Arsenal F C (Pride Of London)

[Shearer's Shirt]

I have seen from the bbc sport website that Arsenal have turned down an offer for Jose Antonio Reyes from Athletico Madrid. I think there could be some arguements going on over Madrid way with Real Madrid being turned down after not being able to agree a fee. Aparently Arsenal have valued him at around sixteen million pounds and the Bernabeu outfit not willing to pay that or to yield Julio Baptista as part of the deal. To be honest I don't think Real Madrid will be willing to pay that, whether he is worth it or not and definately don't think they will be willing to give up Julio Baptista.
With the draw for the group stages of the Champions League it is not going to be an easy ride for the Gunners in group G. A couple of possible sticking points being Porto and CSKA Moscow but should do well against Hamburg. I expect them to win all of there home games but Moscow in the winter, it will be brass monkeys for your guys
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[SE13]

I write this in the unlikely event that arsene Wenger might be looking at this post, but for crying out loud, what is it with trying to pass the ball into the net in the early season?? Has no-one got the bottle to try a shot? Even a cross wouldn't go amiss.

This is a game we have dominated, and should be streets ahead, yet go into the break a goal down.... WHY?? Not because there should have been a free kick for the foul prior to the PK award, but simply because all the chances created have resulted in nothing, because we have to try that one pass too many.

It's time to change, and until this is addressed, we are not going to challenge anyone, because our season doesn't start until one team gets a thumping, and it's the same every year.

It's the same at the start of every season in recent years.... Dominate games, but lose due to the inept attitude. Yes, we are probably the best passing team in The Premiership, but that perfect goal isn't going to happen.

How many times did we have 6 or 7 forward, yet still try to pass the ball around the box until they had 11 back behind the ball, and then go on to lose possession?

Madness, utter madness.

We need Theo Walcott to start more often, and be played as a centre forward.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[Magpie]

[SE13]

To be fair, Arsenal have only had the single home game at Ashburton Grove, so as you pointed out, it will be a little early in the new season to make any judgement. One has to bear in mind the changes that had just taken place at Aston Vanilla prior to the game, so I guess that they could have faced almost any team in The World fairly full of confidence.

So, the transfer window has closed, and sees the departure of Jose Antonio Reyes, with Julio Baptista (The Beast) coming in the opposite direction. Now this is a player Arsene Wenger has been trying to sign for a couple of seasons now, and I for one, am delighted to see him come to The Arsenal. In the recent Brazil versus Argentina friendly at Ashburton Grove, Baptista recieved a huge ovation from the Arsenal faithful, which really opened his eyes as to how good our crowds are.

Perhaps the best bit of business of all time saw Pascal Cygan depart for two million pounds, which seems to please virtually every Arsenal fan I know.

And perhaps the worst bit of business was the Cashley Cole saga, seeing him finally depart to CSKA Fulham, in return for defender William Gallas, and five million pounds in cash, although this figure is subject to change.... Apparently! We lose argueably the best left back in the game right now, and gain a versatile defender, capable of playing in any position, and certainly strengthening up the centre of the defence, although we have starlets such as Gael Clichy and Matthieu Flamini both capable of filling the left back slot, so much so that Cashley Cole actually had to fight for his place back on return from injury.

We have the strength, have we got the depth?
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[West_ham_hammer]

I see you have William Gallas now!! seems a bad move what with all the press about him in todays papers.

Refusing to play if they don't agree to sell him. Threatening to get sent off or score an own goal!!

Wonder how much of that is true?

[SE13]

I wonder myself if it is not some sort of sour grapes from Chelsea. It is a well known fact that Jose Moroho was prepared to let William Gallas rot in the reserves, and to never play him again.

Now I can not believe for a minute that any player would say to his fellow professionals, and teammates "I am going to score an own goal if I do not get my own way", because let us be honest here, he would have been lynched in the changing room, and hammered on the training park.

But it seems the normal for Chelsea to blame anyone other than themselves for any slight downfall, especially with a manager who seems to think that he is "The Chosen One"

Meantime, according to reports, William Gallas was well recieved by his new teammates at Arsenal, and it seems apparent to me that Arsene Wenger has a definite plan for him, especially bearing in mind the departure of Solzier Campbell at the back end of last season.

