Arsenal Thread 2013/14

[gooner6729]

Both Hazard and Oscar are as creative as Cazorla. Ozil is a different matter though. I genuinely think a lot of people are underestimating just how good he is much like with RVP actually. When you sign a genuine top 10 player in the world it changes everything. Most people, myself included tend to use the term world class for a guy in the top 5 or 6 in his position, some even top 10. Not the case with Ozil.

I agree, but I'm not sure this is the best investment for them. I think a squad upgrade like Spurs did would have been wiser. Ozil is going to be magnificent for them, he's too good not to. But he can't solve some of the real problems in Arsenal's squad, and it's still severely lacking depth. The fight for CL places got more interesting but this doesn't make them title contenders IMO. I'm actually surprised Ozil was willing to go there considering they've been on the sidelines since the "Invincibles", unless Wenger made him some assurances about the future transfer wise. Got to hand it to them, I didn't think they had that kind of pull any more.

Pull? We live in a world where Monaco with their 3,000 fans signed Falcao, and Anzhi attracted global stars into the wilderness of Mongolia.

Assuming everything else (money) being equal Arsenal are the most attractive club in England. United are bigger, but the London factor sways it Arsenals way.

Wenger, the style of football of recent decades and the fact it's a homelier club than Madrid, Barca or Bayern also help.

Ozil won't turn the Gunners into title challengers, but its a signal. Firstly to the disgruntled fans who have been in rebellion mode, and secondly to further top quality arrivals in forthcoming windows. FFP won't stop City or Chelski, but it will slow them down.

The Emirates move was always a long term project. The plan was to get on an equal financial footing with United. That time has come.

Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour were not on the scene, when the plans were made, but the fact United have kept pace with them makes me confident that AFC will do likewise now the financial shackles are slowly being loosened.

Arsenal are (nearly) back !

 

[Marvin]

Both Hazard and Oscar are as creative as Cazorla. Ozil is a different matter though. I genuinely think a lot of people are underestimating just how good he is much like with RVP actually. When you sign a genuine top 10 player in the world it changes everything. Most people, myself included tend to use the term world class for a guy in the top 5 or 6 in his position, some even top 10. Not the case with Ozil.

I agree, but I'm not sure this is the best investment for them. I think a squad upgrade like Spurs did would have been wiser. Ozil is going to be magnificent for them, he's too good not to. But he can't solve some of the real problems in Arsenal's squad, and it's still severely lacking depth. The fight for CL places got more interesting but this doesn't make them title contenders IMO. I'm actually surprised Ozil was willing to go there considering they've been on the sidelines since the "Invincibles", unless Wenger made him some assurances about the future transfer wise. Got to hand it to them, I didn't think they had that kind of pull any more.

Pull? We live in a world where Monaco with their 3,000 fans signed Falcao, and Anzhi attracted global stars into the wilderness of Mongolia.

Assuming everything else (money) being equal Arsenal are the most attractive club in England. United are bigger, but the London factor sways it Arsenals way.

Wenger, the style of football of recent decades and the fact it's a homelier club than Madrid, Barca or Bayern also help.

Ozil won't turn the Gunners into title challengers, but its a signal. Firstly to the disgruntled fans who have been in rebellion mode, and secondly to further top quality arrivals in forthcoming windows. FFP won't stop City or Chelski, but it will slow them down.

The Emirates move was always a long term project. The plan was to get on an equal financial footing with United. That time has come.

Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour were not on the scene, when the plans were made, but the fact United have kept pace with them makes me confident that AFC will do likewise now the financial shackles are slowly being loosened.

Arsenal are (nearly) back !

I'd love to disagree with you Matty, but yes Arsenal are on their way back. I think Ozil kind of stumbled into your arms, and could easily have gone elsewhere, but that doesn't matter now.

If City can make the transition this season, then forget about FFP. We'll have the new expanded stadium coming on line and an ever increasing commercial sponsorships. However, I have big doubts whether City will make the top 4. Very early days, but City have looked very shaky and it can't all be put down to injuries to central defenders.

 

[gooner6729]

I agree, but I'm not sure this is the best investment for them. I think a squad upgrade like Spurs did would have been wiser. Ozil is going to be magnificent for them, he's too good not to. But he can't solve some of the real problems in Arsenal's squad, and it's still severely lacking depth. The fight for CL places got more interesting but this doesn't make them title contenders IMO. I'm actually surprised Ozil was willing to go there considering they've been on the sidelines since the "Invincibles", unless Wenger made him some assurances about the future transfer wise. Got to hand it to them, I didn't think they had that kind of pull any more.

