad.
The thing I can’t get my head around is he was a regular starter before lockdown. He wasn’t playing particularly well but not bad enough that I would have left him out of the squad completely.

[Mac76]

Now?

You.

:gp:

[Mac76]

Interesting.

I'm not angry at all though.

It never ceases to amaze me how much stupidity there is in the world.

What has happened this year has confirmed that stupidity knows no boundaries and there is a lot of it on here.

So why add to it ?

[Mac76]

.
The thing I can’t get my head around is he was a regular starter before lockdown. He wasn’t playing particularly well but not bad enough that I would have left him out of the squad completely.

Quite

It's not about football, it's about the fact that both Emery and Arteta were weak and needed affirmation form the players

Xhaka gets picked every week because he sucks the manager's dick in training and Ozil's left out because his knowledge of his own ability means he doesn't see why he should run around traffic cones twelve hours a day just because Arteta wants him to

[Niall_Quinn]

Xhaka, Elneny, and we offloaded some shite as well. And they get to start ahead of Ozil? Complete nonsense. Something else, not directly related to football, is going on. There will be some perfectly unreasonable explanation for it all, which will come out now that Ozil it cut I suppose.

[dostoy]

Ozil is not useless, that's just a classic zero-nuance internet forum thing to say

and it wasn't Wenger's fault we signed that new deal with Ozil, it was mainly down to Ivan Gazidis

If you honestly think that Wenger allowed Gazidis to dictate to him about a football matter, then you're completely wrong.

Its you that is adding to the stupidity on here by believing that.

[Niall_Quinn]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54631791

But he included half the shite we have, for football reasons? That's hard to believe. Must be more to it than that.

[Marc Overmars]

Give it up Mikel, we know it’s nothing to do with football.

[Mac76]

Kos :bow:

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/koscielny-defends-mesut-ozil-in-arsenal-row_419936.html

[Mac76]

Monday's Arseblog podcast had a really interesting discussion about Arteta and the extent to which he's a control freak, wanting everyone to stick rigidly to the plan - e.g. Ceballos playing out wide the other day.

They said Guardiola can try to do it because he's got players that can make it work but our players are relatively limited or alternatively they need more freedom.

they pointed out also, as people have on here, that he's relying too much on older players and not giving our younger players enough of a go

It's a good analysis and for me he def. he needs to loosen up plus play in something more like their natural positions.

he needs to cut more slack and not focus on everyone running around traffic cones

and he needs to fashion a younger team and mould them into a winning unit

in other word it's the opposite of bringing people like Willian, with whom we're now sutck for three years and Arteta will feel obliged to play him

[Mac76]

Arteta's officially joined the excuses industry, blaming a lack of fans in the stadium for the fact that we're not doing well - nothing to do with picking the wrong side and choosing the wrong tactics then...

nice try Mikel

https://arseblog.news/2020/11/arteta-arsenal-project-more-complicated-without-fans/

[Marc Overmars]

Arteta's officially joined the excuses industry, blaming a lack of fans in the stadium for the fact that we're not doing well - nothing to do with picking the wrong side and choosing the wrong tactics then...

nice try Mikel

https://arseblog.news/2020/11/arteta-arsenal-project-more-complicated-without-fans/

He should be thanking his lucky stars there are no people in the ground paying to watch the garbage he's serving up. I think his situation has been helped hugely by having no one there.

Without the voice of fans the stadium I don't believe they really know how poor they've been.

[Letters]

The lack of fans is definitely having an effect - I've heard (although not checked) that home advantage has been less of a thing since fans stopped attending games.

None of which excuses the utter shite we're having to watch from home of course.

[Niall_Quinn]

He should be thanking his lucky stars there are no people in the ground paying to watch the garbage he's serving up. I think his situation has been helped hugely by having no one there.

Without the voice of fans the stadium I don't believe they really know how poor they've been.

Maybe they were using the sound of synchronised prawn sandwich munching as a metronome to keep the tempo up. Maybe that's why we now play at 0.4mph (on the break) and -1mph the rest of the time.

