The simple truth is that being a football fan is more about emotion than it is about logic. We want what we want and for most it matters not that what we want is a fantasy. We have a romantic notion of how our club should perform. We all think our club should be “taken to the next level”. This is not an Arsenal thing, you hear fans from most clubs saying the same thing. And when they don’t get this “next level” they blame others for failing to achieve their dreams for them.
It’s the players to blame, or the board, or the hapless manager. It’s never their lack of acceptance of reality or their unrealistic expectations. Oh no, and, as many fans feel the same and think the same, they have a consensus.
People seem prepared to ignore any reality that means that their happiness is unlikely to be realised for them by their club.
Let’s look at some of the things Arsenal fans are happy to dismiss in order for them to justify their demands, and let us consider whether these demands are reasonable or not.
We use history (we are the 3rd most successful team in history) yet ignore the recent history of how the game has changed. History is no more what happened in the thirties than it is what happened yesterday. It’s all history. But there are turning points and we are affected by recent turning points more than we are of ancient ones. And let’s be honest here, if it happened pre-war then in football terms, that’s ancient history, almost prehistoric.
In 1992 the advent of the Premier League changed the landscape. If you don’t believe me, ask any Liverpool fan. Their history had them as default league winners, they haven’t won it even once since and are hurtling farther away with each year and new signing. But they still benefit from that history in that they have a huge domestic and overseas fan base that brings in money through commercial deals. However, as each year passes this fan base will likely grow at a slower rate than their rivals and their historical advantage will diminish, much like that of Villa or Forest. So we can see that the further back in history we look, the less relevant it becomes. That’s why George Graham is more relevant than Herbert Chapman.
In 2003 Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea. Another turning point. A total game changer for teams like Arsenal and Liverpool who were hoping to challenge for honours. Rather than me trying to explain it, here is an article written and researched by a Liverpool fan:
Read it and weep.
In 2008 Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City and brought with him the £500 billion sovereign spending power of Abu Dhabi.
Now in simple terms if you accept Manchester United were top dog and in a class of their own on spending power, then these other two bought into the top table. So all the history that Arsenal and Liverpool had was bulldozed out the way by huge wads of cash writing its own history.
The next bit of history that we have to consider is Arsenal’s move to the new stadium, with all the restrictions on team building and maintenance that brought. This subject has been done to death and if someone does not accept that in this period we were miles behind then I am not about to address their stupidity today.
Then recent history works in our favour for a change. Financial Fair Play had some effect and the long term commercial deals we were tied to ran out and we were able to make big strides. The short term loans on the stadium were repaid and we found ourselves more able to compete for top players.
Please note how I said “more able” because no matter that we are better off, if the others are still richer we are still at a disadvantage. All be it less so.
People who say we now have enough money to compete, ignore the fact that, actually, we don’t.
For example, let’s say Real Madrid buy Aguero and that frees up Benzema. First off all there will be an absolute bun fight for his signature and some of those fighting for it will be able to offer more in fees and wages than Arsenal. Now remember that he was sold because he is not Aguero, not Messi or Ronaldo, not Suárez or Neymar, but the level below that. So even if Arsenal got him we have not caught up, not by a long way. And yet people insist we should be competing with the teams that have the real top drawer players. I simply ask “why is that then?”
This is the argument I like best: “We should be better with scouting, fitness and tactics”.
These people seem to have forgotten that all these avenues for improvement are open to every club, and more open to clubs with more money.
So again I ask: “Why should Arsenal be the club that excels above others in these fields?”
Well I will tell you why. It is because we are unreasonable and illogical.
Recent history has made it very hard to catch, let alone pass three clubs in England. In Europe it’s just the same. Almost every year the richest clubs win the ECL.
It’s not a coincidence you know?
So ask yourselves: Are Arsenal failing to achieve, or are they just failing to achieve your unrealistic expectations?
If your argument is “we should be doing better” I will counter that with the suggestion that perhaps we are where we should be, given the history.
Now, having said all that, I expect us to compete with the very best next year, both domestically and in Europe.
The thing is though, I won’t be squealing and stamping my feet if we don’t and blaming others for not achieving my own personal expectations.
