Filling the Gaps

Current and Former Captains



So here we are on the cusp of 2012 casting an eye on the coveted spots occupied by those above us (included the hated Spuds) while looking over our shoulder at those nipping at our heels.  And while we have experienced a growing confidence in our team, I am looking forward to a time when some of our injured players can come back and fill their roles properly thus allowing our out-of-position players a breath of relief as they move to their more natural roles.

As much as I love seeing my Vermie play every game, even I can acknowledge that his talents are more of a use to us in the center of defense where his gritty play and incredible vertical leap are even more beneficial. 

And although our Dutch of Class and Captain is having the season of his career, we wait with baited breath every game for him to show a hamstring strain or suffer a horrendous tackle.  What would we do if something happens to him?  Chamakh is still suffering from a lack of confidence (or being blackmailed into becoming a complete shambles of a striker for going on a year) and is leaving in January to participate in the ACN along with one of our goalscorers, Gervinho.  Who is on the bench to give Robin some rest?  Arsene shows no confidence in Park playing him only one time in a Cup match and once in Champions League.  Having never set foot on grass for a Premier League game, he is, it seems, a last resort.

Which brings us first off to Thierry Henry.  Having arrived at London Colney  back in mid-November for fitness purposes, Titi has gone from merely being happy to train at his former club to now being a very possible - and very short term- loan move for Arsenal.  Our cagey manager denied rumors of a move back in November, he has now revealed it was his idea to try and push through loan move with Henry's current team the New York Red Bulls. The deal sounds basically done except for the insurance details being finalized.  If the deal goes go through, Henry may not be ready to play until the Leeds game on January 9th with Wenger admitting his fitness still needs a little work.

I'm of the mind that Henry will be a great but temporary option from the bench, and cannot fully be the missing striker that we need.  Van Persie and Arsenal need a proficient scorer who can give Arsene an option when RVP needs a rest and perhaps give the Dutchman a reason to extend his contract at the end of a season.  Arsenal have been linked with two strikers for the January transfer window:  Lukas Podolski currently playing for his home club Cologne in the Bundesliga and Olivier Giroud from the Ligue 1 club Montpellier.  Below are compilations I have found on YouTube that I think highlight their skills as best as possible.

What's interesting is that both are left footed players which gives us the same option at corners and free kicks that Robin provides us.  I have to admit that from limited ability to view these players, I would opt for Podolski in that he seems strongly built and could endure the physical rigours the Premier League requires while having pace and a rifle of a left foot.  He also is used to playing on the wing as well.  So while Gervinho is gone, he could additionally be an option on the left.
Giroud seems technically gifted and a good finisher, but as he is currently on a goal scoring run, he probably would be pricey and difficult to pry away from his current club mid-season.  According to the Metro, Montpellier's owner is asking a hefty fee as he has two years left on his contract. Knowing Arsenal - this alone could obliterate our pursuit of him.

Podloski is having a great season as well scoring 14 goals in15 matches but is out of contract at the end of next season (sound familiar?).   The club's director would like him to sign an extension, and Lukas has been quoted as admiring Arsenal while admitting that there had not been any talks held.  Well, that does not bother me as talks are not to officially take place for two more days.  If Cologne (or Koln) are in any debt they could use this opportunity to balance their books and have an extra few months to scout Lukas' replacement rather than be put through a protracted negotiation at the end of the season.  Podolski is 26 years old.  He's peaking and, if he has any ambition, needs to hone his skills in a more competitive league with what could be his last professional contract.

All in all, I hope Podloski signs.  I saw him play the 2006 World Cup when he was only 19 years old and thought he was wonderful.  Plus, he'd have a comrade in Mertie who rates Podolski as well:

"He is a great player, especially for the national team," Mertesacker said. "He scores a lot of goals, and he has a very good finish with his left foot. His left foot is unbelievable and I'm a fan of him. This year, he has scored a lot of goals. He is powerful as well."

As always, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.  Tomorrow we play QPR and the big question is whether Arsene will rest RVP in the middle of this fixture congestion, or will he play him, thus allowing him the chance to tie or break Alan Shearer's meaningless record?  More details on that in tomorrow's post.  Plus, I'll be writing about the state of affairs with our full backs in the coming days so stay tuned.

Take care Gooners.  Feel free to tell me what you think about our striker situation in the comments.  Until tomorrow...

It's All About The Baby Steps

I don't know about the rest of you Gooners, but after watching the Arsenal exodus this summer, I had real doubts about us competing for the Top Six in the League. I definitely had doubts about qualifying for Champions League and felt unsure about the intentions of our board and our manager to set the Gunner ship aright once again.


