Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

gosplan

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Indeed. How much money is the UEFA cup actually worth? I heard it's something like 21 games in total if you win the thing next year. Can't see Wenger liking that.

Obviously I'd rather the Champions league but we've a team that badly needs to develop a culture of winning.

Winning a trophy or two might make a huge difference to this young squad. Let them see how good it feels to be jumping up and down on a podium with a trophy in their hands - that may give them the inspiration they're lacking when we play Fulham and Sunderland.

Obviously the CL is the goal but winning games is never a bad thing and conserving fitness would be the last thing on my mind when it comes to bringing the team forward.

Royale with Cheese

Maybe so, but unless they win the thing I'd see it as a waste of time. And I wouldn't be expecting Arsenal to win it just because the quality is less than the Champions League.

The Champions league obviously being different as it generates far more income, and attracts top quality players.

DenMan

I would fully expect Arsene Wenger to take the UEFA Cup seriously if we get there. It is a competition he would want to win and we have to get back to the mentality of showing something for all the beautiful football we do. Arshavin is a very recent winner of it and the club needs to up it's trophy cabinet.

Then again it's only six points and that lead can be eroded very quickly. Beat West Brom tomorrow night and hopefully City can take something against Villa on Wednesday with their very good home form.

redout

Wenger: Arsenal Fans' Loss Of Faith 'Is Not My Worry'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed further disappointment at his side's goalless draw at home to Fulham yesterday, their fifth consecutive draw, but has also insisted that he expects a positive future for his youthful side.

Not for the first time this season, some Gunners fans showed their frustration publicly at the end of yesterday's game by jeering their team off the pitch. The fourth goalless draw in a row has all but ended any feint hopes of challenging for the Premier League title.

But Wenger was defiant though when the discussing the situation with football365.com saying, "I don't know [whether the fans are losing faith]. That is not my worry.

"What is important is that I do what I believe is right and we keep going, that we show great attitude and do our job as well as we can, then let everybody judge and have an opinion. I believe it's not the biggest problem, not the biggest worry. The biggest worry is that we don't win games that we should win."

The Frenchman was also clear in his belief that his team had the resourcefulness and strength to come through the challenging times they are currently facing.

"We have been through difficult times, but it's an opportunity to show that you are strong enough to come through it," he added.

"I feel the players are showing enough desire, but when you don't get the results the first thing people always doubt is the desire. I want to win the games and when we don't win the games, it's disappointing.

"Every defeat or every time we don't have a victory is tough. At the moment it's not satisfying, but we will see how strong we are until the end of the season."

With any chance of winning the Premier League gone, Wenger did confess that he was desperate to ensure that the Gunners manage to qualify for the Champions League. He said that the six point gap between themselves and Aston Villa in fourth place must be clawed back as quickly as possible.

"You know how much I want to get into the Champions League. For me, it is not important - it is vital. But you can only play your games and try to win them.

"I want to be in the Champions League because it's the best I can be. If I'm not, then I'm not happy. It's as simple as that.

"You don't play football to be average. I don't manage in the game to be average, and the players want to play at the top."

And, despite the team's problems with injury currently, Wenger will head into Tuesday's trip to West Bromwich Albion with an upbeat message for players and supporters.

"We don't have many opportunities to change things round at the moment," he admitted.

"So we will keep the positives from what we do well and go into the next game to win it. What is good in football is that in three days the story can be completely different."

He must be hoping that Aston Villa continue to wobble like they have been doing in recent weeks.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/03/01/1133478/wenger-arsenal-fans-loss-of-faith-is-not-my-worry

L'prof

Frisbee wrote: »

Of course I'd want to play in the UEFA Cup if we don't make the Champions League.
Turning your nose down at a second tier European competition that we actually would have a chance of winning?
You'd rather we just didnt play in Europe?

I have no interest in the Uefa Cup...I can't remember the last time I watched a final in full and I don't think we'd win it either to be honest!

Frisbee

jasonorr wrote: »

I have no interest in the Uefa Cup...I can't remember the last time I watched a final in full and I don't think we'd win it either to be honest!

To me that's football snobbery of the highest order.
"The UEFA Cup is a mickey mouse competition, why bother?"

I'd say bother because we're not good enough to play in the Champions League so surely we should try and win the competition we are good enough to qualify for?

I don't think we'll win the Champion League this year either so should we just give up now?

L'prof

Frisbee wrote: »

To me that's football snobbery of the highest order.
"The UEFA Cup is a mickey mouse competition, why bother?"

I'd say bother because we're not good enough to play in the Champions League so surely we should try and win the competition we are good enough to qualify for?

I don't think we'll win the Champion League this year either so should we just give up now?

Call it what you want, 11 years in the Champions League has made me a snob? So be it! I never said we should give anything up, but whether we qualify for the Uefa Cup or not if we fail to qualify for the Champions League doesn't bother me! I don't think we'll win the Champions League this year, but it might just be our best chance of qualifying next year!

Frisbee

jasonorr wrote: »

Call it what you want, 11 years in the Champions League has made me a snob? So be it! I never said we should give anything up, but whether we qualify for the Uefa Cup or not if we fail to qualify for the Champions League doesn't bother me! I don't think we'll win the Champions League this year, but it might just be our best chance of qualifying next year!

You said you don't think we'll win the Uefa Cup so you've no interest in it.
How do you think we can win the Champions League this year and be unable to win the Uefa Cup next year?

It's a privilege to be in any European competition, and constant qualification for the CL is causing people to see things in rose tinted glasses.

The way we've been playing we don't deserve Champions League football next year.

