₦airaland Forum

@Debosky

To be honest, I don't think there is any young player at Arsenal who can be confident of breaking into the first team (Wilshere aside) becos the competition amongst them is tough.
3 of the second year scholars were recently released and we do chuck out a lot of them which is why DK can make fun of the likes of Lupoli and Abeyie who didnt' make it.
Actually in Bendtner's set which included the likes of Muamba, Larsson and Lupoli, I think he was the only one who made it through despite the fact that Lupoli was actually the prolific one in that reserve squad (later turned out B52 was the one doing most of the work and Lupoli was just a very good finisher).

Arsene says RVP could reach team fitness in 2 weeks?

[Quote]
Wenger admits that Van Persie is in good shape and could reach "team fitness" in as little as two weeks. The manager will be tempted to call on the striker with key games coming thick and fast but he is well aware that Van Persie will need time to find his best form.

"He is expected to return but don't expect miracles when a guy has been out for such a long time," said Wenger.

"But we are happy to have him back and he is physically, fitness-wise, in a good shape. So we have just to get him back to full team fitness - that will take two to three weeks maximum.

"I would say two weeks but after that when you start to play you are not at your best. You have to get a few games to get back to your best."[/quote]Arsene is only being careful not to rush him back, this bloke could be playing within a week, so the Dutch Coach was not far from the truth at all.

Arsene says Arshavin's quotes are from an earlier interview. He even admits there was some panic after RVP's injury (which I guess led to the initial quotes about buying a striker in January).

[Quote]Reports on Wednesday suggested that the Russian had claimed Arsenal needed to sign "three or four experienced players" in order to win trophies.

However, Wenger chose to ignore the story, claiming that the interview was conducted at the end of last year.

"I did not read that [interview]," said the manager. "I think it was an old interview which has come to surface again in some newspapers who had a problem to find some news.

"It was a very old interview after the injury of Robin Van Persie, and we panicked a bit. It is not a recent interview."[/quote]Let's bury this thing once and for all, its just the media looking to create news where there is none, but this should serve as a warning to Arshavin to be careful in talking to the media.

The only grey area to me now from all these is Eduardo's role in the team this more or less confirms that he is now a bit part player if he could not step into the gap left by RVP's absence (a gap B52 has now proven he can fill) and Arsene preferred playing Arshavin upfront.

I don't want to say it because of all the sentimentality with Eduardo's injury but what was his new contract all about? the club showing some loyalty to a player cut down in the line of duty? this doesn't mean I disagree with that action though, Eduardo on his day and in the right formation is still a lot of trouble as he shows with Croatia.

[quote author=~Sauron~ link=topic=374223.msg5759050#msg5759050 date=1269447715]Morrison has been injured for over a month now. . . .
He is streets ahead of Afobe and Aneke. I expect England to be eliminated in the group stage now that Morrison is out of the tournament.[/quote]Convenient excuse, even when he played for the U17 before, it was always from the bench anyway so he definitely won't be missed. Besides, I don't trust your info, I'll do some digging to see the last match he played for you if the boy is truly injured. You are well known to bend the truth often.

Emperoh:
Just like it was once resting on Ronaldo's leg? And once on RVN's feet?
your football knowledge still needs some polishing. . . .if crooks an injury today, another person will step up
trust me. . . , . now quit making foolish assessments and go lick your wounds!!!

What wound? dem tell you say I be Job like you? Mr. Perfect football knowledge, losing Rooney is a different kettle of fish, go and ask the 3 lions.

illusion2:
^^ We forgive you. . . .cos Liverpool fans tend to be gentlemen

Honestly, na you people need forgiveness. As an honorable disciple of his most holiness and preeminent Saint Wenger, I have already forgiven you. Now go forth and enter back into the top 4.

Chei Emperor, you no dey shame? una season dey rest on Shrek's dodgy knee. The kain things dem dey put on that boy's shoulder hen? Thank God for am say him chest be like King Kong own.

