If you believe as I do that it is the intention of Arsene and the club to improve the first choice eleven then I suggest that is no easy job.
If any purchases have to be of a standard that displaces one of our current best eleven, then the pool of players that are available is quite small. Those players have to be of exceptional quality AND be for sale.
If we have learned anything from recent seasons it is that it’s incredibly difficult and expensive to prise a player from a reluctant seller. Cesc, Judas and Nasri all took an age before we finally ceded.
As far as I am aware, we know that a bid has been made for Suarez. Even then we only know because Liverpool chose to go public. Like it or not – and I do – Arsenal conduct their business in total secrecy.
We know nothing of bids or targets. Our “knowledge” is based purely on hearsay, ITK’s, Sky Sports News, TalkShite and the word of third-rate hacks.
In reality, we can not be said to have missed a target unless we aimed for it in the first place.
I think Marouane Fellaini has a release clause of £25 million, or there about. Now if he was seen as a priority I am sure we could have offered Everton that fee and met his wage demands. If we haven’t, it’s either because we don’t want him, or another reason that we know nothing about.
Perhaps he wants to go to United? Or maybe we are looking at a better player. We just don’t know, do we?
I accept that there are many players who would improve the squad. But is that really what we are all hoping for ?
The melt down on twitter and blogs is quite frankly pathetic.
You might well think we had no good players at the club. We have players of the quality of Jack, AOC and Podolski who can not always command a First Team start. For new players to improve our first team they not only have to be better than those three, but better than the first team incumbents keeping them out.
The simple reality is we have no choice but wait and trust the club. What else can we do? Bin bags on seats? Stickers on statues? Stay away from the ground for the Emerates Cup? Boo and chant some childish drivel about spending f***ing money?
We will get who we get when – and if – the club do the deals.
Patience is not an option. It’s a necessity.
Positively Arsenal 
I borrowed that joke off here a while back, it’s not mine originally.
Paul-N, you should become an Arsenal Transfer Negotiator!
Can you shift Bentner and Chamakh as fast as selling your house?
I agree with AorB, I think Wenger & Ivan are playing this one very well, they are leaving Liverpool to stew in their own mess, as AW says our offer is on stand by, we aren’t rushing up there with the chequebook just yet. I read one sensible(!) kopite suggest giving them Walcott plus cash… hmmm it might make sense.
I think we could even negotiate ‘down’ the price. Total silence from other clubs speaks volumes. Wenger has some good quotes today from Al Jazzeria Sports TV interview – has anybody got a link to the full interview?
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Finsbury
I hope the next Arsenal manager arrives for Zelalem’s retirement testimonial, not any time before. And he will be called Thierry (and sidekick Dennis).
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DC@6.44
Careful there DC. Some might insist that Dennis will be the next manager with Henry as assistant. And people allege that we do not allow any debate here. Pffffffffffffft.
DC@6.38
Theo. Is. Staying.
Grrrrr.
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Can’t be easy taking over a club that had recently made a Statement of Intent by spending 75+ Big Ones (!!!!) on Carroll, Downing and Henderson.
ahahahahah..what about the defiant rodgers…ahahhaaa..i wonder what he is smoking
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im reading how sagna will be moved to cb. and vermaelen in dm. total football arsenal.
if we do get suarez i will cry
im struggling for a formation where rosicky cazorla walcott giroud podolski and suarez all play
hmmmm
……………………wojo…………………..
…………sagna–per—-kons———-
——————arteta——————
walcott—cazorla—rosicky—-podoslki
————–giroud—suarez ———–
too aggressive huh ? …
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I would love that,but poor Aaron
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Footballistically, Suarez would be a superb addition to a strong Arsenal team; my guess (and I am often wrong on such guesses), playing from the left as much as centrally, Giroud in ze middle, Santi roving behind him, Theo on the right, man that would pack a punch and a half. Behaviourly, bitingly, and all the rest of the diving duck malarkey, we must just take note that Suarez has been the butt of some over-harsh media hacking a story to death, and we might defer judgment until we see him up close. I personally doubt the overt racism accusation too. Seems more like a fairly highly strung player. My take is that the artmosphere and context of Arsenal would moderate all that nonsense. My wife does not agree with me, but I think one must allow a fellow a chance.