Pedantic George ( aka @Blackburngeorge )
Positively Arsenal 
Hmm, great points and it’s always worth calling out the Simpletons of Black and Whitesville.
To my eye, Arsenal are clearly raising their game but incrementally and sustainably. Any club without sovereign wealth behind them attempting to do anything different is flirting with great disappointment at best, or disaster at worst. Leeds, Spurs and Liverpool illustrate this particular spectrum of setbacks.
In the world of technology, in mature markets (eg, memory or processor speeds), gaining even incremental improvements to devices usually has a disproportionately high cost. By this logic, for AFC to achieve incremental gains without sacrificing the family silver is something to be acknowledged and celebrated.
By all accounts both Chelsea and Spurs are about to take groundbreaking building decisions to ascend to the mythical ‘next level’. Both will need heaps of cash, patience and nerves of steel as there is rarely evidence of smooth transition by many clubs in the past, no matter how thorough the preparation, or how smart the new stadia end up being. Good luck to them both, though Liverpool’s ‘extension’, in contrast, to Anfield smacks of oh-so-little, all-too-late.
In terms of stadium development alone, Arsenal have clearly pulled off the ‘next level’ trick, even if our ability to do the same on the pitch has been and remains subject to greater challenge.
But answer me this: if and when Arsenal do achieve the ultimate successes on the pitch, will our fans also have it in them to also go to the next level?
On current behaviour, the answer seems surprisingly unlikely.
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Top stuff PG. The Demanders got their heels dug in too deep, yet deep down they know the truth.
Each season Arsenal goes a level up, doing better – so do PL title rivals – and we are gaining a few yards on them. I have no doubts that Arsenal will be making life a bit more difficult for the money clubs than they did last season. José is already shitting his pants.
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Someone sensible once described the financial management of a football club as the equivalent of performing on the high wire. You extend your skills and resources to their absolute limit, but with the scintilla of control that will stop you plunging before the audience, many of whom would be only too delighted to see you splattered across the sawdust of the ring.
Infinite financial resources mean that you can push the limit that inch further, to beyond what is safe or prudent, and even when you do fall the safety net is there.
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Great write up especially at this time when most bloggers are only interested in the what happens or doesn’t in the transfer window.
The article has only summed up my arguments with so many so called Arsenal fans here in Nigeria. But I get to realise that as George said, they only use Arsenal’s success or lack of it as a cover up for their own miseries and failures.
NB: I read all articles and comment whenever I have the time opportunity and I must say you guys have been wonderful. Keep the good fight on.
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The Captain, Leader and Legend who is not native and therefore not lauded has re-signed.
Some, like me, had thought that at the end of the 2014 season that Arteta was in better form then Busquet’s and Alonso who’d both had injuries. The Marquis missed a trick and Spain’s humiliation was greater then it should’ve been:
http://statsbomb.com/2014/01/what-does-a-great-defensive-midfielder-look-like/
It seems those who are not devoted to the Arsenal are finally catching on as to how important he has been. Who can forget the Newscorp back page lauding Carrick that showed Arteta was the leading CM in the league that year. Is there any better player out there who could help Coquelin to improve his game, to follow on from where he left off in the FA cup final?
The trick for Arteta or the returning Alexis will be how to get them up to speed when required. The usual three games? Will Alexis just come in to start or will he have to endure a couple bursts off the bench? Depends upon how much he nags the gaffer, previously the former ‘stars’ who were anything but came straight back in to the detriment of the overall team (for a game or two). This time I hope even Alexis will be eased back with Chamberlain, Walcott and Welbeck all hopefully firing, but other considerations may mean that he starts with some rust.
As for Areta I hope that there are opportunities to see him used as a sub here and there so that if he does have to start (aside from LC games etc.) that he’s not completely cold. Coming on like Flamini or Vermaelan in 13/14 to help close out a game, I can see that happening. The inverse of Anderlecht haha.
Certainly it makes sense to keep the player who helped to rebuild the dressing room and the spirit in the camp in order to lead the club to title glory next season.
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Great article on Theo by Poznan Paul. He’s not saying a thing that hasn’t been written here (hehe, I wonder!) but those diagrams are pretty cool!
