.

The irony ..... most find international week a pain in the arse not having club football yet when that same club football is played...for us it's usually cue for gnashing of teeth and hair being torn out in clumps .

I think the FA should get some balls and play matches at this time it benefits the minnows ; who are at a disadvantage for the rest of the season against mega $$$$$$$$$$

On the Bubblechris affair .....[ of which I have little interest ] though it does spice things up

An argument between Bubblechris and Top Gun who obviously dont like each other ; with the latter busily trying to organise a tag team to gain the upperhand .

Greeks and West Ham are thrown in to adversely typecast the former .

bubblechris, being a striker isn't only about how many goals they score. Welbeck has a very strong all round game outside of his goal scoring and that's why we look a better team when he's playing, which I thought you accept yourself. He gives us physical presence, pace and power in attack, as well as a terrific work rate. In my view, considering our squad as it stands, he gets in Arsenal's strongest side.

Indeed. TG protesteth too much, you think? Top Gun is an anogram for got pun. I think that's may be significant although for the moment I can think of what it might imply ...

Nevertheless, we can't be too vigilant. The forum may be crawling with third columnists who make thousands of posts in order to get deep cover and so they can ... I'll get back to you on that one too.

Perhaps you missheard and he said "I just called ... to say .. I love you"?

He scored twice tonight against the Germans....

Well he should be our goalscorer but Wenger has decided he is not good enough to have a starting place in big games. So we should be asking Wenger this question.

Zaha over Theo

I think Iwobi will eventually come good. Perhaps in the latter half of this season. He needs more exposure to success and failure. The experience will build him.

I think in Arsene's arse backwards way of thinking he likes to keep a bit in reserve , hope to keep the scoreline blank and bring on his aces when the opposition are tiring .

If I was Lacazette I'd be saying to Wenger ....." I had better start v Spurs , Man U and Chelsea otherwise I'm heading back to Francais Land"

WC year so Lacazette needs to play.

On the WC - Aust game about 20 minutes away and your lot play in Peru tomorrow morning. Lets hope both of us are there.

Bergkamp would never have played for us if he was an Aussie. The last mach about to start. If you looked at Sydney as our home then the team has travelled 212,000klms to get to this point.

How is Philly these days? I will be visiting family in Willow Grove (Montgomery county) some point in 2018. Also have some business interests I am looking into.

I was shocked to hear the Brewertown/Fishtown area is like South Street these days. That area was a dump years ago.

PS: Thinking someone is Greek isn't racist.

I hope I can have the last say and sincerely hope Welbz proves me wrong.

Last 10 games - 4 goals and 1 assist

I rest my case and hope he comes good........

Not sure what you mean by resting your case. What's so wrong with 4 goals and 1 assist in the last 10 games? Sounds pretty good to me.

I just had a look at Arsenal.com at 22.15 (or 10.15 pm). The home game against Tottenham, less than three days away, is still on sale. Am I the only one who finds that frightening? It's the North London derby, one of England's biggest local derbies (along with the Manchester and Merseyside ones) and the club are clearly struggling to sell it out (I suggest it still being on sale within three days of the game shows that). I disagree with Top Gun about bubblechris being a West Ham fan. But I do think he could easily be right about Arsenal being in a weaker position on Wenger's departure (if it is 2019) than it was when he took over in 1996, so 23 years earlier.

Wenger's time at Arsenal has to be seen in two phases, if not more. The Highbury years were sensational, the Emirates years in my view anything but. Clough's time at Nottingham Forest surely has to be seen in the same way. European Cups followed eventually by relegation. The poles may not be as extremely apart for Arsenal under Wenger (I can't see us winning the Champions League or dropping into the Championship before he leaves). But the principle looks exactly the same to me. Like Clough, Wenger is a past it has-been who thinks staying in his job is more important than the future of the club he's previously claimed to love.

EDIT: It's still on sale at 11.38 pm, or 23.08 Wednesday evening, 15 November. Less than two and a half days before the game.

Wenger ( ) first phase= revelation, admired, seeked out, masterclass
Wenger (:20hospitals: ) today = stale, predictable, boring, past-it, clueless

Wenger ( ) first phase= revelation, admired, seeked out, masterclass
Wenger ( ) today = stale, predictable, boring, past-it, clueless

Congratulations to Australia, onward to the WC Finals

Happy to have someone to watch for a while next year. But like arsenal they put you thru hell to make it happen

.
Isn't great getting old ... here I am f**ting around at the Op Shop ... this spunky old girl says "Man you've got a nice butt and gives me a grope "... then apologises "Oh my God what have I done "...well in these days of Maxi PC I could have her sacked / disbarred / dishonourebly discharged ....but being the Cool Hand Luke that I am .... I said Maria knock yourself out , feel free any time ....so gave her bum a little rub to balance the sheet .

To top it off I heard a tune on the radio I liked moved me fractionally forward from Buddy Holly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JiX71Qc_AQ ... only played about thirty times so far .
NZ lost to Peru ... I glory in the wins ...the losses who cares .

Are you sure it is an op shop & not a knocking shop.

Seen a report that Giroud is injured. Not sure he would have been first choice in the derby but I would like him as a sub. Sorry using iPhone and have no idea how to get the link.

