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

Yea I've got mixed feelings about that.

Initial thoughts were "yea screw those d*cks", but actually, what were they doing wrong?

They're allowed to make whatever content they like, and if people watch it all power to them. I don't like them, but clearly a lot of people do. They don't illegally show game footage as far as I'm aware, and there's plenty of other channels/social media groups with "arsenal" in the name, so I'm not sure why they're allowed to be singled out, and have change enforced in this way. 

If they are, then where does it stop? It's a slippery slope once you start allowing vague reasoning to have things changed, or shut down. It becomes subjected to personal opinions and preferences, which is a really bad. 

They've gone beyond being a "fan tv" channel to being a commercial entity - I'd imagine that's where the club has stepped in. Particularly as their commercial deals may conflict with the clubs.

Ahhh I see, that makes sense on the face of it.

Is there a legal difference to that though? Like did they have to register somewhere, or change how they are set up, legally?

It's not really a cease and desist - more a 'please change your name so it doesn't get confused with our own brand' - which is completely, 100% fair - especially if AFTV are profiting in any way.

Anyway, enough about those tossers - on the latest Arsecast, gunnerblog mentioned that he's heard from people at Colney that Leno has been less than impressive in training - and could go some way to explain why Cech started against City despite obviously not fitting perfectly into the game plan.

I've encountered the name change thing as a follower of Formula 1. One of the best independent news sites used to be called F1Fanatic before being forced to drop any reference to F1 in the name. Ditto one of the better podcasts, which used to be Formula1Blog.com for years before getting threatened with legal action and having to change to Parc Ferme (they actually had an agreement with Bernie Ecclestone to be able to use the F1 name but F1's new owners scrapped it). 

As much as a club's name should belong to the fans moreso than the owners who shill it worldwide for money, I can see the point of not wanting to cause confusion. Anyone familiar with what they do will know that ArsenalFanTV wasn't an official club channel, but the name alone doesn't exactly sound all that different to 'Arsenal TV,' which I assume is the name of the club's actual channel.

I wonder how much of the Leno stuff is due to him being a Sven recruit not someone Emery specifically sanctioned. On the same poddy they talked about him missing only 3 Bundesliga games in 5 years or something mad. I wonder if the poor blokes just in need of a rest and taking his time to get up to speed.

As I've said previously given the sums of money paid by Chelsea & Liverpool for their keepers it does take the pressure off him needing to come in a usurp Cech immediately.

That makes a lot of sense gullitesque. 

And you actually jogged my memory... the first time I encountered Arsenal Fan TV, I actually did think it was officially associated with the club! But after watching the first minute of a video I thought it surely can't be... hahahaha

Have you guys seen much in terms of content, apps, and other 'digital' stuff from other clubs? Arsenal really seem to leading the way here, they've invested heavily in their media arm and deliver some pretty cutting edge experiences compared to others in my humble marketing/digital opinion.

No I haven't seen a lot... can you elaborate? Really interested to hear some more info on that world... what are arsenal producing that others aren't, or what are they doing better than others? 

One thing I had noticed was the over the top way that clubs are announcing new signings these days. It's bloody mental! 

I'm really not up with the play with some modern technology. It's mindblowing to me that companies etc have whole teams of social media/online specialists etc. I was on the train the other day, blatantly staring at the person's phone in the seat in front of me, to nosily look at what he was doing, as you do, and it was a young kid who was clearly the social media person for an organisation. I was watching him tweet out the take-aways from a workshop they'd held that day, and it blew my mind! The kid must've been no more than 20, and he's just hammering out these tweets with pics and links and perfect marketing language, at breakneck speed - he was clearly educated on how and what to write, to get impact online, and push the company out to an audience. I was impressed, and it dawned on me that this is massive now, a huge industry, young people are all about this stuff as a career now... amazing.

Don't laugh at this post either. I'm 37, but seriously behind the times for an average 37 year old. The other day I went into Noel Leeming and discussed my options for getting my itunes library onto my android phone. I thought I wasn't too bad, I had done a little research, but the shop girl laughed the whole time and told me at the end that our conversation had been "cute". 