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One of the most detested descriptions of anything, much less a decent football blog, is that slimy cliché “party line”, which is about as aggressive a term as is possible to write passively in the English language, as it drags a weight of history and innuendo. The insinuation that Hunter is “allowed in” because he toes a “party line” is a way of saying PosA has no “normal” ethical or critical basis. As for Hunter-streams of consciousness, he tells it like he sees it, honestly and acutely, and that alone makes him refreshingly ethical. I agree with PG. He shall not, he shall not be binned. No, not ever.
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ZIMPAUL
so sorry for what happened to your international airport mate.
Troubles post election I suppose. Stay safe.
PAUL N.
Congratulations on your move to big H. Hopefully and GOD willing it will be a pleasant transition and open many more opportunities for you and yours.
Ps. Super sad to see GRAVIS leave. Won’t forget his moves and his ever present smile.
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This is the weirdest transfer window I can remember (yes , last year, and the year before…blah blah).
We are punting SERIOUS money at clubs and not getting any feedback.
‘Official’ offers as in acknowledged by the clubs or players agents:
Bender (excellent choice, but no deal),
Alder (?) was that an official bid?,
Higuain – I think we cooled off when we heard about Suarez being interested in getting out of LFC,
Ginter (? Official ?) a young Bender,
Gudongen.(excellent choice, but no deal) Is there some rule that Dortmund have to sell every single one of their players every season?
Can anyone think of any other genuine interest from the club in other players?
Here is a list of players we NEVER had a bid or interest in:
Fellaini (for obvious too much thugishness),
Rooney – see above,
Cesar and 100 other goalies. Not required,
1,000 French midfielders. Only average players,
plenty of 2nd tier strikers. Benteke FFS,
a few very overpriced DM’s. Williams etc.
Garreth Barry, ROTFLMAO.
Did I miss out anything?
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@ ZimPaul – I wish I could be as reasonable as you, but what ticks me off is the same people who were lining up to castigate Eboue for diving are rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of getting the diving, biting racist because he can score a few goals. None of this behaviour is new – he has done the same thing to his previous clubs. I hope we are ready for when we are on the receiving end of the suarez treatment. For me his ability does not make up for his overall scummy on and off field behaviour and let’s not forget the hand ball in the world cup. He is not a nice person, associating ourselves with him is dragging the club into the gutter. The media are having a field day painting us as the hypocritical villans and we will pay for it with dodgy refereeing decisions galore. Mark my words, he is going to cost us. The narrative has been established. I will still support Arsenal, but I cannot and will not support him.
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Passeral
That’s a fair point or two, he has been given too many chances by his former clubs and still has let them down. Liverpool have been trying to be too cute too and it looks like spectaculary backfiring on them.
If there were less scummy World Class forwards around (Lewandoski?) we all know Wenger would be interested.
He is a 1 in 2 game striker – want’s to become a CL player, and will play for us , eventually.
We all know what we are dealing with here. and after the world cup he will be off to Real Madrid as soon as his layers can read the contracts. We get a year out of him, and we have a better run at the EPL and UCL with him than without him.
And lastly, mugging Liverpool is always fun.
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So “party line” is slimy and agressive whereas “getting any” and “silly cow” are refreshingly ethical? You take double standards to a new low. You deserve each other.
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dfb
great comeback.
We all feel ashamed.
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And lastly, mugging Liverpool is always fun. 🙂 … 🙂 … haha .. 🙂 cant stop laughing… thank you dc …you go to games? pints !!!!! one day ill find goergaki and anicoll..who else fgoes?
=====
hey you dfb why are you talking about me without talking to me ? is that what your parents taught you? 😛
=====
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6.25 everyone…..
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Now now Hunter – no emoticons – thems the rules.
So the PFA are on Liverpool’s side and have read the contract clause. Gordon Taylor isn’t exactly Rumpole of the Bailey, more like Lionel Hutz.
It doesn’t matter – If Suarez wants out – he gets out. We had similar problems but handled them better than Brenda. I bet all the other Liverpool players have called their lawyers to re-read their contracts tonight.
I reckon we should ask Darren Dien to help out Luis in this predicament, he knows the drill.
Expect a transfer request by Friday. Our problem is this transfer now won’t happen before the UCL play-offs. Not a serious problem – I mean if the current team can’t qualify without a player who has never trained with us, we had no hope to begin with.
Of course that’s what the negativoids want. Will they ever give up on bitch’n (don’t complain dfb!) that we have a bad team? And now we have a weak squad. they can fuck right off, they get what they want and now moan about this ‘new’ problem.
