(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

used to find frimpong's attitude amusing, now it's getting too much. time for that lad to grow up a bit

his career's on the line, serious knee injuries have seriously disrupted his development, if he gets a chance he'll need to take it

both bendtner and frimpong would be way better players if they changed there sharke attitudes. but if any manager around would know how to do it, the professor would. it could be this season... fudge I hope its this season...

I read an interesting question today. Had Arsenal had the balls to make RvP see out his last year of the contract, do you think he would have still signed with United given Fergusons departure? Also given he helped them win the league, perhaps they wouldn't have had such a succesful season, and we might have done a bit better.

It's all if, buts, and maybes...but I imagine Moyes might have been a less exciting prospect.

Also I just posted this in the Manu thread, if you need a chuckle on a Friday read these:

https://www.football365.com/profile365/8917264/Profile365

https://twitter.com/evilkagawa

mixed news on the injury front.

first the good, apparently arteta is only a fortnight away, yipee. And vermaelen will be on the bench tonight.

the bad, read about a virus in the german camp, sounds like mertesacker will be out and ozil will start from the bench

if that's true, then our team will likely be;

                   Szczesny

Jenkinson-Sagna-Koscielny-Gibbs

             Ramsey-Flamini

      Walcott-Wilshere-Cazorla

                    Giroud

ool, I was really looking forward to Ozil ripping some shark up this week

I watched Frimpong play for the U21's on Thursday night at the Emirates. He played ok and looked committed but certainly didn't look a lot better than anyone else. Out of interest, Miyachi, Eisfeld, Ukpom, Bellerin all played but the player that really caught my eye was a giant centre back who was solid, composed and won everything in the air. I think his name was Semi Ayaji. I'll be taking a keen interest to see how his career develops. Our keeper Matthew Macey looked a good prospect as well.

For anyone who's interested, I've been in London for just over 3 weeks so far and thought I'd tell my football stories so far. First up, I went to the CL qualifier 2nd leg against Fenerbahce. The turkish fans are so passionate and were amazing to watch even though their team was beaten. Put the Arsenal fans to shame to be honest. Highlight for me was before the game, getting a photo with and meeting the Romford Pele. He was sitting to the right of me in the media area. What a legend.

Next up I went to Brentford v Carlisle. Got my first experience of a couple of genuine hooligans. These guys just stared and taunted the Carlisle fans and made no attempt to watch the game. The old bill soon came along to take them away for a chat. Disappointing game that ended 0-0 and Brentford down to 10 men.

The day after that, I was off to the holy grail and a day I will never forget. Arsenal v Spurs. Was up in the upper tier just to the right of halfway. Amazing atmosphere and suprisingly for me anyway, free of any trouble. Was a nervous last 10 minutes but to get the 1-0 result was brilliant. Better still, I hung around in the stands afterwards to take in the atmosphere as I thought it would be last time there. I then noticed a familiar face and got a photo with another Arsenal legend - Alan Smith!!! Before the game, Marcel Desailly had walked past me on the concourse but he wasn't in the mood for photo's :)

I did a stadium tour with Perry Groves (Yes, got another photo and got him to sign his book) He was absolutely brilliant. He could be a stand up comic. Took the piss out of Spurs the whole time and call them "that lot" and referred to WHL as "the tin shed"

I then went to England v Moldova at Wembley and even got the St George cross face painted on. Amazing stadium and going back there tonight to see the Roger Waters "The Wall" concert.

Finally by luck, I went to the Arsenal U21's v West Brom U21's last Thursday night. Entry was only £4 and it was played at the Emirates. Seating was unreserved so I had a great seat. They played some great football.

All in all, its been a trip of a lifetime so far. Only a week left before I come home and no more live football games but will be watching plenty on TV.

Excellent start for Özil. And Giroud has tweeted that his knee is fine, not knackered, and hes fit for marseile

Awesome stuff G4L, what a trip that sounds like. 

Are you just there on holiday? How come you got to sit in the media area? Desailly, Parlour, Groves, Smith, great stuff man, so jealous. 

Game this morn, wow, loved it. Smashed them in the first half, a travesty that it was only one nil, theo struggled with his finishing a wee bit, probably should've bagged at least one of those chances. Credit Di Canio, the half time change was huge, Gardner made a difference and they had us on the back foot for the first 20 or so of that half. But we kept our composure, then applied some pressure just for 5 minutes and bang, rambo magic. Nice cross from Jenky too, ramsey asked for it and got it right on the boot, beautiful stuff. Then we withstood some more pressure, this time with more than an ounce of luck involved - atkinson was woeful yet again, sunderland can feel aggrieved on a few things like the altidore 'goal' - and bang we came back and hit them again. Lovely little move, simple short passes and good movement - great awareness from giroud to track ramsey's run and find him again.

Ramsey, wow, he is in scintillating form this season, how good can he get? 

Wilshere was promising I thought too, much improved on his last couple of performances.

Ozil performed exactly as I expected - good ploy by arsene to give him a bit of a free roaming role coming in from the left, some freedom to help him get used to his team mates and the pace of the game, yet still he showed his world class with some the assist and some of the balls for theo, and some quality little  touches here and there. Man he is going to suit our game beautifully. 

