I am not too concerned about a pre season friendly defeat.

[Pat Vegas]

But we need a striker.

In other words not Eddie. and a I do like Mr Jesus but he does seem to have a habit of falling down constantly looking for free kicks and pens and it's getting annoying.

other notes: one of these days the other teams are going to break Saka :-(

[PSRB]

But we need a striker.

In other words not Eddie. and a I do like Mr Jesus but he does seem to have a habit of falling down constantly looking for free kicks and pens and it's getting annoying.

other notes: one of these days the other teams are going to break Saka :-(

Preseason has been hyped up in recent times but it's still about building fitness more than anything.

I do worry we're going to miss Xhaka, not just on the pitch but as a leader in the dressing room.

[Pat Vegas]

Preseason has been hyped up in recent times but it's still about building fitness more than anything.

I do worry we're going to miss Xhaka, not just on the pitch but as a leader in the dressing room.

I am not so keen on playing rivals in pre season. I thought the tackles on saka and odegaard were a bit too much.

However I agree on Xhaka we need a new policeman on the pitch. I noticed last season we didn’t tend to get bullied like before. So hope this doesn’t creep in again.

[7sisters]

But we need a striker.

In other words not Eddie. and a I do like Mr Jesus but he does seem to have a habit of falling down constantly looking for free kicks and pens and it's getting annoying.

other notes: one of these days the other teams are going to break Saka :-(

I don’t really understand the persistence with Nketiah. He never really established himself at any loan club, at least Patino achieved hero status at Blackpool. The decision to reward him with a 100k per week contract, following a bright spell in a few games is baffling. Who’s going to take him off our hands at those wages ?
I fear we’re stuck him. Balogun’s days look numbered but at least he’s likely to command a far higher sell on figure, although it’ll be interesting to see who comes in for him. He’d be a very decent punt for a club like West Ham.

[Luis Anaconda]

I don’t really understand the persistence with Nketiah. He never really established himself at any loan club, at least Patino achieved hero status at Blackpool. The decision to reward him with a 100k per week contract, following a bright spell in a few games is baffling. Who’s going to take him off our hands at those wages ?
I fear we’re stuck him. Balogun’s days look numbered but at least he’s likely to command a far higher sell on figure, although it’ll be interesting to see who comes in for him. He’d be a very decent punt for a club like West Ham.
He went on loan once at a club that was doing all right but Nketiah didn't really fit Bielsa's philosophy. Patino went on loan and did "well" for a club that got relegated. Odd comparison to make really. Difficult to get players who are happy to sit on the bench but are able to make an impact when needed. The way he came in and covered for Jesus was incredible - worth paying over the odds for. Not saying it's best in the long run. Balogun does appear to be a whiny little **** who isn't prepared to fight for his place (see also giving up on England to play for the US)

[7sisters]

He went on loan once at a club that was doing all right but Nketiah didn't really fit Bielsa's philosophy. Patino went on loan and did "well" for a club that got relegated. Odd comparison to make really. Difficult to get players who are happy to sit on the bench but are able to make an impact when needed. The way he came in and covered for Jesus was incredible - worth paying over the odds for. Not saying it's best in the long run. Balogun does appear to be a whiny little **** who isn't prepared to fight for his place (see also giving up on England to play for the US)

I’m indifferent towards Balogun but have to acknowledge what he achieved in France. It’s clearly put him firmly in the transfer window. and, to be fair to the lad, why should he now accept his career going into reverse by warming the bench.
There’s a real opportunity for any player to take on that 9 shirt at Arsenal, it’s obviously beyond Nketiah but it depends if Arteta sees enough in Balogun to allow him a run at it,

[PSRB]

I’m indifferent towards Balogun but have to acknowledge what he achieved in France. It’s clearly put him firmly in the transfer window. and, to be fair to the lad, why should he now accept his career going into reverse by warming the bench.
There’s a real opportunity for any player to take on that 9 shirt at Arsenal, it’s obviously beyond Nketiah but it depends if Arteta sees enough in Balogun to allow him a run at it,

Farmer's league

[7sisters]

Farmer's league

Perhaps not as good as the PL but you can only react to what’s put infront of you and all that. I wouldn’t hang the guy for choosing the US either, it’s not as if he’s going to displace Kane, is it ?
Take your opportunities. He took them 🤷*♀️

[PSRB]

Perhaps not as good as the PL but you can only react to what’s put infront of you and all that. I wouldn’t hang the guy for choosing the US either, it’s not as if he’s going to displace Kane, is it ?
Take your opportunities. He took them 🤷*♀️

Kane has what 2 or 3 years left as top dog with currently no obvious successor. Balogun needs to prove himself in the PL and could easily have put himself in pole position. Looks to just want an easy ride, imo

[7sisters]

Kane has what 2 or 3 years left as top dog with currently no obvious successor. Balogun needs to prove himself in the PL and could easily have put himself in pole position. Looks to just want an easy ride, imo

You may be right but apathy at that age is a rare thing, perhaps he’s just hungry to make his mark with no affiliation to how he achieves that goal. We expect loyalty as fans but many players don’t choose that path. I still think there are many ahead of him in the queue behind Kane. Toney for one, if he can stay away from the bookies.

