So the great new dawn is upon us. We have rid ourselves of Arsene Wenger and his gang of incompetents, and replaced them with high class people that can bring us the success we deserve.
It’s absolutely fantastic. The players are drinking water, smiling,training hard, young players are involved and the manager is hands on on the training ground. These things never happened before , now did they?
That there have been major changes in personnel is undeniable. That they are all top people in their fields of expertise appears to be the case, they are certainly experienced with good track records. Its more people with more individual responsibility and a coach with much less. Modern football? Or should I not say that because “modern football” is frowned upon by the “we want our Arsenal back” hoards. But I digress.
The point is almost every fan is happy, us included, the future looks bright. But what has actually changed other than our perceptions?
We have spent about £70m up until now, I suspect there will be outgoing and our net spend will be considerably less. So are we spending more? Is the new regime spending the money Arsene refused to? Seems not ?
Have we dipped into the £250m in the bank that should be spent on making the team as good as it can be? Seems not ? Perhaps that’s not for spending then, or not anywhere like that figure?
Are we competing for the likes of Marhez ,with City, or are we still buying from the second shelf ? It seems we are not and we still are ! So what’s the big change?
Have we tied Aaron Ramsey down to a new deal, or is it dragging on? Dithering?
Now here is the rub, the moment many readers start shifting uncomfortably on their seat, searching for an answer that doesn’t destroy all their hard earned narratives.
If you are happy with all things Arsenal now, you have a certain Stan Kroenke to thank.
Without spending any more of the clubs money, and of its reserves ,or dipping into his own pocket for a single silver dollar, he has given everyone what they wanted ? Without being a football man or spending time at the club he has granted the wishes of the permanently malcontent.
His useless puppet (Ivan) is now the dogs bollocks. We are Kroenke FC , being driven by Ivan, and he is the very image of a none football man.
So if everything is rosy in the garden, and I hope it is, then we should be very much KROENKE IN ? He has come through big time and perhaps all the hate was for nowt?
Positively Arsenal 
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I didn’t see the game so I have no view about who deserved or did not deserve to win it, but I’m happy for Olivier Giroud that he has a World Cup winners medal to add to his collection. Otherwise, thank goodness it’s over and we can get back to reality.
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Arsenal have hired Port Adelaide physio Tim Parham on the recommendation of Darren Burgess our Director of high performance, who we also hired from Port Adelaide,
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Well said Passenal, and good to know Kos played a part in getting them there.
Now, we can concentrate on Arsenal, going to be a very interesting season.
Just seen the post about Burgess hiring a new physio, hope he is as good as those working for the amazing Croatian players!
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griezmann didnt dive but he sold it by living his leg trailing nd brozovic ( a player i’ve come to like in this world cup ) bought it. there was contact but it was solicited. just like our goal agaitst barca in 2006, nobody would have talked about it if it hsnt led to a goal.
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Before England NT supporters get their backs up because fureigners aren’t falling in line with the English “it’s coming home” narrative… have a look at your media:
before the semi final they’ve written Croatia off,
before the 3rd place play-off game they’ve written Belgium off,
Now they are dedicating articles to Griezmann apparently being unsportmanlike when he was too smart and clever winning the FK leading up France’s first goal. They’re also trying to rubbish VAR in the awarding the of the penalty. All this are being done to paint France as unworthy World Cup winners.
They are making it really hard for the England NT to be liked by fureigners.
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Lots of anti French sentiment on show, maybe a good job we no longer have a French Manager, we shall see if the Spaniard gets a fairer crack of the whip I guess.
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Arsenal and its sponsor from China are investigating if they have both been the victim of fraud,
Arsenal released this statement on their China website on 13 July, not the Arsenal.com and read as follows:
BYD has informed Arsenal that they believe they have been the victim of a fraud in relation to various advertising agreements. This includes our partnership with BYD which was formally launched by both parties at an event at Emirates Stadium on 8th May. We are investigating the situation and discussing it with senior level BYD representatives who were involved in the launch of the partnership. We will make no further comments on this matter.