Sauron,

I just noticed that your next best thing from the ManU youth team Ravel Morrison did not make England's squad for the Elite stage of the European U17 qualifiers. Is he injured or is he simply not good enough?
both Benik Afobe and Chuks Aneke made the squad, and this is the player you're comparing with Jack Wilshere

Is Agaba now a pastor abi whats all this talk about Epistles? can Agaba be a shortened form of agabagebe which means mischief in Yoruba?

illusion2:
Who be all these troublemakers sef ?

It wasn't me, na bgees wan break my head with hammer because I passed an "innocent" comment.

bgees:
Have u guys won it already? relax my brother. league neva finish.

I never insinuated such, I'm only agreeing with your earlier statement. You are very right that the fans of whichever team wins won't allow you to rest because it is obvious you are not winning it and likely dropping out of the top 4 to add insult to injury.

bgees:
if una win Premiership eventually, una no go allow us rest. wetin. leave us alone!!!

Na so life be, to the victor belongs the spoil and to the vanquished is gnashing of teeth. I hope your enamel is still intact.

bgees:
keep that to yourself. No one asked your heart to bleed. na busybody dey worry heart. Honestly, I've read some of your posts and this one is just disappointing. Are u OK today? have u eaten today at all? please eat so that u can think straight.

e gbami o, na so fans dey behave when dem team wan comot for top 4? if I offend you before abeg forgive me o so that your team can enter top 4. 

My heart still bleeds for Liverpool but this is what you get when you have a team full of grafters and then you sell off the only creative player in the team without adequately replacing him. Selling Xabi Alonso has brought about the downfall of Liverpool.
One thing is certain though, Lampard and Gerrard have been taking the plaudits for other player's performances for quite a while, Xabi Alonso in Gerrard's case and Essien in Lampard's case. No wonder why they always look clueless in the 3 lions.

the game will end 2-0 in favour of Bolton with at least one of the goals being scored by Jack Wilshere.

Agreed there is a world of difference, the common ground is that talking too much to the press is counter productive, Arshavin should learn to talk less and play more. After a while, it becomes nauseating seeing the same complaints about the team in the media all the time.
The media wants to label him as a very good player who is disgruntled with playing with lesser quality players in the squad, he would do well to shake off that label very quickly.
Anyway, it all won't matter if we win something.

debosky:
Let's not get into that - he was a LIAR - claiming not to want to move when he did. He always spoke about OTHER clubs and not about Arsenal and about how fortunate we were to have him. It is a completely different issue altogether.

Ade did nothing more than try to hustle the club for money using the press and I guess it must have been bad advice from his agents which came back to bite him horribly. He never really wanted to leave Arsenal, his utterances after leaving shows this. Someone who really wanted to leave wouldn't be bitter about the whole issue.

AC Milan did want him after that 30 goal season and he could have earned more at AC than Arsenal then if he had left as he actually accepted lesser pay with us than go to Milan then. Arsene alluded to that in his comments at the time which he paraphrased by saying that someone could be offered 120k per week at a different club but might be content to remain with the club on 100k per week.

If he is saying that we need to buy more players to win the PL, then he is saying we don't have a good enough squad to win it and that is not respecting his team mates. If he is however saying that we can always improve the squad by buying players then that is a different matter entirely but no matter which one he meant, it hasn't exactly come out right in the media.

Talking to the press is a dangerous thing, or do you honestly believe Adebayor didn't like Arsenal? if he didn't why is the guy still so hurt about leaving us even when he is earning big money at City? He just didn't know how to handle the press and they ended up creating an impression the bloke never set out to make.

Did you see what they wanted to start with Cesc after the Porto loss with his Schoolboy defending comment which was said in a moment of frustration after a game? claiming he was finally fed up with the Arsenal squad.

Arshavin needs to do less talking and more scoring if he wants to keep himself dear to most Arsenal fans, we all know where that road leads as we've seen it time and time again, Adebayor and Gallas in recent times are enough of examples.

Arsene will never put a gag order on any player because he expects them to freely express their minds but Arsene is a dangerous man to play with, if it will affect the squad in any way he will flog that player off before you can say Jack Robinson.