[Xhaka Can’t]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54801979

Visit Rwanda

[Mac76]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54801979

Visit Rwanda

that one was bound to rebound on us - i guess now have to tippex that slogan out on my nice adidas home shirt...

[Letters]

https://i.ibb.co/nnftNx7/Football-Prices1980.jpg

[GP]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54801979

Visit Rwanda


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bkTxRPdr1M

[Mac76]

apparently Arteta might start Pepe in the EL game on Thurs - that woudl be a good thing to do to allow him to redeem himself

[Mac76]

good news - Saka should be fit for Wolves game :)

bad news - so might Willian :(

https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news-saka-partey-willian-elneny

[Niall_Quinn]

So when is Ozil coming back? Obviously we need him back. What if he releases a statement that says he doesn't care how many Muslims are locked up and organ harvested by the CCP? Could he come back then? Or what if he doesn't and Arsenal football club matures from toddler status to fuck, let's win some matches status? We need creativity in our team. Why is one of the record breaking assisters in world football not even registered as a squad member? So Arteta showed us what it's like one way, now time to try it the other way - considering the unprecedented failure in basic football Arteta is presiding over at this moment.

Get him back.

And then pick 11 players and stick with them. Build a team. It's not brain surgery, it's just the basics.

[Mac76]

Arteta will have the chance to put Ozil back in the squad in January, if he doesn't then he really is a total loser

[Niall_Quinn]

And he won't. We also have Xhaka who can play there.

[Globalgunner]

Ozil is yesterdays news dead and buried. In May he will be an ex Arsenal player if he isnt one already. I dont know why you guys are so wrapped up in the myth of Ozil. Its like you havent been watching him play for the last 6 seasons. Total waste of space. Creating 2 chances per game and doing fuck else, is not the stuff of legend.

[Xhaka Can’t]

You do not need to be the ‘stuff of legend’ to improve the stuff of shite in our midfield.

[Mac76]

in all seriousness - Ozil or Willian?

Ozil or Pepe?

Ozil or Willock?

My answer's the same every time

[Letters]

His stats are bad over the last couple of seasons but could he really be worse than we're seeing out there right now?

[GP]

FFS

I'm sick of hearing his name.

He's done. He's not coming back.
Let it go.

[Niall_Quinn]

Ozil is yesterdays news dead and buried. In May he will be an ex Arsenal player if he isnt one already. I dont know why you guys are so wrapped up in the myth of Ozil. Its like you havent been watching him play for the last 6 seasons. Total waste of space. Creating 2 chances per game and doing fuck else, is not the stuff of legend.

I'd settle for one at this stage, two would be dreamland.

[Niall_Quinn]

We need a player with enough brains to get Auba and maybe even Pepe involved in the games instead of chasing scraps and trying to do it all themselves. When Saka came on in the last game it showed how a player with half a clue can change the dynamic. It's very silly for Ozil to be on holiday while the team can't buy a shot on target.

[Globalgunner]

FFS

I'm sick of hearing his name.

He's done. He's not coming back.
Let it go.

Even after he is gone, they will want him back. Just wait and see. There are some who want Giroud, Wilshere, even Walnutt. It boggles the mind. Its like wanting to go back to the ex who cheated on you, gave you a disease and trashed your apartment. All they can remember is that she gave good head.

[Mac76]

Even after he is gone, they will want him back. Just wait and see. There are some who want Giroud, Wilshere, even Walnutt. It boggles the mind.

i don't want any of those players back - but we are not using a player who is STILL AT THE CLUB and does have skills we need

Arteta hasn't given him a chance on the pitch to prove himself - why?

because he won't run around enough traffic cones in training, and Arteta's trying to play the big-balled boss with all his talk about non-negotiatables - well if i was the club i'd be telling Arteta our non-negotiable is that he starts winning games pretty f*****g quick and if that means giving Ozil a go from January then so be it

Arteta will just need to suck it up

[Letters]

Even after he is gone, they will want him back. Just wait and see. There are some who want Giroud, Wilshere, even Walnutt. It boggles the mind. Its like wanting to go back to the ex who cheated on you, gave you a disease and trashed your apartment. All they can remember is that she gave good head.