And then came the humiliation to end all humiliations at Old Trafford followed by a rather heart-stopping closing to the transfer window. Whew! And due to the lateness of five signings, the question of the team's ability to gel in time to rise from the relegation portion of the table and compete for the title was in question.

And parts of that question have been answered since Saturday. While winning against the newly promoted Swansea 1 -0 didn't leave us with tons of euphoria, I for one, exhaled in a bit of relief. We were better. Maybe we weren't astounding in our play - we could have been more efficient with a few more goals - but, we moved up the table from 17th to 11th, and I saw a small ray of light at the end of the bleak tunnel that breaks onto the Emirates. I saw an improved team that with more time together could provide the foundation for snagging fourth place this year and maybe a cup title.

I think it's of the utmost importance not put the cart before the horse. Let's not kid ourselves. We are NOT going to win the title. We probably won't beat out either Manchester team for points, and overcoming Chelsea could be impossible. Taking fourth place make require putting up with Liverpool and Spuds nipping at our heels and a cup title will probably be done to mostly the luck of who we draw, but it is doable and attainable if we continue to take tiny yet important baby steps forward with each game.

Robin is firing in goals again. History shows that our Captain usually needs about four to five games under his belt before he consistently finds the back of the net. Tonight was only his second Champions League appearance this season, and he scored, but the Swansea game was his fourth which means he should be making goals left and right starting Saturday.

Arshavin showed last weekend that he still has the chops to have unbelievable finishes and energy when his head is screwed on straight. We have been missing the magical moments he can provide regularly ever since Russia lost out on going to the World Cup 2010, and Andrey subsequently  lost his confidence.  Arsene thinks he's ready to go this season, he's set a personal goal of netting 15, and I think he could make a real difference.

Gervinho loves to run at defenders and attack the goal but needs to improve his final product. His lack of finishing was apparent at Newcastle, but improvement was easy to recognize at Udinese. He seems a quick study and although his finishing was not at the calibre we needed today, one has to remember he has not played for Arsenal for almost three weeks due to his ban, and the rust is probably just temporary.

Mikel Arteta is just excited to be at Arsenal and his urgency to help the side is apparent. His almost mythical reputation at converting free kicks hasn't come to fruition yet, but his tenacity and fight on the pitch is welcome. My favorite Mickey moment so far is when he went up fearlessly for a header today against a Dortmand player in the 57th minute and got his skull cracked for his effort. He left the pitch bleeding and came back on patched up and ready to go. He looks like a pretty boy, but I think he's tough as nails.

Song was back today picking player's pockets almost as effortlessly as a thief on busy New York sidewalk. No stupid tackles or lazy fouls. He just always seemed to come up with the ball. That kind of beast-like performance is what is needed from him every time he plays to help our team improve. If he now feels the pressure as a leader because there are so many new players, let's hope today's performance is a sign of how he will respond to that pressure.

Koz continues to improve. Today, I saw him as the leading center back even though he had a German giant alongside him. He made some mistakes the first half as Dortmund attacked, but he was smooth and calm the next 45 minutes. I had no idea why Wenger spent nearly 10 million pounds on him last year as he was so unproven, but if he continues to learn after being thrown in with sharks last year, he will provide competition to Mertesacker for a place and quality of depth once Vermie returns.

My only real concern is Theo. While small progress is being made by most of the players and the group as a whole, our pacy right winger worries me. He seems unhappy and petulant on the pitch. Against the Swans, he got dispossess while being tugged at the shoulder. He stopped to complain to the ref while the Swansea player left with the ball instead of fighting to get it back. He had a nice assist to Robin today, but with all the new wingers available to play at his spot, he needs to turn it around and quickly. He has voiced once again his desire to play centrally as a striker, and maybe playing on the wing again this season has brought out the bad performances, but he has too much at stake to allow disappointment to affect his game. We need him. And he needs good perforamces to keep his place in the England squad as well. Theo's has taken a lot of flak over the years about his supposed disappointing development. And he's taken it with grace while seemingly having his feet firmly planted on the ground. I hope he can return to that unaffected state of mind.

I guess that's it for now.  While reading this report over, I'm reminded of many a season previews that I read a month ago. I didn't write with a preview in mind, but as far as my mindset goes, our NEW season started last Saturday. And after today's match, I am much hopeful now than in August. If we keep building week after week upon small improvements, we could end the season with our heads held much higher than thought possible. Remember, we're not going to get there in leaps and bounds, but with small, steady, consistent movement forward.

