Up and down the City Road
In and out the Eagle
That’s the way the money goes
Pop! goes the weasel.
The carnival is over girls and boys. I was in two minds about that unseemly spectacle over at Stamford Bridge; whether to wish for the continued reign of the Special One as he drove the club further into the ground with his increasing megalomania and irrationality or to wish for a summary execution where he would be publicly shamed and ridiculed. Somehow I think we got the best of both worlds. Now the very media who fawned over the deluded little man, literally treating him like the second coming, are like a flock of carrions diving into his carcass, seeking to extract as much of the meat to sell to the public. What a comment on the times we are living in.
The only good thing about the recent bloodletting at Stamford Bridge is the distraction it provided from the real business at hand, the upcoming clash between City and Arsenal. Knowing the media, this reprieve won’t last for long. Pretty soon the demise of the so-called Special One will be yesterday’s news as it becomes apparent that his loss will be mourned by only a few. He mattered little, most of us will move unto more important things.
While our eyes were diverted elsewhere, there have been several attempts to stir the pot with the usual stories about the inevitable demise of Arsenal in the face of the financial juggernaut of Abu Dhabi’s Manchester City, just like that other colossus, the club in blue from Fulham. Some people never learn do they?
One of the memes trying to gain traction is that Per Mertesacker is some sort of a liability for the Arsenal. Earlier this week, one of the Fleet Street rags did a real hack job, bigging him up as having “great positional awareness and strong leadership skills” and in the same sentence, striking like the hand of Brutus, describing Per as having “the pace and mobility of an industrial storage container.” Outside the mainstream, one of those juvenile football websites that somehow manage to get frequent visibility on NewsNow, came up with the brilliant idea that against City “Arsenal need the combined athleticism of Koscienly and Gabriel in the center of the defense. Absolutely.” Yup, you read right. Gabriel, who is considered inferior to such paragons of defensive ineptitude as David Luis and Thiago Silva in the Brazilian set-up, must absolutely play ahead of the most experienced Arsenal defender in a decisive game vs its main title rival.
You have to wonder what Per has done to earn such disrespect. This is a player prior to signing up with the Arsenal in 2011 had 100 caps for Germany. In fact his contract was brought forward one year earlier than planned after we were embarrassed 8-2 by Manchester United in August of that year. That, I wish to remind Goners was the month of infamy when Cesc Fraudegras declared he was not fit enough to play for the Arsenal, but immediately after his transfer, turned up for Barca in the Copa Del Rey final. Despite Arsenal FC being shorn of two of its best players, the other departee being Samir Nasri, immediately after his arrival Per immediately contributed to solidifying the team, especially in defense, as he developed a partnership with Laurent Koscielny. The importance of this duo became apparent in the month of November when we overcame Sunderland, Stoke and Chelsea and kept a clean sheet in the away victory in Marseille in the CL. No wonder he earned the moniker of the Big Fucking German (our BFG).
It is amazing how some people easily forget the ropy defensive performances prior to the Mert-Kos alliance. Per was virtually present in every game until February 2012 when he suffered an injury at Sunderland and had to undergo an operation which kept him out of the team for the rest of the season. Losing defensive solidity, despite Van Stapleton’s golden boot performances, we struggled to 3rd at the end of the season, barely securing our Champions’ League spot on the final day of the season, only one point ahead of the Scum.
In subsequent seasons, the firm of Mertesacker and Koscielny has been the defensive foundation of Arsenal’s consistent improvement in Goals Against statistic.
| 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | |
| W | 22 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 23 |
| D | 9 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 6 |
| L | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| GF | 71 | 68 | 72 | 74 | 72 | 83 |
| GA | 36 | 41 | 37 | 49 | 43 | 41 |
| GD | 35 | 27 | 35 | 25 | 29 | 42 |
| PTS | 75 | 79 | 73 | 70 | 68 | 75 |
In the two years prior to 2011-12 Arsenal coughed up an average of 42 goals per season. Since the BFG took charge, after an aberration of 49 goals conceded in 2012, the numbers have consistently trended downwards to an average of 38 goals against in the past three seasons. It is remarkable that while our Goals For has remained stable, in the low 70s and even declined to 68 in 2013-14, it was our mean defending that drove our goal difference to a high of +35 last year. Not bad for defender who is like an “industrial storage container.”
At PA we are fully aware there is an unrepentant minority in our fanbase who delight in finding fault and belittling the qualities of some of our players (Giroud anyone?). Evidently some wish to give the BFG the same treatment even though all the recent scapegoats have simply made fools of the slaggers and slaters.
Given recent reports that, via the in-house statistical team, AW is fed much more data than my simple review, I am sure he is well aware of the key role that the BFG plays in the team. Despite the naysayers, captain Per will be the first name on the team-sheet leading the troops out to battle on Monday against the oily-might of City.
Positively Arsenal 
all depends on the terms of his severance pay off, CFC actually might have no say what so ever in who he joins or when he joins them.