[PSRB]

You may be right but apathy at that age is a rare thing, perhaps he’s just hungry to make his mark with no affiliation to how he achieves that goal. We expect loyalty as fans but many players don’t choose that path. I still think there are many ahead of him in the queue behind Kane. Toney for one, if he can stay away from the bookies.

Toney is 27 though. It's not a question of loyalty, I just suspect the attitude isn't right and it's not that rare for young players already on a decent wedge to become complacent about it all.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

He went on loan once at a club that was doing all right but Nketiah didn't really fit Bielsa's philosophy. Patino went on loan and did "well" for a club that got relegated. Odd comparison to make really. Difficult to get players who are happy to sit on the bench but are able to make an impact when needed. The way he came in and covered for Jesus was incredible - worth paying over the odds for. Not saying it's best in the long run. Balogun does appear to be a whiny little **** who isn't prepared to fight for his place (see also giving up on England to play for the US)

Yup. 5 pts behind when we started, 5 pts when Jeez came back. Also, in that 1-0 defeat to Everton, just before they scored Eddie beat 2-3 down the left and put it on a plate for Ødin.

In latter games, Ødin and Eddie both missed simple chances made by the other.

My only issue is that he's fine when we start - and after he lost his place to Leo, he seemed to suss what he needed to do more from the left to get Gabby involved when he came on once.

But we haven't found a way of playing him when chasing a winner. MA hasn't come up with a way of chucking on more strikers like AW used to.

Maybe Saka at RB and Jeez RW with Eddie central but all switching? But we need a way of playing Eddie in a front two or whatever when chasing the game. He's a great poacher - look at the MU winner.

[Luis Anaconda]

You may be right but apathy at that age is a rare thing, perhaps he’s just hungry to make his mark with no affiliation to how he achieves that goal. We expect loyalty as fans but many players don’t choose that path. I still think there are many ahead of him in the queue behind Kane. Toney for one, if he can stay away from the bookies.

Agree about not expecting loyalty but he just doesn't have the desire to fight for the place which is disappointing. As regards the French league would like to point out that Lacazette scored as many goals last season there as he did in his last three seasons at Arsenal (not knocking Laca who had great qualities as a team player as well)

[Luis Anaconda]

Yup. 5 pts behind when we started, 5 pts when Jeez came back. Also, in that 1-0 defeat to Everton, just before they scored Eddie beat 2-3 down the left and put it on a plate for Ødin.

In latter games, Ødin and Eddie both missed simple chances made by the other.

My only issue is that he's fine when we start - and after he lost his place to Leo, he seemed to suss what he needed to do more from the left to get Gabby involved when he came on once.

But we haven't found a way of playing him when chasing a winner. MA hasn't come up with a way of chucking on more strikers like AW used to.

Maybe Saka at RB and Jeez RW with Eddie central but all switching? But we need a way of playing Eddie in a front two or whatever when chasing the game. He's a great poacher - look at the MU winner.
That point is spot on - Martinelli much more effective with Jesus and Trossard

[PSRB]

Yup. 5 pts behind when we started, 5 pts when Jeez came back. Also, in that 1-0 defeat to Everton, just before they scored Eddie beat 2-3 down the left and put it on a plate for Ødin.

In latter games, Ødin and Eddie both missed simple chances made by the other.

My only issue is that he's fine when we start - and after he lost his place to Leo, he seemed to suss what he needed to do more from the left to get Gabby involved when he came on once.

But we haven't found a way of playing him when chasing a winner. MA hasn't come up with a way of chucking on more strikers like AW used to.

Maybe Saka at RB and Jeez RW with Eddie central but all switching? But we need a way of playing Eddie in a front two or whatever when chasing the game. He's a great poacher - look at the MU winner.

Please never say Saka at RB again

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Please never say Saka at RB again

I'm thinking when playing vs a packed defence at 1-1 with 10 mins left. Instead of a back 3 with Zinny inverting into MF on the left, bring Eddie on for him. BW shuffles across for a back 3. Saka as the free role FB but basically, you'd have him and Jeez switching positions on the right with Eddie mostly central but able to go right with those 2 to join the overload, with added Ødin or Eddie switching with Gabby on the left with added Havertz.

