Good morning Positives far and near,
My apologies for the late start this morning, a roofer booked at 12.00 arrived at 9.30 and if you knew how hard it is to find a decent contractor to repoint your stack you’d understand my priorities.
Yet another Arsenal win yesterday and another professional performance from every player. For long periods of the game we were totally in control with Brighton pinned like a butterfly under glass, and Arsenal prodding and poking at them to find the relevant opening. It was not until the final 20 minutes that they managed to gain any consistent possession and by that stage we were comfortable and the points in the bag.
Most of my focus yesterday was, understandably on out attacking efforts but our defensive performance yesterday was very good and domestically it is five weeks since anyone managed to get past Cech and score. During that time we have had to employ several central defensive formations by reason of injury so the record over four PL games is to our credit. Nacho has been a permanent rock but yesterday Mustafi was the leader of the defensive gang, confident on the ball and always pressing the attacker.
Of our lads in midfield and up front it was definitely a day to saviour for the Alexiphiliacs rather than those of the phobic persuasion. The Chilean is getting back to his form of last season and yesterday had him creating several prime scoring chances, the most notable being the back-heel with left three Brighton defenders on their heels. Even I went the wrong way watching on TV. Top finish from Iwobi required and executed even with the space he had. Evidence of a maturing player, and congratulations to him . Aaron and Granit very business-like all afternoon. Lacazette another good day and a little unlucky not to trouble the scorer.
My only gripe on the day was that at 2-0 in front and with 20+ minutes to go we did not create more after Theo and Olivier came on. Both had enjoyed a goal scoring week so their ‘eye’ was in. I fancied that we would open up our by then tiring visitors but it was not to be. In fact, as I mentioned above, in the final 20 minutes it looked as though we had relaxed and allowed BHA to come back into the game. While a five goal margin to pass Chelsea I admit was ambitious I expected a little more.
Of a well organised Brighton a sound effort from their keeper and defensive eight. I fancy them to stay up. No complaints about Friend on what was a clean game, although a bit pernickety at times.
What does all this mean for us?
Well April the 2nd is the last time we dropped any points at home in the Premier League. We have won game after game at home. Some easily, others with sweat and little art. Two away games in prospect starting on Saturday, both winnable although we went to Everton last season when they wee in the same disarray and let ourselves down. Koeman is the media’s whipping boy this week so they may be managerless by kick off Sunday week. However home form is the key. Next up at the Ems is Swansea on the 28th. The foundation of a genuine challenge for the Premier League title by any club is winning games at home, not drawing, not allowing a keeper the benefit of save after save. We must perfect the art of breaking into the bus for the full 90 minutes.
Enjoy your week
Positively Arsenal 
For a club said to be in crisis and near-terminal decline, this is really not bad at all!
And a great write-up Andrew, thank you.
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You are very kind Andrew.
I was attempting, with no success, to twist a little Chekov quote from “The Seagull” into this morning’s effort. Yesterday’s relatively easy win, earned through our flowing football and sharp finishing, offered no hook for the eloquent Russian gloomster.
Therefore I offer following quote for another time. (however please feel free to pass them on to any Scarfists you know )
“MEDVIEDENKO
Why do you always wear mourning?
MASHA
I dress in black to match my life. I am unhappy.”
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“Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.”
‘Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
Nor the dejected ‘havior of the visage,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,”
For they are actions that a man might play.
But I have that within which passeth show,
These but the trappings and the suits of woe.
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A very nice, eloquent and apposite post-match summary, Anicoll, for which many thanx.
You always seem to come up with a nugget of information that hoi-polloi like myself can only berate ourselves for not even noticing — “we went to Everton last season when they wee in the same disarray” and frankly it comes as some surprise to me that the Arsenal did not do better in the game, as it is well known that we wee in perfect unison! lol
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To me,that was a rather boring game…after our opener we slowed and despite many chances, we never really looked as though we wanted to overtake Chel$ki. Alex aside, he did have a stunning part in young Alex’s goal, the others appeared to be on a training run. Nacho’s earlier goal of course was great reward for the part he’s been playing.
