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

[Krebstar]

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

I let out such a massive yell when Arshavin scored that the neighbors are still upset. Six points away from Chelsea, with a game in hand, what a position to be in.

What I loved about yesterday more than anything is that we won against a fairly good side and played rather poorly for most of the game. We've won this year and haven't played too well, most notably at Fulham, but we haven't beat a team that good when playing poorly.

Very encouraging to see, and I'm so excited we get another game on Wednesday, however a tough one as Burnley are nearly invincible at Turf Moor.

[Perceptor]

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

Our 1st half was god-awful and that easily could have been a penalty. Having said that, our 2nd half performance was far better although we are sorely lacking a big forward in the middle

What we really need is for the injury bug to stop biting us in the arse each and every time we look to challenge. Bendtner would be able to be a solid target man when he comes back and RVP getting hurt continues to ruin my mood

Until we get consistent scoring from the forwards, we're not winning a whole lot.

Back onto Walcott - he looked a little better, but he lacks match fitness right now. If he can stay healthy, I'm confident he'll be at his best

[Qb]

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

Concerning Chamakh, the speculation was he could be had on the cheap in January if he refuses to re-sign before the winter window, as Bordeaux might want to get some cash for him. But, Bordeaux's head honcho recently said they will not sell him in January as they are chasing the French league title and still alive in the Champions League.

His contract runs through the end of the season, so he couldn't move to another team on a free transfer until the summer. I might be a little fuzzy on my Bosman rules, but I believe he could negotiate the move prior to the end of this season, however he wouldn't switch teams until the off-season. Wait, found what I'm talking about:

In addition to this, players can sign a pre-contract with another club for a free transfer if the players' contract with their existing club has 6 months or less remaining.

So at best, Arsene could tempt Bordeaux with a cash offer to get him in January, as we know a quote of "we won't sell him" could be only a negotiating ploy. If they want him on a free, they could negotiate a deal with Chamakh directly, but he wouldn't officially join the Gunners until next season.


PS - Didn't Flamini have his deal with Milan worked out before the end of his last season with Arsenal? My admittedly fuzzy memory tells me he might have...

PPS - Does anyone else remember being able to do this in the old PS2 Winning Eleven games? I remember poaching quite a few players in the final year of their contract during the in-season window to bolster the sad squad we had to start with. Ah the joy of getting a talent without spending the cash, even if we had to wait half a season to get them...

[Salhus]

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

The fact that Bordeaux still alive in CL might be the biggest obstacle for Wenger in acquiring him

[rsnomar05]

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

Concerning Chamakh, the speculation was he could be had on the cheap in January if he refuses to re-sign before the winter window, as Bordeaux might want to get some cash for him. But, Bordeaux's head honcho recently said they will not sell him in January as they are chasing the French league title and still alive in the Champions League.

His contract runs through the end of the season, so he couldn't move to another team on a free transfer until the summer. I might be a little fuzzy on my Bosman rules, but I believe he could negotiate the move prior to the end of this season, however he wouldn't switch teams until the off-season. Wait, found what I'm talking about:



So at best, Arsene could tempt Bordeaux with a cash offer to get him in January, as we know a quote of "we won't sell him" could be only a negotiating ploy. If they want him on a free, they could negotiate a deal with Chamakh directly, but he wouldn't officially join the Gunners until next season.


PS - Didn't Flamini have his deal with Milan worked out before the end of his last season with Arsenal? My admittedly fuzzy memory tells me he might have...

PPS - Does anyone else remember being able to do this in the old PS2 Winning Eleven games? I remember poaching quite a few players in the final year of their contract during the in-season window to bolster the sad squad we had to start with. Ah the joy of getting a talent without spending the cash, even if we had to wait half a season to get them...

Yes to the Flamini question, and I never understood why Wenger didn't make a bigger push to resign him.

[ZM Punk]

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

We have to get a striker. Until then I just don't see us doing much if anything. Poor Eduardo just looks lost out there.

Luckily Cesc was f'ing brilliant before he had to be subbed of due to injury (surprise!). And once again Theo overrated Walcott looked like complete poop.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

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

Sporting Life is reporting that Arsene Wenger is to loan Jack Wilshire to Burnley next month. Good move for the lad if it comes off.


BTW, why has Eduardo been used sparingly just lately? He came on in the 63rd minute at Burnley, didn't come off the bench against Liverpool, not in team for Stoke and was subbed early against Chelsea and Sunderland. Is he not 100% fit? His form?

