lordimpaq:

I won't deny, i'm a post 97 fan. and i disagree with the statement of me not being a fan if winning is the only thing that matters. I would not be a fan if i fail to accept the fact that losing may form the bridge to success. and again there is no such thing as a true fan, you are either one or NOT.

No, to examine the mitigating circumstances as a factor for lack of trophies is in actual fact a justification; which shouldn't be. they r all excuses.

Well you just did with the above statement which in turn defines the justification as migitating circumstances and mistakes by both players and managers, we don't need excuses, we just need luck

well he always does the obvious, dats why he's always criticized, he makes some funny decisions.

No, fans will never be content because we inconsistently challenge for the trophy, that statement above is quite sentimental,

Players leave clubs for reasons best known to them, some for winning trophies and some for other reasons, but wat i'm trying to say is that 90% of the time trophies keep BEST players

follypimpi:


Come to my bed is very warm

dayokanu:

That your bed would catch fire soon

duduspace:

Muki beware of free lunches, someone's gotta pay in kind and trust me Folly na proper ijebu man like Arsene he will get full value for his service.

duduspace:

If Arsene is able to get in that extra CB before the season closes (hopefully that Spahic guy), I will go out and stake 200 pounds on Arsenal winning the PL. If we get the added bonus of a better GK coming in then I will stake 400. Most people don't see the strength in depth we now have. It is interesting to note that we went through pre-season unbeaten after facing the likes of AC and Celtic and we haven't used players like RVP, Cesc, Denilson, Diaby, Song and Bendtner at all.
I have good vibes for this season.

duduspace:

Muki beware of free lunches, someone's gotta pay in kind and trust me Folly na proper ijebu man like Arsene he will get full value for his service.

MARK SCHWARZER has stunned new Fulham boss Mark Hughes by slapping in a transfer request.
The Aussie keeper, 37, wants to force a move to Arsenal, who bid £2million before the World Cup.
But Hughes wants Schwarzer to stay and will play hardball.

duduspace:

If Arsene is able to get in that extra CB before the season closes (hopefully that Spahic guy), I will go out and stake 200 pounds on Arsenal winning the PL.

If we get the added bonus of a better GK coming in then I will stake 400. Most people don't see the strength in depth we now have. It is interesting to note that we went through pre-season unbeaten after facing the likes of AC and Celtic and we haven't used players like RVP, Cesc, Denilson, Diaby, Song and Bendtner at all.
I have good vibes for this season.

debosky:

Why hopefully Spahic? No experience at all at a top club, a nomad who just recently showed glimpses of improvement (in France)? Is that what will give you hope?   While another body (even Silvestre. . . . nah, Wilshere will play at CB before considering Mikael  ) would be desirable, why not someone with at least EPL experience?  

debosky:

Don't be overly reliant pre-season results - beating Celtic and co is not a real indication of much. Likely trends become decipherable after 10 competitive games when teams get into their groove.
While we have strength in depth in most areas, we are still exposed at GK, CB and DM positions. At the rate things are going, we won't know of any strengthening till end of August.
That is NOT a good place to be and I am concerned that we will leave it too late yet again, and end up failing to strengthen where needed.

debosky:

Dunno why y'all will believe a report from the SUN. .  .that paper is usually full of crap anways. Till I hear it from a more reliable source, I am inclined NOT to believe this story.
Edit: Fulham DENY the reports http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=813524&sec=transfers&cc=5739

slimshay:

Debo are you questioning the veracity of my reporting reporters, be careful oh .

You think its just happenstance that world acclaimed 'Silly Season' is the most anticipated, viewed and all encompasing drama on the TV, Newspapers and the ubiquitous www and apparently in the whole wide world.

Silly Season: I'm Gunner be a Keeper. Starring so far: Vincent Enyeama, Hugo llrois, Martin Stekelenburg, Akinfeev, Shay Given, Mark Scwazer, Sebastian Frey, Frederico Marchetti. . . . .abeg help me with more actors.

duduspace:

If na EPL experience we dey find, then we should have retained Gallas or Silvestre  

that guy's stats were impressive in the Ligue 1 last season, has played at the top level for quite a while, captains his country who almost pipped Portugal to appear at the world cup and is a "mean aro" according to most reports, in our team of extraordinary gentlemen I think he would be a good addition, a couple of notches down the fair play table if it means some silverware at last is a good tradeoff.

