It was touch and go on deadline day as to whether Arsenal would complete the signing of Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta. Thankfully the deal was done because the idea of this Arsenal side operating without the cultured Spaniard is more than a bit scary.
Naturally there was a period of adapation but Arteta’s quality and experience have been crucial in hauling the Gunners back into something approaching decent form. And Arsene Wenger considers himself lucky to have Arteta on board.
“He is an important player for our team,” said the boss. “He is really a player between Song and Ramsey or Rosicky and that gives us continuity. When we need to keep the ball he can achieve that – Jack can do that as well. But with Jack missing he is a player who can keep the ball when it is needed.”
His quality isn’t just appreciated by the manager either. Rookie Carl Jenkison was keen to sing his praises after the West Brom game, saying:
“He’s got that experience and he’s got that class about him as well like he will always keep the ball. Like when you think he’s in a tricky situation, he’s got great feet and he’ll always get out of that situation.
“And he’s a model professional as well, he’s someone I look up to, like he’s been around the game for a long time so I can learn a lot from him and he’s done really, really well today.”
As many Arsenal players go away on international duty, Arteta will stay behind to play Cluedo and Risk with Manuel Almunia. Wenger believes Arteta has been unlucky to be around at a time when Spain have so many quality midfielders.
“He had the bad luck to play for Wales who never went to a big tournament. Arteta was born in Spain where they have plenty of midfielders who are absolutely outstanding. What maybe didn’t help him is that he was very young and he did not move to clubs who were maybe as glamorous as they should have been.
“It shows what I always say – 90 per cent of a player’s career is the club. It’s the club who makes the career of the players. If he was English he would have an international career here.”
Or, he’d have been left on the bench while average Dans like Gareth Barry got picked all the time. Not that Arsenal fans will mind, as the fulcrum of the midfield gets to recharge his batteries for a couple of weeks.
You missed out the comparison with Giggs, so it sounds like Arteta had the misfortune to play for Wales.
Thought that was an intentional omission by our dearest humorist Blogger? Lol.
BTW Arteta has been a humdinger of a player in recent games for us.
Thought that was an intentional omission by our dearest humorist Blogger? Lol.
BTW, Arteta has been a humdinger of a player in recent games for us.
I wouldnt be surprised at all the see arteta joining the spain national side this summer though. No offence to Everton, cause i know how much Arteta loves that club as well, but at Arsenal i think Arteta has been giving the oppurtunity to show what a highly professional skilled midfielder can do for a top-flight team.
He will definetely be a valid back-up for some of the current spanish midfielders. Who we know, that they got a few on their team that are prone to injuries.
Had to re-read what Jenkinson said a few times. Sounded like he was describing Arteta as a Professional Model.
I haven’t been that impressed with Arteta since he joined us. He is an efficient player who gets the job done but he doesn’t have the same energy or eye for a pass as Ramsey or Song, who in my opinion out perform him every game. I don’t think he was a bad signing but I think he will be more of a squad player when Wilshere returns from injury.
Having said all that his goal was very well taken on Saturday.
I’m not sure you can overstate the importance to this team of having someone with a bit of experience and determination in there, for years we’ve been decrying the weak mentality and glass jaw of this team which is something guys like Arteta will help. He hasn’t been flashy but he’s been solid and given the flash this team used to have without the solidity, it’s a welcome change.
Mikel Arteta > Scott Parker
i agree, id rather less flashyness, more winningness, arteta was the type of player we needed
fact of the matter is, we made top class signings, time needed to gel, man city went shopping last season and weren’t world beaters, keep a group together and they improve
@DV, spot on mate. Couldn’t agree more.
@baz, well said.
Arteta is deep lying playmaker . It’s Ramsey’s job to assist RVP and wingers and be direct , Arteta’s job is keep and the ball and occassionaly pass it to the wingers
As scribbers said Arteta > Scott parker . He has already scored 2 goals and assisted few . what else do you want from a DEEP-LYING PLAYMAKER ?