Pull? We live in a world where Monaco with their 3,000 fans signed Falcao, and Anzhi attracted global stars into the wilderness of Mongolia.

Assuming everything else (money) being equal Arsenal are the most attractive club in England. United are bigger, but the London factor sways it Arsenals way.

Wenger, the style of football of recent decades and the fact it's a homelier club than Madrid, Barca or Bayern also help.

Ozil won't turn the Gunners into title challengers, but its a signal. Firstly to the disgruntled fans who have been in rebellion mode, and secondly to further top quality arrivals in forthcoming windows. FFP won't stop City or Chelski, but it will slow them down.

The Emirates move was always a long term project. The plan was to get on an equal financial footing with United. That time has come.

Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour were not on the scene, when the plans were made, but the fact United have kept pace with them makes me confident that AFC will do likewise now the financial shackles are slowly being loosened.

Arsenal are (nearly) back !

I'd love to disagree with you Matty, but yes Arsenal are on their way back. I think Ozil kind of stumbled into your arms, and could easily have gone elsewhere, but that doesn't matter now.

If City can make the transition this season, then forget about FFP. We'll have the new expanded stadium coming on line and an ever increasing commercial sponsorships. However, I have big doubts whether City will make the top 4. Very early days, but City have looked very shaky and it can't all be put down to injuries to central defenders.

City not top 4? They will finish 1st or 2nd with Mourinho's chavs being the main hurdle. The squad is too strong for anything less. United 3d and us 4th once again, but we'll be back in the big time after that. Arsenal have the best fundamentals of any club in England.

 

[Marvin]

Pull? We live in a world where Monaco with their 3,000 fans signed Falcao, and Anzhi attracted global stars into the wilderness of Mongolia.

Assuming everything else (money) being equal Arsenal are the most attractive club in England. United are bigger, but the London factor sways it Arsenals way.

Wenger, the style of football of recent decades and the fact it's a homelier club than Madrid, Barca or Bayern also help.

Ozil won't turn the Gunners into title challengers, but its a signal. Firstly to the disgruntled fans who have been in rebellion mode, and secondly to further top quality arrivals in forthcoming windows. FFP won't stop City or Chelski, but it will slow them down.

The Emirates move was always a long term project. The plan was to get on an equal financial footing with United. That time has come.

Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour were not on the scene, when the plans were made, but the fact United have kept pace with them makes me confident that AFC will do likewise now the financial shackles are slowly being loosened.

Arsenal are (nearly) back !

I'd love to disagree with you Matty, but yes Arsenal are on their way back. I think Ozil kind of stumbled into your arms, and could easily have gone elsewhere, but that doesn't matter now.

If City can make the transition this season, then forget about FFP. We'll have the new expanded stadium coming on line and an ever increasing commercial sponsorships. However, I have big doubts whether City will make the top 4. Very early days, but City have looked very shaky and it can't all be put down to injuries to central defenders.

City not top 4? They will finish 1st or 2nd with Mourinho's chavs being the main hurdle. The squad is too strong for anything less. United 3d and us 4th once again, but we'll be back in the big time after that. Arsenal have the best fundamentals of any club in England.

I am not sure. Looks like its unravelling at the moment

Scored two good goals v Hull, but we lost control of that game, and it was Hull. Not seen anything like it in a long time. Worse than Wembley versus Wigan which you could put down to Mancini getting fired. I've got big doubts about the new manager as he's making some big changes which we don't need, Certainly not on day 1

 

[Castiel]

Pull? We live in a world where Monaco with their 3,000 fans signed Falcao, and Anzhi attracted global stars into the wilderness of Mongolia.

Assuming everything else (money) being equal Arsenal are the most attractive club in England. United are bigger, but the London factor sways it Arsenals way.

Wenger, the style of football of recent decades and the fact it's a homelier club than Madrid, Barca or Bayern also help.

Ozil won't turn the Gunners into title challengers, but its a signal. Firstly to the disgruntled fans who have been in rebellion mode, and secondly to further top quality arrivals in forthcoming windows. FFP won't stop City or Chelski, but it will slow them down.

The Emirates move was always a long term project. The plan was to get on an equal financial footing with United. That time has come.

Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour were not on the scene, when the plans were made, but the fact United have kept pace with them makes me confident that AFC will do likewise now the financial shackles are slowly being loosened.

Arsenal are (nearly) back !

You have to admit that you were surprised to attract a player of this calibre. Arsenal haven't shown any ambition in years. We all know they're capable of it but they never tried. I do have to wonder what Wenger said to Ozil about his plans for the future, because I can't imagine he'll be satisfied with a fight for 4th place every season.

To think of how good your team could be if you hadn't sold off all your best assets. Ozil providing for RVP alone would have been a sight to behold. Mix in Fabregas, Nasri, Clichy and some of your better new additions like Cazorla and that's as good a team as any in the League.

But if this isn't a one off panic move from Wenger, Arsenal could indeed be on the way back. I guess we'll find out in the next window.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

If Arsenal had had a Baldini or Txiki in charge of transfers this summer alone they'd be back in the title race.

Is Ozil a trend or a one-off? the way Arsenal are run and do business you just don't know.

Over the past 5 years Arsenal basically chopped their own head off in terms of strategy and they have a long way to go to repair what was huge damage to what was one or two signings away from being an English League dominating side.

 

[gooner6729]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

 

[GHoddle]

I think Arsenal are definite title challengers. I feel like at the beginning of last season they were a bit like Spurs are now - a number of new players to bed in and star goalscorer gone. They did improve their team last summer with Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud, Monreal in Jan, and Wilshere returning. I think they only really formed an understanding as a team in the beginning of this year, and they finished the year in the best form of any team in the league, I think it was 8 wins and 2 draws in the last 10 games, and they beat Bayern Munich away in that period. So imo they were already a team that was very good and could possibly have challenged for the title without any major signings, especially with the way they usually demolish the weaker teams. With the signing of Ozil though I think they will have a greater ability to break down the teams who are actually capable of defending (they didn't win many games against the "big teams" last season). Usually you can beat Arsenal by taking a defensive shape and pressing relentlessly, and can beat them on the counterattack because they lack strength in midfield (a tactic we didn't employ in the derby), but I think that will be more difficult now. They also have two pretty good defensive midfielders in Ramsey and Flamini.

So title challengers imo. On paper, United's squad isn't even close to Arsenal's imo.

 

[ROCKET80]

Reminds me of the Robinho signing.

It was great for us fans to seeing a genuine world class talent show off thier skills on th epitch. But it was a fan pleaser and the money would have been betterspent elsewhere (of course it's not exactly the same, Robinho was a statement signing, but you catch my drift).

This signing doesn't change anything, Arsenal are still in a battle for 4th with Spurs. A Spurs who have spent well having addressed most of (although not all) of their issues.

 

[stonerblue]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

you have the 'biggest history'?
What the fuck does that mean?

 

[mat]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

you have the 'biggest history'?
What the fuck does that mean?

he means in hypocrisy. See Danny Fiszman

 

[Worst Case Ontario]

Ozil is amazing signing for them, he would be for everyone. Let's see if Arsenal are changing their ways.

 

[samharris]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

Eh??

 

[sam-caddick]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

Eh??

Didn't Arsenal have the most league titles during that time though?

 

[Castiel]

 

[ROCKET80]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

People don't understand how Arsenal work.
We do. Arsenal cheat, manipulate and collaborate to get to/stay at the top. Be it form Arsenals very origins, to the PremierLeague or the G14

We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history
What?

We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk.
Posh? The behaviour of the majority of Arsenal ‘fans’ is anything but. I agree you don’t usually do risk, the only period of risk was taken under Wenger and he spent big with big wages which strangely coincided with your most successful period.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced
They were indeed forced, by the players.

The club had nothing
Where did that large surplus of cash come from, the large surplus that’s been sitting in the bank for years come from. Sure some of it was from sales but it’s not like you haven’t spent small fortunes over those 5 years either.

Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium
Remind me, were you not one of (if not the) first club to sell the naming rights to a stadium? With the highest ticket prices to help pay for it? You might want to look into the deals you secured over the years with Nike, Granada etc

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.[/b
]Why would we? If you win it, you deserve to win it. To do it though, you’ll need to spend more money, more regularly and your wage ceiling will have to increase.

If you get to levels of challenging for the league and CL every season fair play, but try not to patronise eveyone by telling us you did it the ‘right way’. You were only able to do this due to the fact you spent big during Wengers early years pulling ahead of your rivals and allowing you this grace period of mediocrity. You should be thanking Liverpool for their ineptitude causing their demise which meant your 4th spot was comfortably secured the past few years despite the rise of City.