No, it like wanting the girlfriend who is still living with you and who gives good head to keep giving you good head, rather than consigning her spare bedroom for some reason and not getting any head, good or otherwise.

[Globalgunner]

i don't want any of those players back - but we are not using a player who is STILL AT THE CLUB and does have skills we need

Arteta hasn't given him a chance on the pitch to prove himself - why?

because he won't run around enough traffic cones in training, and Arteta's trying to play the big-balled boss with all his talk about non-negotiatables - well if i was the club i'd be telling Arteta our non-negotiable is that he starts winning games pretty f*****g quick and if that means giving Ozil a go from January then so be it

Arteta will just need to suck it up

Emery didnt fancy him either. Nether did Ancelotti. He is a lazy prima donna. He has likely played his last for us. Maybe you guys will be the ones sucking it up. I want Arteta gone but Ozil is not the answer

[Mac76]

Emery didnt fancy him either. Nether did Ancelotti. He is a lazy prima donna. He has likely played his last for us. Maybe you guys will be the ones sucking it up. I want Arteta gone but Ozil is not the answer

ok so to go back to what i said before, you don't thiink it's worth giving him a go instead of Willian or Pepe or even Willock, who's occasionally OK but frankly not that good?

Emery had the same inferiority complex as Arteta, but sure, i don't know what Ancellotti's issue was

[Niall_Quinn]

We have 2 players worth a damn at the moment, maybe 3 if Partey turns out to be more than a typical Arsenal signing. And we have Ozil benched. Auba has kept us afloat in a sea of dross of our own making. Saka has enough natural talent, so far, to resist being dragged down. Ozil, on his worst day, would be of assistance to both those players and if Partey measures up then we have at least a small core that could unlock Auba again so his goals can dredge out an over-performance from a team that offers nothing in an attacking sense.

Even having him available as a sub to bring on and try to shake up one of those many dire non-performances where we just plod around the pitch. This season is already another write-off. But we could rescue some sort of entertainment from it if we could get a small group of players working together. Looks like the plan is to have a random 11 tippety-tapping us to death though, for whatever reason.

[Marc Overmars]

Ozil is good enough to play for this team, that is quite obvious. The fact he’s not in the squad is pathetic.

However for whatever reason he’s finished as an Arsenal player. There just isn’t any point in talking about him as a viable option anymore. He’s played his last game for us unless there is a dramatic change in January.

[Mac76]

He’s played his last game for us unless there is a dramatic change in January.

i wouldn't bet against it - remember Emery tried the my-dick's-bigger-than-yours act with Ozil and lost - maybe Arteta will too

[Letters]

Every game which goes by with us being this awful and lacking creativity in midfields adds to the pressure on Arteta to change the squad in January to include him. We all called bullshit on it being "footballing reasons" keeping him out, it's pretty disgraceful we have someone being paid this much and not able to play because of some political nonsense.

[Mac76]

the club has now announced there will be 2,000 tickets available to GO TO THE MATCH :faint: for Arsenal v Rapid Vienna next week - only open to Gold and Premium members who signed up to the ballot (even though this isn't a ballot) - on sale from 9am on 28 November on a FCFS basis

[Ollie the Optimist]

Apparently for those fans allowed to go to any sporting events, they are not meant to chant, shout, celebrate etc.

How on earth do the government think that will be policed? :lol:

[Letters]

Maybe that's why Arsenal have stopped scoring goals so the fans are prepared for that.

[Mac76]

Apparently for those fans allowed to go to any sporting events, they are not meant to chant, shout, celebrate etc.

How on earth do the government think that will be policed? :lol:

'apparently' - who says?

evidence please

[Ollie the Optimist]

'apparently' - who says?

evidence please

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8979519/Fans-NOT-allowed-sing-shout-drink-alcohol-return-Premier-League-grounds.html

I saw it on twitter a few days ago and it seems to have come from this article

[Mac76]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8979519/Fans-NOT-allowed-sing-shout-drink-alcohol-return-Premier-League-grounds.html

I saw it on twitter a few days ago and it seems to have come from this article

well the Mail is full of sh*t so i don't regard that as evidence

[Letters]

Says "may".