Anyone know why Jens is no longer sitting with AW and Steve? He seems to have been
‘promoted’ upstairs’. Maybe talking out of line? For goalkeeping stars, feast your eyes on this. Hope he kept a clean sheet afterwards.
http://www.fsf.org.uk/blog/view/and-finally-saves-galore-Sparta-Rotterdams-Roy-Kortsmit
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Anicoll,
I can think of one of the observations in The Sea Gull which neatly sums up the difference between thy good self and perhaps some others of an equally indomitable disposition, when compared to those who sadly prefer to shrink from the light of hope;
— People’s destinies are so different. Some people drag along, unnoticed and boring—they’re all alike, and they’re all unhappy. Then there are others, like for instance you—you’re one in a million. You’re happy— !!”
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Noooo Henry, no more – I. Can’t. Take. It.
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Having read some of the comments written after I departed here last night, I wonder if you would be interested to hear the following.
Some years ago I went on a tour to explore the inner workings and architectural niceties of the Emirates. Lost for any ideas as regards a birthday present for a close friend, I thought of that experience and bought us both tickets for another tour about 5 weeks ago.
On the last occasion the tour was conducted by Charlie George an ebullient and amusing guide. Many of you may have been on such a tour so I do not intend to tell you about the fun and special feeling of standing where AW gives his TV interviews, or sitting in the reserved seat in the locker room where the captain always sits, and see the shirts hung up where the rest of the players are grouped, left and right, according to the positions they play in, or the fine food and drinks restaurant where the media hacks are copiously wined and dined, before bustling off to tear Arsene or the team or both another blowhole – no, none of that.
It is the great insights that you become privy too, when, agog with wonder, you hear about how the players view the club, the manager, the owners and the coaching staff and who were attested to being the greatest and perhaps the not so great players to strut their stuff at Highbury and latterly the Emirates.
But again – not that either. Apart from the tour guide, always a legendary ex-Arsenal player, there are also a number of back up staff, all long term committed Arsenal fans, who know everything to do with club and are delighted to impart their knowledge with very little prompting. To a man they declared their amazement that there are fans out there who have such morbid views on the manager and the club and ……… and say that 99.9% of the fans who go on the tour are totally behind AW, the club, the team …….. (and not with a knife) and even if they voice occasional concerns when the club or the team goes though a sticky patch they are and always will be Arsenal to the core.
And just to sum it up, on both of the tours that I felt privileged to go on, at least 70% of the fans, both male and female, were from abroad, like myself, and no doubt they were on holiday, but making a special effort to go see the ground of the club and the team they support, and those I spoke to were extremely knowledgeable about the modern day Arsenal, and eager to hear and learn about the Arsenal of yore.
So my plea to those who are concerned that there are so many fans who anger you, remember, despite having very different perspectives to yourselves, they are fans too, and there are nowhere near as many of them as you may think, and when the club and the team do well the transformation into rapturously, delighted and devoted fans is instantaneous.
For those who have not been on a tour — try and find the time to do so — you will be delighted to become part of the history of the club and the stadium.
[And no — I am not an agent for the Gunners — wish I was!!] lol
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gf60 it was explained by both Jens and Arsene, that when he joined he would not be on the bench, he would be in the stands with Bora and Banfield and co, the only member of the coaching team that sits on the bench with AW is Bould, and that is not about to change.
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Just noticed that I gave credit to George for yesterday’s post when it was in fact LG. So well done LG for yesterday and well done A5 for today.
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Ghana Guardian @ghanaguardian1 3h3 hours ago
Ex Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboué has been reportedly diagnosed with HIV |More here: http://www.ghanaguardian.com/ex-arsenal-star-emmanuel-eboue-reportedly-diagnosed-hiv/ …
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I thoroughly enjoyed my trip around the Ems with my two youngest in tow, memories are made of this Henry. I have no idea if he club have it in mind but I’d sign up for the same at Colney to see what goes on behind the scenes.