What I'm really saying is we need a formation switch where Eddie comes on for a defensive player when chasing the game. I dunno what it is but we need one. We can shut up shop now - Jorgy or Partey on for a number 8/10, maybe even Timber for Saka.

But with all this extra creative/scoring talent on the bench - Eddie, ESR, Leo, Fabio, RN - how do we bring on one of them in place of one of the back 4 when facing a team parking the bus?

[Arsenal Alcoholic Review]

I'm thinking when playing vs a packed defence at 1-1 with 10 mins left. Instead of a back 3 with Zinny inverting into MF on the left, bring Eddie on for him. BW shuffles across for a back 3. Saka as the free role FB but basically, you'd have him and Jeez switching positions on the right with Eddie mostly central but able to go right with those 2 to join the overload, with added Ødin or Eddie switching with Gabby on the left with added Havertz.

What I'm really saying is we need a formation switch where Eddie comes on for a defensive player when chasing the game. I dunno what it is but we need one. We can shut up shop now - Jorgy or Partey on for a number 8/10, maybe even Timber for Saka.

But with all this extra creative/scoring talent on the bench - Eddie, ESR, Leo, Fabio, RN - how do we bring on one of them in place of one of the back 4 when facing a team parking the bus?

I don't think young Edward is irreplaceable in the current squad, nor would big money be needed to massively improve us by replacing him. As an example i'd say the versions of Chamakh and Togo, signed at the time Wenger signed them would hugely improve on Eddie based on how we play. Even in todays money based on inflation those players would cost around £20m. Arteta ball is crying out for a certain type of forward. We don't actually have it on paper but Jesus does excell playing that role with his back to goal sacrificing himself for the team.

[7sisters]

I don't think young Edward is irreplaceable in the current squad, nor would big money be needed to massively improve us by replacing him. As an example i'd say the versions of Chamakh and Togo, signed at the time Wenger signed them would hugely improve on Eddie based on how we play. Even in todays money based on inflation those players would cost around £20m. Arteta ball is crying out for a certain type of forward. We don't actually have it on paper but Jesus does excell playing that role with his back to goal sacrificing himself for the team.

Agree with that. Eddie failed to cement his place last season and has been largely dining out on the run in from the previous season.
Always room for improvement but for me there’s not enough.
Balogun, I suspect, is another Andy Cole in the making elsewhere.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I don't think young Edward is irreplaceable in the current squad, nor would big money be needed to massively improve us by replacing him. As an example i'd say the versions of Chamakh and Togo, signed at the time Wenger signed them would hugely improve on Eddie based on how we play. Even in todays money based on inflation those players would cost around £20m. Arteta ball is crying out for a certain type of forward. We don't actually have it on paper but Jesus does excell playing that role with his back to goal sacrificing himself for the team.

Dunno about Chamak. Reckon Kai will help with hoofing it into the box late. And as you say, Jeez does far more than Marouane ever did.

The Togonator was a bit different. Titi thought he'd be as good as him and he scored 30 one season in a 4-4-2 with RVP. {Though 20% of his goals were against Derby County.} Obviously if we could get a 2006-10 Ade for £20-30m that would be tops.

But when Eddie played last year and was scoring at the start, on a Times article, the journo replied to me and said Eddie's ability to find space in the box reminded him of Gerd Muller - though not as good, obv.

I just wish we could find a way of bringing him on if we need a winner, while keeping Jeez, Saka, Gabby, Ødin and Kai {or whoever's playing there} still on the pitch.

We have options to switch players in our normal formation. We can switch to a more defensive formation. But I'm still not sure how we switch to a more attacking one.

JAI SHREE GANESHA.

���� ��❤️��

[Rich]

I don't think young Edward is irreplaceable in the current squad, nor would big money be needed to massively improve us by replacing him. As an example i'd say the versions of Chamakh and Togo, signed at the time Wenger signed them would hugely improve on Eddie based on how we play. Even in todays money based on inflation those players would cost around £20m. Arteta ball is crying out for a certain type of forward. We don't actually have it on paper but Jesus does excell playing that role with his back to goal sacrificing himself for the team.

CHAMAKH?!?!??! Never have I despised an Arsenal player more.

[Pat Vegas]

CHAMAKH?!?!??! Never have I despised an Arsenal player more.

just because he had **** jeans?

[WES]

CHAMAKH?!?!??! Never have I despised an Arsenal player more.