I know he is not flashy ,but he is good looking
Only reason I’m semi thankfull for this interlull is two weeks rest for Arteta without rotation. Couldn’t have timed it better infact, he was definatley comming up to breather time. *swoon*
Anyway, apart from him and Jenkinson that’s pretty much the entire first team off to my injury gods protection shrine.
Mikel gets to spend 2 weeks of quality time recharging with his wife. Now THAT is a good way to spend an international break. He’s probably laughing it up.
http://www.athleteswives.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Mikel-Artetas-Wife-Lorena-Bernal.jpg
Arteta’s wife for research purposes.
¡Coño, que rica!
She’s a cracker hope he dos’ent come back with groin strain
can’t believe arteta didn’t get this praise when he just came to arsenal, he was a terrific player at everton for so long and held their team together. has been my favourite player outside of arsenal, when he signed i was delighted. still can’t believe he hasn’t played an international game. would be up there with the best players to not have played an international game. out of curiosity, what other great players haven’t played for their country as well?
A quick question but has he actually played for Spain? If not, then couldn’t he apply for dual nationality and play for England? He’s better than a lot we have at the moment
NOOOOOOOOO
the last time that idea was bandied about we watched in horror as “England’s No 1” turned back into teh hapless waiter from Barcelona
let us not tempt fate
agree, although i’d happily relieve the toffees of fellaini and baines as well.
fellaini looks to me the kind of player we’d imagine diaby to be, if he were ever fit or applied his considerable skills with consistency and desire.
baines is just a good proper full back. like those.
He is a top Donkey for the team. Always running and tackling (tackling isn’t his strong point) but he is willing to put his ass on the line. That’s very important for our team. He is a soldier.
“He is a top Donkey”
“willing to put his ass on the line”
I see what you did there.
[…] convincing me that he does a far more important task at the moment. Arsene himself has admitted Arteta’s importance in retaining possession, so I am not sprouting […]
Passing as sharp as his cheekbones.Swoon.
Arteta is a decent player but can never be called great. Having (finally) seen some highlights of Saturday’s match it looks like he had a good game, and he superbly finished off what was a brilliant team goal. The overall performance against West Brom was excellent. We controlled the game from start to finish and won without any of the usual silly defensive lapses. The Pole had a nice quiet afternoon between the sticks – that’s a great sign. It’s really annoying that this stupid international week has come upon us. With the form starting to come back a nice… Read more »
“Arteta is a decent player but can never be called great.”
Hmm, that’s an interesting point of view. I look forward to reading the rest of your post which will no doubt back up the claim.
“Having (finally) seen some highlights of Saturday’s match”
Oh okay. Opinion thus dismissed.
I’m sorry! Actually Arteta is a brilliant world-class player who’s on a par with Messi and Ronaldo – that’s why at twenty-nine he’s never been fully capped by Spain, and he’s spent the last six years playing for a shit team like Everton.
Take off the blinkers, mate!
Hey fatgooner, I’m going to change my name on this site. I suggest you do the same. That way all these cunts won’t just give us thumbs down because of who we are. It seems that were being discriminated against. I can say nothing bad at all and I still get a ton of thumbs down. This is my last post as frog. In two weeks I’ll reveal my new name an we shall see if my comments are received differently. Cheers mate.
You could come back as Prince.
Please don’t, Frog. This website – and our club – need realistic supporters like us who are not afraid to tell it like it is. I don’t give a damn how many muppets disagree with me. I love the club and only want what’s best for us – and more than anything that means winning trophies. When the players or manager don’t perform to the very high standards that we have set at Arsenal then I will say so. And whenever we do well I am one of the first to give praise (just as I did today and after… Read more »
Yes fatgooner I know what your saying. You’re rite, fuck it. I’m still frog and I’m just going to keep calling it how I see it. I’d these chumps don’t like it…………..
Nice idea TomC, but Prince has already made his comeback….how about “squiggly symbol”?
For the record, Phatgooner and Frog, I couldn’t give a monkeys what name you use. Doesn’t make a difference to my personal opinion, besides which I mostly pick only the one reply I agree / disagree with most to give the thumbs up or down to. Sometimes it’s one of the two of you, sometimes it isn’t.
you guys are more than welcome to “call it like it is”, but seriously most people are coming here to look for either good news or to be in a community of other optimistic gooners.