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Henry B – you may be interested to know I worked for almost two years as part of the Arsenal Tours team; I can confirm (not that confirmation is required) that every word you say above is accurate and true.
I was unbelievably fortunate enough to routinely work with the ex-players (‘Legends’) and became good friends with one or two of them – Charlie George in particular who occasionally bought me lunch if he caught me over the road from the stadium in the Small Wonder Cafe. Perry Groves and Nigel Winterburn were frequent ‘fixtures’ and I worked with another boyhood hero of mine, John Radford, on his last tour prior to retirement from the programme. I also spent many happy hours working in the club museum. As a sideline, I regularly saw countless numbers of visitors that I already knew on Twitter; still to this day I recognise many of the stewards who work match days and pop up on the TV coverage. All good men and women, I can assure you.
Incredibly, I was paid for all of this!
As a serving employee of the club you are expressly prohibited from having a presence on social media but maybe I’ll write a blog about my experiences, one day, if you think anyone would be interested?
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I would certainly be interested AA
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Enjoyable review as ever A5. Life has been easy on all of us since Anfield.
I enjoyed yesterday’s game even if we lacked intensity. The result was never in doubt after Lacazette cracked the post and everybody, fans and players just seemed relaxed, much to the annoyance of the terminal miserable of cause – their problem.
We haven’t been as excited in performance as perhaps other top teams, but an unbeaten run in our last is slowly building confidence as we marched steadily up the log. Sometimes a good thing to go about in stealth mode, it keeps the media/pundit petty eyes elsewhere.
I read somewhere that Monreal play every game as if his life depends on it and I couldn’t agree more. He’s turning into quite a cult figure.
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HenryB at 12:22pm:
Well said. Unfortunately, despite the 95% support (I am choosing a statistically significant number) there is a 5% who are behind with a knife as you suggested somewhat off-handedly. Julius Caesar is one of the best known victims (thanks to Shakespeare, an Englishman) of such treacherous, duplicitous support.
On that note I will quickly get out of the way of the true literary men like you and Heady. Lol.
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A very good job, as usual, A5.
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PS: I passed up the Ems tour in my trip to the home of football. Seems that was an unwise decision.
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One point I did not bring out Labo and it occurred to me over lunch is our righthand side yesterday and how well it worked.
Young Rob at the back, Hector at Wingback and Iwobi in front of him. All officially ‘kids’ or near it but you would never have known it. Brighton made no inroads at all as far I recall in attacking on the right hand side all game, and going forward Hector and Alex were very good. And the total £££ cost of this formidable trio ? About the same as Kyle Walker’s left elbow.
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AA,
Now that would have been my dream too — to work for the Arsenal with those great people.
If you do decide to write about your experiences as part of the Tour team, I am sure you will get a great response — and count me in.
I do not know if you will remember a chap who facilitates the Tour called Jim (and I only know some by their first names) who near the end of the Tour, and before we went exploring, who had the most wonderful repertoire of impersonations of famous managers, including Arsene, but also Brian Clough, Our ‘Arry, Hodgson, Red Nose Ferguson and others — all of which were of showbiz quality.
]Anyway, to have had that job for a couple of years — you are a lucky so and so.]
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anicoll
Those three probably my three biggest pluses of yesterday. Each of them have had little dips in recent times, especially Holding, and all looked good to me yesterday.
Hector meanwhile had me a bit worried for quite a while after his injury troubles as he didn’t seem the same physically. Now, thankfully, he seems back to his real level.
Who knows about long run- we’ll never know now, exactly- but in short run think it has been good for the team without Ox and the juggling- Rwb,Lwb, maybe some games further forward- we would surely have continued with had he stayed. Surely it has been good for Bellerin to have his best spot back all to himself.
As we reach another pause, I’m feeling good about team after an enjoyable few weeks. I’ve loved seeing the youngsters get a chance in cups. Positive results. New guys good so far and promise of more.
Don’t want to be in Europa next year, but feeling pretty damn ok about it this time around. It could easily lead to us having another good young player for the group within season, who might not otherwise have got there. New sights. Good chance to go far. Potential of seeing us play with 6 or more of our own- Jack, Bellerin, Iwobi, Coq, plus youngsters- at some point. Nice.