It's a completely unrealistic stipulation

[Niall_Quinn]

Apparently for those fans allowed to go to any sporting events, they are not meant to chant, shout, celebrate etc.

How on earth do the government think that will be policed? :lol:

With some difficulty as things stand, although by signing a contract in advance each individual will be providing consent. But the technology exists and is already in use elsewhere that would allow each fan to be identified and carefully monitored for the duration of the event. It's not about how it will be policed, it'll be whether the state has the balls to mass prosecute. That would be risky until other technology arrives that will automatically apply social penalties to an individual's credit score, I understand we'll be calling it an "equity" score over here to avoid nasty associations with China.

[Bumble]

With some difficulty as things stand, although by signing a contract in advance each individual will be providing consent. But the technology exists and is already in use elsewhere that would allow each fan to be identified and carefully monitored for the duration of the event. It's not about how it will be policed, it'll be whether the state has the balls to mass prosecute. That would be risky until other technology arrives that will automatically apply social penalties to an individual's credit score, I understand we'll be calling it an "equity" score over here to avoid nasty associations with China.
i think they will be fairly safe at the emirates with the home fans "celebrating".

[Niall_Quinn]

i think they will be fairly safe at the emirates with the home fans "celebrating".

We're the control group.

[Mac76]

If you can believe the Star we're thinking of flogging Pepe in the summer, no surprise really

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/exclusive-nicolas-pepe-arsenal-transfer-23084680

[Marc Overmars]

He’s not great but I would still have him in my starting 11, which tells you how useless our options are.

[Niall_Quinn]

What does it take to be "cut out for the premier league"? Being shit and grabbing a lot of cash? He sounds perfectly suited in that case, like all the other frauds plying their trade in tBLitWtbf.

Shittiest league in world football, full of dross. Pepe fits in very well here.

[Ollie the Optimist]

If you can believe the Star we're thinking of flogging Pepe in the summer, no surprise really

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/exclusive-nicolas-pepe-arsenal-transfer-23084680


There is clearly a talented player in Pepe and I think it is worth giving him a chance. He had a slow start as he adapted to a new league & country and then it all went to shit with Emery’s horrific football. Not exactly the easiest way to settle in to a new club.

Then Arteta turns up and starts giving him a few minutes as a substitute where he doesnt get that much of a chance & then the odd start and expected to be a world beater without much chance to build up form. I say we give him a run of at least five games, tell him he will play every one and to really try & get his form going.

He wont be worse then Willian and when you watch him, at least he tries to attack.

[Mac76]

There is clearly a talented player in Pepe and I think it is worth giving him a chance. He had a slow start as he adapted to a new league & country and then it all went to shit with Emery’s horrific football. Not exactly the easiest way to settle in to a new club.

Then Arteta turns up and starts giving him a few minutes as a substitute where he doesnt get that much of a chance & then the odd start and expected to be a world beater without much chance to build up form. I say we give him a run of at least five games, tell him he will play every one and to really try & get his form going.

He wont be worse then Willian and when you watch him, at least he tries to attack.

yes but does he run around enough traffic cones in training?

that's the really important thing here, ask Ozil...

[Marc Overmars]

Got a feeling Arteta has already made his mind up about him. Pepe wasn’t his guy and from the sounds of it the club weren’t even convinced either. It was Raul who went all in on it and that’s why he got the boot.

I think he does have the ability to make a difference though, when he gets it right, it is better than what the majority of our forwards can produce. He’s quite weak on the ball though and I think that’s why he’s out of favour. He’s the kind of player you just want on the end of the attack and not a component of the build up.

[Mac76]

Got a feeling Arteta has already made his mind up about him. Pepe wasn’t his guy and from the sounds of it the club weren’t even convinced either. It was Raul who went all in on it and that’s why he got the boot.