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I see Bayern Munich are 8 pts clear of Dortmund at the half way mark of the German league, they now take their winter break.
did Pep announce anything about his future plans yet, there was some talk that he would be making an announcement today.
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afcstuff @afcstuff Dec 17
Arsenal have now had less managers depart the club since 1956 than Chelsea have had since 2007. #afc
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#WhittakerOut
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so will the CFC fans who booed their own players, and chanted in praise of mourinho today, still feel the same way about him if he takes over at Utd.
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several of the Sunday papers are saying Wenger has confirmed that Welbeck has suffered a set back of sorts, and will not return till February at the earliest. Might explain why Arsenal had scouts watching Ante Budimir, 24, a 6ft 3in Croatian striker who has scored 9 goals in 17 games this season for Crotone in Serie B, he is with them on loan from German div 2 side St Pauli
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Sunday papers also reporting that Jack Wilshere will not return till end of January at the earliest.
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Good to see Chelsea’s fans have retained their fear of criticizing, indeed even mentioning, anyone whose initials are RA.
Uncle Joe would understand their good sense.
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United’s board must be smarter than the multitude of press hacks that have been their bootlickers for the past 20 years. They should know better than believe the positive pr that Mourinho has earned from the same media that MU’s press office has spun like a toy all these years. The record over the past 11 years is clear; Mourinho may win you a title or two but by year 3 your club will be devastated financially and morally. To borrow a metaphor from the Vietnam war, Mourinho’s methods are like the US military’s doctrine, to save a village it must be destroyed. Chelsea -twice, Inter and Real Madrid is cast iron proof.
Of course the evidence above will be ignored by the majority of fans who are afflicted by “confirmation bias” which expresses itself in the following manner; winning a title is good, Mourinho wins titles, ergo Mourinho is the best choice. All evidence that Mourinho is by far the worst option is simply blanked out. But any wise member of United’s board should be fully aware of the perils of this type of thinking and act accordingly. If not and they opt for this megalomaniac, I am pretty sure in three years, if not less, it will end in tears. Guaranteed.
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If Jose goes to United and should he have immediate success: top 4 finish, title next season say, it would make RA look foolish. And I don’t think he would enjoy that.
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Tim, its been a while since you graced us with an article.
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i dont think anyone would enjoy that. maureen is in a difficult position, he has to have sucess at the next club he goes to otherwise his cover is blown and his reputation in tattters. We already know he cant last three seasons, we already know he cant play exciting football, we already know he has one tactic to sit tight behind the ball score once and shut up shop. The master tactician, the man who can make any team sucessful has shown the world his limitations and they could be getting smaller.
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the most logical destination for Mourinho is PSG, he would be certain to win the league, have a shot at the CL, and have unlimited cash to spend on signings. Another league title in another country, it would satisfy his ego.
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on the subject of Mourinho’s next club, and his stated desire to stay in England. what clubs would have him, what clubs would he go to, who of the clubs who are deemed big clubs would want him, we know most fans as stated above by shotta, ignore the detail and only see the chances of winning a title with him in charge, all the nasty stuff is ignored. Short term fix, its the FM way.
So here is my views on it.
Arsenal – to me he does not fit the profile at all, over the top spending, nasty and snide, short termism, boring sterile football, and with the high regard Wenger is held by all within the club, I just can not see the club appoint someone who has at every chance taken pot shots at AW, and of course at AFC too.
Man City – yes the owners want good attacking football played by the team, but above all the else they want to win the CL, so on the plus point for jo say, he has won it at two clubs, but on the down side, its been almost six years since he did it, and he has not come close since, despite having the riches of Real Madrid and Chelsea to throw at it, and both RM and CFC managed to win the CL after he left.
city are not desperate for a BPL title, so they don’t need a short term fix, they do want a short term fix in the CL, but surely Pep or Ancelotti would be more likely to be their target.
Man utd – the fans want it(they are fed up of LVG sterile boring football, so they want jo says sterile boring football, we all know all they want is wins), the club has the money jo say would want to spend, he would jump at the chance, the question is would sir red nose want him at the club, cos no matter what you think of fergie he does care for man utd, and its image, so that might be the one thing that stops them hiring jo say.
Liverpool – they just got klopp, so unlikely to dump him any time soon, but I could see them going for jo say down the line, their need to win the BPL would clowd their decision. Have they transfer funds to satisfy jo say.
Spurs – the funds could be their problem, also would jo say deem them a good enough shot for winning the title, he would not go where he did not expect to win the title, he would not want that on his cv, spurs short term fix is not winning the title, its finishing above AFC, especially an AW managed AFC, something they have never done.
I can’t see any other BPL club at this time being rich enough for Jo say to take them on, could you actually see him go to Swansea, or Newcastle or Palace, no me neither.