Wenger inherited Seaman, Dixon, Bould , Adams, winterburn, Merson, Wright, parlour, (8 good players capable of holding a team at the highest level. (Admittedly some ageing but solid professionals)

He will leave, Lacazette,an ageing Kosielny and Monreal, decent and promising but sporadic right back who wants to leave and not much else that will be of use after his contract expires.

His legacy is dust. He blew it.

Linkage : https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/4926086/olivier-giroud-injury-arsenal-tottenham

Olivier Giroud injury rules Arsenal forward out of North London derby with Tottenham

Striker picked up a thigh strain in France's 2-0 win over Wales and has not recovered in time to face Spurs on Saturday lunchtime

Kos, Mustafi and Welbeck could all be fit to play........

The news on Giroud, obviously not good. Just read last 6 matches in NLDs we haven't won, drawn 4 lost 2. I remember when those were the kinds of results they were getting against us. We'd win at home, draw away most seasons.
This is the first time that I can remember where I felt we were underdogs at home in an NLD. I've never bet on a football match so I don't know if I'm reading the odds right but it seems its fairly even.
A win would give me a little solace in a season where its going to be depressing.

PS and please, please football gods, hand City a loss soon.

Apologies if you think I'm trolling you but do you have any idea when Spurs last won at the Arsenal?

Are u sure Welbeck is fit. Haven’t been able to find any confirmation

If u think that AW is not damaging the Arsenal brand look no further than this forum where a couple of days out from a derby there is simply no interest at all. Put your hand on your heart & say that you really care what the result is.

I have to agree with this Gaz, although I think it's Kroenke and Wenger, not the latter alone, who are damaging the Arsenal brand. I feel people should remember that Kroenke is the only reason why Wenger is still in his current job and any harm Wenger is doing to the club in that role is a direct consequence of Stan's decision.

That is a good point about the owner. I am struggling to see any light ahead. The players who will leave in the next 2 years will not be adequately replaced in my opinion. That plus the mental weakness of the remaining players is of concern. Only a change at the top gives us a chance for a turn around. I am not sure which arsenal team will turn up this weekend.

Lacazette is ray of hope. He's very good an unknown quantity to sperz. They won't know his movements. Assuming he starts with Giroud being out presumably.
How do we contain Kane, Alli and company? That's going to be the tough thing. I think we can score couple goals. More than capable despite Tottenham defending well as a team as evidenced by their goal against record. Its an NLD so players will be up for it.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41485422
Price of Football 2017: Premier League clubs cut or freeze majority of prices

I was very surprised at Liverpool's prices. Hand clap for them. Already a given we'd be the most expensive. Mildly surprised at Tottenham's prices but then again they have a stadium to build so understanding of the price.

The cheapest day out in men's football in England is at Liverpool, where a ticket, pie, tea and programme could cost as little as £18.40. That is thanks largely to the availability of 500 £9 tickets at Anfield for fans living in the L postcode area.
Arsenal have the most expensive matchday ticket at £95.50 - but this has been reduced from last season. Their season ticket includes all home Premier League games and seven European and FA Cup games.
As in previous years, three London clubs have the most expensive season tickets - Arsenal (£1,768), Tottenham (£1,700), Chelsea (£1,250) - but Arsenal and Tottenham's have been reduced and Chelsea's has stayed the same.

I think you neglected 2 issues when looking at Lacazette, first will Wenger start him. Secondly spurs actually have a manager who will likely actually brief his players about what tactics to use on Lac.

Then of course there remains the Arsenal defence. Eleneny, coq, Holding - just pick one of these names out of the hat. Anyway that is enough of my negativity. Time for Goonie to come on and cheer us up. The infuriating part is that if everyone plays to their maximum from the first to the last minute we could win the game.

[quote]on the rest of the team news…
Mustafi will have a final check [on Friday], Welbeck as well. I’ll make decisions on all of them [on Friday].

Read more at https://www.arsenal.com/news/team-news- ... b77z8Jx.99

You're right. In one off games anything can happen, and worse teams than Arsenal have beaten better teams than Tottenham countless times before. However, despite that I'm finding it hard to come up with any other pre-match prediction than a Tottenham win tomorrow.

Even though I'm firmly parked on the sidelines, I still believe that we have a good squad and good players but it's the management that is *%^@*** them up. Reading some the excerpts from Lehman's book and there is some good insight into Wenger's management style. Nothing has changed and nothing will change until that stubborn git is gone.

Count your blessings, maybe Lacazette will get a start.

Cos I'm sick and tired of waiting for Arsene to retire gracefully I hope we get *%^@*** flogged if it helps hasten his departure. I think it's in the best long term interests of the club if we get rid of him now rather than allow another 18 months of delusion and guff.

My prediction for tomorrow is that it will be a park the bus day with a couple of pacey players up front to take advantage of them pushing up too high.

I think he fears them scoring more than us not scoring. If it is going to be then who plays and who doesn't could be a problem. Personally, if I am right, I'd like Lacazette up front with Özil on the left. Imo this is not a game for Sanchez to start or an indisciplined Xhaka possibly Ramsey and Jack in the middle.

Of course he could do the opposite in which case they will pick us off every time we go forward.

Also mystified by this belief that Welbeck is any good. He's barely been on the pitch!!?!?. Now I know the retort will be about stats and "when he plays, things happen" but he doesn't play for more than 2 games at a time so what good is all that potential. It's like having a full tank of petrol in a jag(sorry gaz couldn't help it) that will either sit in the driveway or break down the minute it leaves the street.