My theory is that Walcott was always pencilled in for the FA cup final start once Welbeck was out, and the coaches brought him back and up to speed with perfect timing. Not too soon not too late, just right. This is where Shad earnt this fame with the German squad at the WC. Recovery time between games and getting players’ conditioning right before they play again. Wilshere, Özil and Walcott, we can see the possible effect he’s had on returning players, they’ve all looked sharp.
Walcott’s injury was a big one and it’s logical that they took time over it (if you like you can compare with Falcao to see what kind of recovery the opposite path led to). Chamberlain said that he hit the wall four weeks after his return last January (2014) so perhaps that is why Walcott was held back in those last two months? Calibration.
I don’t think he was ever going anywhere not when he’s had such a close relationship with the club through various injuries and rehab etc.
It’s impossible to ignore his incredible input to the teams’ goals, a rate of a goal or an assist every 90 mins.
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Think this might be your strongest effort yet, George.
And that’s not a back-handed compliment, by the way. You’ve done excellent stuff before, but this is the best I’ve seen.
It feels not only like something you’ve been working on for a while, but a sort of synthesis and bringing together of all the major issues you have chewed over for however long you’ve been on this quest of yours.
I knew that pre-season had to have some fringe benefits in there somewhere, and I reckon this is it : over time (a month,say), without the distraction of games, and with the unrelenting buzz of opinion as a stimulant, if needed, some of the best thinkers about the club are coming up with their mature works, if you like.
The only problem I foresee for you now is : how do you top this (and what’s left to say?)?
Worse, what about ME? If I agree with every word of this, how do I go on with my own habits of constant thinking and ruminating? This article comes dangerously close to settling it all and leaving me only games and positive support. I don’t know if I’m ready or good enough for that!
Oh well, I’ll pop over to Untold Arsenal where there’s an excellent piece on FFP today, and a few ridiculous unsubstantiated comments about City’s spending being no different from Arsenal’s when Wenger arrived.
Aye, fear not, when there’s nothing else to say, there’s always fighting back against gibberish, lies, error and nonsense.
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Telling Chamberlian to go and warm up in front of the coaches towards the end of the FA cup final so that they don’t forget to put him on with the game already won?
Arteta knows.
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Mikel Arteta, or at least what the AAA would have you believe
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Excellent choice of Anthony Taylor to officiate the Community Shield. He has developed into a very capable referee.
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http://www.insidefutbol.com/2015/07/07/french-outfit-bastia-in-talks-to-sign-arsenal-midfielder-mathieu-flamini/219907/
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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150707/arsenal-begin-pre-season-training
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how long do we have to wait for the AAA to tell us that someone like Wellington can not be counted as part of the first team squad, just like the told us Bellerin did not count last season.
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Decent post, but title makes it seem like we shouldnt compete.
Yes, the last few teams to win the UCL are the richest, but reaching the latter stages is ‘competing’ no? last few years, juventus, dortmund and atletico all reached finals, teams at the level we should consider ourselves to be at. Yes , we’ve bee unlucky to get bayern and barca, which makes monaco no excuses at all. But we got ourselves in that position by finishing 2nd in our groups which were all winnable. We should be looking at QFs. But its interesting to see that we are pot 2 next season, the correct pot for us imo
The league as well. Define compete? Challenge for the league, which with our resources should be doing. We boast resources greater than 16 other clubs in the league, and last season proved that we can mix it with the richer ones. We didnt challenge because we didnt beat teams like leicester away, hull at home, swansea home and away. 10 points which should have been achievable, and thus showed we can compete.
Competiting should be achievable, winning not expected, because luck will need to come into play for us.
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Either that or Mike Riley really does not like Mike Clattenburg!
There is some evidence to support this understanding. Not least Taylor’s own record.
I just re-watched the Liverpool home game in increments this week. Pen ever mind the stinking score line Taylor was fucking awful.
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Nevermind the score
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He’s so transparent he makes you cringe even when he’s tilting against your team.
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Completely lost control of the second half. At best he’s simply not competent. And I am trying to be kind and considerate here.
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And after I’ve written the above no doubt he’ll have a flawless performance at Wembley!
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As I say Fins I think Taylor has come on leaps and bounds since his first games two seasons ago – still not the finished article like Clatters and Deano I admit but any man who can convince Jose that there is a conspiracy against Chels has my admiration.