As there is another round of Euro 2008 qualifiers tomorrow night, I guess it will be Friday before our full team get the chance to get a little more aquainted, and possibly a few weeks before they start to gel. However, this is just the beginning of the restructuring, with Ashburton Grove being the first part, and the introduction of so many talented youngesters combined with a wealth of talent being the second part.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[mellymoo]

They may have Gallas - but they dont have Naismith!

[SE13]

[West_ham_hammer]

The only Naysmith I know played for Harchester United.
He even made it into the full England squad before injury wrecked his chances.

[woosaah]

Hey, any thoughts on Gallas taking Bergkamp's number 10 instead of Cole's number 3?

Personally I would have thought that the number 3 would be the most natural number for Gallas, or a defender anyway. And that the number 10 would at least have been put aside until we found a player to step into the shoes of Bergkamp, ie. van Persie, or an attacking midfielder or forward.

I suppose it's not that a big deal, considering it's only numbers but I;m just so used to seeing a defender wearing the number 3, not the number 10 shirt. Maybe it's just me.

When I found out that Cole finally transfered to Chelski, I was glad it was all over, but also sad to see Cole go. A product of our youth system and the last english player in the starting eleven leave for Chelski? Oh well dosen't matter, it's better to have a settled squad than to have one or two players unsettled and unsettling the whole squad. Gallas is definately a welcome addition, an experienced excellent defender.

Another welcome addition is Baptista, finally get to see him in Arsenal's colours. Also glad to see Reyes go the other way too.

Looks a good season, not a great start but too soon to tell! Go you GUNNERS!!!

[SE13]

Unofficially, the reason was that the number three was registered to The Football Association with the name Ashley Cole, while the number ten shirt vacated by Dennis Bergkamp was actually free.

Personally, I think it is more to do with the fact that Cashley did the dirty on Arsenal, and as such, the number three shirt would be associated too much with Cashley Cole, taking the gloss off the actually arrival of William Gallas.

Meantime, as I type this, Arsenal fall a goal behind at Ashburton Grove, against Middlesborough, a team we traditionally trounce. Our stuttering start to the new campaign continues, and yet another goal leaked at The Grove. Perhaps Magpie had a point with his post earlier in this thread?

Reports on Skysports suggest that this is a game Arsenal are totally dominating, but yet again the start of the season sees Arsenal attempting to pass the ball into the back of the onion bag, as opposed to someone taking on the responsibility of trying a shot on goal. Why do they feel the need to try to score the perfect goal at the start of each season.

Incidentally, should Arsenal fail to win today, it will be the worst start to a season since 1991, and all because they want to walk the ball into the net, or do not realise when the point comes that overpassing (one pass too many) has happened.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space

[West_ham_hammer]

I notice the game is tied at 1-1 now Henry scoring a penalty.

[StephenG]

[Shearer's Shirt]

It seems that this season is turning the Premiership on its head, for some teams any way. Can not believe that the Gunners are fourth from bottom! Already I have heard things being said about certain defenders leaving have left Arsenal exposed at the back and that was part of their strength. I know things are usually crazy at the start of the season (Liverpool losing the merseyside derby to Everton by three goals will tell you that) but with the players Arsenal have, even without the likes of Ashley Cole, should still be doing better at this time of the season. A Gooner friend of mine is already talking about getting shut of Arsene Wenger! I know football is a fickle game but surely even after a disastrous start to this season and a below par season last term, surely that would not be an option!?
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[SE13]

I'm at a loss as to why at the start of every season, we feel the need to try to walk the ball into the net. It is just a series of one pass too many all the time.

It's getting silly now, and needs addressing sooner rather than later.

There is The Champions League in midweek, giving a very short space of time for Arsene Wenger to get a session of shooting practise in.

If someone doesn't learn to take a responsibilty on, such as "I want to score" then we will be staring relegation in the face, not Champions of Europe!!

Worst start to a season since 1991, and we have far from exactly played anyone big yet, and I say that without meaning offence to Aston Vanilla, Middlesborough and Manchester City, but they are not Chelsea, Liverpool, Tattenham Hotspuds or Manchester United are they? If we fail against the like of the teams we have played thus far, then God help us when a rampant Manchester United come to town....

As for talk of Arsene Wenger being asked to move on, there has been talk of this among the supporters for some time now, although it soon died down when Arsenal reached The Final of The Champions League, when suddenly he was the best thing since sliced bread. Supporters are rather fickle, always have been, and always will be.
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It feels so empty without a signature, so here is some mindless gabble to occupy the space