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Eddy I would like to say that I I greatly enjoyed our discussion on which of the two young creative English talents we found the most exciting/inspiring when discusing Sterling and Chamberlain over that 12 to 24 month period…
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can i ask why my comment is awaiting moderation for 4 days??
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Are many of you saying you wouldn’t be gutted and angry if we conceded from a free kick ‘won’ in the fashion Griezzman did, in any game, let alone a huge one?
At least one of the replays seemed to make very clear he initiated the dive sequence- started the tip and the leg lifting- a fraction or two before any contact with his leg. That’s blatant. Zero to do with physics or anything natural.
I hate it. Drives me mad that can lead to an opening goal in a world cup final.
For the avoidance of doubt, Griezzman, like his club colleague Hernandez, has made it pretty clear in interviews he sees anything-to-win stuff as part of the game.
Most likely he would deny that was an instance of it, but it’s very fair to infer it from his previous statements that it covers those moments, too, and his game proves that it does.
For what it’s worth, I’ve no doubt most or all of the Croatians would do something similar if given half a chance.
As would the English, especially in the case of the Spurs lads who have been honing their technique, and probably bought into whatever flimsy philosophy (others do it, part of game; fighting as a team is noble, therefore…) anything-to-win coaches use to justify it to their players, under Pochettino.
Kane won a lot of useful techniques vs Colombia, Alli almost certainly was at it for the goal vs Croatia.
It’s football and it sucks. If we’re to hammer teams who do it to us, and pgmol for buying it when they should surely learn better, we’ve surely got to try be consistent about it.
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rich for me Griezmann dived, it was exactly the same way Vardy got all those penalties for LCFC in their title season, throwing out a leg to make contact with the defender, its the attacker who is fouling
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Euro U19 Championship team news, Virginia called up by Portugal, Guendouzi left out of France U19’s squad. Willock, Nelson & Nketiah left out of England’s by request from Arsenal
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Arsenal FC
Verified account @Arsenal
1h1 hour ago
Singapöre 🇸🇬
Unai Emery has confirmed that @MesutOzil1088 will play a full part in #AFCTour2018
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Emery said all our players get the same amount of holidays, and Elneny, iwobi and Ozil will all be going on our tour from day one
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Footballers have the same annual holiday entitilement as the rest of the population (5.6 weeks which can include public holidays). Of course they don’t have to take it all in one go, but I imagine most of our players not involved in the World Cup have used their allowance for this year, which just leaves a handful from the World Cup to get a reasonable break before joining the squad, so going on tour with the rest shouldn’t be an issue.
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so Henry has given up his pundit role with SKY as he can’t spare the time, as he tries to progress his aim to become a football coach/manager
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Shameless plug..
I wrote this
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Very good Wenger interview with Cristine Kelly of RTL.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5961765/Arsene-Wenger-confesses-biggest-mistake-staying-club-22-years.html
One thing I find confusing was that he said that when he first visited Arsenal with David Dein, the women supporters were separated from the men. Had to sit in a different stand with the away crowd. I always went to matches alone, so it was never an issue, but I do not remember this rule. Does anyone else know of this?
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full transcript of wenger’s interview with RTL
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/full-transcript-arsene-wengers-rtl-14916477
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the fall out from lady nina’s AFC share sales law suit
https://www.accountancyage.com/2018/07/17/pwc-replaces-deloitte-as-linklaters-auditor-after-arsenal-lawsuit/
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media suggesting that Cech might be on his way back to Chelsea
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released Arsenal defender Marc Bola has signed for Blackpool.
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Self righteous, I don’t remember any such thing! Sounds medieval, or at least Victorian.
Maybe he is joking about how long ago his arrival was?