Of course I'm really hoping we can turn things around and get fourth place, but if we don't, I'll welcome European football next year with open arms.

L'prof

I don't mean to nitpick, but:

Frisbee wrote: »

You said you don't think we'll win the Uefa Cup so you've no interest in it.

I have no interest in the Uefa Cup and I added that I don't think we would win it!

Frisbee wrote: »

How do you think we can win the Champions League this year and be unable to win the Uefa Cup next year?

6 games left this year in the Champions League, there's a lot more in the Uefa Cup than that!

Frisbee wrote: »

It's a privilege to be in any European competition, and constant qualification for the CL is causing people to see things in rose tinted glasses.

The way we've been playing we don't deserve Champions League football next year.

I see what you mean, but I have no interest in the Uefa Cup now and if we were playing in it next year, my interest would only increase slightly to be honest and I'd prolly watch Champions League instead!

Frisbee wrote: »

Of course I'm really hoping we can turn things around and get fourth place, but if we don't, I'll welcome European football next year with open arms.

I hope we can turn it around too, but I'm not gonna lie and say I'd be happy to be in the Uefa Cup just because it's a European competition!

gosplan

Actually, I think we've forgotten the possibility that, if we end up in it, Wenger might tackle the UEFA Cup with the Carling cup squad - WOW!! :D

If I was told that'd happen, I'd nearly be hoping for UEFA cup football next year

L'prof

gosplan wrote: »

Actually, I think we've forgotten the possibility that, if we end up in it, Wenger might tackle the UEFA Cup with the Carling cup squad - WOW!! :D

If I was told that'd happen, I'd nearly be hoping for UEFA cup football next year

I'm sure he'd take it pretty seriously, as he should!

Bounty Hunter

gosplan wrote: »

Actually, I think we've forgotten the possibility that, if we end up in it, Wenger might tackle the UEFA Cup with the Carling cup squad - WOW!! :D

If I was told that'd happen, I'd nearly be hoping for UEFA cup football next year

tbh i would think that far more likely considering some of the teams youd play early on and that 3 teams qualify from the group so you wouldent have to play your first XI usually in most of your games to qualify. Id expect Wilshere and Co to see some time in Europe next season should Arsenal finish 5th and not win the CL.

Pepe LeFrits

We have the squad depth to be able to take the UEFA cup seriously, should we be in it next season. I'd expect/demand Wenger to make a real effort to win the thing. As gosplan said, breeding a winning mentality by winning it could be very useful in the long term... not to mention to mention being a real confidence booster going into 2010/11.

Frisbee

Are we resigned to streams for tonights game?

L'prof

Frisbee wrote: »

Are we resigned to streams for tonights game?

Yeah, Setanta Ireland are showing Falkirk v Dundee...you could always watch the 97/98 season review on Arsenal TV instead, better than watching us drop points again

Frisbee

jasonorr wrote: »

Yeah, Setanta Ireland are showing Falkirk v Dundee...you could always watch the 97/98 season review on Arsenal TV instead, better than watching us drop points again

Good shout. I'll consider watching the stream later maybe.

And Falkirk vs. Dundee?
Everyone knows Irish people only ever watch SPL matches when Celtic are playing.... :pac:

L'prof

Frisbee wrote: »

Good shout. I'll consider watching the stream later maybe.

And Falkirk vs. Dundee?
Everyone knows Irish people only ever watch SPL matches when Celtic are playing.... :pac:

I thought it was just the old firm???

Galvasean

Im going to go out on a limb here and predict a 1-1 draw tonight )oooh two more goals than usual)

ErinGoBrath

any ideas on the like lineup tonight lads?

Something like:

---

Almunia

---

Sagna--Toure-Djourou-Clichy---
Eboue---Diaby--Denilson-Nasri-

---

Bentner

---

---

RvP

---

???

Wreck

Is Arshavin injured?

Not starting as he's "wrecked" after the last game.

Frisbee

Papa Smut wrote: »

Not starting as he's "wrecked" after the last game.

Source?
Cant see anything about it on the website

invincibleirish

Have your guys down to hammer WBA. they are a poor mans Arsenal in their play. hope i'm wrong.

itsjaybud

A large section of Arsenal supporters are split on whether the club should back or even sack manager Arsene Wenger. Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith examines some of the questions Wenger is being asked.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/is-it-time-wenger-was-shown-exit-1658992.html



The baggies try to play attacking football so hopefully we can pick em off to night. il go with a nice 2 goal victory and rvp with a brace!:)

may aswell be positive untill 21:35!!:)

Well, I can give you the Sun for proper reporting

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2287293.ece?OTC-RSS&ATTR=Football

But if you think about it, he isn't properly "match fit" and the pace of the Prem is very different.

Frisbee

Papa Smut wrote: »

But if you think about it, he isn't properly "match fit" and the pace of the Prem is very different.

Ah yeah he has been struggling.
I'd like to think Wenger would start a tired Arshavin over Eboue though.... :pac:

ErinGoBrath

Frisbee wrote: »

Source?
Cant see anything about it on the website

The Sun...eugggghhhh

From arsenal.com: http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-arshavin-will-have-major-influence

Can't see him starting tonight. Probably on the bench, and come on for the last 20 minutes or so.

yahoo_moe

West Brom struggle to score goals though so I think we could very well win if we score.

Big 'if' these days but we'd some excellent chances the other day and all we would have needed was to take one. I think we'll win tonight.

Though beating the bottom-placed team in the league shouldn't really warrant a PMA 'rally the troops' kind of post

EDIT: That appears to have been post number 666 for me. Just what I'd have hoped as I try to stay positive...

Green Hornet

Anybody got a link for the game?