Arsenal

[Rocafella]

I love Frimpong already.

EmmanuelF4 Emmanuel Y Frimpong

"@JackWilshere: Good luck to my friend @Nanas08 (mr Nasri) learnt a lot from him. World class player! Will be missed!"Pffffff comeon Jack

5 minutes ago

[SeanR]

"Now he's decided to stay, he's like a new signing."

shouldn't he be out flying airwolf or something?

[Arc'Tan'Gent]

'I Love Arsenal F.C more than The Person That Founded it #'

What's DEEEENCH though?

[Steve007]

Sums up our summer, doesn't it?

[Dude Ranch]

they're still learning and they need someone who's been there and won things to lead them.

Oooh, that boat sailed fucking ages ago.

[wev]

Fine, then they need someone who's willing to shoulder some responsibilty and drive the team forward at any given time during a game rather than shy away after 60 minutes ala the past few seasons.

[toythatkills]

Fine, then they need someone who's willing to shoulder some responsibilty and drive the team forward at any given time during a game rather than shy away after 60 minutes ala the past few seasons.

Such problems always seem to arise because the established players go missing, it's not that often you look at one of the youngsters and say it was their fault the team didn't perform.

[wev]

You're right, and that was my point really, far too many of our "better" players dissappear in the closing third of a match and thats been one of our biggest problems in recent years, along with our inability to defend set pieces, oh and being unable to break a team down with our passing game unless we featured a particular Spaniard.

Theres too much that needs changing imo, too many things that cause us problems on the pitch and if the link about the disagreements between the board and Wenger that was posted earlier is even remotely close theres also too much that needs to change off the pitch too.

[Dude Ranch]

Fine, then they need someone who's willing to shoulder some responsibilty and drive the team forward at any given time during a game rather than shy away after 60 minutes ala the past few seasons.

Sorry mate, I know exactly what you mean and it's my main gripe against Arsene Wenger. There was no hand over, he broke up a team for certain reasons and it had to more or less start again from scratch.

[Guest]

Chin up lads. At least you aren't Spurs. Bale may well be off in January.

I'd like you to sign Hazard so we can see why he's like.

This is almost like the Liverpool thread around the middle/end of last year...

[toythatkills]

Chin up lads. At least you aren't Spurs. Bale may well be off in January.

Oh, they might be losing one of their best players? I'm sure none of us can imagine how that must feel.

[Guest]

Oh, they might be losing one of their best players? I'm sure none of us can imagine how that must feel.

They look really rubbish though. They could struggle massively this season. Also we'll have to see how Bale does this season. He didn't do that much last night.

I think Harry's time may well be up sooner rather then later. And we know what happens when he leaves a club.

[toythatkills]

Wenger's been given permission to manage his team tomorrow night. Isn't that good of UEFA?

[Dude Ranch]

It's a stay of execution. Their words.

[Mars]

Frimpong on Song;

“Obviously sometimes he gets a bit funny and goes ‘Oh, Frimpong you’ve come to take over my place, you don’t want my kids to eat, how am I going to get money for them?’ and stuff like that. But he’s a great player."

[Guest]

It's a stay of execution. Their words.

Bad news; he'll be out of the two opening Europa Cup matches next year.

I jest, I think you'll go through tomorrow. More match fitness innit. Is Frimpong going to be playing?

[Dude Ranch]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he expects midfielder Jack Wilshere to be out for a further two or three weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury.

"I don't know if we are back to square one or for how long he will be out," said Wenger.

"He's in a boot again, so that means he will at least be out for two or three weeks."

Lille boss Frederic Paquet has rebuffed suggestions Arsenal have lined up Eden Hazard as a direct replacement for outgoing midfielder Samir Nasri.

[Silent Runner]

I only laugh to hide the pain.

[Rocafella]

I had to chuckle at the Wilshere injury. I knew this would happen. It's Vermaelen all over again. Obviously he won't be out for as long, but it starts of as 'nothing serious and we expect him to be back for the next match or the match after' and then you don't see him again for ages. Fingers crossed we have him back ASAP. There's no way our midfield passing game can function properly without him.

