This is a post Arsenal Andrew made earlier today. I believe it deserves its own blog. Nice to see you Andrew,absence makes the heart…………….and all that .
I suspect it may take a few years for the enormity of all Arsene Wenger’s achievements to be fully digested, absorbed, understood and appreciated. Much as the great artists often only earned full recognition once they had stopped working, so too may Arsene only finally get the universal acknowledgement that most here feel he richly deserves.
Yesterday’s signing, aside from strengthening the side, is possibly more significant in its value as a statement of intent. Building on 2013′s Ozil signature, the timing, rhyming as it does with the PUMA deal and kit launch, the sense of all our ducks finally being in a row is now overwhelming.
Not only do we have the firepower pitchside, but the ability to add to our arsenal, season in, season out, thanks to the outstanding commercial work Kroenke has allowed to take place behind the scenes and so triumphantly executed by Gazidis and co.
Clearly Arsene will rightly go down as the architect of Arsenal in the 21st Century but the role of Kroenke and the success of Gazidis should never be forgotten. The euphoria most Gooners are feeling in the summer of 2014 is in no small measure thanks to all three, in spite of the vicious lies posted against their name by those who chose not to see the wood for the trees.
A small number of us called this exactly right – not over recent months but throughout several years. Years when we were attacked, belittled and derided.
We are probably more entitled than most to savour the coming success.
We’ll certainly know how to appreciate it.
Positively Arsenal 
I think that was because Lahm was better as FB that was the unbalance in the team.It makes sense to play the worlds best FB at FB when FB is the weakness.
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hehehe. Poor loser
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/388556/Alexis-Sanchez-made-HUGE-mistake-by-signing-for-Arsenal-Liverpool-legend-Phil-Thompson
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All I would say is that the teams Khedira has played for recently seem to have enjoyed a lot of success, and I suspect he has something about him that subdues the opposition and gives his own side belief. As long as he brings that with him I really don’t care if he looks like an extra in a Woodstock or Isle of Wight Festival documentary.
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I just couldn’t resist. I had to have a peak. Guess where this is from (it’s not ACLF).
About Sanchez:
“I would be interested to hear where you think he will play and if Arsene will ruin him like him or just let him play his game. Thanks.”
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Of course PH. I said the same about playing Lahm in midfield here and elsewhere. Low was timidly following Pep’s Avante garde experiments too closy at Barca and acceding to Lahm’s wishes to be centrally involved. But what I said was a response to Gains. Lahm played CM for a Bayern side that went to the CL semis. Khedira playing ahead of him is no sign of weakness in the position for Germany.
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Starter for RM ain’t bad either. The question is fit, role and balance. I think Ramsey is better for us and I wouldn’t want his game to suffer because his partner goes forward less successfully, causing AR to sit back and cover more frequently. That’s my only caution about Khedira. A plus is that Ozil will be happy and knows how to play with him.
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So if Lahm and Khedira are injured, who does Germany play in their stead?
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Move Ozil or Gotez in and Swinnie wth Kroos
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Schweinsteiger, Lars Bender, Kroos. I could check the roster but that is off the top of my head.
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Both Benders.Marco Reus the list goes on
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George, when picking for a national team you have a very limited pool of players. If there are injuries, it just shrinks your pool even more. If you want to use his presence in the German team to make Khedira look better than he really is, be my guest. However, friends of mine, whose opinions on football I respect, tell me Khedira is a good defensive player, but lacks the offensive tools for a holding midfield who will fetch upwards of £20m pounds on transfer fees alone. You add to that the fact that he usually plays in teams with very conservative formations and you may start to think that he’s not the best player to have in a team which requires players who are good on the ball. Otherwise, Wenger would have never turned Arteta into a holding midfielder.
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I’m talking about this world cup. Neither of the Benders nor Reus are on the team. Now what?
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Marco Reus doesn’t play Khedira’s role, by the way.
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And if the list goes on for Germany so it does with the Arsenal midfield. Except even more so.
Talksport this evening was keen to promote the “now that Sanchez has signed, where does that leave Jack Wilshere” line of drivel.
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Who would you want then Gains?
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I would like Schneiderlin or Bender. Either of those two is neat defensively and can distribute the ball with a degree of competence.
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Well I said my pick would be Schneiderlin ,so we’re on the same page
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Rantetta
July 11, 2014 at 7:00 pm
I enjoyed your description of that emotional day, thanks! Good ranting.