Well a quick whip around of the other top 6 clubs gives you a good tell. Arsenal's website design is probably the most modern and up to date. The others have taken more of a 'news' approach going full width on big screens which is a big no no. They pump out social content in a way that comes across fairly relaxed/more from the perspective of a fan. Some I've seen being a bit arcaic in their tone, almost speaking like the board would want to speak. Arsenal TV is fairly solid in terms of quality and they I do find Adrian's 'the breakdown' fairly insightful, he's happy to call out the daft stuff we do too. I've not used the app for awhile as it was punishing when it came to their notifications in different time zones etc.

From a quick look on LinkedIn their team is massive too - as I'm in digital marketing and we're looking at moving in May to the UK I wanted to see if there was any chance I'd be able to blag myself into a gig - but alas I don't think I'm experienced enough!

Edit: they did do a cool start up pitch and incubator thing for 3 months last summer (NZ) where you could pitch ways to improve match day experience. If you were selected you got funding and 3 months access to build a prototype to validate if it would work. My boss at the time was a Gooner but I couldn't get him on board. If I was living their at the time I'd have loved to have given it a crack!

You would assume Emery would be used to that; at Sevilla and PSG he didn't choose the signings either.

For mine, it would've been a tough ask to throw him in against the best team in the land on his debut. He's still young - 26 - and that confidence could quite easily get shattered as he adapts to a new league. 

Now, he may just be fudgeing kak too, but we'll wait and find out. The reports from Germany were unanimously mediocre, including his general stats, so I was surprised when we bought him tbh.

The stuff I read seemed to suggest that he had performed very well at a young age and had been earmarked as a future star, but in the seasons since has not quite pushed on. A few opinion pieces reckoned he still has that potential, and that Arsenal are hoping to get it out of him. Perhaps not too dissimilar to Liverpool's thoughts when buying Oxlade-Chamberlain? 

I guess that sort of option is an ok one when we know we can probably get another cupla seasons out of Cech, since goalkeepers can play for longer, and Cech is very professional and disciplined in that respect. 

If Leno can't get in and push Cech out during that time, then when Cech retires we have to go back to the market. In the meantime hopefully the academy can do their thing and give us an option as well. 

Martinez has always been highly rated, just never clocked up consistent seasons between the sticks which is a shame. All of this would have been avoided if Wojciech hadn't had a bloody cig in the showers.

According to The Guardian Ospina is undergoing a medical at Napoli. 1 year loan with option to sign:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/15/d...

Looks like he beat out Ochoa, Mignolet, and Tatarusanu if true.

Campbells been linked with a move to a recently promoted Italian side, Sky's got it as a 3 year deal (finally sold someone!)
 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11473...

Danny Welbeck has been training as a left back because we're so short - would rather we had a youngster in there and got some cash from him!

No solid rumors on Bramall or Jenko.

Few rumours around Elneny and Marseille. 

Real question in all of this is what are we doing with Ramsey? If he won't sign now's the time to sell.

Jenko can come to Wellington!

(notwithstanding he's probably earning $20k a week lol)

Video released promoting the Arsenal Chelsea game

https://twitter.com/KrishJain15/status/10292640160...

brumbys I was just reading about this the other day on Reddit - the Arsenal social media team have apparently been purposefully given much more freedom and are coming across more, relaxed and fun. I like the Arsenal Snapchat - often quite funny  

Jenko is injured so probably won't be leaving in the window now.

I see Bacary Sagna has just signed for Montreal Impact. He's 35. He might have been a good option for the Nix apart from his wage demands.

AMN out for a couple of months, but Monreal is back training. I think we might see Nacho this weekend, otherwise I'm not sure who we have to play at left back..

Lichtsteiner was excellent there last week in my opinion. I'd probably start him and give Monreal another week to get up to speed. 

Emery has confirmed Cech will start again so looks like he's the nailed on no.1 at the moment. 

Welbeck, Liechtenstiner, Nacho.

In that order please.

Bielik's gone on loan to Charlton, and it looks like we're selling Mavididi to Juventus.

Honestly, this Welbeck LB stuff has been way overblown, it came from one single throwaway comment Emery made last week. 

He just said that he had trained there in one session, and surprisingly hadn't been too bad. There was zero indication it was ever a serious consideration. I would assume they needed someone to run at LB for a forwards-orientated drill and AMN/Lichtsteiner were doing something else, or something like that.