If you think you can exact change in the club by ranting every now and then to a site full of people who understand exactly how much control they actually have, then your welcome to. But don’t be surprised when your unwanted criticisms get thumbed down.
And really, if it’s something disagreeable then i don’t think anyone really cares what the name is…
Frog November 7, 2011 at 8:48 pm I read your inputs in a daily basis…actually both you and Fatgooners and can conclude that you are both party spoilers. Since March 2011 to about six weeks ago… it’s seemed the World and her dog thought Arsenal was a club in crisis. Now with a few wins and positivity emitting from the players the supporters are showing joy and boasting a little (Be aware of ghosts). So lighten up and get on the train. Furthermore if you wish to be liked (ticked up) say good things occasionally about fellow imputers Blogs are… Read more »
Too bad, Anon’s taken. Get away from my arseblog screen name.
I’m actually happy if they did change their name.
It would:
1) Prove them it’s not the name, but it’s the etiquette that matters.
2) Give no loss of value.
What’s that, son? No, it wasn’t horrible Spurs fans calling us muppets and cunts. It was other Gooners. Yes, that’s right, Gooners who get less pleasure out of seeing Arsenal playing and winning than most Spurs fans do. What funny Gooners they are !!!
That’s funny, every time I watched Everton I wanted Arteta on our side. He is as solid as it gets, constantly between 85-90% passing. There are things called cogs in the machinery, and he is a main one. Don’t be so silly as to write him off because he hasn’t played for a huge club or for Spain. That’s like saying Britney Spears can actually sing well just because she’s so popular.
“I’d like to see two major signings in January.” Pray tell who they should be and how much we should pay them, how long the contract should be. aaahhhhhnnnnnmmmm
Well it’s a shame that we didn’t snap up either Javier Hernandez or Luis Suarez when we could. Instead, our wonderful manager thought that a complete donkey like Chamakh could win us the League last season. The signing of second-rate players like Chamakh and now Park just prove my point when I say that the club has been run badly on and off the pitch. A club of our stature should be prepared to shell out 25 million plus on players of PROVEN QUALITY, and pay them the 150k a week that modern superstars demand. Instead Wenger always seems to… Read more »
Weal, a signing like Javier Hernandez comes along every now and then. Our scouts just didn’t spot him, just like they did spot say, Pires. It’s a shame, but everynow and then, someone makes a steal. On the other hand, I think most gooners would agree that the last two transfer windows where handled abysmally, regardless of the late rush. It’s had a massive impact, Chamakh is a disapointment, nothing in his french career or the start of his Arsenal career suggested this was comming. It’s a damn shame, probably time to cut him loose. Park is a stopgap squad… Read more »
Fatgooner November 8, 2011 at 3:08 pm Thank you for your response. I do apologise for the delay in responding. I agree with both these names you suggest; they are good players (Hernandez and Suarez), but I am perplexed by your use of “donkey” to describe an Arsenal player, but saying that Tony Adams was called a donkey and he did not do so badly. I must mention a topic not addressed on this blog… Chamakh may have arrived at the Emirates a year too late to fulfil his potential. In terms of Park, he have played three games and… Read more »
@interlull, so he asks for the side to be reinforced with a few top quality players and your response is to mock him and ask him to play championship manager? Sorry mate, but that a ridiculous post. Not all gooners are like you and want to sit around and hug each other and be happy finishing fourth. Some of us want this club to live up to the very high standards that many members and followers of this club have set over the past century. We want to truly compete to WIN in every competition. Fourth is not a victory.… Read more »
“very high standards over the past century”?!? Arsenal’s league finishes under Arsene Wenger are evidence of the most consistently high final positions of Arsenal in any era. The problem with you and that other guy is you just don’t see reality as it is but rather as you wish it were. You come off as bitter and delusional. It’s all more than a bit antisocial.
