Arsenal Thread

Vermaelen played a dramatical match for our national team against Greece. At last our national coach played Kompany-Vermaelen as CB. But Thomas was, very, very bad...made two defensive howlers and missed two sitters before the Greek goal. The match ended 1-1 and could have ended 0-3 for Belgium....Thomas really made a difference in the negative way.

I never thought he was as good as some people in this thread thought, but he used to be a solid good player who could become a defensive strongholder...what's wrong with him?

He really has a bad patch right now...let's hope he can become a better player once this is over.
 
Rentboy said:
RvP's facebook keeps posting some intriguing news and rumours. Whoever posts that stuff for him guessed right somehow that Arshavin would go to Russia on loan.
Now they posted that José Mourinho is house hunting in London looking to return to the Premier League and that Arsenal are potential suitors. The source is that "givemefootball.com" which says a lot about the credibility of it.
I just don't know why they post it on behalf of RvP? As an Arsenal player, they should be careful with any reputation issues that could arise.

That is very unlikely to happen of course, for all the reasons we have discussed here before, such as Mourinho's salary and required "war chest" for transfers, etc.
I just don't see any sense if it happened and he suddenly had lots of money to work with. Wouldn't be fair to Wenger either.

The same applies for Podolski I suppose. I don't believe any of it, especially if we consider how premature it is to talk about summer transfers.

Team news is that Djourou is out for 1 month. One month... May Koscielny and Vermaelen last as long as possible, as an absence of either would mean us entering Squilaci territory. But fack it, I'm not even sure Djourou territory is much safer that that :P

Roll on Saturday!
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Thats not RVP's account. its fake. Plus Wenger said a few times he has money to spend but refuse to spend over the odds for players
 
gerd said:
Vermaelen played a dramatical match for our national team against Greece. At last our national coach played Kompany-Vermaelen as CB. But Thomas was, very, very bad...made two defensive howlers and missed two sitters before the Greek goal. The match ended 1-1 and could have ended 0-3 for Belgium....Thomas really made a difference in the negative way.

I never thought he was as good as some people in this thread thought, but he used to be a solid good player who could become a defensive strongholder...what's wrong with him?

He really has a bad patch right now...let's hope he can become a better player once this is over.
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He's out of sorts lately, but I still believe he can get back to his best form. He certainly has the right attitude.
Against Tottenham he was at fault in the 1st goal, but to his credit, he played great for the rest of the match and kept Adebayor at bay the whole match.

I read somewhere that he has been carrying a knock on his ankle since last weekend, but still was used for the whole 90 minutes for Belgium, which can't be good for his fitness.

Hope he can make it in good form against Liverpool.
 
Team news is that AW is (rightly) pissed off with pointless friendlies getting in the way of our players' fitness.
Vermaelen's ankle picked a knock on that awful challenge by England's-greatest-midfielder-of-the-moment Scott Parker. Nevertheless, Belgium played him for 90 minutes.
RvP also has a groin injury but was still used for 45 minutes against England.
Midweek friendlies at this time is something difficult to defend.

Wenger pointed out how he himself has refrained from using Gervinho after he came back from the African Cup, as the player was still tired. So even before Gervinho did make his comeback for Arsenal, guess what? Ivory Coast call up!
It's ridiculous really, especially in the latter case...

On other news, Abou Diaby is apparently set to make his comeback. Yay.
 
Rentboy said:
England's-greatest-midfielder-of-the-moment Scott Parker.
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That's the problem with most British peoples mentality. Big upping a robotic, destructive player. He's OK at best. The over the top praise does my nugget in!
 
PU6HY said:
That's the problem with most British peoples mentality. Big upping a robotic, destructive player. He's OK at best. The over the top praise does my nugget in!
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Exactly! It's shocking to see how media and fans are hyping him up so absurdly. I've elaborated more on the player himself in the EPL Thread. To sum up, I think he puts in a hell of a shift, I'll give him that. But other than that, he's just an alright player at best, sometimes merely mediocre. Effort alone is not enough to justify a first team place in the national team, let alone being captain!
 
Rentboy said:
Vermaelen's ankle picked a knock on that awful challenge by England's-greatest-midfielder-of-the-moment Scott Parker. Nevertheless, Belgium played him for 90 minutes.
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Jonney will love this post.

I'm a big Wenger fan.

But.

I think Wenger has no reason to be pissed off.
There are two reasons he shouldn't be pissed off.

First of all that Vermaelen played 90 minutes is because the medical staff of our national deemed him fit enough. I don't think Arsenal has the right to give lessons on any other team's medical staff. The way they diagnosed (and maybe treated) Vermaelen's long injury last seasons speaks for itself...hell our FA should be pissed off with Arsenal (and the argument that Arsenal pays him is bullshit, because he is payed for our national team too).