I think he does have the ability to make a difference though, when he gets it right, it is better than what the majority of our forwards can produce. He’s quite weak on the ball though and I think that’s why he’s out of favour. He’s the kind of player you just want on the end of the attack and not a component of the build up.

he's better when the team is breaking quickly - unfortunately we don't do breaking quickly...

it doesn't help that Auba keeps coming back to defend corners instead of staying up the pitch and providing an outlet - that drives me mad it's a simple tactical essential which Arteta should know if he's this tactical genius...

[Globalgunner]

he's better when the team is breaking quickly - unfortunately we don't do breaking quickly...

it doesn't help that Auba keeps coming back to defend corners instead of staying up the pitch and providing an outlet - that drives me mad it's a simple tactical essential which Arteta should know if he's this tactical genius...

If Arteta is a tactical genius then Im a Nobel Physics prize winner

[Niall_Quinn]

Can you prove you're not a Nobel Physics prize winner?

[Globalgunner]

Lets just get rid of this new clown, just as bad as the old clown and the one before that.

Allegri is available........as i keep saying

[Ollie the Optimist]

Lets just get rid of this new clown, just as bad as the old clown and the one before that.

Allegri is available........as i keep saying

that doesn't mean he will join us. he is a big name manager, would you really join arsenal right now?

[Letters]

that doesn't mean he will join us. he is a big name manager, would you really join arsenal right now?

We are still a very big club.
We might not be playing like one, but in terms of resources and history, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to attract a top manager.

[Ollie the Optimist]

We are still a very big club.
We might not be playing like one, but in terms of resources and history, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to attract a top manager.

we are a big club but we do not appear to be run like one. Look at the recent transfers, how much say does the manager have? I accept now that Raul has gone, this may increase the managers say but would a top manager accept that potential lack of control?

United are also a big club yet didn't they struggle to attract the top managers when mourinho was sacked?

[Letters]

we are a big club but we do not appear to be run like one. Look at the recent transfers, how much say does the manager have? I accept now that Raul has gone, this may increase the managers say but would a top manager accept that potential lack of control?

United are also a big club yet didn't they struggle to attract the top managers when mourinho was sacked?

You may have a point if there's a perception that things behind the scenes are a bloody mess (which they surely are) and top managers wouldn't want to get involved.

[Letters]

Also. Arsenal's marketing/social media people knock another one out of the park :lol: :doh:

https://i.ibb.co/QFbDFQn/Arsenal-Cyber-Monday.jpg

[Letters]

Arteta :bow:
He's improved us immeasurably over this lot.

https://blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/archives/5891

[Mac76]

Interesting stat showing Ozil created more chances than any other player under Arteta

https://twitter.com/DingdongLaca/status/1334158550516572161/photo/2

[Niall_Quinn]

Rumours going around that Arteta has 3 games left to improve things or he's out, with Allegri waiting to come in.

[Marc Overmars]

Well Burnley has to be 3 points or else I think he’s in for a ton of shit given some fans are there now. It won’t be pretty.

[Mac76]

Rumours going around that Arteta has 3 games left to improve things or he's out, with Allegri waiting to come in.

That's great if it's true - hope we lose the next three games :lol:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Interesting stat showing Ozil created more chances than any other player under Arteta

https://twitter.com/DingdongLaca/status/1334158550516572161/photo/2

That stat is probably the most damning of all on Arteta.

The bloke who has played about three games has created more chances. Sums up how bad our attacking play is currently

[WGC Goon]

Burnley - H, Soton - H, Everton - A, will 4 points be enough to save him? :shrug:

[Letters]

Burnley - H, Soton - H, Everton - A, will 4 points be enough to save him? :shrug:

That wouldn't be good enough for me. We need some convincing wins and soon.

[Mac76]

Bumley - 1 pt (1-1 draw where we get a pub goal off Laca's arse)

Soton - 0 pts (Ward-Prowse hatter)

Neverton - 0 pts (DCL hatter)

[Letters]

Actual footage of Arsenal strikers in training


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd0BF09hljI

[Bumble]

Burnley - H, Soton - H, Everton - A, will 4 points be enough to save him? :shrug:
only 1 point is sufficient

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fat Sam is giving us some stick already. :lol:

[Letters]

Mind the gap...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzVyRYj0nDc

[Ollie the Optimist]

Arsenal announce they have borrowed 120 million from the Bank of England in a government backed Covid loan scheme. Apparently very strict criteria for being approved for this loan & must be repaid by May in full with interest.