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Your talk about tours reminds me of great article i read a few years ago. Was about someone’s tour and all the talk a generous guide spilled.
Some great stuff about Parlour and his work in the gym- apparently he was remarkably strong and used to chuck medicine ball endlessly against high ceiling in gym, leaving a dent.
Much better ,though, was invaluable insight they gave into youth methods. If, say, a young goalie had a nightmare with crosses one game, their instructions to him were to come for even more crosses next time, i.e. they wouldn’t look to pull him out of firing line or play safe.
Might not remember it exactly, but it was along those lines and made perfect sense. Development, that really is the focus. Should be kept in mind when we see youngsters in new positions in youth games, passing from back when long clearance much safer, etc.
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Donna @tickton69
The reason that you didn’t see so many people taking selfies and shit at Highbury is probably because smartphones not existing and stuff.
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There were always people taking photos at highbury but obviously if your going into a crowd of thousands of people who push and shove in waves and surges thoughout a game a tripod and box brownie proved slightly awkward.
There have been exibitions at piebury corner and elsewhere of all the photos fans have taken of themselves over the years, so where did these fucking photos come from them what were they all photoshopped or something really these fucking wobs are complete retards!
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seeing as you mention it ian, isn’t it very peculiar that by and large it is Wenger Out mob that whinge and bitch about things like people taking selfies at football games, modern football and all that.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/02/paul-merson-lays-foreign-managers-will-ugly-nonsense-stop/
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This article sums it up pretty perfectly all round, very impressed with the team this week, indeed since Anfield. And great to see Monreal in such form, he really is one of the key players, and leaders in this team.
As for Merson, with his record, would advise against him slagging off managers.
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Adrian Clarke’s the breakdown
https://www.arsenal.com/news/analysis-how-mobile-iwobi-led-charge
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Well want an enjoyable read with some profound discussion. PA is certainly different…..
Great stuff Anicoll and all commenting…thanks
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Anyway rant over back to the game. People may have noticed i’m normally very critical of Alexis but I thought he was very positive and didnt go round i circles and chase his own tale, on the day he was my Motm.
After the discussions George started the other week about dissapointing wins, this was another that could fit well into that bracket. With other teams at the top recording 4-0 wins, chelski losing and leaving the door ajar to go above them and us playing a newly promoted team the expectation and mood was set for a good 17-0 win.
ARSENAL ANDREW called it dead right before the game saying these games rarely pan out that way and to expect a low scoring winning end to the day.
Of course I did not heed this warning and so when we started so well I was looking at records and so as the game wore or I became very disillusioned as the back three forgot the other 19 players on the park and played total possesion football side to side and back again my frustration grew. Brighton were playing 11 behind the ball and were looking after damage limitation and had less ambition than the current board in the
eyes of the deluded ones.
The subs didnt help as they were all like for like and for all Elneney’s positives he is not the player you want to see when there is too much sideways and backward passing going on. To that end I felt sorry for Theo and Oli as they must of been eager to attck and the team just wasn’t in that frame of mind.
I have all the stats and they look good however in reality the good chances were limited
and most of the shots were going in the posh seats or straight at the keeper.
With my armchair managers head on I think we should of taken Holding off and gone with and extra player further forward. I understand why Jack wasn’t used early on because we need to be careful with his recovery but Brighton weren’t kicking us and he was definately worth 20 minutes. At the moment that is probably the difference between us and those who are flying as some of their big wins have not been blistering but efficient and were just not quite there yet nearly but not quite.
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I don’t think there’s been a day I haven’t gorged on PA, thanks all.
Let’s face it; we appear to do better when I’m not proclaiming “infamy” (or summat less camp)?
I’ve such outrage when I think of our Gabriel, for example. Costa assaults Kos. G5 takes Costa to task, but not in a Barton/Cahill/Alli-totty way, and like all good pgmobs ilk-ki-ins, the Ars player gets sent off having barely made contact. (Which bastard pushed OG12 into the keeper – then clearly threw himself to the floor having been “head-touched” largely through his own corruption)?