One gripe – why are we bothering with a bid for Gudongen, when there is no chance BvD will sell?
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dfb … So “party line” is slimy and aggressive whereas “getting any” and “silly cow” are refreshingly ethical?
um … precisely, yes. I’m not convinced PosA has a party line, in the sense that term is commonly applied in English; it is in effect sir, a kind of lie. I am convinced that Hunter is refreshingly honest, and it’s a quality I do very much admire. “Getting any” and “silly cow” in context, are metaphors in a strictly literary sense, very apt too, meaning, she is talking a bit of populist nonsense without much depth in analysis and he speculates that cause of her seeming frustration and personal angst may lie outside Arsenal per se. Having said that I sometimes skip Hunter’s posts, only because of duplications in points. dfb, I am not prepared to translate all Hunter’s posts for you. Lighten up, friend.
Passenal, point taken. Just give the guy a chance please, if he ever arrives. I’m not saying he’s a golden lad, only that a lot of players get away with far, far worse in EPL and not a peep from the media; Suarez may well have misbehaved but has a point, he has been targeted by the media, in part because of his Latin culture and origins and in another part because is not an English player. His main infringements are relatively minor in my opinion, and blown out of proportion. He does seem to have an occasional biting issue, which is an odd one, psychologically. But the overt racism and diving stuff is mostly contrived as far as I see it. Show me an effective striker who hasn’t mastered the art of drawing the foul, a Latin football speciality anyway, and I’ll show you many an illusion. As I read he called Evra a “negro”. I’m not Spanish speaking at all but I read elsewhere he was bemused this would cause such measure of offense, since in his native Uruguay, the word popularly denotes “black person”, without the range of connotations applied in English, and specifically American, culture. Turn it around and a black player calls Rooney a juicy insult like “hey you pale-skin sun-burned neck-less slab of meat”, and somehow it does not quite attract a six game ban.
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@ZP
Eight game ban. It’s important to point that out because Terry got half. It’s definitely nice to see the English FA make an example out of a foreigner for saying something racist, but show the utmost leniancy to an English person that does not have the excuse of cultural differences or “getting lost in translation” to come to his rescue.
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There is a lot of racism, even overt racism in spanish culture. Hence I see the light being shown on suarez during the incident as a opportunity for the world to say that it is not ok. Whatever your culture, calling someone black during an argument means that you are using the colour of their skin as an insult. In my view there are no excuses for that, including being brought up in such a culture and ignorance.
Having said that, the FA were hypocritical in John Terry’s case. Being an English man in England all his life, Terry would be much more knowledgeable that the words he used were so no ok in England. The FA said something along the lines of “Oh, it was just banter, not racism. Dont be silly”.
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I am wilting under the pressure. We do need new signings. Why are we taking so long about it?
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I didn’t know PG had a blog. Glad I found it. Going thru’ at the previous blogs. Guess I missed a lot. And seeing all the posters once again. Happy days!!
P.s: I’m nobody.
P.p.s: Dfb/Joe The Gooner – Take your double standards to you-know-where. I know what you tried to did last night at some other blog.
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Hunter… I go and would be happy to meet for pints.
we are now within ten days of the start of the season… bloody marvellous
Georgaki – chill, stop the wilting
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Latin cultures, and Spain itself, are overtly racist, but can also be subtly racist in my personal experience, with notable exceptions, Cuba is OK, Brazil to a degree, one or two others, can’t recall now, those with larger black populations. But we must just be careful. For Africans the worst experiences tend to be China although that’s changing in some bigger cities, many but not all Slavic countries, Middle East, even parts of South Africa and so on. Britain is not bad at all, especially London, but there is an underlying mentality, seldom openly spoken that grates. Suarez said a bad thing which I don’t condone, but perspective, he got severely punished, hopefully apologized and learned a lesson. Anyway, the thing is if he were the last young, somewhat ignorant racist player in EPL and we were a century ahead of now, fair enough. But he is not, is he? That’s all.
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Nice to see that Cesc has turned ManU down publicly. I think that one of the big clubs is going to miss out on the Top 4. Don’t think it’ll be us or the two rich man’s playtoys, though.
But ManU? Rooney-wants away, their single most important player is on the wrong side of 30 now and an injury crisis waiting to happen while they still haven’t managed to replace their expert shin-kicker and it doesn’t look like he will come back out of retirement AGAIN to help them out. They need to buy and it’s not to strengthen a good side but to build-up a weakened team. Unfortunately for them however, playing for Glazer United under some David Moyes doesn’t sound glamarous, does it? I don’t see players lining up to play for them like in the past with Slurgusson.