Cazorla out for a month, yikes, things are getting sooo tight on the injury front. We're ok at the back but midfield and up front EEK! Gnabry carved up for the U21s the other day, including an apparently awesome volleyed goal - he might be getting some time in the EPL and UCL in the coming weeks. Arteta is nearly back but everyone else is probably 6 games away at the least. Some of our fit guys are pushing the limits with all these games too, I worry for the likes of Walcott, Giroud, Ramsey and Wilshere in particular. 

sorry forgot one more thing...

TOP OF THE LEAGUE ;)

for two days at least, 4 games into the season, but I'll take it for now lol

With regards to Altidore's goal, when Atkinson blew up, Sagna still seemed to be tussling with him, after the whistle, that's when Altidore shoots, so if the goal was allowed after the whistle then it would be us spewing. Reffing 101, cant blow the whistle and then wave play on.

My immediate thought was that he blew too early and should've played advantage, resulting in the goal, but happy days for us, I was celebrating that he didnt!

Giroud near post runs are very good.

no Santi is sad but 3 points away without him is well done.

great game today, but wished we had put them away earlier. Walcott just missing that final piece to be a world beating player

Sad news on the santi front. out until mid octoer. good news on the giroud injury, but its worrying how much of a scare that sent through the team. I know we are going along ok, but we have a very skinny squad and it worries me because we have a long season ahead of us. If we can get to jan in good shape and no big injuries to key players and near the summit of the league, then buy some fresh legs to set up a big push in the final few months!

fudgein game on!

and rambo is coming on leaps and bounds. not just his finishing, but he awareness and movement has gone to a new level. 

Rambo > Jack

yep we should be strong later in the season, so it's critical we get through this next period intact

Wouldnt be surprised if we see some more adventurous moves to cover for injuries, gibbs at wide left, or gnabry getting a start, maybe ryo too

and i'd say rambo > just about any midfielder in the EPL right now

Great stuff from the Oz; should've buried them inb that first half though and looked a bit like the nervous Arsenal of old at the back.

good win that, rambo my oh my what a volley. we should have finished the game in the first half but a win is a win. Ozil was sick and still ripped up. Like someone mentioned we will need to tinker with squad to make it throught the injuries. Thank god Sagna stayed for this season, i really think we need to keep him for another season or 2, Jenkinson will get there but has a way to go in my opinion. This Thursdays game is must win as well, the team line up should be very interesting

Agreed, thursday is must-win when you consider the toughness of our group

Anyone seen that napoli team sheet lately? Very strong side

And Dortmund need no introduction

Havnt seen the team sheet but did see the clip of the crowd going bananas when Higuain scored

good win, nice to see ozil slotting in right away - Ramsey scoring 2 is mint.......we need our mids to be scoring more regularly.

This has to be Walcotts season up front doesn't it? If Grioud goes out he is our next viable option currently with Sanogo and Bendtner, and Park a hated man.

I think Ryo and Gnabry should be getting starts on the wings too, seems crazy not to. Gibbs pushing higher up too is always enjoyable!

Be good to get Arteta and Vermaeln back in the squad too, depth where we've been a little short. Vermy back and our back 4 is fully fit as is all of their replacements!

I'm nervous about Wednesday, this is the group of death but I suppose we're playing in top form.

Ramsey's goal scoring run is gelling the squad together to build confidence, long may it continue!

Seeing the under 18's and 20's on Arsenal TV was good, Gnabry looks sharp each time i've seen him

Gnabry is guna get a start I think, pretty soon if not marseille

If giroud isn't fit or needs a rest, then theo up top, gnabry on the right, ozil on the left, whatever fit mids we have fill the middle - rambo, jack and flamster no doubt

Arteta due back very soon, Poldi apparently making very good progress too but still a couple of months away

Thank god TV is back and the Sack will likely return this week too. Really want Sagna at RB if we're going to play a youngster on the same side. 

https://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/fail-ryo-miyaichis-epic-miss-for-arsenal-u21s-v-west-brom/

I don't think Ryo is quite ready yet :s

wow that's quite the miss, where's yer left foot son???

What a ball from Gnabry though, he looks super talented, great vision to pick that one out like that

I still rate ryo thou LOL Yeah Gnabry will be there very soon i think.....we have 6 games in 19days so yes everyone will get a go at this rate :)

League Cup will be interesting, we might have to throw that one away this year and play kids only, not worth the risk with our injury situation

I don't think Wilshere or Flamini will be risked in the league cup. Will be interesting to see who does play but our "A" squad is pretty thin. We can't afford any injuries to key players.

Sorry, that probably came out wrong. I was sitting in the back row in the lower tier and to the right of me was the media area. One of the stewards who I had been chatting to, pointed out Ray Parlour and told me to go over and get a photo with him. He signed my programme as well.

I was at that game and could not believe how he could have missed that.

interesting stuff here, juanfran, the atleti RB, turned us down over the off-season;

https://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1555182/atletico-madrid-juanfran-rejected-approach-arsenal?cc=3436

To me that means Arsene sees Sagna as a permanent CB for sure

Squad named for Marseille tomorrow morn, Giroud and Ozil passed fit. 

Bizarrely Gnabry and Frimpong have both been left at home, I really thought Gnabry might start - perhaps he will be given a game at home against Stoke this weekend? Maybe not. Arsene might be trying to ride through this injury crisis with the same 11-12 guys... which I'm not sure is a good idea!

Maybe just the one change tomorrow from the weekend - Mertesacker in for Jenkinson, with Sagna moving back to RB

If anyone in the backline has any niggles they should be rested though, we've plenty of cover back there for the moment