Gabriel’s final act was to be viciously assaulted – lay on the ground in agony, then get a card just as his arse touched the stretcher. (Was that Clatters, the Leicester angel, the one so many laud for his expressive smiles of denial – who oversees face-stamping, Achilles stamping, injuries to 2 best MF’s & placing penalty ball awkwardly & pretending not to see WBA players – anything to Fk the Arsenal, & has hit the jackpot elsewhere, having either his final or penultimate game at the Ems following his “appointment”)?
GP5, having often a view from the bench, other times experiencing what he did on the pitch, must have thought ‘what the fk-ity Fk is it about the way they treat Arsenal’, no?
Last match I saw at the Ems was a cup thingy against Reading, who sent on a thug sub who injured our (then) new no 9. I saw it, so don’t bother with any denial! I screamed at the ref, and that was as effective as my screaming at my mates computer as the ref, by his inaction, goaded ManC’s U-23 CB to smash JW throughout the match until Jack finally gave him a push – then send him off. Bra-fkng-vo you ref.
Stoke wasn’t Ars’s fault. The template is there. (I started listing Newcy/Villa et al & thought No).
Busting Ars players heads is now ‘di-rigga’, pardon my French. No forearm smash or elbow resulting in concussion or stitched up bloody face will count as an assault. Rather, Ars’s opposition simply “wanted it more”!
And this has extended to Ars’s women. Whoopee ManC women. Stud the Ars player in the face with your boot (c. KungWebbFu WC2010) – and no punishment (cos you’re ManC, or cos we are The Arsenal) You’re a shining light, etc. You already done that in 2015 – remember the head butt (un-Giroud stylee)? From an England playa?
How about Samson, (don’t go there).
Fact is, fins & edu, mills, pass, layk (here we go – just an endless stream of peeps on here I love hearing from), express so well – that touches me.
Thanks for your generosity, iDibs.
Those articles by g60, and Shottas wonderful blogs through and beyond the Summer – Brilliant.
I pray you’re ok Steww.
I presume you’re up & about, Shotta (you had me worried for awhile – though you still wrote as though perfectly fit).
Labo’s previews, a5’s reviews (‘refs are lovely’ excepted, IBSF) with stunning reviews, master of the one-liner/almost paragraph/well, here’s two sentences, PG…
You’re all good & thank you so much.
As you can see from above: it might not be good for me to spout – some negativity there, innit?
It has been wonderful seeing Arsenal playing well. The last Eurodisney effort requiring multiple re-watches to slobber over every Ars-teen shimmy. Well done the youts, the “reserves” & daddy MerterPer.
Following the performance at the coal yard I must once again checkout the last cup final. What a Fkng game. Arsenal. You beauties.
I’m unsure to what extent we ‘let ourselves down’ at Everton, last season, but that aside, well done as always, a5. And what a superb photo to head the article. Magic.
COYG
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Ranty!
TBF after the Stoke fix there was not a lot left that one could about Riley’s circle of trust.
Most here will remember my previous thoughts about the relatively friendly Mr.Friend. Therefore there was no need to make a prediction (others do so with data to hand) of his impartial consistency but we can wonder if and when he will ever be invited into Riley’s inner circle of trust and be given a top of the table clash involving the Gunners at Home (when, if ever previously?). It’s a curiosity, at the least.
Perhaps it is fortunate for him that he has not eaten that soggy biscuit that may have been proffered in his direction.
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< sorry ladies and gents for my lowbrow terminology but we all see and know that dear old Mike has fantasies about Rugger and grappling bollocks etc which is one reason how the national team has gone from beating Argentina to losing to Iceland under his watch*
(* if we carry on like this he'll be so upset that Dier and Walker will go on to win the WC in Russia with a German linesman now, led by the world class Kane…!)