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It is reassuring to see both Sensational Arsenal & Zimpaul towing the party line on the Suarez affair, albeit in mildly different or alternative directions. Confusing? What.
–
DC
Include Theo in a swap deal? Grrr.
So, Anicoll George and now DC. I can’t believe I have to share a comments section with such extremists! Your cards are marked chaps.
I’ve had great fun making bets (on nothing) with friends guessing how various players will do every season. Theo’s been a good ‘un for me, as 7am’s recent graphs show – check ’em out DC! Sexy lines. Mmmmmm (hope my drooling doesn’t offend dfb).
Vela? I’m glad to say his success in Spain has been gloated over (why restrict the betting to current players?). Gervais will improve at Roma too, I believe.
Switching randomly back to AFC: Rosicky is fit for the start of the season. Wilshere is a few months off the top of his game, perhaps a full season. In total is been a long disruptive period. Like Rambo but not as severe, it’ll take him a little time. Vermaelan too for me, a blow to miss pre-season but from his point of view that could keep him fresh for the season run in and the WC. Swings and roundabouts.
The friendly next week could be a boon for little Jack.
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The friendly against Scotland could be an interesting one for Jack
Now I know International football and England are by no means a top priority but there is something still pleasant about putting the Jock under the yoke
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Do we ever use the question of whether male contributors are “getting any” as a way of arguing against their points? No. Metaphors my bollocks. It’s sexist crap which shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone. Would you think it honest and acute if I questioned whether H had sucked Arsene’s cock? Doubt it. Double standards.
H – I don’t respond to you because I vehemently disapprove of how you express yourself. It’s just not polite.
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So if Arsenal bought Terry we’re supposed to be okay with that too and make excuses for him because he is wearing a different shirt? The media may overly highlight his behaviour, but the fact is he gives them the ammunition. It’s not like he didn’t bite someone, not once, but twice. He is sick in the head and just because he’s not the only one, doesn’t make it anymore okay. I would feel exactly the same if it was any of the many other hooligans who can kick a ball. If others are happy to turn a blind eye, good for them. I’ve been honest about how I feel and changing his shirt will not change that. This whole sordid business just disgusts me and showcases all that is wrong with modern football. Fortunately, he won’t stay for long as he’ll be on his way as soon as a better offer comes along.
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dfb
Maka a comment about Arsenal, football or even fucking Cricket.
You are repeating yourself.
We all suck arsene’s cock on here, don’t you know?
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Yes I do. I was simply questioning how deeply. I’ve supported Arsenal for many years. That wasn’t my point. My point was how much morality you’re happy to relinquish in order to tolerate a fanatic who has no respect for Arsenal’s history or decency.
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Passeral
We all turned a blind eye when there were worse allegations about Robin.
When you look around, there are worse culprits on the evil scale – Benzema & Ribery to name two really nasty pieces of work.
I don’t think that Suarez is a any moral exemplar, but I really think his antics have been at the pantomime end of the bad boy spectrum – annoying and cringe worthy as they are.
You are right – even if we do get him, he is just using Arsenal as a stepping stone.
At least we know that this time.
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dfb
You are attempting to make up a debate about one of the posters opinions on here.
If you knew much about us, you’d know that’s what we do ourselves.
You don’t know a thing about Hunter – and now you move the goalposts to say he doesn’t respect our History? I’ll think you’ll find his agenda is that our ‘history’ got a whole lot better since 1996 and he has little tolerance of people who would distort that basic facet of reality for their own petty agenda’s.
Have a look at the sites you probably read more often, and see some real abuse of a person (mostly about the most successful manger this club has ever had) and complain about that.
‘supported Arsenal for many year’. good. have a cookie.
oh, maybe I misread your post – were you joining a very good discussion Passeral has begun about Suarez? – now there IS a man with no respect for another clubs traditions or decency.
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That’s exactly what I started out doing. My original post here expressed surprise that this blog would tolerate the objectionable views expressed by H. It wasn’t meant to express a view about football. I could do. There were good times before Arsene, there will be good times after Arsene. He was a great manager. I don’t crave Suarez, enough ?
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Extraordinary things you see on here
‘Metaphor my bollocks’ (!)