@Debosky

I disagree, AA23 needs to learn how to handle the media. No one is complaining about Cesc (who is really putting in a serious shift this season by the way). When asked about player transfers, he can always tell them its the manager's job, it is disrepectful to the squad he plays with cos he is implying they are not good enough.
He can also say that the team will always gain by having more competition within the squad, his statements are not good for fostering unity in the squad and are coming out at a very odd time.

I don't care how good he is, if he will continue saying things like this then I wouldn't mind saying good riddance to him in the summer.

eldee:
He mentioned Ramsey . . . so it's prolly yesterday.

You are right eldee, I however won't discount some mischief on the part of the media, he might have been referred back to his initial statement and he might have been explaining why he said it at the time.

The important thing is that he should stop yakking to the press, some might take this interview as having an impact on his recent off colour performances (as in some kind of self fulfilling prophecy on his part). Now that the young lads are stepping up is not the time the so called experienced players we should supposedly be buying be the ones now letting us down.

I would expect him to put in a retraction or explanation of some sort if this kicks off some sort of storm in the Arsenal blogosphere as Armand Traore had to do recently.

These Chelsea players don old, this was their opportunity for a last Hurrah. If care is not taken, they will end up mid table next season particularly if there is injury to the likes of Drogba.
They missed Essien a lot this season, they have too many players now on the wrong side of 30 and the new blood they have is not of the same quality as the likes of Arsenal and Manure.
If Abramovic can bring himself to invest anything from 100m to 200m again they can refresh the team or they can go the Arsenal route of blooding new players early and pay with losing out on silverware for some time.
Buying the likes of Deco and Ballack at such old ages was a very bad move, it is not Ancelloti's fault as he basically inherited a team that was exceptional but already past its peak.

I think Arshavin made those statements a while back but trust the British tabloid to refer back to it when it would make him look like a doofus. He should learn not to talk too much and keep his trap shut.
I wouldn't bet against Arsene selling him if he keeps toeing this line, he should do his talking on the pitch and leave all this useless talk.
He should take a cue from Adebayor whose Arsenal career was finally cut short due to his consistent yakking to the media.

Cristalz:
We're talking about Arsenal now, not United.
Last night y'all were rejoicing like the table-topping thing was permanent. Just pointing out now what I was saying yesterday.
Displaced already.

After your usual complimentary non existent penalty kick award at OT abi?

slimshay:
@ Dr, i dont think Chamahk is injury prone oh. Neither is Bendtner. Not bullish enough yes, but not injury prone.

Meanwhile anybody knows whether we are appealing Verm's red card? Seems unjustifiable to me. Plus this is the first time this season i saw a ref remmeber the last man rule. Vidic practically rugby-tackled Agbonlahor at Wembley, didnt even get a yellow.

It is one law for ManIOU and a different one for us my brother but we don't care, we rise above the adversity.
Chamakh is far from injury prone, that guy is going to be another inspired buy for us and while I don't descend Eduardo like Dr. Kit and co, I do beleive that if we need to sacrifice any player to reduce the wage bill to bring Chamakh in then he has to be the one to go. Bendtner is proving himself now after gettin a run in the side and Vela is still young and has the pace to play as a wide forward.

Good news also on the RVP front, if you ask me I think Arsene is only being careful not to rush him back. I think he is over the injury already cos I can't explain this statement from Arsene.

On Robin Van Persie,
"I think he will be back this week. We sent our fitness coach out to Holland where he has been having his rehabilitation. Physically he looks very sharp but we aim at least to wait a month."

That portion in bold seems to suggest the issue is basically over but Arsene just doesn't want to rush him back. Putting into context the Dutch manager's statements last month would also support this view. Anyway, its all good the team is doing well and there is no need to rush.

follypimpi:
@duduspace

Was up with dudu tho seems the shadow of his oldself.