I agree, its early days yet but our results are quite encouraging for the reasons I've mentioned above, arguably 6 first teamers out through out pre-season, lots of chopping and changing during matches e.t.c. and I did put caveats to my optimism.

I will never believe any signing until I see it on the Arsenal site hence my caveats about the CB and GK positions.

slimshay:

Debo are you questioning the veracity of my reporting reporters, be careful oh .

You think its just happenstance that world acclaimed 'Silly Season' is the most anticipated, viewed and all encompasing drama on the TV, Newspapers and the ubiquitous www and apparently in the whole wide world.

Silly Season: I'm Gunner be a Keeper. Starring so far: Vincent Enyeama, Hugo llrois, Martin Stekelenburg, Akinfeev, Shay Given, Mark Scwazer, Sebastian Frey, Frederico Marchetti. . . . .abeg help me with more actors.

debosky:

Add Abiodun Baruwa, Peter Rufai, Valderama, Buffon, Casillas and Oliver Kahn.

debosky:

Seriously, keeping Gallas would've been a coup for Wenger. Failing to do so is what has put us in this quandary.

debosky:

Seriously, keeping Gallas would've been a coup for Wenger. Failing to do so is what has put us in this quandary.

debosky:

What stats? For Montpellier? What 'top level' has he played at? NK Zagreb and Torpedo Moscow?  

debosky:

The only reason they 'almost pipped' Portugal was because Portugal was so bad that they had to go to play offs, it's no claim to quality. One season at Montpellier at such an age is not encouraging. If we wanted aged players we should've signed Carvalho who at least has EPL experience of winning. He's not won anything in his career so what is the benefit apart from being a lunatic slapper? We already have Eboue to slap people if needed.

debosky:

There is little reason for optimism, given that our age old problems of defending have been exposed more than ever. We jhave historically always scored, but with our first choice defence we still concede like crazy. I know you put caveats, but nevertheless, we are in need of a MASSIVE improvement defensively to have any chance of winning the league.

debosky:

I agree fully, but even thinking Spahic is a good signing is very worrying. We lose EPL winning quality for two seasons running in Gallas and Kolo, and all we can find to replace them is Spahic?  

slimshay:

Dudu I beg to differ, before he succumbed to his mandatory injury, Gallas was outstanding. Why else would there be a call to suspend the over-30 rule for him? The issue wasnt about his performances, it probably was to do with contract sums and length of contracts. But then like I said earlier, it seems its Twitchy to the rescue.
Debo there is yet to be a criticism of Spahic except PL experience.

duduspace:

Lai lai, it was obvious Gallas was on a downhill trajectory last season, can't recall now if it was Agbonlahor who muscled him off the ball at a stage or the annihilation by Chelsea at the emirates (though I must admit he cld hardly be called fully fit for that match) but I remember calling my brother and telling him Gallas was past it, prior to those performances the buzz was that Arsene was willing to break his over 30 policy on account for him.

So what is wrong with Montpellier? didnt we get Sagna from Auxerre? wasn't Vidic bought from Spartak Moscow?

Eboue doesn't slap people, he only eavesdrops on other's conversations   this guy from all indications is very mean and nasty. L'Equippe has him down as the player to watch for Montpellier in the coming season, shows how much of an impact he made last season. I've also been to the Fifa site and his reviews are quite positive, some dating back to last year when he was about moving to Montpellier indicated a belief that he was too good for the french league.

Half full/Half empty, you know I'm always optimistic about Arsenal anyway but I'm optimistic enough to actually put money down this time. Our labour has started to bear fruit. When was the last time 2 starlets from Arsenal were considered good enof for the NT? when last did we finish pre-season unbeaten? when last did we[b] play pre-season without 6 members of the first team appearing at all[/b]?

Once you don't hang the 5 year lean period on your neck like a chain, there is a whole lot to be positive about going into the season. We haven't had such strength in depth for ages.

Once you can face up to the fact that those 2 players you mentioned were on their way down anyway, it becomes easier to bear.

It is clear from Arsene's purchases that the present main CBs are Koseniyan, Verm and Djorou and the future is Nordtveit, Bartley et al. Its backups and numbers we are looking at now which is why Arsene felt Sol was good enough, I think Arsene will be satisfied with anyone that comes close to Sol.
Remember in a way, we are still counting our pennies   yet we've already spent a reported 10m on Kos.

