The Negative Arsenal Drinking Game

Hi Folks,

Sometimes it's good to be pessimistic, a bit of reverse psychology to make the team prove you wrong is one way some Gooners cope.

As the new season is now upon us though the negativity from pundits, commentators & the papers will be even more apparent (just when you was thinking it couldn't get any worse).

Well I was thinking let's make a negative 'Arsenal Drinking Game' with some of the negative things that happen during Arsenal games & some of the negative stuff the pundits and commentators come out with.

Take one sip when:

• A pundit/commentator/presenter mentions Arsenal's 6 years without a trophy
• A pundit/commentator/presenter mentions Cesc Fabregas & Barcelona in the same sentence
• A pundit/commentator/presenter mentions Samir Nasri & Manchester City in the same sentence
• A pundit/commentator/presenter mentions Arsenal will finish 6th/drop out of the top 4
• A pundit/commentator/presenter mentions that "Arsenal need a good English" something or or other"

Down in one when/if:

• Squillaci comes on after half time and ruins everything (doesn't have to be directly at fault here, just on the pitch).
• We lose a lead
• Arsene says "I believed we had enough quality" in the post match interview
• Arsene abuses a bottle

All good fun, I will devise a positive one next week hopefully. Any ideas, pop them in the comments box or hit me up on Twitter @Mitch1984.

Peace everyone, may we have a great season.

Regards

Mitchell Edwards

The Importance Of Signing These 3 Key Targets

Written By - Mervyn Onyekuru 

 
One of the most exciting moments of the summer that fans turn to after the champions league final is who their team is looking to add to the squad so as to strengthen the team. Fans start to read newspapers, magazines, articles, they also surf the net, checking the club’s site and online articles. I personally check “Arsenal latest news” at least three times a day just to know what my club is up to in signing players, sometimes I wish we could get all the players we are being linked with but we know that is not going to happen. The fact is not just getting these players but also knowing the department of your team that needs to be strengthened.
Everybody knows that the defensive part of Arsenal is weak and that has been a song that has and is still being remixed because Arsenal has not replied that song yet. One of the secrets of having an awesome defence is not just by buying SUPPOSED good defenders but having a worthy experienced person to pair with, which is why Vidic, Pique, Terry, Pepe and a host of others are good because they were or are being paired with Ferdinand, Puyol, Ferdinand & Carvalho and Cannavaro respectively. If Arsenal is to sign Christopher Samba, and I hope they will, I see Arsenal getting ready to end their defensive criticism. DID YOU NOTICE THAT ALMOST ALL THOSE PLAYERS MENTIONED ABOVE HAVE POSSESSED THE CAPTAINCY BAND AT SOME POINT?
Well for the midfield Arsenal has a lot of options and some of the wingers can even fill in the centre of midfield. I have read an article, saying Ricardo Alvarez is a bad signing, as he is just another winger which we already have in bulk. I totally disagree; I believe that if Kaka can play centre midfield or attacking midfield then Ricardo Alvarez can do the same because he is the “Left-footed Kaka”. Of course if Fabregas should stay, which I know is highly unlikely and I can’t blame him for that then there is no need for Ricardo Alvarez but if Fabregas leaves then I believe Alvarez will be a good replacement.
In the attacking department I think we should give that department great credit, we might not have Rooney, Drogba, Torres, Villa, Higuain, etc but Arsenal have managed to be among one of the highest goal scoring team in world. Van Persie, Nasri and Walcott have done really great things for the club in the 2010/2011 season and I congratulate them for that, not forgetting Arshavin, Chamakh and Nikky but imagine how it would have been if Arsenal had RADAMEL FALCAO. Falcao appeared in 22 league games and scored 16 goals and I am talking just about the Portuguese league. He was the second highest goal scorer behind the “incredible” Hulk. Falcao has a little pace like Walcott, a little dribbling like Nasri, a little heading accuracy like Bendtner & Chamakh, shot like Arshavin and sharpness like Van Persie. Even if we are to keep on using Van Persie which I am OK with, what will happen when he goes to Netherlands and collides with Lucio in a friendly, he might come back with an injury and that might be another turning point in the club’s season.
In my second paragraph, I did not say that Fabregas is not a good captain but the club will be better off with a captain that leads not only by example but by being very vocal just as John Terry is. I hardly see Fabregas shout out to the players. If he leaves and the captain armband is given to Van Persie, I will be a little ok with that, but I prefer the armband with Vermalean or if signed, Samba. Wenger should try this for a couple of games and see what the defence will be like in those games.
Share your thoughts and views below…
What did you think of Mervyns' first post for GoonerSOnline?

