I Think Arsene Wenger Deserves A Gee-Up!

In recent times Arsene Wenger has taken a lot of stick. In my opinion some of it is right and some is wrong.

He is often criticised for his transfer policy. I'll admit that it can be frustrating at times. Especially when you see the likes of Manchester City spending more money on players then Katie Price does on botox.

But they are on another spending level to us and everybody else. While it must be nice to have unlimited cash available and signing all these superstars it must be slightly worrying to think it could all go tits up if the sugar-daddy gets fed up and jogs on.

We have no such worries under Arsene Wenger. I know we have no 'pimp' in charge but rest assured we know he won't take the piss with the club's cash and make us skint.

Of course I would like him to sometimes 'push out the boat' and spend a little more than he could be willing to but at least we know our future is safe. And I'm sure in years to come we will be thanking Wenger for being so prudent.

As I've said, Arsene has been under the cosh for his ways of using Arsenal's money but he always seems to pull a little gem out of somewhere doesn't he?

Marouane Chamakh has been a great signing and will be become a key figure for Arsenal. You could say he is now but the little gem I think Wenger has pulled out of the bag is the signing of Sebastien Squillaci.

The Frenchman isn't a massive name in football but he has been a very good purchase for Arsenal.

After the departures of four million experienced centre-backs Squillaci arrival has been welcomed and after the start he has made, even more so.

He cost about a fiver and I'd rather Wenger went out and spent that sort of money on players than spending £24m on a player like Joleon Lescott.

Sebastien has settled in at Arsenal with ease. I have to admit I was a little worried at how quickly he would become accustomed to the English premiership but he seems comfortable here.

He will be tested by Didier Drogba this weekend but if truth be told the Chelsea striker will test anyone. Even Superman.

I think Arsene Wenger deserves a gee-up for getting Squillaci's signature.

People are quick to jump on his back for his lack of spending but in this case he has done well. An experienced classy defender who cost less than a cheese and onion sandwich from Tesco.

Keep it Goonerish.............

And We Think We've Got Keeper Problems!

Take at look at this link here.

You gotta feel for the poor bastard aint ya?

I've heard a rumour this fellow is on his way to Arsenal in January.

A big talking point is who will be between the sticks against Chelsea this Sunday.

I can't see Arsene Wenger throwing Wojciech Szczesny in goal despite the young Polski claiming he is the best goalie in the history of the universe.

Szczesny is like the Nicklas Bendtner of the goalkeeping world. He believes he is better than what he is.

Whilst this self-confidence is admirable it can also be seen as delusional. Declaring he is better than Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon put together is an amazing claim.

And while I made the last sentence up I have no doubt that he actually believes it.

I like a bit of self confidence in a keeper though. The best all have that arrogance and from I've seen of Wojciech (and heard about him, a pal of mine plays for Brentford) he has what it takes to go all the way.

I just feel the Chelsea game would be too much for him.

I wish he could lend a bit of that confidence to Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. It has to be said though that Fabianski is probably feeling the most confident he has ever been in an Arsenal shirt.

Surely Lukasz is number one choice for Sunday?

I seriously think that Manuel could run off the pitch like the keeper does in the link above if he made another serious mistake in a match. Especially in a game as high profile as this one.

Almunia is a confidence keeper and his must be at an all-time low. There is no way (in my opinion) he is injured at the moment. In his frame of mind the last place he wants to be is in between the goal-posts.

I feel for Almunia. It was clear that Arsene Wenger wanted a new keeper over the summer and truth be told he should have got one.

By failing to succeed all Wenger has done has undermine the Spaniard. It was only a matter of time before he fucked up and when he did it is clear to see the effects of him.

He is gone. Devastated, and I wonder how much more we will see from this season. Seriously. I reckon that is it.

I asked for support for Manuel at the beginning of the season, well now we just need to support whoever is in goal.

Perhaps we could play monkey-rush?

Keep it Goonerish...........

Are Barcelona Not "Mentally" Tough Enough Either Then?

Today's performance was piss-poor and painful to watch. In fact I'd rather have the raging hangover I had this morning again than watch that pile of shite. And that hangover was bad.

But I must say this, while we were worse than my Sunday morning football team, West Brom thoroughly deserved the win. Well done the Baggies.

Of course this is a set-back in our title bid, but it hasn't killed it. It's how we react to the defeat that counts.

I've no doubt that we will hear the critics loud and proud and maybe they will feel justified by watching us lose at home to a newly-promoted side but shit happens sometimes.

I'm not happy with the performance and I feel that we succumbed to our old ways a little by thinking all we had to do was just turn up and we would win. Maybe it was arrogance, I think it was complacency.

All I know is that I hope it gives us a massive boot up the arse and we realise we have to at least match the opposition for effort or you get nowhere.

I'm sure we will hear that Arsenal probably don't have the mental strength for a title push and that Manchester United or Chelsea wouldn't have lost like we did to a newly-promoted side.

Well Barcelona did......

A couple of weeks ago I watched Barca beaten at home by Hercules. Not the Greek demi-god, but a real football club recently promoted. And Barcelona are the greatest side in the entire universe. And beyond.

So it does happen and even the masters of the universe can be beaten by newly-promoted sides deemed inferior to themselves. Not just Arsenal suffer from this disease.

It may seem like an absolute disaster today but if we learn from the mistakes then we will be okay. Barcelona reacted with three straight (not gay) wins.

If we react the same then the defeat will be forgotten in no time. But we must learn, and learn fast.

It's not the end of the world but it is a kick in the nuts. Please though don't be suckered into thinking that Arsenal aren't title challenging quality on the back of a disappointing performance and defeat.

Keep it Goonerish............

He Amazes Me!

This kid. He amazes me.

Jack Wilshere, in my opinion, could have the world at his feet. And what's so thrilling is the fact he plays in the red and white of Arsenal.

I love the boy already.

This might sound crazy but I'm more excited about his breakthrough than Cesc Fabregas's. Of course I'm not saying he is better than Cesc, but when both were 18? Who knows?

Fabregas had the guidance of several world-class players whereas Wilshere doesn't. I only hope that Cesc is helping Jack with advice and that the young Englishman is taking it on board.

Jack has come through the ranks at Arsenal and I genuinely believe that he could remain at the club his whole career and be a future skipper. That may seem a little over the top but I hope it can happen.

Then again, I thought Ashley Cole would have been a Gunner forever and the leader of the players one day!

Many English people knock Arsenal for our lack of English players. Personally I don't care for where a player comes from as long as they do the business for Arsenal.

But regarding Jack, I think the English public will be thanking Arsenal for a long time. This kid is special.

Keep it Goonerish...........