At this point, i wouldd say we are going to need a fair bit of luck with injuries if we

[Peter]

Are going to finish in the top four. Particularly in the defence.

Any hope of challengIng for the title has gone.

It is all rather disappointing..... At this point.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Honestly.

[Rich]

We're already starting to see change.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

The title isn't a realistic goal until or unless FFP regulations have been in place long enough to level the playing field a little.

[Peter]

[o2be a gooner]

as i said below, we needed a striker BEFORe giroud got injured, also a CM, a DCM, its really unbleivalbe how we now finally have money to spend yet he is not spending

[Red N White Army]

[o2be a gooner]

[Peter]

Surely we still want the strongest squad we can get. I refuse to believe that this is it.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Considering we are as yet unbeaten and have a core of players that would be the envy of all but 3-4 clubs in the League.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Chaps use all this ridiculously emotional language and wind themselves up into a state of frenzy.

Apart from anything else, it is just a game.

['Neg]

[wibble the lobster]

afraid not looking good

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

In order to keep retarded people on the internet happy.

[Peter]

You cant seriously expect to challenge for the title with no centre forward, six defenders and a clear, targettable issue in your midfield.

Our squad is arguably weaker than last season when it proved insufficient.

[Luis Anaconda]

[Peter]

:-)

[Peter]

Line but no centre forward for four or five months.

It is actually slightly weaker.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

Though I share your concerns regarding a striker and to a lesser extent the midfield.

Our need in midfield is obvious I think, just not as pressing given the injury to Giroud (who I am no huge fan of I should say).

[Peter]

:hehe:

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

To attempt to address those squad deficiency issues you suggest with relation to City and/or Chelsea.

No?

[Bergkamp's Brain]

way. Weaker squads can get a fair amount of luck with injuries, suspensions and form and mount a challenge.

I think some fans may be asking:
Are we giving ourselves a chance to challenge?
Has Wenger (privately) conceded that Chelsea and City are one and two and we are only capable of competing for the other two spots?
Does Wenger actually believe that our squad is strong enough to mount a challenge, as it is?
Do we even have the finances to really compete?

[Berni]

no tax? We could be like a footballing Make a Wish Foundation or something?

Shrood imo.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

we're probably spending quite a lot.

Clearly there are deficiencies in the squad, but to address these you have to find players who we can afford who are also better than the cover we have. The amount we can afford, and the quality of players are both subjective judgements, I suppose, and you might not agree with the manager's view - but you have to at least acknowledge that his view might be correct :shrug:

[Peter]

Spend some f**king money :banghead: :banghead:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Don't they have anything better to worry about?

I've got to choose a destination for an October holiday. It's driving me mental.

[Alexism - Atheoist]

Plenty of time for second thoughts tomorrow. I'm with you.

[Peter]

SCOUTS OUT !!

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Perhaps he thinks we have cover enough at centre half.

(I confess I am puzzled by the centre half issue if it is true, as suggested, that Miquel is off.)

[7evens]

Chambers has promise and looks a reasonable addition.
It's early days but looks like for like at this stage.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

And none of us really know what we can and cannot afford.

Though I should point out to you in a friendly manner that you were straying very close to “DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW MORE THAN ARSENE WENGER” old Turkish / Greek man style posting there.

Taking your own analysis and using it as a basis of argument, are you suggesting that we can neither find nor afford a player who would be better suited currently to be our centre forward than poor Sanogo, a chap who is now being held up as all that is wrong with the club through absolutely no fault of his own.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Bergkamp's Brain]

Saturday at 3pm might be the highlight of their week and I guess they want to be confident that the custodians of the club are doing everything in their power to move the club forward :shrug:

Holiday destination in October, Mauritius or Sri Lanka?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

in the suppressed knowledge that we do know f**k all compared to the professionals; we choose to ignore that as we all like to express an opinion. It just gets a bit radical around this time.

As far as Sanogo is concerned, Arsene clearly thinks highly of him. He hasn't impressed me, but then I don't make the decisions, I don't see the player every day, and I don't have the expertise, so it makes sense not to piss my knickers in frustration at the situation. Better to retain a semblance of dignity and see what happens.

[Alexism - Atheoist]

who had a tattoo on her back saying "My name is Kelly" and then one upside down on her shoulders saying the same.

I guess those were at least functional...

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

He has done nothing wrong yet is now being held up as evidence of our ineptitude in the transfer market.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Only got 10 days in October so I'm thinking more medium- than long-haul...

[Alexism - Atheoist]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

[Bergkamp's Brain]

We may have to sign a couple of Columbians in order to get the drugs.

[Bergkamp's Brain]

:hehe:

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I'm trying to be brave.

[7evens]

I presume he was targetted to be used sparingly until Giroud got injured, although given our form, it was always likely that one of our established players would limp out during the season.
He looks to me like he'd benefit from a loan spell but what do I know ?
As you say, he's now in the full glare of the headlights and being offered up on a plate as the reason for Wengers poor planning.
Sympathy aside, you can see why Wenger's leaving himself so open on this one.

[Peter]

Positions in defence, the only cover for the centre backs and right back. Last season we had sagna as a fourth option at centre back, now we have nothing.

Two injuries to the three centre backs and we are f**ked.

[Peter]

If that isnt time to start looking for a new job i dont know what is.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

That part of the decision was sound.

A loan perhaps, but at very least he would have been 4th choice or whatever, on the basis of argument that you need 4 strikers. What is wrong is that he is now our only real option unless we include Sanchez in there, and unless something happens in the next 7-8 hours we will be for 4 months.

Nobody from what I can see has suggested we go out and bankrupt the club but one should expect to see something happen today. We needed a new option before Giroud was injured, we still do now. I find it odd that Wenger has not acted though he may yet arrive back from Italy with something more than a 500ml bottle of Limoncello.

All very bizarre.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

It's good ****.

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

One too many an evening we found ourselves in Mario's apartment with only a bottle of said drink to last until the early house.