First for Frog “@interlull, so he asks for the side to be reinforced with a few top quality players and your response is to mock him and ask him to play championship manager?” It’s not easy to spot players. Fatgooner was calling the manager an idiot for not grabbing those steals. At the same time, why wasn’t he cursing Sir Alex Ferguson for not getting Pires? Not getting Henry? Hernandez isn’t a world-renowned superstar, and it’s not like Arsenal will always get the good cheap options. Hell, they could’ve signed Lionel Messi a decade back, but the paperwork didn’t go… Read more »
fatgooner “So many of our supporters now appear to be happy with fourth place. For me that is simply not good enough. If we were properly managed then we would have probably the League twice in the last five years.” This is a posteriori, not a priori. Don’t understand what I mean? Google. Also, Park has only played in 3 games. Why the hell are you deeming him a horrible player before he has even proved ANYTHING? I see football column writers criticized ALL THE TIME about judging players when they’re just 10 games into their new EPL career, and… Read more »
Thankfully, Arteta won’t be in Spain drinking Cunt Xavi’s Barcelona DNA Goo..!
I’m sad Arteta doesn’t get appreciated as much just because he’s not in the advanced playmaker role everybody wants him to be in 🙁
His desire and sharp features are enough for a place in my heart.
Also, since Arteta has played as a winger for Everton, would Arsene consider putting him there when Gervinho leaves (since Wilshere is back)? In a way, copying what Newcastle did with Barton last season.
Funny how everyone was complaining that Arsene wanted to field a team of 8 wingers judging by his transfer moves, and now that Gervinho is off for a month for ANC, suddenly we don’t have anyone to slot in for him???
Arshavin, Benayoun, Ox, Rosicky has played there, Ryo…
I would go for Ox or Arshavin, but seeing as Arshavin often switches off on the wing, it would most probably be Alex.
I was only wondering / suggesting if Arteta could play in that winger role. He once excelled at it in Everton if I remember correctly, and last season Barton did contribute well for Newcastle in the wing through his smart diagonal passes. Arteta, I believe, can do the same, while also providing some of his energetic midfield displays in that corner, something Theo and Arshavin (and maybe Alex) lack.
I feel that Lansbury can develop into the type of box-to-box, dogged in defence, yet silky with ball at feet kind of player. He has both sides to his game. What Arteta brings, and of course it is talked about by everybody, is the know-how that only experienced players have. Talking about experienced players, has anyone seen the list of bosman available players on goal.com..? I know they are getting on in years, but a cheeky (and likely to be accepted) bid in Jan for players like Anelka, Berbatov or Drogba can be short term solutions to our “only got… Read more »
*can develop into the type of player that Arteta currently is.
Theres just no way I would accept Berba, Anelka and Drogba in Arsenal.
Jesus..
Berbatov is still Tottenscum in my eyes.
Anelka is a mercenary sulk who had his chance, and has had his day.
Drogba just seems past his best. Plus I don’t like the Predator looking cheating cunny either.
If these players aren’t good enough for Chelsea or ManUre anymore then they’re not good enough for us.
Well said
Haha, yeah I get what youre saying. It was of course a short term suggestion, but these players could ably lead the line for 6 months if RVP got injured. Im not saying I like them as people. That said, one of my favourite things about the current squad is that I like the players. No Eboue, no Bendtner, no Ade. So maybe just hope Park and Chamack-my-bitch-up can get it together. peace
I would love to have Drogba as a backup to RVP.
I have a question. Whats the deal with the whole hidden due to low comment rating shit? Some people are just massive cunts
looks like you might be about to find out…
Haha! Majestic timing.
Well, for a start, you will find some Gooners that find it distastseful to be described as cunts by somebody who is apparently another Gooner. I thought that throwing foul insults at us was the job of Spurs fans, not Arsenal fans.
You have my thumbs down not for the question, but for the disgusting insult to fellow Gooners that is ill befitting an Arsenal fan.
during the transfer window, the one rumoured target that i followed the most-and wanted the most- was not even a defender but Arteta. I wanted someone who could make the exit of Cesc less obvious and i was glad this player i had always rated was the target.