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Self Righteous, did a little research on this, sorry for linking to a far from universally popular source on here and elsewhere, but the best answer I can find, if this guy is to be believed, Wenger was referring to separation of the sexes in the boardroom area, not the ground as a whole, not saying that makes it any better mind you!
https://mobile.twitter.com/timpayton/status/1019235375120777218?p=v
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Mr Wenger was referring to in the boardroom
Sadly this is something I have referenced in the past as to how Arsenal and Footbal in general treat (Although vastly improved by Arsenal )and have treated women in the corridors of power.
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Glad they have improved on this. Arsenal seem progressive on some issues these days.
A woman on the board, as long as she is genuinely talented capable and willing would not go a miss, or am I moving too quickly here.
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seems the deal to sign that Barcelona kid Joel Lopez is now complete
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Kylian Mbappé
Is REAL
He is scoring more goals over the first two full seasons than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo . He started out in a Monaco team that was under a second round of asset stripping , now he is at PSG he is a main key player. He is running, grown professional footballers ragged.
This is not normal by a Teen, young players normally have peeks and troughs
His scoring rate is although is not as heavy as ‘El Feno’ Ronaldo he doing things I have not witnessed before by a 17, 18 and now a 19 year old, so consistantly at such a high level. He doing things only ever done by Pele.
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https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DiQQ1O-X0AAHerx.jpg:large
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if there is any truth to the rumour of cech going back to chelsea, it should include giroud. since welbz is also being rumoured to be on his way out. the odd thing for me is despite this years with us, i still see cech more like a chelsea goalkeeper and giroud will always be a gunner. let’s just make everything right and normal
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Mandy.
So, it was the boardroom. That does make more sense in an Arsenal sort of way. What was it they did to Lady Nina? I emailed her back in the day, begging her to keep her shares.
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Arsenal and most other boardrooms were treated pretty much like a ‘old school tie’ Gentlemens Club
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That interview with Christine Kelly is exceptional. I remember his first in the UK (with Guardian Gooner Amy Lawrence). Perhaps he saves his best for the female journalists.
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SR, lady Nina, don’t know, intriguing, maybe they pissed her off with such arrangements and she sold! Just glad things have changed, of course the game is male dominated, no issues there but good to recognise others, something I believe the modern day Arsenal at least try to do.
Agree on the incredible interview. What a scoop for that journalist.
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well WwwB there is a simple reason why most football club boardrooms were treated like an old school tie Gentleman’s Club, quite frankly they were, all the major shareholders were usually from a very wealthy background, were from the Banking sector and the like, most of the FA’s comittiee’s were the same. Those clubs who had board members from a more industrial background, like say many of the clubs up north, whose majority owners where mill owners etc, still adhered to the class system of the time, and in most cases even if their members came up from ordinary roots, would fall into the trap of feeling they had to be and act like the Old Etonians, they copied what they viewed as their elders and betters.
Remember too that the FA in England had ladies football banned for about 50 years, from 1921 to 1971. Pre 1921 the womens game was massive, and could even be said to have been a rival to the mens game. So when those running the game in England seen nothing wrong with banning Women’s football, its not hard to see why no women on clubs boards.
It was little different right across the board in industry etc.
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Wwwb
Astonishing the career Mbappe has had so far, and the talent he has.
Weirdly, don’t feel I saw that much of him facing the bus challenge during the tournament. France never got into a situation where they had to chase it and the opposition had everyone back.
That must surely suit him less, like all players who thrive in space, but i’m sure he’s still damn good at it anyway. He has the skill and intelligence. Think he took a touch against Argentina a bit like Perisic’s in the final to score. That sort of thing could get a goal even in crowded box. Spotting the one bit of space to shoot and having the touch to put it there. Plus that handy lightening speed.
Think first watched him in u19 euros two years ago. Stood out a mile. Beating defender at will, excellent crosses,some with left foot, goals. Expect I was probably dreaming about possibility of us somehow signing him at the time.