[Rev]

I'm delighted that Wilshere is going to be like a new signing.

PS. If Bendtner leaves, I'm adopting Frimpong. Or Lorik Frimpong, as I like to think of him.

[humdrum]

According to twitter zarate has refused to play in lazio's Europa league game...

Take it with a pinch of salt and expect him to sign for city or someone in the next couple of days.

[The Fox]

That's because he's going to Chelsea.

[wev]

Song and Frimpong the new Petit and Vieira?

I kid! I think...

[toythatkills]

I had to chuckle at the Wilshere injury. I knew this would happen. It's Vermaelen all over again. Obviously he won't be out for as long, but it starts of as 'nothing serious and we expect him to be back for the next match or the match after' and then you don't see him again for ages. Fingers crossed we have him back ASAP. There's no way our midfield passing game can function properly without him.

[citation needed]

PS. If Bendtner leaves, I'm adopting Frimpong. Or Lorik Frimpong, as I like to think of him.

I've settled on Miyaichi. Another player that seems to be awesome as all fuck but will probably sit on the bench all year and only come on for five minutes here and there in goal or something.

The BBC have posted Arsenal's recent Champion's League record:

2011 - Round of 16

2010 - Quarter-finals

2009 - Semi-finals

2008 - Quarter-finals

2007 - Round of 16

From this pattern I conclude that since we reached the final in 2006, we'll reach the final in 2012.

[SMD]

Ask again in about a week. I'm sure we'll have a much better idea of whether this really is as bad as some of us fear on the first of September.

In truth though, I have tickets for the Swansea game, and I'm not sure that by the first of September I'm going to be in much of a mood to go. I hate saying it, but, as our players (good, bad or indifferent) leave and get injured en masse, and exciting transfer targets are mooted but never (look likely to) arrive, I'm feeling the enthusiasm gradually seep away...

It's only a game*. I'm a rational(ish), (sort of) intelligent person, and I know that. I'm sure I don't feel as invested as I was as a kid, either. This is all still disheartening though. I actually feel sorry for Wenger, too. I'm sure this isn't all on him, even if his policies and principles perhaps haven't helped us in getting where we are now.

I wish I had a positive note to end on, but I'm struggling here. Everything I come up with seems like a consolation rather than a positive at the moment.

* Or a business. Or both. You know what I mean, though.

I'm sorry but if you're not arsed, then why go? And before you go 'easy for you to say', we had Hodgson last year with Hicks and Gillett running the club. Going to the game isn't about who's on the pitch or who you're playing against but supporting your team. Everyone has different opinions on how football should be played or how the team should line up but you go because you support the side.

[Dude Ranch]

I'm sorry but if you're not arsed, then why go? And before you go 'easy for you to say', we had Hodgson last year with Hicks and Gillett running the club. Going to the game isn't about who's on the pitch or who you're playing against but supporting your team. Everyone has different opinions on how football should be played or how the team should line up but you go because you support the side.

I think that's all well and good but I'm afraid the truth is that as much as we love our team and watching them gives us great pleasure it's an absolute mug who goes out of obligation and just because you support the side. You don't have to devote your whole life to watching Arsenal or Liverpool and if the entertainment or value isn't there then why not question whether you should go? I'm not one for switching your support on and off but it's not cheap and if there's no fun in it then don't go. If you fancy the game next week then go to that if you can. The harsh reality is that fans are not exactly the top priority so I think we should just do what we want. All this stigma and getting accused of not being a real fan is rubbish. Maybe I've learnt this as I've got old and other things have entered my life. To be quite honest, watching some of these fortysomething men in their big manly groups fawning over players at the footy makes me feel a bit embarrassed nowadays.