From a poster who presents himself as the paradigm of ………… To be fair I have no idea
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And on a more serious note just eight days ( nearly) to go until the opener
I imagine both sides are about frantic to hear the whistle after the Summer break – though probably not as keen as me
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Anicoll
England didn’t look too smart when drawing 1-1 with the Irish, don’t go counting ‘scotch’ eggs before their hatched.
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LoL
gotta love Ian Holloway (I thought i’d never ever say that).
quotes on signing chamachk:
“He scored goals for arsenal when he played, would you (the interviewer) fancy being Van Pursies understudy?”.
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Care to comment on ZP’s post (9.07)? Any thoughts about that? Have I insulted anyone? See the difference?
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Yes,
I loved the line about speculating about the cause of seeming frustration and personal angst may lie outside Arsenal.
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I can see your bollocks at 8.45 ( so to speak) then Passenal at 9.34
You’ve lost me dfb ?
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Anicoll
It’s amazing to see such a professionally assembled set of slight grievances.
And no attempt at manners.
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9.07 AM ! That’s what I replied to. My original objection was to H’s sexist/misogynist comments. I didn’t come here to discuss football. No one has addressed H’s original post so I guess my original point has been made. That’ll do for me.
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Anicoll
I give up.
ZZZZZZZ for me.
Over to the night shift – Goonerkam, Alabama and the gang.
There is some seriously self-destructive goings on at Liverpool. It looks like another amature Liverpool owner and manager have just destroyed £40m of company assets.
Is that how Baseball teams treat players? I really don’t know.
Good job we still have TGSTEL for back up.
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Anyone else here not discussing football (or even FFS cricket)?
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So its setted .Amy is getting none.
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That’s for you to comment on.
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Is metaphor a verb now?”She likes to metaphor before breakfast” “We metaphored in the sunshine” “I metaphored his bollocks because he asked me to.”
I guess some people say things differently from others and some folk interpret a thing one way where another might read the opposite.
Hunter, to my mind, is someone who pours his thoughts direct onto the page and I always picture a whirling dervish of a man at a keyboard. Ah! I responded using metaphor so could I say “I metaphored” ? : winking thing:
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DC, happy to discuss the cricket. What about the tape/silicon on the bats accusations then, eh? Hotspot will be used for last two tests as planned so more controversy ahead perhaps?
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Dfb
The answer to your question is yes. I don’t know how it is our the pond at the big island but over here in the states the phrase ” are you getting any ” or ” you should get some ” is used indiscriminately on both sexes. Basically to indicate to them that they are running a bit hot and to cool their rhetoric. So it isn’t considered a sexist remark per say. As PG tried to tell you originally. Do all people use it? Hardly. Some do and it isn’t considered most offensive. So stop reaching for straws.
As far HUNTER 13 is concerned ,most here like him or dare say love him precisely due to his style. For years we tried to polity and with tact tell the know nothing arrogant retractors not to rewrite history and try to have respect for one of the best managers ARSENAL has ever been lucky to have. If not the best with all due respect to some of the other visionary managers this proud club has employed. Did it work? Not a chance on those so called supporters ” with an agenda” . Who the hell do they think they are fooling. We know the history and the natural progression this club has gone through to get this point. No amount of rewriting history is going to work on erasing the memories specially of the WENGER ERA. Even going through the transitional years and of building the stadium , which meant competing but not winning any titles, has not dampened our love and respect for this visionary coach and board. Its mind boggling the amount of disrespect dished out these day towards the club and AW & STAN AND IVAN AND ETC. ETC. . Its disheartening and very disappointing when it comes from our own so called fans. Someone has to stop all these glory hunting bs and actually contemplate the path and the accomplishments of this club throughout history and the past eighteen years specifically. instead of grouping around the team and the cause these immature sobs would rather the club do an about face and follow the cancerous methods of the manures, shitties and chelskies of this world , just when we are out of the woods and within reaching our goals the right way , the ARSENAL WAY. and the have the audacity to demand this or that and put deadlines and ultimatums on AW & ARSENAL. the likes of amy can f••k right off. Those of us sympathetic to the hardships endured by this manager , board and successive transitional teams will defend them vehemently and with gusto.
And don’t even go near ZIMPAUL and his character. A finer commentator has not graced this section with his insight and fantastic writing style.
Do we agree with everything said in these comments sections at all time? Not at all , but the post regarding putting this know nothing Lawrence lady?? F–k yah.
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