[Tel69]

Originally Posted by Belligerence

Hopefully he can work on Vermaelen's positioning. While he has been great going forward, he needs to concentrate on defending. Is it any coincidence Ajax conceded 41 and 40 goals in his last two seasons there, but the club outscored the other teams?

To be honest it's 1 of many things he needs to look at starting with defending as a unit and knowing as a team what to do without the ball. If he can crack those then the rest should follow as I maintain we have good defenders apart from our left backs.

[COTTONHEAT]

its going to be intresting to see if Usmanov gets a place on the Arsenal board this summer after he obtained those Shares from Rangers in February

[ustarion]

Originally Posted by ZicoZ

I heard Ray Parlour on TalkSport this morning say that he was adamant that Arsene simpy hasn't had the money available for transfers .

There was a list on DS yesterday that showed Arsenal to be 14th on the list of Premier league spenders . Chelsea 1st , City 2nd and United 3rd.

Looks like he may have done pretty well given the financial constraints.

If true, all the more important to buy better players than he has done. Gervinho has been a load of shit.

[ihatemarmite]

Originally Posted by ustarion

If true, all the more important to buy better players than he has done. Gervinho has been a load of shit.

exactly. If you have limited funds, don't waste them on rubbish for £10 million who are then no doubt on substantial wages too.
Sagna breaking his leg in the same place is a big worry for the future. I hope he will be ok and really feel for him. Without him at RB, we have no really good FBs.
Anyhow it seems less about the individual players than the whole defensive organisation and attitude of the team which is often just rubbish and Wenger clearly has no ability to put it right.

[satellite]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

In the context of how we started, if anyone offered me 3rd at the start of the season I would have snapped their hands off, but actually 3rd is poor. We lost 10 times, had numerous silly draws and yet we're 3rd?!?!! Something is wrong somewhere. The Club must see this as a wake up call I think.

You're right there Grim, 3rd is poor.. especially whe we're 20 points behind the Mancs, very very poor! How did this happen? We let Wenger think he's bigger than the club, that's what, a fresh start and new direction is what we need. AND I'm bloody sick of seeing him flapping on the sidelines in that blue coat, sick of his insistence we'll win something with the likes of Chamack on the bench, just sick to death of him to be honest! He needs to go! Grrrrrr!

[fast left]

Originally Posted by ustarion

Gervinho has been a load of shit.

not even that good

[Tel69]

Originally Posted by fast left

not even that good

Agreed. I/we said the same about Koscielny this time last year but he's been arguably our best defender. At least Kos last season had a few decent games. Gervinho has had virtually nothing bar Stoke at home so a huge turn around is needed. I'd be offering him in a swap for Dempsey especially with another ACN brewing next year.

I gather from reading the forums that some rather outlandish claims are being made on twitter about M'Vila signing on Sunday. As someone who treats that particular area with the contempt it deserves I'll be somewhat surprised if its remotely true.

[COTTONHEAT]

we are closing in on £17million-rated French star Yann M’Vila.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ann-MVila.html

[ihatemarmite]

Dear Arm Flapping Leader may find lots of overpaid french ligue 1 players wanting to come to the PL if Hollande lives up to his promise of 75% tax on the super rich.

not really sure how good M'Vila is. I've only seen him play for France once when he didn't shine, but don't want to judge on one performance.
Wish we would offload Gervinho, the ultimate headless chicken, but can't see it happening.

[Delboy_RKO]

I would be absolutely delighted if we get M'Vila, we have needed a player like him for years now.

[ihatemarmite]

good news for retro shirt sellers. The new kit http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/

terrible. When does the shirt deal with Nike expire?

[Dunce-2007]

Seen as our next match feels like a cup final, if we scored first should we immediately park the bus like chelsea did and defend, defend, defend with the odd counter or should we play Russian Roulette and hope to survive?

I fear if we continue playing normally after scoring first we'll switch off like in the Norwich game.

I'd pick the 1st option but his dearest is too stubborn to try anything new.

We could be 4 nil up and still I'd have that feeling of dread as we are experts at screwing up high scorelines. I'd have more faith in our boys coming back from being down 4-nil as that's when we seem to play our best football.

[DavidT]

You can never tire of watching John Terry finding new ways to fall on his arse can you?

[Hayden]

Originally Posted by DavidT

You can never tire of watching John Terry finding new ways to fall on his arse can you?

Thats them blown it now. As long as Bayern sort them out in the final.

The M'Vila deal looks it's really happening. Some very relaible sources are convinced its a goer. Exciting.

[DavidT]

Originally Posted by Hayden

Thats them blown it now. As long as Bayern sort them out in the final.

The M'Vila deal looks it's really happening. Some very relaible sources are convinced its a goer. Exciting.

Will be very exciting. I guess someone at the club is confident we can beat WBA next weekend!

[Hayden]

10 years ago today we won the title at Old Trafford.

[CLL Dodge]

Originally Posted by Hayden

10 years ago today we won the title at Old Trafford.

Now we can look forward to scraping a distant 3rd at the Hawthorns.

[grimtales1]

Apparently RVP has been pictured wearing the new Arsenal kit - RVP must be happy and looking to sign (AW must be) - otherwise why would he be in the kit, eh?

[BobbyNoMates]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

Apparently RVP has been pictured wearing the new Arsenal kit - RVP must be happy and looking to sign (AW must be) - otherwise why would he be in the kit, eh?

Won't believe it til there's ink on paper.

[footygirl]

I wouldn't start thinking third is guaranteed. Wasn't it 3-1 to West Brom last season at the Hawthornes

[yakutz]

Originally Posted by footygirl

I wouldn't start thinking third is guaranteed. Wasn't it 3-1 to West Brom last season at the Hawthornes

2-2 at the Hawthorns [Almunia at his finest], 3-2 to them at our place. Hodgson's last game, I'm not confident at all. Just trying not to think about the inevitable disappointment.

[footygirl]

Originally Posted by yakutz

2-2 at the Hawthorns [Almunia at his finest], 3-2 to them at our place. Hodgson's last game, I'm not confident at all. Just trying not to think about the inevitable disappointment.

I think Newcastle will snatch third, I can see Fulham getting a draw with Tottenham

[Belligerence]

Originally Posted by Hayden

10 years ago today we won the title at Old Trafford.

Originally Posted by CLL Dodge

Now we can look forward to scraping a distant 3rd at the Hawthorns.

Hehe.

[CLL Dodge]

Originally Posted by grimtales1

Apparently RVP has been pictured wearing the new Arsenal kit - RVP must be happy and looking to sign (AW must be) - otherwise why would he be in the kit, eh?

Here's the 2007/8 away kit being modelled.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6...kit1fr8fg8.jpg

The guy on the left never wore it in action.

[Skyclaw726]

Originally Posted by ihatemarmite

good news for retro shirt sellers. The new kit http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/

terrible. When does the shirt deal with Nike expire?

What's wrong with it?