[rsnomar05]

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

Sporting Life is reporting that Arsene Wenger is to loan Jack Wilshire to Burnley next month. Good move for the lad if it comes off.


BTW, why has Eduardo been used sparingly just lately? He came on in the 63rd minute at Burnley, didn't come off the bench against Liverpool, not in team for Stoke and was subbed early against Chelsea and Sunderland. Is he not 100% fit? His form?

His form has been terrible. And it's too bad, because Arsenal could really use him playing well right now.

[ZM Punk]

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

Sporting Life is reporting that Arsene Wenger is to loan Jack Wilshire to Burnley next month. Good move for the lad if it comes off.


BTW, why has Eduardo been used sparingly just lately? He came on in the 63rd minute at Burnley, didn't come off the bench against Liverpool, not in team for Stoke and was subbed early against Chelsea and Sunderland. Is he not 100% fit? His form?

He has been on terrible form as rsomar said. Along with Walcott and Vela which couldn't have come at a worse time for Arsenal. Knowing that other than Arshavin they're our best attacking options at the moment.

[Perceptor]

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

Vela and Walcott aren't match fit....they've spent the better part of the season so far injured and have only come back in the last month or so. That's why they have struggled mightily. I continue to be the eternal optimist and hope that they will improve with more matches.

Eduardo has just struggled though. He is simply not fast or big enough to scare anyone and obviously he is not the same guy before that brutal injury. He's got skill, but I wonder mentally if he'll ever be the guy we signed in 2007.

The guy we really need back right now is Bendtner. Yeah I know about his brash attitude and maddening play at times, but he is the one true guy with the strength and height to help Arsenal in the box. He is the only one bigger than 5'9 at this point who could be healthy in the next month or so

Having said that, no more draws against teams we should beat would help too.........

[Mo]

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

This is who Arsene should target

[Perceptor]

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

This is who Arsene should target

Umm...........no

Besides, who would pay 30 million quid for him? He's 28 and a lazy SOB. He is great in some games but disappears in too many others

[ZM Punk]

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

Vela and Walcott aren't match fit....they've spent the better part of the season so far injured and have only come back in the last month or so. That's why they have struggled mightily. I continue to be the eternal optimist and hope that they will improve with more matches.

Eduardo has just struggled though. He is simply not fast or big enough to scare anyone and obviously he is not the same guy before that brutal injury. He's got skill, but I wonder mentally if he'll ever be the guy we signed in 2007.

The guy we really need back right now is Bendtner. Yeah I know about his brash attitude and maddening play at times, but he is the one true guy with the strength and height to help Arsenal in the box. He is the only one bigger than 5'9 at this point who could be healthy in the next month or so

Having said that, no more draws against teams we should beat would help too.........

A month of games is more than enough time to start getting some kind of form back.

Those two have been horrendous, I mean horrendous. Especially Walcott, he looks like he has never played the game before. I know his decision making hasn't ever been the best, but good Lord. He hasn't made the right decision one one ball since he has been back.

Match fitness is no excuse for some of the mistakes Theo and Vela are making.

[rsnomar05]

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

This team can be so maddeningly inconsistent at times. They tie a team they should have beaten midweek, then win handily over the weekend. It's like they intentionally keep building up my hope only to dash it.

It was also nice to see Eduardo finally score, something positive regarding him for a change.

[goonertaff]

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

have nt been on this site for ages but just a few thoughts

Walcotts first touch is shocking and simply not good enough to hold down a first team spot i mean Wiltshire has better control

Vela is just getting some starts and sub appearances so maybe we can all agree to give him a year or two to develop, consider the difference with Bendtner early this season - scoring and not losing the ball and last year wasteful and a bloody liability

Song has really really come on the performance in the last Champions league game was truely outstanding

Im not crapping myself about losing Cesc next season as im sure Ramsey can step in and do the job

If Diaby can say healthy for a season I can see him turning into a wolrd class Midfielder power strength and vision just needs to stop coughing up the ball ala' last season.

And id rather lose an eye than watch Burgertoff play in the red and white of Arsenal just what we need another ineffective flicks and tricks kind of player

When Bendter comes back I think we should be ok and I can see him scoring 10-12 goals between now and the end of the year the problems will occur next season when RVP is fit because if Bendtner is playing well they are both going to want to start

oh and the reason Flamini did nt get signed. Other than his last season he did nt develop as hoped due to long term injury and being forced to play 1/2 a season as a left back- entering his last year he wanted a massive pay rise(which at the end of the year he was worth) Wenger offered him less and the rest is history but then we did get him on a free the same way