Look at it this way, Kos replaces Gallas as Verm's main partner, Spahic replaces Sol and Djorou probably replaces Silvestre with Nordtveit replacing Senderos with the added benefit of his versatility as a RB.
Spahic may not have PL experience but he has proved himself exceptional in 3 different leagues, I think he is a worthwhile gamble.

duduspace:

I partially agree with you Slim, Gallas was immense prior to his injury so there must have been something Arsene saw post injury that led to his change of mind (Gallas was always a hot head but Arsene handled him well and still got something from him even after his removal as captain). Our experience with Silvestre should be enough a lesson as to what injury does to players particularly the older ones. I thought Silvestre was a good buy at the time with his experience and trophies (though one shld have suspected Fergie's willingness to sell him to us) but hindsight proved otherwise.

duduspace:

I thought Silvestre was a good buy at the time with his experience and trophies (though one shld have suspected Fergie's willingness to sell him to us) but hindsight proved otherwise.

debosky:

Stop defending the indefensible - Wenger gave  a washed up Silvestre of all people a TWO YEAR DEAL, but was reluctant to give a Gallas still performing at the highest level a two year deal. If that isn't daft, I don't know what is.

Gallas left because he wasn't offered a longer deal and not because of any injury concerns.

duduspace:

At the time, Silvestre wasn't washed up. He was only back after an extended time out to injury recurrence (he started 44 games for Manure as a 29 year old in the season before his injury woes started when they reclaimed the PL). Arsene couldn't have known how much an impact his injury had on him. Silvestres record prior to his Arsenal move was much better than Gallas record is now, he was back from an extended time out to injury with nothing to suggest he couldn't rediscover his form, buying Silvestre at that time would be like someone buying Hargo now. I can understand if Arsene doesn't want to get burnt twice offering Gallas a 2 year deal and then end up with a rapidly declining player.

mukina2:

Duduspace have you been smoking something other than the usual?

duduspace:

At the time, Silvestre wasn't washed up. He was only back after an extended time out to injury recurrence (he started 44 games for Manure as a 29 year old in the season before his injury woes started when they reclaimed the PL). Arsene couldn't have known how much an impact his injury had on him. Silvestres record prior to his Arsenal move was much better than Gallas record is now, he was back from an extended time out to injury with nothing to suggest he couldn't rediscover his form, buying Silvestre at that time would be like someone buying Hargo now. I can understand if Arsene doesn't want to get burnt twice offering Gallas a 2 year deal and then end up with a rapidly declining player.

Dr Kitaun:

OK . . .make I no exaggerate, only Debosky and urself expected water squeezed from stone    

debosky:

Gallas was not past it in any sense - if his performances with Vermaelen kept us in the groove for much of the season, it is telling that in his absence we conceded goals like crazy.

debosky:

How old was Vidic when he left Spartak?   How old was Sagna when he left Auxerre? Were they 30? Did they spend the majority of their playing career in a backwater league?  
Don't compare apples and oranges mate.

debosky:

Dunno what reviews you're talking about, but he didn't get into the team of the season, and you can't go by anything on the FIFA website run by idiots who were posting fake interviews from Xavi and Puyol.

debosky:

Go check how many missed last pre-season with injuries. Getting two 'starlets' with the rubbish England team means little or nothing; it means players that might have to start on Sunday will be more tired or possibly injured.

debosky:

In attack and attacking midfield yes, but NOT in defence. We haven't had such a paucity of defenders in years, and in terms of goalkeepers, this is our worst bunch since the time before Wenger.

debosky:

On the way down? Even if they were on the way down, Spahic is also on the way down at 30!!

debosky:

What has Djourou ever done to be considered as one of the 'main CBs'   Even if we accept Vermaelen, and say Koscielny is an unknown quantity due to his recent joining. Which equivalent team has only two CBs that can be relied on, one of them who as recently as two years ago was languishing in Division 2?

Compare to Utd - Evans, Vidic, Smalling, Ferdinand.

Chelski - Alex, Terry, Ivanovic

Seriously, you don't see the OBVIOUS madness in such a strategy? One of your 'main CBs' is perpetually injured, the second has never played in the EPL and only played in a top division for a year. Only Vermaelen is proven quality and we should be ok?   Your suggestion to fill in the gap is a 30+ player who has only played a season in a credible league?  

Exceptional What is your definition of Exceptional?   In Croatia he didn't play for the big teams there, didn't win titles. . .in Moscow, he played for crap teams for most of his stay there, ended up not winning any titles, and played for Montpellier last year and did what exactly?  

I am worried about Koscielny - till we see him against EPL opposition, I have nothing to judge on beyond pre-season which was average at best.