I was sat next to a thirteen year old who could spot the shift from Taylor after that early goal, the tilting was so obvious he didn’t do another Arsenal game. except for when he slithered on as fourth official at SB. Where he managed to almost out do himself when he sent off Gibbs for wearing the wrong shirt and having the wrong skin tone.
He’s still out there. Lurking in the shadows.
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The only difference is that Arsenal is not bound by having to pick players of a certain nationality. Only Germans can play for Germany. The Bender twins were injured and couldn’t make it to the NT. That only leaves Khedira and Lahm who can play in the middle.
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Germany can drop Muller back into a proper midfield role. Draxler is also cover, Goetze had a stinker and was dropped but he will be good again. As PG said – they are not short of quality in midfield.
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Gains
Only Germans, Poles and Turks….. it appears.
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You’d drop Flamini for Schneiderlin, wouldn’t you PG?
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If only Gary Medel was 6ft 2.
Considering we still have Arteta & Flamini, plus Diaby as the 3rd option if AW sells Coquelin, adding Khedira might just be overkill.
Too many players needing playing time.
I think we’d be ok with what we have at the moment.
I’d prefer a CB with DM capability instead.
I’d pass on Khedira.
Gustavo passed on us last summer so he & his moustache can remain in Wolfsburg.
As much as I like N’koulou, he unimpressed at the WC.
Can Schneiderlin share PT?
Does Song still billong?
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Low can play Neuer in the middle as well.
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“plus Diaby as the 3rd option if AW sells Coquelin” Abou has and will will play the holding role. Mikel should not play more than 25 games and Flamini isn’t good enough to play regularly.
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finsbury
July 11, 2014 at 11:04 pm
“A thirteen year old could spot the shift from Taylor”
I’m heartened to know that. Come to think of it, my first match at the Ems was a ladies match. There were loads of kids attending. Maybe there pocket money allowance is the same as mine! Thing is, the ref was tilting that match too. Those kids singing, “the referee’s a wanker” had me rolling up. I’ve never heard this chorus sung so enthusiastically by testosterone deprived/unbroken voiced fans.
Speaking of Taylor at SB, the ref that day was A Marriner, who had awarded Chelsea a point against WBA. Following that debacle, Maureen described Marriner as the “best ref”
http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/256095.html
So they sent along that pair to Fk up the Arsenal. Chelsea knew it, so they kicked and dived from the get-go. Marriner appeared not to see the Ox’s handball, so 4th **** Taylor did the honours. Send off Gibbs, make ’em weaker.
Clattenburg sees everything. He just ignores Arsenal. Remember Ade stamping on van puss face at ManC? Blood trickling from cheek but no foul.
No foul for this little gem from the FA Cup either:
http://arsenalist.com/f/arsenal-vs-tottenham-fa-cup/walcott-s-foot-gets-stepped-on.html
TW hasn’t played a match since.
So we might bare in mind that whether we have tall players or small players, the refs want them stamped on or crippled, any which way. (Diaby, Eduardo, Ramsey, Fabregas, need I go on)?
Folk need to acknowledge this uber refshite, year after year. Fans need to open their eyes and recognise that many of Arsenals losses come about due to violence from opponents. Both Alexis and Joel Campbell have “wronged” England (dirty foreigners, come over here and make our lads look shit. We’ll teach ’em).
So watch carefully when attending matches. Boo and shout at the correct people. Find hacks and plundits and make it clear to them that you know what’s going on, and that they’re worthless hypocrites, at best.
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Here’s an article which compares Lars Bender, Sami Khedira and Morgan Schneiderlin.
http://www.squawka.com/news/would-lars-bender-sami-khedira-or-morgan-schneiderlin-be-a-better-fit-for-arsenals-midfield/136781
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Yes, I do believe we are looking at one of 4 or even 5 midfielders, plus the current options, Mikel, Flamini – neither of whom offer realistically much more than half a full season in all competitions – and little Kim, likely gawn hey, and what part they all might perform. Diaby will play a bit part role if at all, he needs a season to recover, like Aaron.
So, yes.
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Song has no place at Arsenal. Cameroon cheated and he was part of that. African sides embarrassed themselves in football technique and professional conduct and shamed our continent, apart solely from Algeria. Shame on all of them. Rubbish!
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what do you mean by “good enough to play regularly?”
he is definitely good enough..his passing, movement and spirit are all at the level they need to be.
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When I was listening to Durham and Gough yesterday afternoon they were talking about Wilshere potentially having no place at Arsenal now that Sanchez has joined. I wondered if we might sometimes line up in a sort of loose 433 kind of a way, especially when we are playing sides who are essentially happy to allow ups possession . I’m only using the names of those currently on the books.
