***The Official Arsenal Gunners" Thread***

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

after Sunday's result with Bolton, this sums up our season...







spend some money, Wenger. Now!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/25/arsene-wenger-arsenal

I think he will this Summer. Not blockbuster signings, but also not signings like Koscielny and Squillaci. It'll be some proven talent.

I've said it many times and I'll say it again, he said himself at the beginning of the season that if a trophy wasn't won he'd have to invest in more proven talent. So it's not as if he didn't have a contingency plan. To what extent he spends is the question, now.

A rough guess is that he'd easily have £40 million available. He could get at least two great players with that, one being a CB. Possibly three players depending on who they are.

Will Arsene spend? Yes. Will he spend it properly? We will wait and find out.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I think this team is close, but there needs to be a fundamental change in the mental makeup of this team. They aren't young anymore so it astounds me how they drop points like no one else does.

Gary Cahill would be the ideal signing for me this summer as he's the commanding presence at the back Arsenal need. Not so sure we will get a keeper, but here's hoping one of Lloris, Reina, or Adler come to North London.

As far as I'm concerned, Bendtner, Denilson, Arshavin, and Squillaci can leave. Eboue too.

[misterbroom12]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Our players need to also get it in their mind that a goal is a goal, regardless of how it is scored. Toward the end of the Bolton game we were getting in behind them on the flanks and just missing the final ball. It didn't produce a goal immediately and they just went away from it, even though it was causing more problems for Bolton than our usual attack. We went back to the usual and nothing came of it as we know. Everyone has to commit to the fact that we don't have to score the amazing goal every time.

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

That game was brutal to watch. How you can mark that poorly on a corner is mind-boggling. I once had high hopes for Djourou, but he's looked pretty terrible this year.

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Vermaelen is set to play with the reserves.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/27/arsenal-thomas-vermaelen-return

This won't help this season, but it's good to know he'll be back in a competitive game. Plus, if he can get back with the first team it could help us stay in third.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

A not match fit Vermaelen would be better than Squillaci at full fitness...Just sayin

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

A not match fit Vermaelen would be better than Squillaci at full fitness...Just sayin

Completely agree. Hell, I'd say better than Koscielny.

Can I just say (only in this thread) that I'm glad we're not the only team to get ****ed by a 12 man Barcelona side in the CL this year and props to The Special One for bringing it up in the media.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Job opening for you Gooners:

http://blogs.soccernet.com/arsenal/archives/2011/04/soccernet_needs_you.php

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I respectfully disagree. Ref issues aside, the bottom line is that Barca are the better team. Yes, both Arsenal and Real had players sent off. The reality is that even when you watch those games, to a man, Barca were better as a unit

Arsenal won the 1st game, but Barca could easily have won it. Barca completely dominated the home leg and even though we scored, it was never in doubt

The Real game was a little more even, but Real played conservative football. Why? Because Jose knows that he doesn't have the team right now that could out score and out possess Barca. So while Real drew and won the Copa del Rey, Barca are still at the moment better overall

Sorry for the OT post though. Back to Arsenal next time for me

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I respectfully disagree. Ref issues aside, the bottom line is that Barca are the better team. Yes, both Arsenal and Real had players sent off. The reality is that even when you watch those games, to a man, Barca were better as a unit

Arsenal won the 1st game, but Barca could easily have won it. Barca completely dominated the home leg and even though we scored, it was never in doubt

The Real game was a little more even, but Real played conservative football. Why? Because Jose knows that he doesn't have the team right now that could out score and out possess Barca. So while Real drew and won the Copa del Rey, Barca are still at the moment better overall

Sorry for the OT post though. Back to Arsenal next time for me

Barca are the better team, but that doesn't negate the referee issues. Let's not have RVP sent off and see how we do against them. What? We weren't doing anything at all? Yeah, just like the first game where we outplayed them in the last twenty minutes.

Barca do not need favorable calls but that doesn't mean I will ignore the fact that they continue to get them. Perhaps not even favorable, because the referee could just be being deceived again and again.

When Abidal had RVP by the neck, did RVP fall to the ground holding his face? No. Would most players on Barca done so? Absolutely.

Where am I going with this? Not sure. But I just find it funny how Arsenal are the team who play great football but can't win and they get nothing but ****. But just because Barca play great football and win, their absurd and disgusting antics are ignored. Everything from Alves' scissor tackle on Nasri that deserved an absolute yellow to Abidal grabbing RVP by the throat.

I'm as mad as hell! Not really, just annoyed that Barca can do no wrong.

I'll just pretend that is on topic enough.

[ZM Punk]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

I respectfully disagree. Ref issues aside, the bottom line is that Barca are the better team. Yes, both Arsenal and Real had players sent off. The reality is that even when you watch those games, to a man, Barca were better as a unit

Arsenal won the 1st game, but Barca could easily have won it. Barca completely dominated the home leg and even though we scored, it was never in doubt

The Real game was a little more even, but Real played conservative football. Why? Because Jose knows that he doesn't have the team right now that could out score and out possess Barca. So while Real drew and won the Copa del Rey, Barca are still at the moment better overall

Sorry for the OT post though. Back to Arsenal next time for me

You should know first hand that just because you keep possession doesn't mean you will always win. Of course teams like Barca and Arsenal are going to keep possession, they always do. Does that mean that they are always the better team...no it doesn't.

[Perceptor]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

True ZM, but the difference is that Barca possess that instinct to finish their chances. Plus, they play better team football than both Arsenal and Real. Dp they get favourable calls? Yes they do. I was just saying that the referee issues shouldn't be an excuse because Barca were simply better when they needed to be

To me, this is Barca's best chance at establishing themselves as an all time great team. Xavi and Puyol aren't getting any younger and as the season went on, teams were finding ways to stifle them. Arsenal and Real Madrid beat them outright. If Barca don't win the CL this season, it would be a crushing blow and the beginning of the end for that team. Other than Messi, Pique, and Iniesta, the other guys are 28-32 years old. They can't last forever and Real Madrid's players are younger, hungrier, and with Mourinho, mentally tough

If Wenger goes and gets his world class defender and keeper, I think we are closer than others might think to being a great team. A bounce back season from Cesc (if he stays), good health for Theo and RVP, plus Samir, and we're laughing

[rsnomar05]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Job opening for you Gooners:

http://blogs.soccernet.com/arsenal/a..._needs_you.php

In other words do ESPN's work for them and get paid nothing. Great.

BTW, Tim, we need to finish our FM World Cup so I can win it with the U.S. (assuming I can figure out how to get them to defend first).

[Krebstar]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

He's back.

[DIESEL]

Re: ***The Official Arsenal "Gunners" Thread***

Nice win today. Too little, too late for a shot at the league.

I'm officially in the sell Fabregas to Barcelona camp. I know Wenger won't do it,but I don't see any major drop off when he's not there. Let Barca overpay and use the money to buy a defense and a second legit striker.