Truth is, he has not played the way i expected and hoped. Blending period may be. But i really hope he becomes the player i know he is capable of becoming. For now, sadly, he is not near it.
The level Arteta is playing now is more or less the level he was playing at for Everton since his injury. I doubt he will get much better.
danbar, i agree he’s been playing at this level since his injury. I do hope he gets back to his best, otherwise, he’ll find himself on the bench if everyone is fit.
I don’t get why TSOTIA’s comment was rated so low. What did he do wrong?
beats me too Anon. I wish one of them will state his case.
He seems to have been heavily involved in much of our recent play and has also scored and set up a few goals. What were you expecting of him? Did the loss of Cesc change your expectations in any way? To my mind Arteta’s play allows Ramsey to make the exit of Cesc less obvious. This is a pretty good thing he is doing for us in every match he has played, even though it has taken Ramsey a bit of time to get up to speed. I also suspect that Arteta’s mere presence in the squad is a steadying… Read more »
You have succeeded in telling me your expectations and I absolutely have no problems with that. don’t try to make me lower the standard of the player just to meet your own expectations of him. I, obviously, rate him higher than you do. Like I said earlier, I’m a big fan, but I’m also very objective. He can do far better than this, and I hope he does.
Cesc? What do you mean by that? Trying to be mischievous?
Dont let him play for Spain… Next thing you know they’ll be praising his ‘barca DNA’ and he’ll find himself in the same situation as fabregas did
Just a shame we don’t have Cesc playing alongside with him!
Cesc who?????
Move on fella.
fighting againt spurs for fourth spot is not classed as moving on IMO
yes Cesc is gone but we need a real replacement for him if we want to challenge for the title
Heihaci, such as? Unfortunately a player like Cesc comes along once in a generation. And unfortunately, he decided he didn’t want to play for us anymore (accepting all contributory factors in his decision).
So you don’t get a direct Cesc replacement, you have to find a different way of replacing him, which I think we’ve done to some extent with the way the Arteta – Song – Rambo combo is shaping up.
The point was Cesc is gone. Arsenal move on, so must we.
The guy is a quality player. I’ve wanted him at Arsenal for years. I was so happy when we got him. He’s put in some quietly effective shifts and I’m well happy with him so far.
We have really good options now in our central midfield, in my opinion:
Arteta, Ramsey, Song, Wilshere, CoqPong, Benayoun, Diaby, Lansbury…
There are bright times ahead, I’m sure of it, and what’s more, there aren’t really any over-inflated egos there either.
Spot on Merlin. I can’t for the life of me understand people saying he’s not this and he’s not that.
They can’t be watching the same solid, effective, experienced, team-player, who’s adding so much to this side.
What’s the current swoon count sitting at?
Reading the exchange between Frog and Fatgooner above I think Fatgooner has a point. The thumbs up/down system in fun but there’s a risk of abuse and a consequent dumbing down of the comments. There’s a difference between disagreement and disapproval. I disagree that Wenger is doing a bad job. I disapprove of everyone being called cunts. One deserves a thumbs down, the other doesn’t. Thumb downs should only be for abusive comments, racism, homophobia, trolling etc and not for different, honestly held footballing opinions – no matter irritatingly negative and Eeyore-ish. The voting system’s vulnerable to abuse and it’s… Read more »
TomC
November 8, 2011 at 5:28 am
I agree that “Thumb downs should only be for abusive comments, racism, homophobia, trolling etc” but occasionally we use it when someone is continually being negative, like Frog and FatGooner.
Yes, would agree.
People are entitled to their opinion even if it is negative. I might increase the threshold for hiding comments.
If something is really offensive it’ll get enough thumbs down.