You know - baby steps.

That's it for tonight. Take care and enjoy the pitter patter of little bits of improvement. Cheers.

The Ox Hits The Nail on The Head and We'll Have to Wait for the Verm and PerM Show



With the recent comings and goings of players around Arsenal the last couple of weeks, I have to admit to not paying much attention to our young signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.  I  knew he was considered one of the up and comers of English talent, and I have perused many a YouTube video, but I think his quotes regarding his chances of breaking into the first team gave me an idea of where his feet are when they're not pushing the ball around.  They seem firmly planted on the ground.  And I think it may have something to do with our new signings.  Alex gave an interview on the official website. 

"He's just told me I need to put pressure on him, impress him in training and that's all I can do," he told Arsenal.com.

"He's just bought some new players now and I understand it's going to be hard for me, but I'm a young lad coming into the Club and I understand I've got a lot of hard work to do to try and impress him."

The Ox nailed it, didn't he?  As opposed to the number of young players who have gotten used to competing against only other young players for a place in the squad, the signing of experienced (albeit perhaps injury-prone) players has signalled a new path from Reserve Player to Starter.  You are going to have to work and force your way in.  Many a fan's complaint last season was the lack of what we deem work rate amongst some of  our starters.  Competition for places against veterans like Arteta and Yossi can be as valuable indirectly as the play they produce on the pitch.  No matter the amount of talent, without hard work that talent can waste away and end up in...Sunderland?

Yes, dearly departed Bendy, I believe, is one of those whose failure to apply himself to the fullest ended in his confidence becoming somewhat of a self-parody.  And according to former Gunner Havard Nordtveit , Nick could have tried a bit harder - and been more open to constructive criticism.  I am not gasping in surprise of Nordveit's appraisal even though he probably only trained with the first-team a handful of times.  I'm sure Nicky made a strong impression of the negative kind.  So he's off, apparently never to return.  Perhaps once he sees how different Sunderland treats their players as opposed to the cushy lifestyle afforded by Arsenal, he'll kick up his effort and become that world-renown striker.  Maybe.

Speaking of new signings, it looks like our Per will not become partners in the center defense with My Vermie for a good couple of months.  Just our luck, Thomas is out for "a month" after having surgery on his "other" ankle.  Apparently the niggly he picked up in the Udinese game could have turned into something more serious akin to last season's achille's injury, so they removed the same tendon.  A month back to training means we won't in all likelihood get to see the Verm and PerM show until our game against the Neanderthal-ish Stoke.  And that's counting on no setbacks.  So, are we thinking December then?  You know, I didn't use to be this cynical.

Anyway, that's all for today.  I know that I am excited to see Arteta et al in action on Saturday.  Hopefully Swansea will be the tune-up game we need before frying some bigger, tastier fish.  Talk to you all later.

Finally We Have Signings But Did Americans Add To The Gridlocks?



Whew!  This transfer window closes around one of the busiest I have seen as a Gooner.  Granted, I have only been a fan since 2002-2003, but five signings in two days (plus Gervinho and The Ox earlier on), has left my head swirling and my blood pumping.  I am not sure that Arsenal meant to have their signings leave Gooners on the edge of their seats, and the last minute buys (Arteta especially) were fun in a stop-your-heart- kind of way, but was the last-minute buying necessary?  Manure was doing business back in June so - as all of you out in Goonerland have asked - why did we wait so long?

The Fabregas saga is somewhat explainable in my mind.  Barcelona, being the cheating, manipulating, tapping up, lying scum that they are waited until the last minute to put in an acceptable bid.  Yes, we should have given them a deadline, but I venture to guess that the Arsenal staff (certainly Arsene) like many of us Gooners have a soft spot for Cesc and did not want to indirectly put his back up against a wall.  The most likely explanation is that the indebted Spanish club needed time to scrounge around under the seats of their Bentleys for change in order to come up with the fee and thus drew out the transfer.

But Nasri?  As he put in one of his ill-advised interviews:  He had expected the move to happen in June - as did his new teammates.  Arsene may have not wanted to lose two big players in one season, but he should have been able to see the writing on the wall, taken the money, and RAN to the nearest footballer shopping mall.

But the other transfers?  Mata, M'Villa, these all had the feel of negotiations that had been botched.  When asked about transfers after the thrashing from United, Wenger noted that there were 20 people working behind the scenes which I translated as he stating "It's not me...someone else is holding things up".  And I have a theory on who might be at the root of the transfer window traffic jam.  I think it might be my fellow countrymen who screwed things up.  That's right.  I'm talking about Richard Law and Stan Kroenke himself.  The Americans.