I accept its going to be repaid in full in just a few months but i do think there is something wrong with a football club borrowing from Covid relief schemes just months after signing a player for 45 million, agreeing to pay two players in excess of 200k a week.

[Letters]

I accept its going to be repaid in full in just a few months but i do think there is something wrong with a football club borrowing from Covid relief schemes just months after signing a player for 45 million, agreeing to pay two players in excess of 200k a week.

Yes :lol:

Football doesn't live in the real world.

[Mac76]

Mind the gap...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzVyRYj0nDc

fake news or what - the PL's only been going since 1992 :lol:

[Letters]

Arsenal :bow:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRmSg5b5Fd0

[Gooner23]

Martinelli back in training in next few days, phew!

Partey should be available for Palace.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Martinelli. :bow:

Good thing I was never worried.

[Mac76]

Good news

Willian :rose:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://i.imgur.com/qynTuiH.png

:haha:

[dazthegooner]

Just topping up his tan :)

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I was focusing more on the caption to be honest. :lol:

[dazthegooner]

lol

[Mac76]

I was focusing more on the caption to be honest. :lol:

:haha:

[Gooner23]

Oops

Also, there's no way he isn't freezing his nuts off. Just has a reputation to live up to now :lol:

[Mac76]

Arseblog piece with some interesting quotes from Saliba - let's hope Arteta hasn't pissed him off so much he doesn't come back...

https://arseblog.news/2021/01/it-hurt-me-it-affected-me-saliba-opens-up-on-lack-of-opportunities-at-arsenal

[I am invisible]

Yeah, it’s a mess and no mistake - that loan really needed to get done in the summer. I’m prepared to cut Edu and Arteta a little slack on that because the Raul situation really did throw out senior management team into chaos - chuck in the shortened window and the fact that the FA Cup final and Community Shield will have reduced our preseason even further, and I can understand things getting missed.

The man-management that followed sounds pretty shabby though. Again, I appreciate that Arteta and Edu are both relative rookies in their respective roles, and I was never expecting them to be the complete package straightaway, but they really need to learn from this. I’m not as fussed as I was about whether or or not Saliba makes it as an Arsenal player, but on a personal level they owe the kid better than he’s received so far. Someone needs to be liaising with him to smooth this over.

[Chippy]

Tierney is out injured again today. Is he our new Diaby?

Great talent, made of glass. 😔

[Mac76]

Is that an Arsenal scarf? :lol:

https://twitter.com/robpalkwriter/status/1359105712312508422

[GP]

We will play Benfica in Rome and Athens.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/benfica-venues-confirmed-europa-league

[Letters]

:blink:

[IBK]

https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/09/arsenal-defender-william-saliba-investigated-by-french-fa-over-x-rated-video-14050904/

[IBK]

https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/09/arsenal-defender-william-saliba-investigated-by-french-fa-over-x-rated-video-14050904/

Great timing if true, just after Saliba's had so much to say about Arteta and his lack of faith in him.:ilt:

[Ollie the Optimist]

Great timing if true, just after Saliba's had so much to say about Arteta and his lack of faith in him.:ilt:

Saliba said this week that Arteta judged him on two games.

I can see why he feels hard done by given that Arteta plays Willian every fucking week and can’t see that he’s shit yet writes off young players after 2 games

[Mac76]

Saliba said this week that Arteta judged him on two games.

I can see why he feels hard done by given that Arteta plays Willian every fucking week and can’t see that he’s shit yet writes off young players after 2 games

quite

[McNamara That Ghost...]

https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/09/arsenal-defender-william-saliba-investigated-by-french-fa-over-x-rated-video-14050904/

He probably just got off on the thought of actually having some game time.

[Letters]

10 years ago today :bow:

Arshaviiiin! :dance:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptiFOo-P-aA

[GP]

Good win.