Secondly whenever a manager asks for a player not to play the whole 90 minutes in a friendly, our national coach agrees. This happened with Witsel who has to play against Porto this evening and Witsel only played one half. Wenger should have communicated.
 
gerd said:
Jonney will love this post.

I'm a big Wenger fan.

But.

I think Wenger has no reason to be pissed off.
There are two reasons he shouldn't be pissed off.

First of all that Vermaelen played 90 minutes is because the medical staff of our national deemed him fit enough. I don't think Arsenal has the right to give lessons on any other team's medical staff. The way they diagnosed (and maybe treated) Vermaelen's long injury last seasons speaks for itself...hell our FA should be pissed off with Arsenal (and the argument that Arsenal pays him is bullshit, because he is payed for our national team too).

Secondly whenever a manager asks for a player not to play the whole 90 minutes in a friendly, our national coach agrees. This happened with Witsel who has to play against Porto this evening and Witsel only played one half. Wenger should have communicated.
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I think Parker is a good player by the way :))

It sounds like Wenger did ask for him not to play? as he informed them of the injury? It may have happened with Witsel but it didn't happen with Vermaelen.

From what I have read it sounds like Wenger tried to stop Vermaelen from going because of his injury and Belgium put their foot down and played him for 90mins? Wich if true is pretty petty.

To bring up Vermaelens injury last season isn't that great either as you really don't know if any other medical team could have done any better?

How much does he get paid by Belgium? interesting as I was under the impression that international players didn't get paid (only living costs etc while they are away?).
 
gerd said:
Jonney will love this post.

I'm a big Wenger fan.

But.

I think Wenger has no reason to be pissed off.
There are two reasons he shouldn't be pissed off.

First of all that Vermaelen played 90 minutes is because the medical staff of our national deemed him fit enough. I don't think Arsenal has the right to give lessons on any other team's medical staff. The way they diagnosed (and maybe treated) Vermaelen's long injury last seasons speaks for itself...hell our FA should be pissed off with Arsenal (and the argument that Arsenal pays him is bullshit, because he is payed for our national team too).

Secondly whenever a manager asks for a player not to play the whole 90 minutes in a friendly, our national coach agrees. This happened with Witsel who has to play against Porto this evening and Witsel only played one half. Wenger should have communicated.
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I don't really know what happened there, if Wenger communicated or not. But the bit where I agree with Wenger is: why take risks to play friendlies? Maybe he was deemed fit to play, but there's a risk involved when the player had a knock on his ankle. A bit of sacrifice could have been made if this was a qualifier for Belgium, but... a friendly? Also, Vermaelen is a established player in your squad, one would think 'why not give a chance for a youngster or a contender for a first team spot'?

But then again there's the desire from the player himself to represent his country. Vermaelen knew how he felt and I suppose he wanted to be there playing.
This is an old issue Wenger has been angry at, for example when Walcott played for England U-21 against Wenger's advice, and came to pre-season with an aggravated injury.

Anyways, this is not an excuse for Arsenal, as other teams are subject to this too (Gerrard might miss out on tomorrow too).
This is more of a reason to make your squad as deep as you can - and not let your players out on loan outside the transfer windown, especially when you didn't buy anyone. Now with Arshavin gone, every time Walcott and Gervinho are called up we are left shitting our pants. Not to mention RvP too.
 
Bobby, international players only get paid for qualifiers and tournaments. So i was wrong about that.
Wenger definitely did not communicate.
As for Vermaelen, this was a big match for him. This was not a mere friendly.
Our usual CB duo is Kompany and (god knows why) Van Buyten. Vermaelens best position is CB.
In our national Vermaelen is not a regular. He plays left back, but Lombaerts (Zenith) plays in that position too (and as CB too). At the moment Van Buyten is injured, so Vermaelen had the chance to play CB.
I know that i friendly match usually is not important unless a coach wants to try something new. So this was for both Vermaelen and Leekens (coach) a rather important match against a good team (qualified for the EC and apparently currently 9th in the FIFA ranking).

I think it is silly for coaches like Wenger and Ferguson to complain about international matches. They are a given fact. They have much more value and tradition than the exhausting pre-season tournaments in Asia or North-America. Tournaments which are used by both Wenger and Ferguson to try new things. Just like what Leekens did.

I fully understand Arsenal fans that they are pissed off if Vermaelen (or Van Persie) are injured in international matches. As a Belgian football fan i want our best team to play, so you gotta understand me too.