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Sam @samuelJayC 43m43 minutes ago
Bayern Munich confirm that Ancelotti will replace Guardiola in the summer. #fcb
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Ancelotti to Bayern, Pep to Arsenal, Wenger to manage England or France
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Kŷlö Ręñ @HectorBeIIerin_ 2m2 minutes ago
So Pep has announced he’s leaving Bayern this summer but not whether he has a location or is taking a break.
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The Great Mou managing the Russian national team? Interesting. Whilst reading Andrew’s/anicoll’s comment I thought the answer was going to be…Qatar!
Russia, there are precedents. The Capello Index for starters. But I can see the appeal for the specialist in managing Qatar. Bear with me for a second:
Number one, it follows very closely in the footsteps of the original Don (not the river but Revie). And there could be no greater accolade then that comparison.
Number two, it’s a close as he’ll ever get to his original football dream of managing the Qatar Foundation’s club for expats in Catelonia. Which is all he has ever wanted, why he is so bitter and misunderstood, why he thinks all players should play through the injury barrier even if they don’t have access to Dr.Feelgood’s lab *coughs*.
I for one would not want to see Jose denied his dream. Qatar & Jose. You heard it here first.
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I forgot about the Qatari Second XI,
PSG it is.
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Fins
Hell would freeze over before the Catalans would ever offer Jose a job.
1. They play Wengerball
2. Remember what he did to Tito Villanova? You can be sure every Cules does.
3. Every other reason that Jose’s a dick.
PSG Checkbook FC is far more his style.
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PSG seems the most likely
I was imagining Jose leading the Qatari national team to World Cup glory in 2022, next best thing to managing (one of) the Qatari club team(s) that he once aspired to manage.
Following in Revie’s footsteps.
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Howler from the Liverpool ‘keeper.
Following on from De Gea last weekend.
Neither Keeper will get the pelters in the funny papers that AFC received when their keeper had such an error.
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the Klop revolution continues unabated
must say Capoue very impressive in the build up to the third goal
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Ighalo! You have got the power oh, You are indestructible, oh.
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imagine for a second that this season AFC win the league and maybe the CL too, and Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs and LFC all miss out on top 4.
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Liverpool are now 14 pts behind LCFC, and they face them next,
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Henderson, Clyne, Benteke, Lallana – four more fantastic, world-class players that the idiot Wenger failed to buy for our great club.
Wenger Out!
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Wonder if the Watford owners would be willing to cash in on Ighalo in January? He isn’t cup tied CL-wise you know.
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Well well well,
It does look indeed like all that phoney Kloppo-Mania is biting the dust.
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Isn’t Coutinho supposed to be miles better than Ozil?
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dc if you listen to pool fans Frimino is also better than Ozil,
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GeoffArsenal @GeoffArsenal 3h3 hours ago
All the Arsenal Kloppites steadfastly defending their man 😭
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I thought PSG had just given Blanc a new contract, I know contract s arnt all that but I’m not sure the will get rid that early.
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Blanc’s 10 man psg side eliminated Jose’s Chelsea from the cl last season. I’m not sure they have reason to see him as an upgrade. Besides, I like to think that Wenger’s personal relationship with the Psg owners will preclude them from wanting mourinho at the club.
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With Pep on the market next summer, hiring Jose now is the real booby prize.
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I do wonder if Pep would be found out in the BPL, so far he has managed the best team in the world with the best player, and many world class players, to win 3 league titles in a 2 team league, and a couple of CL, he then moved to the best team in a one team German league and he has converted them from League and CL winners into League winners.
If he comes to England no matter who he manages, be it city, or utd or chelsea or arsenal, he is going to have at least two or three teams who can match or outspend him, he won’t get to pick the best players from his nearest rivals like he did in Germany, he won’t have the best player in the world unless he can persuade Barca to sell him Messi, and I don’t see that.
At both Barca and Bayern he could employ the high press game, cos apart from a few league games and the knockout stages of the CL he was always up against much inferior teams, and with that too it also meant he could rotate and rest his squad way more than he could in England.
Reports that he has turned CFC off the idea of hiring him cos he told them they would have to sign at least 10 top class players, for me rings true, cos it would be the only way he could employ his style of play in the BPL, he’d have to have a seriously strong squad to be able to rest key men for the bigger games.
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PSG 19pts clear at the half way stage in France
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meanwhile tonight Melo did this in Inter’s defeat
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reports in Italy suggest that Arsenal will sign midfielder Marcelo Brozović from Inter Milan in January. That is, right after Inter complete his signing from dynamo zagreb, whom he is on loan from, he is on a one and a half year loan at Inter, with the Italian side having to complete the signing by the end of the loan. He is to cost Inter about £6M, and according to reports they will sell him for about twice that fee.
By the way if we do sign him, he very well might pick the number 77, as its his favorite number, and he has it at Inter.
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King Goran Arsenal @King_Goran 8h8 hours ago
U know footballs gone mad when people defend/support managers & players of other teams better than they do their own
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