[Ollie the Optimist]

10 years ago today :bow:

Arshaviiiin! :dance:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptiFOo-P-aA

Somehow the arsenal in-house commentary team struggle to make it sound as exciting as Martin Tyler or Clive Tydesley did :lol:

[Letters]

This was the same week that I got given the job I still have and had my first date with MrsL.
That was a good week :d

[Marc Overmars]

Basically the peak of Wilshere’s career.

[Mac76]

Breaking news pt 1: KT back :bow:

Breaking news pt 2: Willian still shit though :lol:

https://twitter.com/afcevan/status/1361753215155523584

[Niall_Quinn]

Willian's doing brilliantly.

He was at the end of his career and looking for a team he could mug off for big money.

He found one.

He's achieved everything he set out to achieve, so how anyone can say he's not done well is a mystery.

Meanwhile, the club's job is to ensure we never play such a holidaymaker.

The club hasn't done its job. Not at all.

[Letters]

Hmm. Someone's got a new job as a model for book covers :unsure:

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/1303652/john-carpenters-tales-of-science-fiction-twitch-2

[LDG]

This was the same week that I got given the job I still have and had my first date with MrsL.
That was a good week :d

Was there for that one (the game not your date). Probably had a couple of beers. Awesome night.

[Mac76]

Hmm. Someone's got a new job as a model for book covers :unsure:

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/1303652/john-carpenters-tales-of-science-fiction-twitch-2

WTF?! :lol:

[Chippy]

Hmm. Someone's got a new job as a model for book covers :unsure:

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/1303652/john-carpenters-tales-of-science-fiction-twitch-2

:haha::haha:

Post of the year so far! Great spot!

[Mac76]

Question: social media abuse is a problem but is it as bad as making leg-breaking tackles and trying to throttle other players on the pitch...? :unsure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56183477

[GP]

Yes

[Mac76]

Yes

Really...?

[GP]

Yeah, obviously.

[Letters]

Come on, Mac, it's not even close.
Firstly, Xhaka is a bit reckless but he's not exactly a Shawcross.
And mistiming tackles or red mist descending here and there in the heat of a game isn't anywhere near as bad as targeting a footballer's family for abuse because you don't think they're good enough.

[Marc Overmars]

You have to be a special kind of cunt to personally abuse someone online, saying the the kind of things you wouldn’t even dream of saying to their face. Guarantee if Xhaka met any of these people their arsehole would fall out. It’s one thing to call him a shite player but to target his family is just beyond bizarre.

These people are the lowest of the low. We live in a civilised society where these things come with consequences in real life and I don’t see why behaviour on the internet should be treated any differently.

Hope these people are treated with the harshest of punishments going forward. Kids also need to be taught how much damage can be done by something they see as fun.

[Letters]

https://www.givemesport.com/1653710-mesut-ozil-former-arsenal-midfielder-is-having-a-nightmare-at-fenerbahce

Ozil :rose:

[IBK]

https://www.givemesport.com/1653710-mesut-ozil-former-arsenal-midfielder-is-having-a-nightmare-at-fenerbahce

Ozil :rose:

Yes I saw this. So of those players that people critcise Arteta for ostracising - Ozil; Guendouzi and Torreira - none is exactly proving him wrong...

[Mac76]

c'mon the guy was prevented from playing any competitive football for many months it's hardly surprisign if he needs to get up to speed

[Mac76]

Come on, Mac, it's not even close.
Firstly, Xhaka is a bit reckless but he's not exactly a Shawcross.
And mistiming tackles or red mist descending here and there in the heat of a game isn't anywhere near as bad as targeting a footballer's family for abuse because you don't think they're good enough.

sure, but i still think if you behave in a thuggish manner you are encouraging other types of thuggish behaviour

but of course i think the social media abuse is unacceptable and it should be being sorted out - my guess that no one platform. e.g. Twitter is going to want to be the first to crack down harder on these people because they woorry about seeing their traffic fall as people migrate to another platform which isn't restrictive

[IBK]

Great piece on Ozil in The Times yesterday - a long read detailing his professional and personal life; career trajectory and analysing his game. "Mesut Özil - the genius that the game left behind"

What I found interesting was the analysis of how Ozil was left behind by the transition of the game to the German whole team press method, where every member of the team is expected to work to press; track back etc rather than having creative players - particularly No.10's - around whom the team is based and who work for the likes of an Ozil to weave his magic.