As an American, I can see how Stan and Dick might not get how quickly and ruthlessly things have to work in English football.  In fact, they may not get how passionate football in England is regarded at all.  Stan owns two sport franchises that make up two thirds of the Big Three American Sports:  The Denver Nuggets (basketball) and the St. Louis Rams (American Football).  He also owns an NHL team and, of course, the Colorado Rapids - Arsenal's sister team in the States.  Soccer recently has bypassed Hockey on the list of  most loved American Sports, but all the same, it has not pulled on the passion or imagination yet of the everyday American Sports fan.  I think this includes Kroenke.  In other words, I'm not sure that Stan gets it,  and I don't think he can develop the fervor of a supporter with his interests being shared by his other sport franchises.  And I do think he needs to be a supporter of the Gunners, not just their Director.  In my limited amount of time as an Arsenal fan, I've realized that fandom is all consuming.  My other interests have faded in comparison.  Can Stan say the same?

And Richard Law?   He's been in charge of Arsenal's transfer negotiations for two years now.  Before that, he acted more as a consultant for Arsenal's South and Central America scouting network.  I worry though, that perhaps he doesn't know how to play hardball.  According to Gunnerblog Joel Campbell and his agent/father didn't even show for their initial meeting with Law, perhaps using their own style of hardball tactics.  But we ended up  signing him anyway?  That kind of flagrant disrespect should have put us off permanently from offering a contract.  Campbell is relatively unknown kid from Costa Rica upon whom we are taking a risk.  Instead of ending the deal by saying "We're The Arsenal.  Take your time wasting tactics somewhere else", we agree to sign him 10 days later.  Even if we came out on top of the deal somehow, I think the message conveyed here is one of weakness and desperation.  Plus, with the luck that only Arsenal can possess, the kid can't even get a work permit, so he's been loaned out.  You know, I have looked for pictures of Mr. Law online and cannot find any, but I have a sinking suspicion he does not have much of a chin...

Anyway, I am not saying Arsene has not had some hand in the jumbling of transfers as he does have to sign off on them and request players.  I am sure he balked at M"Villa's 30 million pound price tag and hung onto Nasri for sentimental reasons or stubbornness too long.  But his exasperation seemed apparent in his post-match interview at Old Trafford.

I suppose we will never really know why things happened the way they did.  Ivan will in all likelihood hem and haw his way around these type of questions that Arsenal supporters and certainly journalists will ask at the next opportunity.  Arsene will play out the scene in silence as well as that befits the discretion he so adheres to.

I think for the club to prevent a near transfer tragedy in the coming seasons, the people behind the scenes and at the top of the heap need to remember that working at Arsenal isn't just a job.  Like the footballing architects who first built the club 125 years ago, they need to be Gooners at heart.

And with that said, this Gooner signs off...until next time, take care.

Youngsters Show Spirit and There's a Stench at the Emirates



Okay, I was not expecting a 2-0 loss on Saturday.  I think we were all worried about the possible result, but I figured a draw would be the most drastic.  The first 20 minutes scared the daylights out of me as we mislaid pass after pass.  Only My Vermie's shackling of Carroll gave me any sense of relief as he robbed him of nearly every header.  And watching a Liverpool player attempt to steal the ball off of 'Pong only to be brushed aside by him gave me a chuckle.  But then we know what happened eventually:  injuries, red cards, and losing while down to 10 men.

As far as individual performances go, I can't fault the young 'uns.  They showed spirit and fight (perhaps injudiciously) from Jenks to 'Pong and Ignasi.  SIDENOTE:  If one doesn't have faith in one's fourth pick center back, why isn't he sold?  Ignasi was on the bench and Squillaci in the stands?  Not that I think Squillaci would have done better, but what a statement made by Wenger - intentionally or unintentionally.  Anyway, RVP and Nasri played their parts as well while Theo and Arshavin were, well, pretty bad.  Every time Theo received the ball by the touchline, he was swarmed and usually conceded possession.  And Andrey's attempts at penetrating and passing were intercepted or otherwise nullified.

So all in all, we're in bad shape.  We have won only one out of six possible points.  Song and Emmanuel are suspended for Manchester United next Sunday and we don't know the extent of Koz's injury for the Udinese game, which means we could be short at the CB position.  There are rumblings tonight on Twitter that Jack could be back for the CL match, but what about our only creative player Nasri?  As much as I detest eating Humble Pie, I'll swallow a slice by admitting his performance made me remember why I liked him so much last year.  His move for Manchester City is taking FOREVER so, who knows?  If Wenger plays him against the Italians and he ends up Cup-tied, Mancini admitted that event could be a deal breaker.  What I found interesting is that Mancini expressed confusion and surprise that the deal wasn't done as soon as he expected stating:


"It's a big problem. For 40 days [I've been saying]: 'I hope it's two days, three days, two days, three days.' I don't know why we didn't close it.