Chamakh was a sh1t**** all right, but he was no Aaron Ramsey :nono:

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

CHAMAKH?!?!??! Never have I despised an Arsenal player more.

He scored twice when we won 7-5 from 4-0 down.

What did Gervinho ever do?

[Pat Vegas]

He scored twice when we won 7-5 from 4-0 down.

What did Gervinho ever do?

I might be wrong but I thought Gervinho had a decent start to his first season. but not for long

[Arsenal Alcoholic Review]

I might be wrong but I thought Gervinho had a decent start to his first season. but not for long

Gervinho too was underrated. The fella knew how to get on the ball and find space. Seemed to always have about 100 ball involements a half. He always looked like he had the ability to really explode on to another higher level. His problem was once he got into dangerous positions his end product just wasn't there. He always reminded me at his best of young Terrence's first couple of months for The Arsenal. Only Gervinho just didn't kick on from that.

[redgunamo]

Especially academy ones.

Same at every big club; supporters will ALWAYS believe they can afford to buy better. And all to often, the club agrees :-|




But we need a striker.

In other words not Eddie. and a I do like Mr Jesus but he does seem to have a habit of falling down constantly looking for free kicks and pens and it's getting annoying.

other notes: one of these days the other teams are going to break Saka :-(

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Especially academy ones.

Same at every big club; supporters will ALWAYS believe they can afford to buy better. And all to often, the club agrees :-|

When was the last time a striker from our academy became a regular starter for us? Super Kevin Campbell? Or Merse if you go by most recent to play for us?

[Arsenal Alcoholic Review]

When was the last time a striker from our academy became a regular starter for us? Super Kevin Campbell? Or Merse if you go by most recent to play for us?

Bendtner. You might say he was poached from a foreign academy but Eddie himself joined us pretty late into his youth career from Chelsea. Ironically Chelsea released him and Declan Rice at the same time. :hehe:

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Bendtner. You might say he was poached from a foreign academy but Eddie himself joined us pretty late into his youth career from Chelsea. Ironically Chelsea released him and Declan Rice at the same time. :hehe:

Fair play. I don't really count him, though. That was just signing a great teenager like Gabby M2. Dunno if I'd really count Cesc. Both were signed knowing they'd send up in the first team. That's not the same with Eddie. Which is sort of shown by the fact that the Chavs let him go while Barca were fuming about Cesc. But all right, I'll give you NB52.

[Luis Anaconda]

Bendtner. You might say he was poached from a foreign academy but Eddie himself joined us pretty late into his youth career from Chelsea. Ironically Chelsea released him and Declan Rice at the same time. :hehe:

Same day wasn't it - good work there

[Arsenal Alcoholic Review]

Fair play. I don't really count him, though. That was just signing a great teenager like Gabby M2. Dunno if I'd really count Cesc. Both were signed knowing they'd send up in the first team. That's not the same with Eddie. Which is sort of shown by the fact that the Chavs let him go while Barca were fuming about Cesc. But all right, I'll give you NB52.

Ironically Bendtner wasn't actually the young star forward signed that summer for the youth team. That would have been Arturo Lupoli. Who went on to be a below average forward in the lower leagues in Italy. Still, him and Bendtner tore it up for the reserves that season. We had quite the forward line. Even young Anthony Stokes had to play in midfield just to fit everyone in the team.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

Ironically Bendtner wasn't actually the young star forward signed that summer for the youth team. That would have been Arturo Lupoli. Who went on to be a below average forward in the lower leagues in Italy. Still, him and Bendtner tore it up for the reserves that season. We had quite the forward line. Even young Anthony Stokes had to play in midfield just to fit everyone in the team.

Didn't we loan 3 players to Steve Bruce's Brum and get them promoted. Nicky B, Seb Larson and someone else.

I actually liked Bruce as a manager {not as a Manc player, obv.}. He respected us. Told his fans they should be grateful to Arsène but that there was no hope of them keeping Nicky B cos he's rarely seen such a talented 19 year old and he'd end up in the AFC first team.

[Arsenal Alcoholic Review]

Didn't we loan 3 players to Steve Bruce's Brum and get them promoted. Nicky B, Seb Larson and someone else.

I actually liked Bruce as a manager {not as a Manc player, obv.}. He respected us. Told his fans they should be grateful to Arsène but that there was no hope of them keeping Nicky B cos he's rarely seen such a talented 19 year old and he'd end up in the AFC first team.

Yeah Muamba. Bendtner was a very young 18 year old going on that loan. Literally turned it around the month he went. Had one of our best ever loan showings for Brum which saw straight into the Arsenal first team squad next season.