I certainly do not agree “Thumb downs should only be for abusive comments, racism, homophobia, trolling etc”. The thumbs system allows us to express our pleasure or displeasure at sentiments or expressions. In most cases, fatgooner and Frog are often very rude and inconsiderate. This brings about displeasure from many fans. Rather than giving a long and probably unread opinion of how inconsiderate they are, most people would rather make a CLEAR, concise and QUICK difference by showing the public their displeasure at the comment. Making the thumb system a system only for “for abusive comments, racism, homophobia, trolling etc”… Read more »
Example of ‘rude’ / ‘inconsiderate’: “Not all gooners are like you and want to sit around and hug each other and be happy finishing fourth.” This is a very deep ad hominem attack. A love for a football club can be as deep as religious roots, and such an offensive assumption is bound to rack up the negatives. Of course, it’s not a sugar-coated world, I agree, but be considerate. You don’t want the whole board calling each other cunts, so stop calling each other stupid names. You call me names, I call you names as well. It’s no different.… Read more »
hey anon, are you serious? you take offence to “sit around and hug each other”? wow, thats a bit sensitive no? i mean , it doesnt even imply anything “gay”. it was much more of a dirty, lazy, hippie reference. get a grip mate. your pc bullshit is whats ruining the world. man up
frog, when it comes to deciding what is offensive the decision is made by the reader of the comment, not the writer.
Anon, if you respond to something frog says then it is up to each reader to decide whether you were offensive. It is entirely possible for them to read your response, agree with the majority of it’s sentiments, yet still give you a thumbs down for being offensive to frog. To be honest I was with you through both your entries, right up to and including the point where you said “You call me names, I call you names as well. It’s no different. “, what a smart piece of writing I thought, and then you go and ruin it… Read more »
agree tom c. However, the person should not be thumbed down just because you dont like his veiws. If he has said something good, then let him be even if you dont like him.
Plus, most people have equated honest criticism with negativism. If a player plays poorly and you say so, you get ‘down’ because some over-zealous fans hate the truth. Do they really think they love the player or arsenal more? Delusion i will say.
*sorry* The Interlull Madness not Tom c
Thanks Tsotia. That’s exactly what I was saying. Cheers
I agree with your sentiments, but it is hard to actually regulate a person from thumbing down. This system was designed for public judgement. If the public thought your very rational comment a few posts back was awful, then they have the right to thumb it down. What’s more important however, is to just post what you think. If the public thinks reasonable posts like that are stupid, then they’re the ones stupid. I don’t care if they worship Mikel Arteta, you have the right to say that he’s not performing up to your expectations. It’s your expectations, not theirs.… Read more »
I get your point Anon. But that is the power of feedbacks. If you designed a thing and it becomes abused and used for what you did not intend, you dont just sit back and wish it away or shout ‘OMG! OMG!!’
You’ve got to savage the situation and that’s what this has called for.
Hope the right thing would be done.
I get your point Anon. But that is the power of feedbacks. If you designed a thing and it becomes abused and used for what you did not intend, you dont just sit back and wish it away or shout ‘OMG! OMG!!’
You’ve got to savage the situation and that’s what this has called for.
Hope the right thing will be done.
“However, the person should not be thumbed down just because you dont like his veiws. If he has said something good, then let him be even if you dont like him.” First half good. “Plus, most people have equated honest criticism with negativism. If a player plays poorly and you say so, you get ‘down’ because some over-zealous fans hate the truth. Do they really think they love the player or arsenal more? Delusion i will say.” Second half not so good. You seem to have decided for “most of us” why we use the down button. You also seem… Read more »
I have not decided for ‘most of us’. A short re-read through the archive will reveal that virtually ‘most of us’ thumbed down comments that even slightly suggested that a player didn’t particularly play well in a match, or to the best of his ability. Unless, of course, during the team’s poor run when ‘most of us’ didn’t see anything good in the team; or, if the particular player is disliked by ‘most of us’ eg delnison, chamarkh and bendtner.
I have not decided for ‘most of us’. A short re-read through the archive will reveal that virtually ‘most of us’ thumbed down comments that even slightly suggested that a player didn’t particularly play well in a match, or to the best of his ability. Unless, of course, during the team’s poor run when ‘most of us’ didn’t see anything good in the team; or, if the particular player is disliked by ‘most of us’ eg delnison, chamarkh and bendtner.
Btw, are/were you a teacher? Say ‘yes’!