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arse-or-brain
Think it was a good game to use to compare our approach to that of rivals. In case of Utd, Spurs and Chelsea they are more geared to adjust after taking lead to move back a little, see if opponents will push on more, and then hit them with counters.
To date this season, it has worked better for them in terms of building on lead and racking up goals, than our method. Whether it would work better for us is unknown and, I think, a moot point. It’s not our way and I’m mostly good with that.
Wouldn’t mind us developing that ability a bit, but I don’t think it’s an easy thing to do as, basically, teams are always at heart one thing or the other. In the case of the three rivals I mention all are, I believe, defend and counter teams at heart.
This is only truly obvious when they play strong opponents (Chelsea this weekend v City; Spurs Dortmund; Utd when they finally meet better teams) but it does affect every game they play. In nearly all games they get some proper work as a team in the defend and counter style. Only ones they don’t are against weaker teams when they can’t establish a lead, or maybe if they concede early in a game.
Anyway, that’s not us. If I’m on board with it overall, I figure I have to accept all the consequences of it, including us not dropping back after taking the lead and capitalising eventually on space for counters afterwards.
So much depends on the quality of players available but overall, defend and counter is surely the safer, easier, less risky option and, if player quality similar, at present (this year in league and perhaps over longer period and wider range) it even looks as good or a slightly better bet for actually scoring goals, as well as for defensive security.
But, and it’s a huge but…screw that. Someone has to play it differently, surely. And not just a couple of billionaire play things and a few other giant clubs who mostly crush their domestic opponents (Barca, Real, Bayern). Generally speaking, if your resources are clearly bigger than most or all rivals, the alternative to defend and counter becomes the better bet.
I’m pretty sure if you were to look at the goals our rivals have scored this year a large proportion of them are on breaks into open spaces once they have established a lead. I’m struggling to think of any of our goals so far which are like that.
Anyway, the season is still young, and I’m hopeful that in long haul the limitations of defend and counter will affect our rivals while our more positive style will bring us rewards.
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we often hear the saying – “dumbing down of society”, but is there any where its more clear than in football punditry, back in the 70’s we had Jimmy Hill and Bob Wilson, and Brian Moore to a lesser degree. Men with no axe to grind, men with only the best of intentions for the game. During the World Cup and the like we had Brian Clough, Malcolm Allison and the likes.
it began to change in the 80’s when it became ex big name players, and now we have one idiot after another, excused for their comic value. How in God’s name is having someone of “comic value” in any way a good thing, especially when they are not comics, but are meant to be “experts” of the game.
I sometimes feel that at least some of these ex players are actually playing the jester, they can’t really be that stupid. There also seems to be a rivalry between the different channels as to who has the biggest fool, Paul Merson, Ian Wright, Michael Owen, etc etc etc,
All the channels must be very disappointed that Gazza is not well enough to take up a role front and center as main jester of their panel of experts.
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Paul Merson “Monreal not good enough for a lower half BPL team”
Ian Wright “hold my beer, I’ve got this”
“Sean Dyche should replace Arsene Wenger”
can’t wait to see what nonsense the next fool in line tries to better that with.
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Twelve of our first-team players have been called up to represent their countries during the October international break.
Scroll down to find out who will be in action and when:
Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud
France
Bulgaria v France, Saturday, 7 October
France v Belarus, Tuesday, 10 October
Lacazette and Giroud have been called up for France’s World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Belarus.
Aaron Ramsey
Wales
Georgia v Wales, Friday, 6 October
Wales v Republic of Ireland, Monday, 9 October
Ramsey has been called up for Wales’ World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland.
Alexis
Chile
Chile v Ecuador, Thursday, 5 October
Brazil v Chile, Tuesday, 10 October
Alexis has been called up for Chile’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil.
Granit Xhaka
Switzerland
Switzerland v Hungary, Saturday, 7 October
Portugal v Switzerland, Tuesday, 10 October
Xhaka has been called up for Switzerland’s World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Portugal.
Sead Kolasinac
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Estonia, Saturday, 7 October
Estonia v Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tuesday, 10 October
Kolasinac has been called for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup qualifiers against Estonia.