Can’t think of anyone standing out at a youth tournament more, though a couple of others might have been close. Gio Dos Santos way back in a victorious u17 world cup (with Vela) when he looked like prime Ronaldinho’s successor. Only to end up at Spurs a few years later!
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Ed
As I wrote earlier Arsenal were and still not anyway near the worst purveyors of such bad behaviours towards women,but none the less the club needs to be held accountable for it’s failings.
As I said before when failings are held up before the club, it does tend to address many of them.
Lady Nina was victim of some very bad treatment by the club.
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Rich
I am a ‘Football Junkie’ , I can quote player career paths
Obscure youth championships
Stats
I am seriously over obsessive, in almost 50 years of following the game , I have never seen this talent before.
I only read about it in books about Pele .
Jean-Kévin Augustin played up front with Mbappe he looked a threat
Top scored
Golden Player
But to me, you and many others Mbappe was the star
Mbappe is 18 months younger than Augustin, in youth Football 6 months makes such a bigg difference between players.
Augustin has had to leave PSG to play regular first team football at RB Leipzig
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Arsenal U21’s have been drawn against Coventry City, Cheltenham Town and Forest Green Rovers in the Checktrade Trophy
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it seems LFC’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to miss all of the coming season
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Arsenal beat Crawley Town 9-0 in a behind closed doors friendly today at London Colney.
Lucas Perez and Alexandre Lacazette hit braces, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiahand and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also scoring
Bern Leno made his AFC debut
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Porto have completed the signing of Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali on a season-long loan with an option to buy at the end of the deal. Its not clear yet if that is a first option if AFC decide to sell him, or if its an already agreed deal if Porto want to sign him.
its expected Nwakali will start in Porto’s B team
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Really gutted for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Hoping he can come back stronger
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ACL Soccer
@ACL_Soccer
6m6 minutes ago
DONE DEAL Arsenal have appointed Mikhail Zhilkin as data scientist and he will work on injury and physical data. He will work with the coaching and performance staff at the club
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Still feeling the same ahead of new season- broadly optimistic, can’t wait for action to begin- but this talk of Liverpool spending big again is one cloud for me.
I only saw them as being great in one area last year- attack, specifically counter-attack- but with some good players elsewhere and with a specific way of playing which gave them both a good chance of beating most of the smaller teams and a very decent chance in the big games, especially if teams played ball and attacked them.
But I could tilt my head the other way and think, for instance, ‘no, that’s not a league challenging midfield.’
Anyway, they have seriously strengthened that midfield. Fabinho has impressed me a number of times. Kieta I know less of but apparently is very good.
Now not only does it look like they’ll land a top class keeper, it seems Fekir deal might be back on. Bloody hell.
Guess it’s displeasing to me on two fronts: One, they are well on the way to a formidable team, better than those of past years (and let’s be honest we’ve had some trouble, especially away, with those teams). Two, and probably childishly, waah, how the fuck has qualifying for CL while we haven’t for a couple of years seemingly left them looking so strong, and stronger than us, financially?
Suppose it can be explained largely by timing and fate, things dating back to the building of the Emirates, loans, sponsorship and kit deals- i.e things which cancelled out financial advantages we would otherwise have had over them for out consistent CL qualification.
But still…waah.
Also think they’ve done well/ been bloody lucky with sales, Coutinho especially, while with Salah they pulled off a real corker- a 35 million player whose value quadrupled or more in one year. Bastards.
Handy list of them here. Ibe 15 mill, Sakho 26 and…Kevin Stewart (not as good as Hayden for me) 7 million a few others they did nicely on. Most of money back on Benteke as well.
https://www.anfield-online.co.uk/stats/jurgen-klopp-lfc-transfer-signings.html
Anyway, boy do I not want them to get a title again before we do. I hate anyone else winning it but that’d be nearly as bad as Spurs.
*thank you for listening to my venting, if you did.
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