If I don’t like what someone says or how they say it I’ll give it a thumbs down. that’s what it’s there for. It’s not to blow the whistle in case John Terry comes here to talk about his views on diversity and inclusion (although he’d probably fall over and smash his ugly mug on the corner of the table first, we hope) if frog/fatgooner/etc represented what most of us were thinking, guess what? they’d get lots of thumbs up. the fact that they don’t suggests that they’re out of step with the majority. that could be because they’re quite… Read more »
You said it Sam Nelson, drank the kool aide. As an arsenal supporter, I want to see my club win everytime they step onto the pitch. I expect and demand that from my club. If I don’t feel the commitment is there from them( the board) I’m going to speak up.
Even Barcelona fans don’t expect that the team will win *every* time they step on the pitch. You seem to have unrealistic and, frankly, immature expectations.
And if I see disrespect and foolish negligence on valid concerns of Arsenal fans’ opinions, I thumb it down. Perfectly reasonable. No need to change your handle name.
jasonissimo, he didn’t mean that Arsenal MUST win every trophy ever season per se, but he meant that he has a very strong desire to see them do this. It’s just the way he put it.
dont ever speak for me again anon. i dont need or want your input on anything i say. you are much too sensitive for my likes so leave it be please.
and guess what @jasonismo, barca fans do expect to winEVERYTIME, they step on the pitch. its called setting high standards and goals and aiming to achieve them….. in other words, greataness
I think the irony is Fatgooner’s original comment up there wasn’t negative or offensive (to me anyway). It was basically Arteta had a decent game and hope AW buys in January. Can’t argue with that really.
Although I do hope Frog changes his name. I’m looking forward to a game of Spot Frog over the next coupla weeks.
On that I can agree.
I agree that the original comment wasn’t that bad. I don’t think the thumbs down is just for abusive stuff. If I don’t like a comment, I would think I could give it a thumbs down. Maybe the issue is more the # of thumbs down required to get hidden comments. Maybe that should be upped so it only picks up those that are truly abusive or useless. Personally, I don’t like the hidden comments because reading on iPhone doesn’t seem to allow me to see them easily. I find them interesting because I can see all the replies and… Read more »
The iPhone thing’s a good point. I’m sick and tired of giving a thumbs up to Frog and Fatgooner, just so I can see what they’ve got a thumbs down for (of course, having then read it, I give them a thumbs down, naturally. Hehe – I’m joking lads).
I’m thinking of moving to North Korea – there’s more free speech and impartiality there than this website.
Actually mate, it kind of sounds like some of these guys are coming around. I like the thumbs up/down thing, I just wish the comment wouldn’t be hidden. I don’t care how Many people disagree with what I say, as long as I am free to say it. When it gets hidden, I feel I lose that.
The fact is, you and I get thumbs down before a lot of people even read what we’ve written. That sucks.
Fatgooner
November 8, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Frog
November 9, 2011 at 1:52 am
“When we talk of freedom of speeech for all man, the mocking paradoxes in our own society become so clear they can no longer be ignored.”
I salute you both for your steadfastness.
“When we talk of freedom and opportunity for all nations, the mocking paradoxes in our own society become so clear they can no longer be ignored.”
Not freedom of speech in its original quote.
A SIMPLE (AND NOT INTELLECTUAL) QUESTION FOR ANON AND THAT INTERLULL PERSON: Firstly, I’d like to point out a few facts. If I’m wrong please pull me up. 1. Arsenal Football club is one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football, winning thirteen league titles and ten FA cups, as well as various other trophies in Europe and England. 2. Arsenal Football Club has a sixty thousand capacity stadium, which it fills for almost every home game. 3. Arsenal Football Club has tens of millions of supporters around the world, from Berlin to Buenos Aires; and… Read more »
the bit where you’re wrong is at the end where you say “this level of abysmal failure”
that, and conflating the idea that because we’re not all burning effigies of wenger, we are “happy” with the situation we’re in
it would also seem as if you’re remarkably unfamiliar with the history of the club, where a 6 year gap between trophies was once viewed as being something of a purple patch
apart from those trifles, your histrionic post is brilliantly accurate
I do not think we are divided along expectation lines; I think what divides us is the way to achieve that expectation, or prevent re-occurrence of present situation.
spot on fatgooner. it appears that there are only a few of us left whom demand excellence from out club. excusses no longer stand up. fourth place is no trophy. win, win,win again. if a player isnt preforming (arshavin, chamakh) ship em out and properly replace them. thats what every other “big” club does. can anyone honestly say that either of these two would still be in any side out of: barca, madrid, milan, inter, unted or chelsea? no way. no excuses. would fergie have put up with cesc or nasris bullshit? no way. he’d of shipped em and replaced… Read more »
Brilliantly and passionately put.