It's nice for some other club to express confusion over the actions of its Board, and Mancini had no trouble stating that in public.  I think something similar could be going on at Arsenal, but unlike Roberto, Arsene is not the type of manager to come out and openly challenge the Arsenal Board.  He loves the club, is loyal, and discreet.  He probably views opening up any diagreements about transfers to the public as distasteful. And I do think there are major disagreements going on here which is the only sane explanation I can come up with for us not having the signings we need this close to the transfer deadline.  Our manager is a man who has made big signings in the pre-Emirates past.  Many of these were diamond-in-the-roughs whom he transformed into real gems.  But the Bergkamp signing was seen as a landmark signing.  Fast forward a few years and Wenger has to develop low-cost youngsters, while staying in the Champions League and vying for the title in order to help build the Emirates and keep the debt low.  Now he has money.  There is NO WAY he would jeopardize the whole season, qualification for Europe, and staying in the Top Four unless someone was pulling against his strings in the background.  I'm not saying Le Boss is not playing a small part in the delay, (he does seem very picky), but the guy knows what winning feels like and hates to lose.  I think the Board is not letting Wenger deal the way he wants.  Mata going to Chelsea seems to be the latest hint of unrest behind the scenes.


Of course, I'm not sure of all the details.  I'm as far from being a fly on the wall as I am from - well - ever seeing a game live in at the Emirates.  But something doesn't feel right.  And, on top of everything else,  Wenger is looking horrible as well.  He's dropped weight and is looking almost ill.  If he was truly acting only on his idealism or stubborness, I don't think it would be ravaging him physically as much as it is.  Think about it.  If you truly believe in what you are doing, criticism and defeat are taken with a grain of salt.  Arsene is starting to look like the Crypt Keeper for goodness sakes.

I'm not sure how the end of the transfer window is going to look for the Gunners.   If things continue going south, I fear that our manager will be left holding the bag while the owner and  Board put a spin on the situation.  I trust Arsene.  I don't always agree with him, but I trust him.  I'm not sure I trust the Board.  I'm not sure we'll ever know the true goings-on behind the Red and White curtain until Wenger writes an autobiography or a whistle blower comes foward.  Until then, Wenger will probably just continue to take the heat, stay in the kitchen, and try to make diamond souffle out of whomever he ends up with.

Yep, there's something rotten alright, and it's not in Denmark - it's in London.  Until next time.

Post Script:  Arsenal.Com just posted team news that explains Squillaci's absence.  He has a calf strain.



Could Lansbury See Daylight Saturday?

So, I know we are all biting our fingernails, ruining our manicures, pulling out clumps of hair in an attempt to manage the barrage of anxiety we're feeling about Saturday's match against Liverpool.  Admit it.  Some of you think we don't have a Popsicle's chance in Hades of coming out with a win against the Scousers, never mind another clean sheet.  And looking at everything on paper, that is probably a pretty accurate prediction.  According to the injury update on the official site, we are sporting a threadbare squad.  To summarize, I'll list who out of our first team "regulars" is available:
Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, My Vermie, Arshavin, Theo, Rambo, RVP, Chamakh, Nasri (*cough,splutter*) and...that's about it.  Which means we're in need of a make-shift left back, and one or two midfielders.  Djourou is a "maybe" dependent on a late fitness test tomorrow so he could figure in as well.

Threadbare, right?  So I'm figuring we could see a squad made up of half veterans and half new up and comers which could look something like this:
Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, DJ/Vermie, Vermie/Jenks, Rambo, Ping-Pong, Theo Arshavin, RVP and...Lansbury? 

Why not Henri?  Our other choice could be Nasri, but with his alledged impending Manchester City transfer, I doubt he will be risked.  So our midfield could consist of Henri and The Pong (I can't make up my mind about his nickname.  There are so many possibilities) who have played together for several years at the Academy and Aaron who has taken on the mantle of creative midfielder since the departure of He Who Must Not Be Named.  The average age is - well without having to do real math - it's younger than the roof on my house probably.  But Henri has, as described by Jamie at YoungGunsBlog.com and Norwich staff, grit, determination, and "an engine that won't quit".  I think that's what we need right now.  We don't have the finesse honed by experience in the Premier League, we don't have a vault full of silverware won by recent squads, but we could have some fight in us on Saturday.  We could have enough to prove to give a shock to Liverpool and even we fans.  Henry definitely has something to prove to Wenger.