Are Arsenal Not Cutthroat Enough?

Evening guys & girls, Mr. GoonerSOnline has kindly asked me if I would like to guest blog on here, which is weird because I was that morning thinking of asking him if I could anyway. I've never blogged before but I have been told I "articulate well" so I hope I do well. Be nice...

Before I get into the nitty gritty, I thought I should introduce myself: My name is Mitchell Edwards and I have been a Gooner since 1995, I'm pretty active on Twitter where I discovered @GoonerSOnline and many more brilliant fans of the club that I love. My passion for things can be mistaken sometimes but I like to think that I'm not bigoted as I can definitely have my mind changed in discussion. You can follow me if you wish @Mitch1984.

It is coming to the end of the season and naturally there are things on my mind of how the team can improve, how we could of been top by now, how we can win things...

While it's not nice to criticise individual players, I cannot help notice players who have been below par for too long and could do with replacing. To some of you that may sound harsh and that's the reaction I am going to write about in this post.

When I read individual's criticism of the Arsenal squad, many different players are criticised, some criticism I can align my views with, some I cannot. Just the other day I heard someone say we should sell Djourou. I think apart from the Bolton game Djourou has been awesome, a real rock this season and think our defence would've have been super special if Vermaelen played alongside him the whole season. He's not someone I'd sell, and even if we bought Chris Samba or Cahill or whoever in the summer and Djourou ended up on the bench, he would be a player we wouldn't have to worry about being a liability if we had to call upon him. That's the carefreeness I wish to have when calling upon the bench when players get injured.

On the other hand Nicklas Bendtner for example; a player who has confirmed very recently that he will not be leaving Arsenal this summer, is someone I think we should replace.

With Bendtner, I think regardless of whether he starts a game or comes on as a sub, also taking into account the times he is played out of position; he is just not the goal machine Robin van Persie is for someone who is supposed to be a centre forward. I appreciate that Bendtner is not a first teamer and also how a new world class goal machine in his place could get unsettled being on the bench and end up wanting to leave. I however don't think we have enough quality on the bench and I would love that to change.

We need to bolster our bench because we're a team that needs to be able to rotate with ease. We need to bolster our bench also because we regularly suffer from many injuries. I believe we need a bench we can rely on, that we are not cutthroat enough when it comes to replacing dead weight.

Manchester United for example aren't hurt in the slightest by having one striker out of either Rooney, Hernandez & Berbatov injured or banned, Man Utd are able rotate in premier league games and still win.

We rotate in a cup game and end up playing a replay. I knew we could get a result with the lineups we put on against Chelsea and at home to Barcelona but truth is, when we rotate and play Ipswich and Leeds, I'm no where near as optimistic. We need to be more cutthroat and say good isn't good enough, we rely on using substitutes to rotate and to cover injured players a lot and because of this our bench should be top notch too.

Take Chelsea for example, although I admire our attitude and philosophy and I wouldn't want us to change into Chelsea, Chelsea got rid of Ballack and Joe Cole last season and while many football fans were shocked that 'quality' players were let go, I wasn't, I could see last season Ballack was given many chances and regularly under performed on the pitch.

We definitely shouldn't do the opposite and boo our players but are we getting too attached to anyone that dons an Arsenal shirt? Do management lack what is needed to make the changes needed?

I would like to add that I am happy with the contribution Bendtner has been making from the right wing as opposed to his preferred centre forward role, I think as a tactical substitute to Theo Walcott he's been great, with some nice crosses and assists, I wouldn't mind him staying if he is happy with that role. What do you think?

Let's also talk about Chamakh, the guy made a great start, he really excelled knowing that he was first choice while Robin van Persie was injured. He played many games and needed a rest unfortunately for him at the time when Robin van Persie came back, who after a slow start showed a return to outstanding form, scoring goal after goal. As we know Chamakh doesn't start many games at all lately and has maybe been under too much pressure to deliver the goods and leave an impression when coming on as a substitute. Maybe I am being a hypocrite here as I would mostly want Chamakh to stay at Arsenal, but I think that is down to me being attached to him due to the goals he scored at the start of the season. It's more difficult for me to say we should sell him than it is for me to say we should sell Bendtner.