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Hector Bellerin has changed his squad number to 24, the club will refund/replace any Bellerin shirt bought this summer with his old 39 number on it.
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Arsenal Fixture News @AFCFixtureNews 2h2 hours ago
Members Day is confirmed for Tuesday 28th July, doors open 10:30 for 11:30 start. Book here: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150707/members-day-2015 …
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Chuba Akpom has changed his squad number from 38 to 31.
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Bloody well said George.
There is only two reasons Arsenal are able to compete toe to toe with the richest clubs in England & Europe:
1) Arsene Wenger
2) A Board with the wits and nous to back him and have the long term vision to keep the project on the right road.
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Woj still has the No. 1 shirt.
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I think its funny that Daniel Crowley, dubbed the new Jack, is exactly the same size as Jack .
oh great post George by the way
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I would suggest that PG has understated the skulduggery, involving David Dein and Alan Sugar!
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester United, voted for ITV. IF, Spurs had voted for ITV, the 2/3rds majority vote, would not have applied.
Dein, persuaded the clubs to set up a separate working party, comprising Dein, Ron Noades and Bill Fotherby in October 1991, which was soon derailed. David Dein made enemies!!!
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a_o_b reports suggest Birmingham want to take Crowley on a season loan
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George for the first time I think you have this completely wrong. It is reasonable to expect The Arsenal to compete with and overtake the money teams because in Arsène Wenger they have a manager who sees that the market is overheated. That is why he knows the way forward is in developing exceptional talent before they are household names. And given there are few in the game blessed with his eye for potential and even fewer who have the backing to turn dream into reality there is every reason to expect us to out perform the cream of Europe who will increasingly find themselves locked into an arms race for galacticos already past their sell by date. Short of writing in capitals I cannot begin to say how ambitious the project is and how close it is to leaving the likes of Jose the specialists in yesterday.
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so a whole host of players returned to first team training today, in 8 days Arsenal play their first pre-season game in the Asia Cup, so we are only a few days away from the squad setting off, I’m not sure how many more senior players will be available for inclusion in the touring party but from what I gather from the photos of today’s training those in attendance were Emiliano Martinez, Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hector Bellerin, Jack Wilshere, Yaya Sanogo, Chuba Akpom, . Mathieu Flamini, Isaac Hayden, Gedion Zelalem, Dan Crowley, Alex Iwobi, Jon Toral, Wellington, Chris Willock Jeff Reine-Adelaide,
Mikel Arteta should have been there but I did not see any photos of him, maybe he is not fit
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Tim, you misunderstand, I am not saying we cant or wont overtake, I’m saying it wont be because we are financially strong enough to compete in the arms race.Which is what the malcontents say we can do and its their stick to beat the club with, because we neither try nor do
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Joel Campbell set to sign for Besiktas
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What a post PG! And fantastic comments all round. I concur with DC. Arsene is the number one reason we are where we are and the board only stayed on course because he was delivering results with one hand tied behind his back and a midget (media, AAA, bloggers etc) hanging on his back and scratching at his face.
Now the restraints have been loosened and the professor has gathered to himself a fine collection of players from experienced heads to developed talents to budding potential and also at liberty to go into the market and not be worried about spending a cool £40M plus on a player!! How did we get here for crying out loud?
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Eduardo, you forgot Kieran Gibbs
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passenal was Gibbs back in training, I thought cos of England duty he like Walcott was not back yet
it also seems like Welbeck is still not recovered from his knee injury as no sign of him out training either
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I see Raheem has gone into “complete arsehole” mode this morning – don’t care which club or manager or fans it is his behaviour is out of order imo
And to think there was even some very feint suggestion we might be interested in him
BARGE – WITH – POLE – TOUCH – NOT – A
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Eduardo, unless I’m dreaming, I thought he was in one of the pictures on the site?
George, I think Arsenal can compete now and might even win because we have s genius for a manager. But I guess we can’t ‘expect’ to win, which is the point you’re making and the difference between a realistic supporter and an unrealistic fantasist – perspective.
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i think you were dreaming
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Don’t worry AndyN
City are baking him a humongous cake.
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Looks like the Spurs have their local planners around their little finger.
Compare to the grief Arsenal have been getting from Islington Council, despite generating huge cash revenues for the local economy.