Jenkinson Per Kos Gibbs
Cazorla Ramsey Wilshere
Walcott Sanchez Ozil
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FH
That’s fine, except we need to have a plan B for hard away games and the ever increasing number of teams parking busses.
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hello PA
usmanov claims to love this club but how come he only speaks out when things dont go well with the club. he is always quiet when good things are happening. he has stopped talking since we bought ozil. same with david dein. if he is arsene’s friend as he claims, why is he not happy that big name players are now joining the club to play for his friend.
and talking about big name players joining the club all because of wenger, how come endofanera.com dont mention anything like that. will ozil or alexis have joined us if we are managed by owen coyle or redknapp?
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I recommend this”http ://arseblog.com/2014/07/a-little-shot-of-jack/ if you haven’t read it already.
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Arshavin 23 . No hes not mate, Thats why Arsene would rather play a tired Arteta than a fully fit and fresh Flamini. He is ok as a squad player , but nothing more.
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After losing Shaw, Lamella and Lambert I don,t see Koeman selling anymore of his top players.
Schneiderlin & Wanyama will not be sold and neither will Lovren.
Khedira for me will be too expensive and quite disruptive to the balance of the team we have at the moment.
AW has never been one to forgo loyalty for the flavour of the moment so I believe its not going to be Sami K that comes in to shore up our DM position.
I still expect a CB that moonlights as a DM buy.
It solves 2 problem areas in 1and leaves all parties smiling bar Coquelin, if he’s still adamant on constant PT.
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Schneiderlin has told them he wants to leave, and he did so before the others were sold.
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ZimPaul
July 12, 2014 at 7:46 am
Algeria simply weren’t allowed to progress.
I’ll have nowt said bout our former Alex. Instead, let’s use the medium of song:
http://youtu.be/Q8Z6I0e18K0
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Great post Andrew, thanks man.
Just reading through the comments and some interesting views to say the least! On the topic of DMs (Dr marten boots?) I have to agree with Gains again. I am not enamoured by Khedira as our new holder. Sure I would take him (preferably on a free next summer when Arteta leaves, or retires, becomes a coach at the club etc?) but I would rather Javi martinez, but the talk of him leaving bayern has completely dried up (maybe we ARE in for him then!) and failing that pipe dream, I do think Lars B or Morgan S would be ideal alternatives.
Speaking of Arteta, I see him playing a very important role for the club next season. His intelligence and efficiency will be required in midfield, particularly in Europe where the need for an over physical presence isnt so great. Unfortunately the PL is still a very physical league, where refs are drilled to wave play on and keep games flowing, regardless of the hatchet men and rotational fouling that is allowed to persist.
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And thanks Hunter, for such a well considered and humble apology.
I knew you could do it, well done. The medication must have kicked in a treat.
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have we all seen the puma kit lauch with arteta flamini and a burnt marshmellow ?
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lol dexter.. you have a nice day now…sun is shining, birds are singing..
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on other news selecao calls mou..hahaaa…historic disgrace…
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DC
For the hard away games I guess we go with 4231 with Giroud as target man and the more defensively minded players we have (if indeed we do have more defensively minded players).
But the point I wanted to make was that it is silly to say anyone is surplus to requirements just because it is possible to select an 11 (in a contextual vacuum) that doesn’t include them.
And let’s not allow idiots be too quick to discard the likes of Arteta, TR7, Podolski, Cazorla either.
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http://www.dw.de/the-quiet-genius-of-mesut-özil/a-17779722?maca=en-rss-en-sports-1027-rdf
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Gritty stuff from England in the cricket. 81 off 118 for Anderson?
No comment on the bowling from me!
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HF
I have read far too many armchair Alan’s glibly suggesting that Arteta, Rosicky and Santi are now somehow surplus to requirements! Cracker! Like we do not need their experience, skill and talent? Nevermind the fact we will need a strong, deep squad to avert catastrohpe if we are ravaged by injuries/suspension.
With that in mind, I do hope vermealen stays.
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FH even!
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Santi is as good as we have.Staggering player. But Arsene doesn’t need me to tell him that,or anything else for that matter.
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We have the makings of really strong squad George, letting any more players leave makes little sense to me. The runours about Jenkinson being loaned out are curious though. I mean, will this 20 year old RB from Madrid we are supposedly getting who will understudy for Debuchy, be better than Carl? With no PL experience? Seems very left field, or is that rightfield?
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