I don't want Arsene Wenger to go, definitely not, I know we don't have unlimited money I just want him to replace some of the dead weight, we are so close ladies and gentleman.

The Small Things That Won’t Go Away

Welcome Gooners,

The problems are only getting bigger.

So our hopes of winning the league and finally ending our trophy drought have been dashed, and the team are performing like a bunch of kids. Oh wait they are kids.

People have been calling for AW’s head, and I think that those people need to seriously think what they are saying. Even Walcott said it, you have got to look at the players performances, because of late they have been poor. I attended the Bolton game, and was quite disappointed by what I saw at the end of the game. No appreciation from the players, apart from Cesc Fabregas who came over and let his appreciation known.

But why have we once again thrown away such a good chance of winning the league?

I can tell you why, because of the same small things that won’t go away and continue to haunt us.

• Poor Defence Record On Set Pieces.
• No-one taking charge in the team, leaving everyone doing the same job leaving players free on set pieces.
• Continuous injuries to key players.
• Lack of experience and strength in the squad
• Finally, the mental strength of a young child who’s lost their parents.

And you know what, these small problems, are returning so frequently, that they are becoming very Big problems indeed.

"We have the quality, that is for sure. We have to strengthen the squad where it needs and make the right decision on that front. It is always in my mind every day.

"The team have had an outstanding attitude and will not be rewarded because of small things, but small things cost you.

"It is frustrating because the team has produced the efforts.

"We have to be realistic that it is very unlikely now, but we have to finish as well as we can."

So will Wenger learn from these constant problems? Or will he let them pass him by. I expect he will finally look at the issues and seriously look at how he can go about solving them. Any suggestions?

My minds set on one player in particular, Gary Cahill, please sign him!

Lets end this season 2nd GoonerS, share your thoughts below.

Technorati Tags: Arsenal,Premier League,Wenger,Cahill,Problems,Gooners,Gunners

Pat Rice’s Future And Another Great Night Of Football!

Morning Gooners,

What a lovely day it is today. Hopefully the day will continue to get better with a win tonight in the North London Derby. But lets put the game on hold for later in the today;s post.

The main subject of today’s post, is the ever loyal Pat Rice.

Is two of the same healthy for the club?
As you will already know, Pat’s contract runs out at the end of the year, and he is yet to renew his contract – that is if he’s been offered one. But my theory is, if Pat Rice was to leave, would it be such a bad thing? Obviously it would be a sad day, the end of Pat Rice, as he has been involved in the club all his life apart from his 4 year spell at Watford, but even after he decided to end his playing career, he re-joined Arsenal within months of retiring as the youth coach.

So how could Pat leaving have a positive effect on the Arsenal?

Well in my opinion, we need a change in the club. We need someone that doesn’t think in the exact same way as Arsene, and someone not afraid of telling Wenger, what’s going wrong.

So who do I suggest to replace Pat Rice if he is to leave?

Well I guess it would have to be someone younger and open minded.
Dragan Stojkovic maybe?

Well that’s my theory, how about yours?

---

Now onto tonight’s football.

Tonight is one hell of a night for football lovers, with the Arsenal taking on Sp*rs in the NLD and Barcelona taking on Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey Final. Blimey!

But my eyes will only be on one game tonight…Arsenal’s.

Going into the match, both clubs know a win keeps their target within reach, and anything less, brings it to a disappointing end. So if we are to win the league this year and prove the doubters wrong – which included me in certain parts of the season, we must, MUST win tonight!

Team News -
Arsenal – I can already hear the joyful cheers as Arsenal fans lucky enough to go the the match tonight hear Bacary Sagna’s name read out as he has returned to full fitness from his knee injury. Also Almunia, Denilson and Rosicky have all passed fit. Thomas Vermaelen, continues to work his way back to full fitness.

Sp*rs – Pienaar and Kranjcar return whilst Alan Hutton and Palacios remain unavailable.

Possible Starting Line Ups-

ARSENAL:Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Fabregas, Walcott, Nasri, Van Persie

Sp*rs: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Modric, Sandro, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch.

Tonight will show if we have the mental strength to win title!

Ok, so tonight should be a great game, both clubs looking for all 3 points. Let’s beat the Sp*rs, and I don’t care how we do it. Come On You GoonerS! Predictions for tonight? Thoughts on the post? See you in the comments or twitter.

Links-
Bartley Contemplates Arsenal Exit
Arsenal Linked With French Wing Back
Arsenal continue to watch Sakho – no bid