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Congrats to @MayoGAA Strength & Conditioning coach Barry Solan on joining @Arsenal …apparently
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see a rumour flying around ARSENAL are making the signing of the season, only trouble is were only 8 days into the transfer window
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“This is the argument I like best: “We should be better with scouting, fitness and tactics”.
These people seem to have forgotten that all these avenues for improvement are open to every club, and more open to clubs with more money.”
Are you suggesting what’s available to Chelsea, in terms of scouting, fitness and tactics, is not available to Arsenal based on finances?
Because if you are, then it’s absolute nonsense.
Arsenal are planty rich to afford World’s leading experts on fitness, scouting, nutrition or tactics, although the last one is usually down to the manager.
If anything, it’s Arsenal who should be spending more in these departments than the Chelseas of the world, because substantial gains can be had at a fraction of a cost of , let’s say, buying a superstar player.
What does Shad Forsythe make per year , $150-200K? That’s peanuts comparing to what Ozil gets paid.
These are the avenues Arsenal should be exploring to get a jump on competition, because they are cost effective.
This is what Jack Wilshere had to say on fitness recently.
“Training used to be long, hard double sessions for the whole team.., now it’s more positional based. Midfielders do one drill, defenders and attackers another. Training is more intelligent.”
This is not exactly a ground breaking idea. Top clubs have been implementing it for years. Arsenal only now seem to be catching up. Only time will tell if we should see significantly results, like for example a drop in soft tissue injuries ( muscle pulls ) as there are other factors involved, like Arsenal players getting fouled more than others.
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“What does Shad Forsythe make per year , $150-200K? That’s peanuts comparing to what Ozil gets paid.”
I have no idea what Shad Forsythe gets paid Tom – perhaps you could tell us and explain how you know ? I find it very difficult indeed to find out what people earn unless they tell me.
As for the general theme – that Arsenal football club should try and improve their “fitness, scouting, nutrition or tactics” I would go so far as to say that they seem a very sensible set of suggestions. As you say “Top clubs have been implementing it for years. Arsenal only now seem to be catching up. ” I can only puzzle over why no-one at the club has not thought of these initiatives previously.
Still you seem to have us on the right road now. Top notch.
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DC the local council have been helping the club long before they were legally obliged to start telling local business’ and residents what their plans have been. Not very cool!
For club in the above paragraph replace with developers. Because we can see that the giant Sainsbury’s building from that cgi image that DC linked has already been built.
What does this tell the observer? It tells them that the development is less about the club and more about the sites around the ground that the club owns or partially owns or Lewis owns that are being re-developed by a bunch of off-shore developers (for off-shore investors – http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/28/london-the-city-that-ate-itself-rowan-moore – the best article from the Manchester Grunt, which I try avoid, that I’ve come across in eons).
So, it’s like the Arsenal project but in inverse. Because they are building everything in the reverse order. This tells us all all we need to know.
The club is less important here then the developers and the investors. In short this scheme can be seen to be everything that the aaa told themselves the project in N5 was, when it was in fact the opposite. I mean if they couldn’t tell that the new arsenal stadium was delivered as a bare fit out, because that’s all they could afford in here build budget, if they couldn’t see the huge gigantic evidence before their eyes, then perhaps it is not that much of a surprise that they don’t see or talk about the Football either?
As for Tottenham? When I worked in these area briefly a few years ago I understood the council’s game, before they’d deigned to inform the local citizenry. So I helpfully informed a number of business’ to stop bickering amongst themselves etc. get some meedjah coverage, try not to get burnt down by some accidental arsonist the trustworthy Po-lice can’t seem to catch for some reason etc.
And only this week I have managed to follow through and provide a few with a referral to a helpful top top top QS type, a good ‘un, for their battles going forward.
I might have just cost Joe Lewis’ Cayman account a few bob. I hope. Fingers crossed.
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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150708/wenger-arteta-has-signed-new-deal
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anicoll5
No need to get touchy my friend. As always I expect some pushback on my comments from people who have a certain agenda, although I have noticed you didn’t have a problem with Wlshere’s comments, did you.
What shad makes isn’t available to anyone but Arsenal insiders and himself but the range I gave is the industry standard.
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