Arshavin currently performs better than several players in milan, inter, unted or chelsea. Torres, drogba,kalou, malouda, owen, berba, anderson, virtually the whole of inter’s forward, etc. and they are still in those teams.
Chamakh? Well…
And yes, we are overdue some trophies and I believe we’ll get something this season.
I think there’s a couple more divisions – those that think AW has gone as far as he can, and those that think he’s got more left in the tank. There’s also the division in thought as how points are put across, debated and argued and the surrounding etiquette. I will say this for Frog and Fatgooner and that’s they’re still commenting. If you take the first point, there were plenty, and I mean plenty, of people posting in the summer and early season that Wenger’s lost it, time to go etc. Where have they gone? What’s happened to the… Read more »
your first point falls within my argument:how expectations are to be met/how present realities are to be avoided. Some felt wenger has to leave, some wanted him to stay and others wanted him to stay only if he changed certain philosophies. This alone was (is) the crux of the matter.
Your second point is outside of fatgooner’s question. He wasn’t talking about fans behaviour to one another but fans response to arsenal’s perceived ambition.
Tsotia, I agree. I wasn’t directly answering FG, just making an observation upon your points. Cheers.
19 teams aren’t going to win the league this year; given what my season ticket costs, if I get to see better football than pretty much any other fan in teh country, then i’m happy. of course i’d be a little happier if we actually won something but then again, in 1987 we won the league cup. and do you know what? i’ve been happier watching us play a kind of football i never thought possible at the arsenal, irrespective of what it’s won us (actually that’s not true; it’s won us friends, worldwide admiration, more fans, all sorts. not… Read more »
Sam, your post sums up everything that’s wrong with our club at the moment. This “I don’t care if we win, as long as we play pretty football” mentality is the reason why we are going nowhere right now. It’s a shame that Cesc Fabregas didn’t agree with your philosophy, but unfortunately he actually did want to play for a team which wins trophies – that’s why he walked out on us. And just before he left he pointed out that at any other big European club the manager wouldn’t be in his job after even five trophy-less years. I… Read more »
let me say this, i do not hold arsene wenger responsible for our shitty situation. i truly believe that he is the absolute best person for the arsenal. you said it though fatgooner “backed him finacially”. Arsene has had us punching way above our weight for the past 7 years or so and i feel the board has been an complete failure in their lack of respect to both AW and the supporters. Honestly, how can they ask the man to continue to keep us fighting for honours, while they refuse to invest any of the profits of player sales… Read more »
cesc said he didnt say those words and I believe him. I know players sometimes deny their words but i know many times the press twist their words, or blatantly claim they said words they didnt say.
again, you are confusing two things here: – my opinion as an arsenal supporter vs – the philosophy of the club, or its leading players if for one moment i thought that anyone related to the pitch shared my rather relaxed view of the world, i would be pretty fucked off – but it’s clear that wenger is one of the worst losers the world has ever seen, so he doesn’t for starters, and i don’t think many of the players do either. good. kronke on the other hand seems sanguine about middling-to-high levels of achievement (ie CL qualification on… Read more »
You have succeeded in telling me your expectations and I absolutely have no problems with that. don’t try to make me lower the standard of the player just to meet your own expectations of him. I, obviously, rate him higher than you do. Like I said earlier, I’m a big fan, but I’m also very objective. He can do far better than this, and I hope he does.
Cesc? What do you mean by that?
what is this doing here? I posted a reply to a post up above. Pls ignore, it has been reposted (thankfully to the right place).