Let's hope Vermaelen can play for Arsenal and can play for a long period without injury, because he seems to need it. He was bad against Milan and also bad for Belgium. At the moment Lombaerts is the better of the two (and then i forget Vertonghen). But our national team needs Thomas, because he is a leader...just like Parker.

Rant over.

Good luck against Liverpool.
 
gerd said:
Bobby, international players only get paid for qualifiers and tournaments. So i was wrong about that.
Wenger definitely did not communicate.
As for Vermaelen, this was a big match for him. This was not a mere friendly.
Our usual CB duo is Kompany and (god knows why) Van Buyten. Vermaelens best position is CB.
In our national Vermaelen is not a regular. He plays left back, but Lombaerts (Zenith) plays in that position too (and as CB too). At the moment Van Buyten is injured, so Vermaelen had the chance to play CB.
I know that i friendly match usually is not important unless a coach wants to try something new. So this was for both Vermaelen and Leekens (coach) a rather important match against a good team (qualified for the EC and apparently currently 9th in the FIFA ranking).

I think it is silly for coaches like Wenger and Ferguson to complain about international matches. They are a given fact. They have much more value and tradition than the exhausting pre-season tournaments in Asia or North-America. Tournaments which are used by both Wenger and Ferguson to try new things. Just like what Leekens did.

I fully understand Arsenal fans that they are pissed off if Vermaelen (or Van Persie) are injured in international matches. As a Belgian football fan i want our best team to play, so you gotta understand me too.

Let's hope Vermaelen can play for Arsenal and can play for a long period without injury, because he seems to need it. He was bad against Milan and also bad for Belgium. At the moment Lombaerts is the better of the two (and then i forget Vertonghen). But our national team needs Thomas, because he is a leader...just like Parker.

Rant over.

Good luck against Liverpool.
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How do you know he did not communicate? Wenger seems to think that Vermaelen was forced to get on the plane and forced to play? that implies that Wenger (medical staff whoever) or Vermaelen himself told them of his injury?

I don't think it is silly for coaches to complain about their players playing friendlies at this time of year (especially when they have injuries and rest is really important). I think they have every right, but I also feel sorry for the international managers in a way, because they want to see their players play.
 
What Gerd tells us makes sense Bobby. I thought Vermaelen had a guaranteed first team place, but if Van Buyten and Lombaerts are ahead of him in the pecking order, I think Vermaelen had a point to prove. Maybe he saw a chance to establish himself there and made the extra mile to play.

In the end the player's will is what counts the most. Wenger may be upset at Vermaelen because of this. But let's see. He is in the starting line up today. So is RvP.

Need to win today indeed! Cmon Arsenal!!
 
About Vermaelen: today i read that despite the fact that Wenger did not communicate with Leekens, Leekens wanted to take Vermaelen off, but Lombaerts got sent off, so Vermaelen had to stay.
For a team like Belgium (we are trying to build a young team after years of bad results) a draw in a friendly does make a difference.

Why do i say that it's silly to complain for the likes of Wenger and Ferguson? Well, because they all want as many internationals in their team (i even think that there is a rule in England that foreigners generally have to have played a certain amount of matches for their national team) but once they have bought them, they are complaining because they play international matches.

Good luck to Arsenal...
 
Rentboy said:
What Gerd tells us makes sense Bobby. I thought Vermaelen had a guaranteed first team place, but if Van Buyten and Lombaerts are ahead of him in the pecking order, I think Vermaelen had a point to prove. Maybe he saw a chance to establish himself there and made the extra mile to play.

In the end the player's will is what counts the most. Wenger may be upset at Vermaelen because of this. But let's see. He is in the starting line up today. So is RvP.

Need to win today indeed! Cmon Arsenal!!
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It might make sense, I just want to know why Gerd is so sure that Wenger didn't communicate? or nobody communicated to the Belgian Manager? From what I have read it sounds like they did know?

Why is Wenger saying he was forced to travel and play?

gerd said:
About Vermaelen: today i read that despite the fact that Wenger did not communicate with Leekens, Leekens wanted to take Vermaelen off, but Lombaerts got sent off, so Vermaelen had to stay.
For a team like Belgium (we are trying to build a young team after years of bad results) a draw in a friendly does make a difference.

Why do i say that it's silly to complain for the likes of Wenger and Ferguson? Well, because they all want as many internationals in their team (i even think that there is a rule in England that foreigners generally have to have played a certain amount of matches for their national team) but once they have bought them, they are complaining because they play international matches.

Good luck to Arsenal...
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Why did Leekens want to take him off if he wasn't injured/carrying a knock etc?