 

[Anonymous]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

People don't understand how Arsenal work.
We do. Arsenal cheat, manipulate and collaborate to get to/stay at the top. Be it form Arsenals very origins, to the PremierLeague or the G14

We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history
What?

We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk.
Posh? The behaviour of the majority of Arsenal ‘fans’ is anything but. I agree you don’t usually do risk, the only period of risk was taken under Wenger and he spent big with big wages which strangely coincided with your most successful period.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced
They were indeed forced, by the players.

The club had nothing
Where did that large surplus of cash come from, the large surplus that’s been sitting in the bank for years come from. Sure some of it was from sales but it’s not like you haven’t spent small fortunes over those 5 years either.

Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium
Remind me, were you not one of (if not the) first club to sell the naming rights to a stadium? With the highest ticket prices to help pay for it? You might want to look into the deals you secured over the years with Nike, Granada etc

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.
Why would we? If you win it, you deserve to win it. To do it though, you’ll need to spend more money, more regularly and your wage ceiling will have to increase.

If you get to levels of challenging for the league and CL every season fair play, but try not to patronise eveyone by telling us you did it the ‘right way’. You were only able to do this due to the fact you spent big during Wengers early years pulling ahead of your rivals and allowing you this grace period of mediocrity. You should be thanking Liverpool for their ineptitude causing their demise which meant your 4th spot was comfortably secured the past few years despite the rise of City.

 

[samharris]

People don't understand how Arsenal work. It's always been a conservative club with a long term view. We won nothing between 53 and 70. Spurs, and even Chelski and West Ham won trophies during that period. We still had the biggest ground, fanbase and history. We are boring, posh, conservative and don't do risk. Whether its a fault or a blessing in the DNA of the club I have wondered all my life.

What people also don't understand is that the sales over the last 5 years were forced. The club had nothing. Our sponsorship deals were at 1990s levels to help finance the stadium. You lot and the chavs didn't help.

I would have preferred the Usmanov scenario , but our board decided Kroenke was the way forward. As much as I hate the vile yank with no love for our club, I'm close to believing they did the right thing.

If we return to win the league in the next 3-4 years I doubt any United, City or Chav fan would argue with it.

Eh??

Didn't Arsenal have the most league titles during that time though?

Was just ribbing another 'history' merchant fella,although I dont recall Arsenal winning anything back then,If they did..then well done,where'd it get them??..

 

[Bluesince1979]

I hate Arsenal with a passion. I hate united because, well they deserve it and they are our local rivals so it goes hand in hand. But Arsenal fans, fuck me. Never met a bunch of supporters with a more misguided sense of entitlement. Banging on about how they do it the right way etc etc blah blah blah.

In the thirties, when they were THE big team, didn't they take Huddersfields (who were the big team before them) manager and all the best players? Wasn't there some bribery or brown envelope payments at the time ?

When Wenger first came they paid top Dollar for everyone! Were part of the same little group that Greg Dyke was going on about yesterday, pioneers of the Prem. bollocks, they were greedy fuckers then and have this strange parallel universe idea that they are a proper run club, good old Arsenal.

So yeah, fuckin hate em.

 

[supercity88]

What Arsenal did possibly better than anyone else is buy foreign players when young and cheaper and get massive improvements from those players. They bought very well indeed. But they still bought. Buying players has been a part of football for some considerable time now. Real are regarded as the biggest club side in the world, but they essentially bought their European cups and Spanish league titles. Barca then matched their strategy and those two pulled away from the others. It has always generally been the clubs that spend the most that do the best. Bayern have monopolised the Bundesliga and just by every other clubs best players each season. In England there seems to be this feeling of victory being hollow if you spend money. But times have changed, for all Liverpool's great history they have done sweet fa since the 80s in the league and that is because they have failed to create the right team. Whilst the rags had a core of academy players come good, the scousers flopped and despite their wealth only really threatened for one season. When the money went they have struggled to form any threat since. The good thing about the money situation in the Premiership is that there are more than 2 clubs that have it and that has meant that the traditional clubs who had the finances based on their infrastructure (built on the back of previous success) have been challenged. The fact is that without the influx of money into clubs and the league the rags would have created such a strong hold on things due to their large stadium and sustainable income, that it would have turned into a farce.