On the offensive end, Liverpool's defense is penetrable, and with Theo's (or Ox's or Ryo's) speed, Arshavin's magic,Bendy's headers ( hey - he's not gone yet) and RVP 's chocolate and non-chocolate legs, we could outscore them.  Their talisman is out injured.  Suarez seems to be there center of energy and Carroll their aerial threat.  I'm not sure we can get a clean sheet out of it, but I think we can battle through to a win.  I want a win.

Why not? We got one against the energetic Italians (who I thought were very un-Italian -like in their attack), so hopefully, our defense has built some confidence, and Theo will continue some scoring form - especially after announcing he 's aiming for 18 goals this season.  *Gasp*  Someone wants that central striker position really badly.  Go for it Theo!  If you reach your goal, you could write a book about it.  Erm...I mean a second book....filled with interesting things to read about.  Moving on.

I wanted to encourage everyone to visit 'holic's website to view this Arsenal Anthem.  It was the inspirtaion to this somewhat optimistic post.  I think all of us as fans could use some uplifting momentum right now.  Actually, I think the players taking their places on the pitch for Saturday's match could use a view of it too.  Sadly, I don't have that much influence.  Give it a look and tell me that it doesn't get you fired up. I dare you.   I'll have to call you a Gone Gooner then, though.

Whoever is on the pitch for the weekend match, let's all get behind them.  It's the first match at the Emirates, and I hope the boys out there get full support from the fans lucky enough to be able to attend.  If Lansbury does make it to the pitch, give him a good song, won't you?  Take care.

Andrey's Attitude and Is It Bye-Bye Bendy?

Well, like the sweltering heat of an Indiana summer, the Arsenal transfer saga continues with little movement on some fronts (Cesc/Nasri) and some on others.  But more on that later.  In some refreshing news, Andrey Arshavin has been speaking on the Arsenal site about what he wants to accomplish in the coming season.  Our sometimes energetic Russian is going for 15 goals.  I have to say, reading that Andrey is setting goals makes me think that his head might be finally recovered from missing the World Cup.  For him, like the rest of the squad and perhaps even us fans, the slate is wiped clean, and he wants to write success across his.  It's exactly what I want to hear.  I  am tired of hearing that Arsenal players are "suffering" or want to win trophies somewhere else.  Way to lay down the gauntlet for yourself Andrey.  Having only netted six goals in his half season with us in 2009, 12 in 2009-2010, and 10 last season, 15 shows ambition.  I am feeling optimistic that our petite winger is going to have a great season.  I would to see that tongue-hanging-out-celebration thingy much more often.Click here for my all time favorite Arshavin goal (HINT:  it's probably your favorite too)

Onto some potential Arsenal exits, the striker who outscores everyone on the planet as far as self-confidence goes may be off to Sporting Lisbon.  That's right, Bendy may be leaving for Portugal for reportedly 9 million pounds.  I use the word "may" because soon after the Guardian posted the article about he move, Jamie from the Young Guns Blog tweeted a quote from Sporting Lisbon Director Carlos Barbados where he stated "It's highly unlikely that Nicklas Bendtner ends up here. The club pays nowhere near what he is used to at Arsenal." 

Ummm.  Okay.  Many bloggers and fans have commented on the possible dangers giving young and mostly unproven players such high wages.  It's tough to unload them.  Denilson's loan to Sao Paulo is a primary example and it looks as though Nick may have to go the same route if he wants consistent playing time.  It's too bad really.  Nick has always driven me batty at times, but when given a consistent run in the side, I found him to be someone who needed to be reckoned with.  We depended on him back in the 2009-2010 season when Robin got tore up in that friendly with Italy (which turned out not to be that friendly).  Horse's placenta failed, Bendy was called upon and responded by netting 12 goals from November to late April.  I wonder if he hadn't wrecked his car around a tree, carried an injury into the World Cup and into the start of the season last year, perhaps Chamakh would have been called upon less and Bendy more.  What we had last year was not-so-fast and agile Nicklas playing as a winger - which aggravated both him and the fans.  He did manage to score some goals though only two in the Premier League and NONE in the Champions League.  None against Barcelona at Camp Nou.  Sigh.  Unfortunately, that is how I will probably remember Bendy - The One Who Let It Get Away.

