Arsenal

[hercules]

I just hope we don't sit back and let them back into the game. We need to kill them off.

[Mars]

Nice, Theo on up front for once

[Mars]

Bugger, looks like his shoulder's popped out again.

[SeanR]

Bugger, looks like his shoulder's popped out again.

blood on YOUR hands...

I could have gone... I could have gone... but the GF, she no like the cold.

Not now, anyway.

[hercules]

Both goals were class. Eduardo is finally looking like he has adjusted to the pace of the league.

[dogsout]

It's still early days for him, consistency being the hardest trait to attain for a player new to the league. It certainly looks promising, though, and the momentum you boys have gained will definitely make his transition to this league smoother.

[hercules]

The main thing is not to expect too much from him and not to play him every game. RVP should hopefully be back soon and in the mean time Walcott and eduardo can share the job. Eduardo prob isn't fit enough to play a whole game at the pace we tend to play it.

[Lucas]

It's still early days for him, consistency being the hardest trait to attain for a player new to the league. It certainly looks promising, though, and the momentum you boys have gained will definitely make his transition to this league smoother.

Trufax.

Wenger he would need a least 6 months, so he's a bit early. He's still a pretty poor footballer, sometimes he looks like a lost little boy, but he has a lightning first touch and great shot when he's through on goal.

Wanted to get tickets to the Fulham game, but they had sold out before they got to red members. Booooo! However, while browsing Arsenal.com I discovered that the Spurs carling cup hadnt sold out, so now have tickets in row 4, block 12 for next Wednesday's game. First N.L. derby for a long time. Cannot wait!

[Lucas]

When did i say it would solve everything? The point is Theo is an arsenal player with alot of talent, so yes when things aren't going so well i'd like to see the manager change things and bring him on. Yes i was happy going into this season with adebayor and RVP as they're great talents and it was time for them to prove it, i'm still happy with the forwards we've got. You don't need to spend big money to have a top striker even though you seem to think so. Was it obvious Baptista was shite? I think not, rather that he hadn't played in a long time and was getting back into football, he was also played out of position the whole time he was with us and if you actually watched other leagues than the premiership you'd see that Baptista is doing very well at Real Madrid playing in his preferred central midfield position. Oh and he just scored the winner against Barca. Shite i think not, just not managed properly.

Not the fact that he was clearly unsuited to the pace of the Premier League and Spanish football suits his ponderous ability?

I don't recall or thinking that you had to spend big money to get a top striker, and I'm happy to proven wrong as we seem to be scoring plenty and I enjoy nothing more than seeing Arsenal at the top of the league. I would have been happier and more confident if we had a proven premier league striker in our ranks at the start of the season, and I doubt that many people would say otherwise.

As it is, we don't seem to have a problem scoring from the front, or from elsewhere on the pitch with midfield and defence popping up with plenty of goals, but after last season's performance that was hardly a given was it?

[hercules]

You could see that the talent was their and that if the team upped it a bit we would be where we are now. We created loads of chances last year we just weren't putting them away, now the likes of Fabregas, Hleb and Rosicky are scoring it has made a massive difference, add in the fact that Adebayor and Van persie are relishing the the challenge of being the main men and we now have a side at the top of the league. No matter how much you pay for a player it is always a gamble and because Wenger has a real knack of buying players that suit our team i was pretty confident.

Oh and remind me when I'VE jumped on the bandwagon?

[Dude Ranch]

Song to the ACN . Quite fancied him stepping into the side. Guess it's Senderos or Djourou.

[Benji]

Adebayor's goal was quality. Anyone going Next weds against the Spuds?

[BlinkyBear]

Adebayor's goal was quality. Anyone going Next weds against the Spuds?

Can't-got an interview in Sheffield the next morning. Proper gutted about it-would've been my first scum game.

Might try and squeeze some tickets out of someone for the away game though.

[Lucas]

You could see that the talent was their and that if the team upped it a bit we would be where we are now. We created loads of chances last year we just weren't putting them away, now the likes of Fabregas, Hleb and Rosicky are scoring it has made a massive difference, add in the fact that Adebayor and Van persie are relishing the the challenge of being the main men and we now have a side at the top of the league. No matter how much you pay for a player it is always a gamble and because Wenger has a real knack of buying players that suit our team i was pretty confident.

Oh and remind me when I'VE jumped on the bandwagon?

Wenger has a real knack of buying suitable players? For every Thierry there's a Franny Jeffers.

"Theo should start" - Remind me again what Theo has actually done? Since we signed him he's scored one decent goal in the Carling Cup final. I know he needs time to develop, but there are 18 year old players who do a lot better week in, week out.

Song to the ACN . Quite fancied him stepping into the side. Guess it's Senderos or Djourou.

Yeah, he's looked very assured at centre-half. Senderos has really struggled to find any meaningful form since that amazing champions league run and Djourou has hardly impressed on loan.

Adebayor's goal was quality. Anyone going Next weds against the Spuds?

YES! Row 4 block 12! right by the corner. Get in!

[ant]

Just popped in to share these...

[Dude Ranch]

I really hope that Beckham won't disrupt anything. When I first heard about it I was filled with dread thinking about the distraction he'll be but then I told myself he'll only be using the facilities or at most training with the stiffs. Now I've seen he's right in the mixer with the first team. He's not exactly a hell raiser and he's a good pro but I think it's a bad idea. Am I over reacting?

[ant]

I think its great. It will give everyone a buzz and hopefully some of his free kick skills will brush off on the team.