[SMD]

I think that's all well and good but I'm afraid the truth is that as much as we love our team and watching them gives us great pleasure it's an absolute mug who goes out of obligation and just because you support the side. You don't have to devote your whole life to watching Arsenal or Liverpool and if the entertainment or value isn't there then why not question whether you should go? I'm not one for switching your support on and off but it's not cheap and if there's no fun in it then don't go. If you fancy the game next week then go to that if you can. The harsh reality is that fans are not exactly the top priority so I think we should just do what we want. All this stigma and getting accused of not being a real fan is rubbish. Maybe I've learnt this as I've got old and other things have entered my life. To be quite honest, watching some of these fortysomething men in their big manly groups fawning over players at the footy makes me feel a bit embarrassed nowadays.

It's not about being a 'real' fan or fawning over players. It's not even about making it the main priority in your life. I know it's not cheap, going from London to Liverpool makes a home match a big commitment and it sucks massive balls when you lose at home to Northampton and it pisses down on you on the way back to where you're staying.

But you don't go for those reasons, otherwise we're just as bad as the players we deride for not having their heart in it. As cliched as it sounds, if you don't want to go then there are those who do. It's like those moaning old farts at the front of the Kop who want to just sit and complain but don't want to give up their seats while kids just can't get a ticket for love nor money.

If demand wasn't so artificially high then prices wouldn't have shot up as people suffer through games just to get to the big ones.

I don't go every week. I'd love to but I can't. I understand how difficult it is to make it, especially with the prices as they are now.

[Dude Ranch]

I know it's not cheap, going from London to Liverpool makes a home match a big commitment and it sucks massive balls when you lose at home to Northampton and it pisses down on you on the way back to where you're staying.

But you don't go for those reasons, otherwise we're just as bad as the players we deride for not having their heart in it.

We're nothing like the players. We're spending our money watching them do their job. They're overpaid, sometimes don't give a toss and if we don't want to go we shouldn't have to.

As cliched as it sounds, if you don't want to go then there are those who do. It's like those moaning old farts at the front of the Kop who want to just sit and complain but don't want to give up their seats while kids just can't get a ticket for love nor money.

I totally agree with this though. I would say in ten or so years I hardly missed a home game and out of that small handful the ticket was probably wasted once or twice ie I gave it away or someone paid me to have it that week. If you have a ticket and don't want to go you should make the effort to make sure someone else can use it.

On the other side of the coin, if the Emirates suddenly got empty then we'd see some frantic action from the board. I'm not talking fairweather support but people saying enough is enough, what the fuck are you spending my inflated ticket money on?

[SMD]

We're nothing like the players. We're spending our money watching them do their job. They're overpaid, sometimes don't give a toss and if we don't want to go we shouldn't have to.

I just meant the apathy, don't worry I shared your disdain when I read Brian Reade's book and saw Gerrard and Carragher quoted as saying they shared the fans' pain. No they fucking didn't.

I totally agree with this though. I would say in ten or so years I hardly missed a home game and out of that small handful the ticket was probably wasted once or twice ie I gave it away or someone paid me to have it that week. If you have a ticket and don't want to go you should make the effort to make sure someone else can use it.

On the other side of the coin, if the Emirates suddenly got empty then we'd see some frantic action from the board. I'm not talking fairweather support but people saying enough is enough, what the fuck are you spending my inflated ticket money on?

Yep, I'm not in a position to turn down tickets but if I did, I'd definitely pass it on to someone else. When John Henry took over the club, one of the first things he did was make one of the Europa League matches buy one ticket, bring four children free. Last year tickets were available on the day of the game, which was unheard of for us. Now the knobhead quotient's been increasing again as we improve, the cost is still difficult.

The situation with the board is bizarre, where has the money gone?

[Dude Ranch]

When John Henry took over the club, one of the first things he did was make one of the Europa League matches buy one ticket, bring four children free.

I didn't know that, that's excellent.

The situation with the board is bizarre, where has the money gone?

We've been tossing that question about for a few years in here . I think that there's money to be made and everyone is waiting and trying to maximise a pay day but that's only my view. Maybe Wenger is giving it one more year and the big money will go to the new manager. Again, just a guess. I'm really at a loss but the next week will answer some questions whether we crash out of the CL or not.