Anyway, that's all for now.  Apparently the Joel Campbell story is breaking again (thanks gunnerblog), but unless he gets a work permit, I don't think we'll see him this year.  Speaking of work permits, the ever-informed Jamie again at Young Guns has written that Arsenal are working on the work permit for Ryo which means that Wenger wants to give him his chance at first team football.  Wow. Can you imagine being just out of a high school soccer program and having the opportunity to play at one of the biggest soccer clubs at the world?  Surreal.

I said that was all, didn't I? Okay, so hopefully there will be some clarity on whether our Dane is departing or not.  Until then, try to not let the rumors drive you over the edge.  Take care.

Are You Kidding Me?

Hey - did you hear about Arsenal's bid for me?  Jokers!



This is a joke, right?  Our bid for Jagielka has been reported to have been rejected.  Considering it was two million pounds less than our last bid, I am not surprised.  The obvious question, of course, is why did we offer less? The start of the season is less than a month away, we don't have time to play games, practical jokes or make mistakes here.  I understand the Cesc/Nasri situation making it difficult to assess and sign offensive players, but tying down a central defender seems to be a straight forward job with minimum juggling required. 

I readily admit, I am the poorest bargainer on the planet.  I've bought a car at the sticker price for goodness sakes - never bothering to ask for a better deal.  I have friends who insist they go with me when I'm shopping for almost anything - wanting to be sure I don't get ripped off.  But I do know this one rule when it comes to offering a bid...if your first offer is turned down, you offer a little more.  Are people at the offices of The Arsenal getting bored?  Is the offer a red herring leaked out for media consumption?  Or maybe Ivan knows something we don't about Phil's abilities?  If they're less stellar than what we thought, why are we bidding at all?

Anyway, I am beating a dead horse here, but being that Arsenal news is scarce and usually bad, I felt a rant was overdue.  Moving on...

Let's talk about my favorite of favorites...Vermie.  Does anyone else notice he is on the site often these days being quoted about our chances next season and his opinion on new arrivals?  And, they're putting up some great pictures of him too, thank goodness.  This picture is definitely not flattering, and I remember last season they kept using it again and again.  With my much-loved Belgium back in action, there should be more images to choose from.    Hopefully,we won't see that again.  Anyway, Thomas talks about the squad having a clean slate and the fact that everyone in the league gets the chance to start over.  Which is true.  I suspect it's easier for him to talk about that considering he did not play a part in last season's demise.  This usually positive chatter gets on one's nerves after awhile, but considering the source, I am almost feeling the optimism myself.  Almost.  I am getting excited that football is going to be back and there will be lots to read and watch and listen to and  hopefully cheer about.  If we would just sign Benzema, or Jagielka, or Cahill, or Mertsacker or the next unknown Thierry Henry.  That's not asking for too much, is it?  The answer to that question will in all likelihood not be forthcoming until September when the transfer window officially closes.  Until then, we'll just have to feed on the bread crumbs allotted to us on a daily basis.

I guess that's it for now.  Short but sweet today.  I'm off to go garage saling - with a few chaperones of course.  Have a good one!

Jack No Longer The Lad



Kids grow up so fast these days don't they?  None more so than our Spiky Jack.  Taking the bull by the horns last season, Jack transformed one starting opportunity into a season as Arsenal's most consistent midfielder, playing more games than any other Gunner including his midfield partner Alex Song.  So, I guess that it should be no surprise that this 19 year old fan-favorite is now developing his influence as a leader also.  A leader that is speaking out about what makes a good footballer a good man.  And according to quotes from The Sun, Jack says it's Loyalty.  Here's the meat of the matter according to Jack:

"Loyalty is a big part of football and it shows if you are a real man or not. If you are loyal, it means you are a real man.

Can I tell you what a breath of fresh air that statement is to fan? When players move for money or declare they need to go somewhere in order to obtain trophies (when in fact if they worked a little harder they would maybe have a shot to get them), it rankles a purist like myself.  I had a fit when the Olympics allowed professional athletes to compete.  I also happen to think that a player who is playing for something more than just a paycheck - love for the club for example- he will give more effort.  Loyalty and fidelity to their team can push an athlete to greater heights than money alone.  I truly believe that.   Jack is one of those players that may be driven more by his internal values than the external rewards, and his expectation is that others need to take a look at their motivation.

Now the papers have made much of his statement, singling out Cesc as the primary target of his comment.  Jack did mention Cesc but as an example of one who showed loyalty last year by staying at Arsenal.  Unlike the pundits, I think that Jack might have been speaking about Nasri, whose lack of taking proper ownership for his part in our end of season collapse plus his  refusal to sign a contract probably irks Jack more than the Cesc saga.    He adds:

"We have loyalty at Arsenal and players have shown that in the past. Cesc showed that last year and hopefully a few more players will show it this year.