[mop]

I really hope that Beckham won't disrupt anything. When I first heard about it I was filled with dread thinking about the distraction he'll be but then I told myself he'll only be using the facilities or at most training with the stiffs. Now I've seen he's right in the mixer with the first team. He's not exactly a hell raiser and he's a good pro but I think it's a bad idea. Am I over reacting?

I see were you are coming from but I'd say yes. I think he'll have a pretty good effect most of the young players. Despite what I think about him regards a lot of things he's done and ways he's acted off the pitch, when it comes to football the man's unbelievably professional and focused at times.

Well, I think so anyway.

[Dude Ranch]

Fair play you two, I'm glad you said that. I just think about when Wenger has refused to sign new players or even his own contract mid season for fear of it unsettling the team.

Actually, as I type I'm thinking it could be a master stroke on Wenger's part. If Beckham is welcomed and happy he might just give back to the team some extra confidence and the benefit of his experience for the title run in. Maybe it's a good idea and not just a favour to the bloke. The more I think about it, Wenger isn't the type to do this as a favour. If he had any doubts it wouldn't have happened. I'm also getting thoughts of it turning into a short term loan. Not serious thoughts, mind .

[mop]

I'm also getting thoughts of it turning into a short term loan. Not serious thoughts, mind .

Are own Larrson factor maybe?

But, yeah, never going happen!

[Cosmic_Guru]

Fair play you two, I'm glad you said that. I just think about when Wenger has refused to sign new players or even his own contract mid season for fear of it unsettling the team.

Actually, as I type I'm thinking it could be a master stroke on Wenger's part. If Beckham is welcomed and happy he might just give back to the team some extra confidence and the benefit of his experience for the title run in. Maybe it's a good idea and not just a favour to the bloke. The more I think about it, Wenger isn't the type to do this as a favour. If he had any doubts it wouldn't have happened. I'm also getting thoughts of it turning into a short term loan. Not serious thoughts, mind .

I believe LA Galaxy prohibited into any loan arrangement.

I think it can only be a good thing to have Beckham around the training ground - hopefully the right footers in particular will be motivated to improve free kicks and crosses in competitive training which can only be good news on the pitch.

Two visits to the Emirates for me in 2 days next week - first the Spuds and then I am helping to take some children from a local primary school to an awards ceremony on Thursday.

[hercules]

Wenger has a real knack of buying suitable players? For every Thierry there's a Franny Jeffers.

"Theo should start" - Remind me again what Theo has actually done? Since we signed him he's scored one decent goal in the Carling Cup final. I know he needs time to develop, but there are 18 year old players who do a lot better week in, week out.

Theo should start as he has shown alot of promise, he is looking a hell of alot better than he did last year and because of that i want to see him play more. Remind me when Theo got the chance to prove himself week in week out? Your too quick to label a player as worthless or shit. What you don't seem to understand and what is getting increasingly frustrating is that everything is just black or white to you, one minute a player is shit like song then after a few games he's an able deputy. Adebayor is shit and not good enough to play for arsenal now after scoring a few goals he's ace. Plyers can never just be good players with more to come you just change your mind when the papers do and that is jumping on the bandwagon!

[mop]

I'd have to agree with Herc here Lucas, you seem a bit quick to kick poor old Theo. I'd like to know who these 18yr olds are that you talk of that prove themselfs more worth then Theo. And like Herc says, it isn't like he get's a chance week in week out to prove himself. Give him a chance, look at Flam...he wasn't looking the shit for so long, sure, you could see there was something there but I'm sure you, like myself and a lot of us, would have had no problem letting him go this summer. But look at him now, the lads a mega rock and I want him to sign a new deal more then anything.

I can understand the sceptisim though.

So, Carlos Vela then...I'm pretty excited to see that kid in the prem. Anyone else?

[hercules]

I'm very excited about Carlos Vela i reckon he'll really push for a first team place next season. I've seen bits of him and i've tried to keep track of him while he's been in spain and i have to say that i am very impressed with him. You never know how a player will turn out in the prem as it's a tough league but there won't be much pressure on him as we have alot of forwards.

[Mars]

Theo's goals in the CL were also quality.

[hercules]

A good win today, Burnley played really well and in truth didn't deserve to lose but it was cool finishing from eduardo again and a good goal from bendtner.

[Petrousgyre]

A good win today, Burnley played really well and in truth didn't deserve to lose but it was cool finishing from eduardo again and a good goal from bendtner.

I thought we were pretty shit for the most part. Eboue was atrocious, Traore played the worst I've ever seen him, Gilberto and Denilson were both dire and Diaby was anonymous. Burnley controlled midfield for the most part. The only positives was the partnership between Bendtner and Eduardo and arguably Senderos who looked better than I imagined he'd be. If Burnley had a bit more poise in front of goal we'd have been in all sorts of trouble.

We haven't looked good this season when we play a mixture of our A and B side, maybe a training thing?.

[hercules]

It's hard as eboue isn't a natural right midfielder and i haven't been impressed with him at all, Diaby hasn't done alot on the left for me either though he is obviously a central midfielder and i just wish he'd play their more. Senderos did look good which is really positive. Traore showed that he has a long way to go b4 challenging clichy, denilson wasn't that impressive which for me has been a shock as he hasn't really improved much this season but at the same time i believe that's because he is always having to play with gilberto. If he played with Diarra or Diaby i reckon he'd play better.

[Mars]

Why wasn't Diarra in the squad? Sold him already?

[SeanR]

that first half was a quick'en though, eh? bit stodgy moving the ball around though. Not the flowing-passing game you normally get but I guess that's the 4-4-2 effect. with a 5 in the midfield it's like there are more options.