I think its largely in Eduardo's head, physically he is very okay. It did take Diaby about 2 seasons to finally become what we knew he could become though so there is hope for Eduardo yet, it seems we atimes don't recognize the psychological effects of such career threatning injuries on players.
Eduardo also seems to be suffering from our formation change, he is at his best in the box and works well in a 2 striker formation which we are not playing now, at present he is a good squad member to have lets all keep believing he'll put his wobbles behind him soon.
Ramsey was lucky in that it was a clean break fracture, I believe he might be back quicker than we all expect as his young age also helps. Diaby and Eduardo also suffered extensive soft tissue damage with their injuries as they happened at the joints, Ramsey might be back between 5 to 6 months as only the bones were affected.

@Kay

That is some good news, we should be able to cope at Birmingham. Song goes into CB and Denilson covers as usual. Isn't it great to have so many good young players. I now hope all those who have been slamming Arsene will come and give the man a public apology. He has given this club and team such a solid foundation its almost unbelievable.
Someone brought out an unusual statistic recently that this season alone, 48 Arsenal players have played first team games (either on loan or with the club) and there was a weekend about 5 Arsenal players scored in the fooball league for different clubs. Meanwhile Szczesney kept a clean sheet again today for Brentford.

Stop press:
I heard on the news that Arsene confirmed today that Ramsey is already working unaided, he was already supporting his weight on his leg within a week of his surgery after some new procedure which didn't require him being put in a cast.

[Quote]
Here are our remaining fixtures and if all goes well, we should be able to get these points.

20 Sat Barclays Premier League H Sunderland 15:00 3 (the sunderland team has been fumbling in recent times)
27 Sat Barclays Premier League A Stoke City 17:30 1 (Stoke are a difficult proposition at the Britannia)
06 Sat Barclays Premier League H Burnley 3 (Burnley are clueless away from home)
13 Sat Barclays Premier League A Hull City 3 (They don't really have anything to hurt us)
20 Sat Barclays Premier League H West Ham United 17:30 3 (not guaranteed cos its a derby but we should be able to get it)
27 Sat Barclays Premier League A Birmingham 15:00 1 (difficult one, these lads are difficult to beat but recent cracks appearing)
03 Sat Barclays Premier League H Wolverhampton 15:00 3(Wolves don't have anything to hurt us)
10 Sat Barclays Premier League A Tottenham Hotspur 15:00 1(Difficult one, these guys will be up for it but that can play into our hands)
17 Sat Barclays Premier League A Wigan Athletic 15:00 3(Wigan play an open game and we thrive in that)
24 Sat Barclays Premier League H Manchester City 15:00 3(The lads will be up for this one as we owe these guys one)
01 Sat Barclays Premier League A Blackburn Rovers 15:00 3(Blackburn don't have anything to hurt us)
09 Sun Barclays Premier League H Fulham 15:00 3(We beat them before and we can do it again)

this gives us 30 + 52 = 82 points, is this enough to win the premiership? I'm not sure but if we can turn one or 2 of those draws into wins, then we are looking at 84 to 86 points which puts us in the frame for the premiership depending on how Chelsea and ManIOU fare from now on.[/quote]Does anyone recall this post and the stick I got for it? I just want to remind the naysayers that the lads have so far surpassed my estimation which was ridiculed as being too optimistic. Who is laughing now?
I will stick my head out now to say that we are winning all our remaining games, the lads seem to have finally discovered how to win, playing their game and unlike 07/08 season there is now so much strength in depth that another Eduardo incident is unable to throw us off our winning stride.
I now firmly believe we will either win the league this year or come a close second depending on how one of Manure and Chelsea do.

Cristalz:
Chillax.  .  .Chelsea and United have got games tomorrow. Chelsea again during the week, as well as some other teams.
Arsenal could be 4th by Wednesday night.

Have your reading and spelling skills deserted you? Arsenal is not spelt L-i-v-e-r-p-o-o-l, remember? 

chelseabmw:
arsenal on top of the premier league,

and there shall we be at the end of the season, so help us God.

pappilo:
birmingham

That won't be an easy one but Song and Campbell should cope, I don't want Silvestre there as he won't be able to cope with Chucho and Jerome's pace. And nice clarification about the professional foul rule, I also was of the opinion it wld be 3 games out for Verminator and that couldn't have come at the worst time.

Who are we meeting next with Vermaelen missing a match?