'He began to look less and less like a luxury item and more and more like an unconscionable indulgence. Eventually, even Arsenal realised it. Özil was the decadent boom-time purchase you grow slightly ashamed of: the crystal vase gathering dust in the attic; the Silver Ghost hidden in the garage while the neighbours admire your new Tesla.'

Wonderful metaphor...

What made me feel a bit sad was the observation that Ozil demonstrably tried to become more efficient and hard-working to try to fit into Arteta's desired style of play.

'In a 2-0 win over Manchester United, Arteta’s third game, Özil covered 11.5km, more ground than any other Arsenal player, and regained possession ten times, more than anyone on the pitch.'

'Last season, he only misplaced the ball in the attacking half 4.8 times per 90 minutes — the best figure of his Premier League career. But he only managed two assists. In his stellar season, 2015-16, he had lost the ball in the opposition half more than eight times on average. The traditional Özil narrative is that he was not a team player. In reality, he was at his best when he understood that his responsibility to the team was to play with a sense of emancipation; trying to be dependable was his kryptonite.'

This makes a lot of sense to me. The fall out at Arsenal wasn't really to do with his lack of effort or desire - I can't see how any of these players who have made it to the very top can be completely lacking in this - but that doing what Emery and Arteta wanted him to do took away the thing that made him a genius...

[Mac76]

Great piece on Ozil in The Times yesterday - a long read detailing his professional and personal life; career trajectory and analysing his game. "Mesut Özil - the genius that the game left behind"

What I found interesting was the analysis of how Ozil was left behind by the transition of the game to the German whole team press method, where every member of the team is expected to work to press; track back etc rather than having creative players - particularly No.10's - around whom the team is based and who work for the likes of an Ozil to weave his magic.

'He began to look less and less like a luxury item and more and more like an unconscionable indulgence. Eventually, even Arsenal realised it. Özil was the decadent boom-time purchase you grow slightly ashamed of: the crystal vase gathering dust in the attic; the Silver Ghost hidden in the garage while the neighbours admire your new Tesla.'

Wonderful metaphor...

What made me feel a bit sad was the observation that Ozil demonstrably tried to become more efficient and hard-working to try to fit into Arteta's desired style of play.

'In a 2-0 win over Manchester United, Arteta’s third game, Özil covered 11.5km, more ground than any other Arsenal player, and regained possession ten times, more than anyone on the pitch.'

'Last season, he only misplaced the ball in the attacking half 4.8 times per 90 minutes — the best figure of his Premier League career. But he only managed two assists. In his stellar season, 2015-16, he had lost the ball in the opposition half more than eight times on average. The traditional Özil narrative is that he was not a team player. In reality, he was at his best when he understood that his responsibility to the team was to play with a sense of emancipation; trying to be dependable was his kryptonite.'

This makes a lot of sense to me. The fall out at Arsenal wasn't really to do with his lack of effort or desire - I can't see how any of these players who have made it to the very top can be completely lacking in this - but that doing what Emery and Arteta wanted him to do took away the thing that made him a genius...

i remember when he was asked to captain the europa league teams a few times and you could see he really inspired the young players around him

[IBK]

Yes a sad tale in the end of football moving past a player's star talent...I know people say he was cynical, but as far as I am aware he never said a bad word about our club despite beiong frozen out.

[Letters]

Yes a sad tale in the end of football moving past a player's star talent...
I kinda feel the same happened to Wenger as a manager, over a longer time period.
He came to England in the era when squads were full of English players and there were drinking schools in clubs.
His fitness regime and knowledge of the modern game were years ahead of his time. But over the course of a couple of decades people caught up and overtook us and with the billionaires barging in suddenly the whole game moved out and he didn't.
Ah well.