I'm not saying you are not right, I just want to know why Wenger is saying he was forced to play etc? It's quite a bold statement, if he never said anything to the Belgian manager?
 
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BobbyBox said:
It might make sense, I just want to know why Gerd is so sure that Wenger didn't communicate? or nobody communicated to the Belgian Manager? From what I have read it sounds like they did know?

Why is Wenger saying he was forced to travel and play?



Why did Leekens want to take him off if he wasn't injured/carrying a knock etc?

I'm not saying you are not right, I just want to know why Wenger is saying he was forced to play etc? It's quite a bold statement, if he never said anything to the Belgian manager?
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Maybe they planned to give him 45 minutes, but changed plans with the sending off. I think he could have been still subbed anyway, if they had defenders in the bench, and if there's still that rule of 5 subs on friendlies.

But the main point is that I could easily imagine Vermaelen insisting to play, looking to grab a place in the first team for the Euros. He has this kind of attitude.

Anyway, 2nd half is underway and I have to say we are lucky so far. Our midfield is being run down!
 
You Beauty! Didn't play well, but got the result! Van Persie is fantastic. :DD

Suarez really is a unlikeable player isn't he? :LOL: keeps diving and waving his arm around.

Szcz played brilliantly aswell, so goo to have a good goalkeeper again :))
 
Seriously that was the worst performance by an away team in long time at Anfield... but it´s only Liverpools foult not to win today..

RVP best player in the league..but i wonder what would Arsenal do without him...
 
Fuckyeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh he's done it again!!! :D

RvP! Oh my what a player our captain is!!

In a game where it didn't look like we were going to win. Fantastic stuff!
 
BobbyBox said:
You Beauty! Didn't play well, but got the result! Van Persie is fantastic. :DD

Suarez really is a unlikeable player isn't he? :LOL: keeps diving and waving his arm around.

Szcz played brilliantly aswell, so goo to have a good goalkeeper again :))
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Suarez is out of this world mate :LOL:
What a class A pure grade cunt! That penalty he simulated, there was barely contact there, if any... yet he went through the trouble of removing his shin pad while rolling on the ground. What a piece of work! :LOL:

SCZC was immense. Showed great awareness through and through. That double save on the penalty was special and when the own goal came it was such an injustice... but now with the 2-1 result it did make all the difference after all!
 
PIPA23 said:
Seriously that was the worst performance by an away team in long time at Anfield... but it´s only Liverpools foult not to win today..

RVP best player in the league..but i wonder what would Arsenal do without him...
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What would all of the teams in the world have done without their best strikers?
 
hahahaha! soaked up the pressure like a bird on her rag. Then, we scored for them and they kept hammering us hoping we score them another since they know f` all about that. Sagna saw Robin like a bird on a wire and send the ball to feed the robin, a peach of a header from the skinny man! So, Liverpool brought in the fastest man on the planet Bellamy a little to0 late '88 there Kenny son!

It looked like a draw was in order until Song had a deja vu seeing Robin in a position he once loft the ball to many moons ago! Could this work again? He sends it beautifully in the air everyone is looking while the boy robin get into position and finishes!
that`s all folks ...taking care of business comes to mind :APPLAUD:


Liverpool were everywhere unlucky ,but Robin needs 4th spot so he can stay and bring more players that`s being a captain!
 
RvP was fantastic of course, but what would Arsenal have done without Wojcech Szczesny today? Without Song and Sagna?
Those guys were immense today. Rosicky was good too, he seems to be picking up some momentum.

But one guy who didn't seize the good moment was Walcott. I thought he would have built up from his 2nd half performance against Spurs, but apparently that just gave him a little more room to coast through matches.
Today his contribution was very discrete, and I'm being nice here.

But really, I can't see much of a difference from Walcott's effort and what Arshavin was doing before. At some point in the 2nd half I just realised how Sagna had to do everything on the right hand side, attacking, crossing and defending. When Diaby went out, the team adopted 4-4-2 with Walcott as RM with even bigger defensive duties... but he didn't bother defending at all. He was just there jogging around.
He seems comfortable like this, as he knows he will be in the first team... But really, this is not good enough.

For now let's just enjoy the 3 points!!
 
VAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnn PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeee!!!

SOrry got excited!!
 
That second goal was absurd indeed :D
Every professional player who talks about that, be it Shearer on MOTD or John Carew, every striker recognises just how difficult it is to pull that one off.

Fair play to both Vermaelen and Van Persie, they didn't seem to be limited by injury in any way. But I'm sure they must feel exhausted now.

Let's see if they can make it against AC Milan on tuesday. I'm not even sure it's worth it to play them to be honest. It's a very very long shot.
 
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