Shkodran Mustafi
Germany
Northern Ireland v Germany, Thursday, 5 October
Germany v Azerbaijan, Sunday, 8 October
Mustafi has been called up for Germany’s World Cup qualifiers against Estonia.
Nacho Monreal
Spain
Spain v Albania, Friday, 6 October
Israel v Spain, Monday, 9 October
Monreal has been called up for Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Israel.
David Ospina
Colombia
Colombia v Paraguay, Thursday, 5 October
Peru v Colombia, Tuesday, 10 October
Ospina has been called up for Colombia’s World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
Mohamed Elneny
Egypt
Egypt v Congo, Sunday, 8 October
Elneny has been called up for Egypt’s World Cup qualifier against Congo.
Alex Iwobi
Nigeria
Nigeria v Zambia, Friday, 7 October
Iwobi has been called up for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
England Under-20s
England U-20s v Scotland, Friday, 6 October
Andorra v England U-20s, Tuesday, 10 October
Maitland-Niles has been called up for England Under-20s’ European Championship qualifiers against Scotland and Andorra.
Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
Read more at https://www.arsenal.com/news/internationals-whos-playing-and-when#R6MPZczrHxOE2tAt.99
Read more at https://www.arsenal.com/news/internationals-whos-playing-and-when#CZdd1hTaMFq53fQ0.99
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Alan Partdrige himself successfully sues AFTVs very own Piers Moron!
****ing hilarious.
Today is a good day.
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Brazil Chile, Northern Ireland Germany and both Welsh games look a bit good – not even sure who England are playing but entertainment beckons elsewhere
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the media have decided to run the arseblog story from last week that KSE have offered £525M for R&W 30% shares in AFC.
also that there is a 3rd party who have offered to buy out Usmanov but only if they get a place on the AFC board. Seemingly Stan has turned down this option
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it is said the third party are old school love of Arsenal types, if true, whoever they are, perhaps a shame they cannot buy in and get a seat on the board.
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Paul Merson, hard to say how he could build on his stupidity,xenophobia and bellicose rantings
Surely even his employers realize the parody he is. A shame, good player in his day.
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The “fans” won’t tell the Manc. Grunt who they’re potential investor is.
One way or another it’s all load of codswallop from the friend of the agent(s) and the discredited rag.
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“Third bid rejected? Farkin’ ‘ell what’s it gonna take? I feel like a very frustrated football agent…
What would Dein do?
Right. I’m getting on the blower to the funny papers. If that won’t work I don’t know what will. I ain’t an expert in PR for nuffink!”
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The Grunt’s football desk has long been smeared as being not much more then an organ for various sporting agencies, with some reasonable justification behind such commentary.
The Grunt, the Blagger, and the frustrated football agents sorry I mean Investors.
not really my kind of fairy tale, but each to their own. Who are we to stomp upon the innocent dreams of others? Heh. Heh. Heh.
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*newsflash*
In case anyone was in any doubt the absurd delay on the manager’s contract was related to board room shenanigans.
That autobiography will make good reading one day. Till then, enjoy the footy if you’re not too busy arguing about AGMs and whatnot.
it’d quite funny if a new owner came in and stopped all the meetings with various supporter groups that never happen at the other big clubs. I’ve never witnessed such a prized collection of plonkers in action. There’s a lesson there kids…
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Blagger:
“this ‘shambles’ meme may just be the straw that breaks Stan’s toupe in two. I’m a genius!”
Frustrated Agent I mean Investor:
“He’s bald. And he’s rich. Richer then me?
I don’t think he cares about what happens to his toupe, he can always buy another one…”
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It’s not really the Grunt story that sets off the stinkbomb but the story in the Oligarchs’ rags that the other players are upset with Alexis and Ozil over something or other
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meh
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Oh, stop it Finsbury.
You know full well that he has a morning toupee, an afternoon toupee, an evening toupee and big one to cover his ears and keep them warm when he goes to bed at night.
Let that be an end to this frivolity – this man has class – and a lot of toupees. lol
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