If Welbeck ever plays at LB I'll eat my hat. I'm pretty confident that it's not even being considered. 

I mean, we played a midfielder/winger in AMN at LB so heyy.

I liked Lich's performance, but also thought he looked quite awkward defending and crossing on his left. If Monreal is anywhere near fit, I would 100% play him.

Yea I probably agree on Monreal valeo, we may as well play him as long as he doesn't have any niggles. He's experienced, he has good concentration, and you know he'll run himself to death for the team, no matter how fit. 

Also, did anyone see the Arseblog bit on the performance centre? Really interesting stuff on the latest technology being used - 3D scanning and virtual reality etc. It's worth a read;

https://arseblog.news/2018/08/arseblog-news-visits...

Stop being so logical Paulm - how good would it be to see?!

Let's play Vermaelen at DM too

He's out injured again...

After starting Matteo against City this weekend should give us Emery’s better view of his starting 11 with Torreira and Xhaka back in better shape in a more winnable game.

hoping we see this on the weekend:

                     Cech

Bellerin Sokratis Mustafi Lichtenstiner

                     Torreira

      Ramsey Ozil Xhaka Auba

                   Lacazette

Given AMN & Kolasinac are out for a few months I’m loath to rush Monreal in if he’s not 100% ready given how much football is ahead of him.

Yeah this was absolutely fascinating. Love the way they’re embracing tech, Emery being such a prep orientated coach must be loving t!!

Cech

Bellerin Sokratis Mustafi Monreal (depending on fitness)

Torreira Xhaka

Ramsey 

Ozil Auba

Lacazette

For me, with Ramsey playing a deeper role than last game.

Fair bit of movement last night. Ospina to Napoli(loan), Campbell to Frosinone and apparently we have a kid who has signed with Juve B, but I cant remember his name.

All good moves for us, none of them were going to be near the team this year. Good luck to them. 

I like the look of that team. 

Tough to pick what Emery will do with the midfielders and forwards. I have this weird feeling he could stick with Guendouzi...

No Torreira, no Ramsey... some brave choices by Emery in midfield. Obviously can't be happy with Torreira's fitness after the World Cup.

Unbelievably awful defending. Wins are going to be difficult to come by this season and we certainly won't be seeing many 0-0 or 1-0 games.

I’m more concerned about 3 misses over the bar from cut backs than our defence. Brave decisions from Emery again, can’t seem to find a way to get Ozil into the game. Mhiki’s goal and assist covers his lack of tracking and some woeful touches. Hector’s going to struggle to keep his spot too being so caught out. I’m not a fan of the suicidal press from our full backs running beyond the wingers, leaves way too much space in behind to be exposed. Mustafi & Socratis are doing better than I expected, although was amazed Mustafi’s through the back challenges didn’t get him a card sooner in the match. Definitely a step up from last weekend, felt a draw would have been fairer.

A draw fairer?

Possession 62.3 - 37.7

Touches 891 - 605

Shots 24 - 15

Shots on target 11 - 6

Total Passes 719 - 427

Pass success 89 - 82

etc

https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1284754/Live/Eng...

Really hope Emery drops Xhaka and Bellerin for the West Ham game.

Arsenal were far better in the first half before Xhaka was subbed, should have also been at least 2 ahead by half time, they were getting around the back of Chelsea with ease. From what I saw Xhaka was getting to the ball first and providing good lateral movement allowing both Monreal and Bellerin acres of space on both flanks, Torreira was supposed to slowdown the Chelsea ball movement through the midfield but looked well off the pace. Though to be fair, Lacazette was 90% responsible for the 3rd goal, a loose pass to lose possession then allowed Hazard to ghost past him with ease.

Arsenal had more big chances, though. Chelsea were the better, more fluid team - but possession stats, passing stats etc. mean nothing considering we were purposefully sitting back and hitting on the counter (which would've worked if not for really, abnormally poor finishing)

Xhaka was better than Torreira. I thought Torreira was actually terrible when he came on and was the reason we lost all momentum in the 2nd half, when Chelsea were, honestly, absolteuly there for the taking. I was really disappointed in that 2nd half.