I don't know who else he would be talking about besides Nasri...Bendtner?  I don't think so.  I think Samir blaming the club for the lack of trophies (while only scoring 18 goals in three years) and expecting either more money or  a move to a rival club probably has pushed Jack's buttons.  See, Jack's not just a player for Arsenal, he's a fan.  He thinks and acts like a Gooner at times which is probably one of the reasons we like him so much.   Anyway, Jack took exception to some of the headlines by the journalists and attempted to clear up any misdunderstandings via his Twitter account @JackWilshere.

Have not read any papers but just so we get it right i actually said 'cesc showed he is a real man by staying and being loyal last season'..

I also said he has been a great role model for me! So why would i tell him to 'man up'!? Get it correct please...


So there ya go.  All in all, we have a 19 year old telling players five years older than himself to show some integrity.  What can I say?  It makes me like him even more.

I guess that's it for today other than to say how much I enjoyed Wenger FINALLY calling out Xavi and correctly labeling him as disrespectful.  I'm sure Xavi will have some intelligent, witty response at the ready as we all know his pie-hole is open 24 hours a day.  I wonder what on-the-spot comment he'll make next? Who knows?  Maybe he'll just stick his tongue out at the Wenger dartboard he has in his mother's basement.

You all have a good night and I'll be back in a couple of days. 

What Can You Expect?

Oh - I didn't mean what can you expect from Arsenal.  I meant from me.  This is all about me.  I mean, you can pretty much predict how the rest of the month is going to go when it comes to our club.  Something like this:

Weekend of July9th-10th - no movement on the transfer front.  Which isn't a surprise because no real business develops on the weekend.  Did you know it's the 7th agonizing weekend without Arsenal football?  Egads!  Copa America is somewhat interesting, but we all know what we're waiting for.  Oops, I digress.

I meant to talk about me.  Not about next week when we will be getting out of bed early to see if Gervinho has FINALLY completed the paperwork (seriously, what is the holdup mes amies?) and has pictures posted on the official site.  And I don't mean to talk about the Daily Mail getting fans' hopes up about Benzema again, or the Guardian telling us that Nasri is just going to play out his contract and then leave for greener (lush from all the manure dumped on it) pastures - full of cow pies I hope.

Nope.  The purpose of this posting is to alert my five readers that I have come out of my post-season coma and guarantee three articles a week - no matter what.  This guarantee is as solid as Wenger's promise to sign five...erm no.  Four?  Nope.  Right - one or two new players into our squad.  But don't despair...he also pledges that he's going to do all he can to fight to keep Cesc and Nasri.  So, rest assured about getting regular- if somewhat nonsensical -writings from me...

Yep, I'll be as regular as the irritated, sarcastic, and somewhat dire communication I'm reading from fellow Gooners on Twitter.  At least @KeithThe Gooner is good for some eyebrow-raising tweets and chuckles.  The rest of us are seemingly suffering from the same impatient strand of malaise.  I even really TRY and not be edgy.  But, it's five days until our Asian tour and...nothing. 

Oh look...that puts into the third week of July where I will have already written two more posts by the time our squad takes off seemingly without our former Captain and with no (good enough) replacement at left-back.  I wonder how much weight the Arsenal plane can carry?  Doesn't dead weight (and you all know who I mean) weigh more?  Yeesh.  The thought of us playing next season with the same back up on the bench gives me the shivers.  Which is not good.  Because remember.

This is all  about me.  And I'm about ready to ask someone to take me out to the back 40 and put me out of my misery with a shotgun.  But, then I wouldn't be able to post another three excellent writings by the time our pre-season friendly against FC Cologna happens on the 23rd. Do we think by then make-me-want-to-Barfalona will have actually offered to pay Cesc's value?  Actually, I hope that the Daily Express' @MattLawExpress had it right yesterday when he tweeted

"Told guardiola and rosell barely speaking at the mo. Pep v pissed off cesc not signed yet. Not everything is rosey in paradise."

 

If there is any truth to that rumor, the rest of my July would be cake.  Layered cake with strawberry and banana filling in between those layers and strawberry icing on top with sprinkles.  Could I please have the sprinkles?  Pretty please, even?  Remember this very important fact.

 

It's. All. About. Me.

 

I guess that it for now.  I'll be back with more pleadings for pastries, desserts, center backs,and closure in a few days.  Really.  Trust me.

 

Have a good one.