Not Bad For Passionless Supporters Hay Samir?

There was not much to get excited about on Sunday but the performance of the game from an Arsenal point of view was undoubtedly the away fans who didn’t give in from around the 47th minute until the final whistle; choruses of we love you Arsenal could be heard by the 70,000 inside Old Trafford and millions watching on TV.

You would think conceding eight goals would result in people leaving early however that was not the case as the majority of the away section stayed and sung until the end.

Goal scorers Robin Van Persie and Theo Walcott came over to the away support and showed their appreciation at the wonderful support. This was a day that will be deleted from the memory of most Arsenal supporters but the ones in the away section can be proud of the support they provided and certainly enhanced the reputation as one of the best away support in the country.

Theo Walcott and Carl Jenkinson had a bit of an argument on the pitch during the first half and I see no problem in that. It shows both of them care. It would be much more shocking if they didn’t do anything and just ignored it. Theo in particular gets a lot of stick (on twitter and at games) but this season he scored home and away in the Champions League qualifier and scored the first goal of our Premiership season too. If he stays free of injuries, I expect him to have his best goal scoring season yet.

With the news that Arsenal are to practically refund away supporters, my reaction is that it may have just hit home how damaging a day it was yesterday. I did not expect a refund as it was my choice to purchase a match ticket and despite the loss I have no plans to sell my Blackburn away ticket.

Football is like an addiction, I cannot keep away and will always try and go to as many games as I can afford. It is a good touch from the club however, as it may have just hit home how hard this month has been for supporters.

As for transfers, I tend to keep quiet and try not to judge players before they come. When it comes to offensive players, I will never judge a player before I have seen them play for Arsenal in about 10-15 games because the past tells me, that Mr Wenger knows what to look for in offensive players and his record speaks for itself.

Defensively, it is hard not to judge but the rumours of Mertesacker do not surprise me. We are a team that conceded many goals from set pieces and the talk of a 6.6 German international who is a leader coming in is not something I am against. I fully believe CBs play in pairs (well that goes without saying) and the two should compliment each other. Along side Vermaelen, Koscielny looks a superb player but along side Djourou, the pair looks a bit suspect, so partnerships are vital when playing at the back.

We all know it is a big two days for Arsenal but the club do seem to be moving!

Come on you Arsenal.

What is going on?!

‘If you sell Fabregas and Nasri, you cannot pretend you’re a big club’

Well yes I guess that is true HOWEVER, surely making the world think that the club had no intention in selling both players was just a way of getting £24m for a player on his last year of a contract.

OR did Arsene Wenger genuinely believe keeping Nasri was a better option and the decision was perhaps taken out of his hands?

From personal experiences, I have never quite taken things as black or white in press conferences and with the comments about Cesc or Nasri leaving my first reaction was that the club think Nasri can be persuaded to stay but then maybe it was all about making Manchester City believe Arsenal were prepared to take a risk with Nasri in order to get the best possible price.

Lets be honest, £24m is a good price for a player on the last year of his contract.

As for Nasri, he was a real fans favourite and anyone that knows me or came to games with me last season will know how much I enjoyed singing his song! The memory of him walking of the St Andrews pitch with 3,000 of us jumping, dancing and signing his name will stay with me for a while, but while it was a happy memory then, it is now a memory of much regret.

On Saturday, Nasri was given a good applause by the Arsenal supporters in the ground and that for me showed the class of the supporters. I myself thought I would not have the heart to applause him but he won me around. But now I think about it, Arsenal paid his bloody wages all summer, the least he can do is play a game here and there! It was almost like he was doing us a favour; well he wasn’t. If you tell your boss you will not do any work but still want to be paid, I can only imagine what most bosses reaction would be.

As for the boss and the club in general, your guess is as good as mine in terms of what is going on!

I do notice people are very quick to put all the blame on Arsene Wenger and maybe he deserves the blame but how the board get away with stick amazes me.

After promising us an active summer when talking to the AST but then jetting off on holiday while other clubs did their business early or Liam Brady recently saying that the board are not giving the thumbs up to a higher wage structure must also raise questions.

Before anything, the game tonight is vital. Qualification to the group stages of the Champions League is huge and failure is not an option.

Come on you Arsenal !

Cesc Fabregas - The Story That Did Not Go Away

His finally gone.

Cesc Fabregas after eight years of service has left Arsenal football club.

Farewell to our club captain and best player (in my opinion anyway). The last month or two may have turned a bit ugly with people having their own opinions on how Cesc, Arsenal and certainly Barcelona have acted but as time passes, I get the feeling people will remember what Cesc brought this club. Feel free to dislike Barcelona as much as you want though!

I do not accept it when people say Cesc did not give 100% when playing for Arsenal. His last season was not his best by any means but after the world cup and the injuries he carried, it was difficult for him.

Cesc played over 300 games or so for this club and his vision, his ability to pick a final ball was something special.

I remember his goal in Milan or the goal vs Spurs, they were my personal favourites but there were others.

Best of luck for the future Cesc; I would wish Barcelona well but after the way they have behaved, I rather not but I genuinely do wish you Luck. You were a world class player.

Maybe one day we will see you back.

Farewell Mr Cesc Fabregas.

A new season and a new optimism… or not

When asked on where Arsenal will finish at the start of every season I always say ‘1^st’; till now that is.

I would probably take 4^th place now if I could however, that could change if we add to our squad by the end of the window.

Cesc Fabregas is itching ever closer to the move he has been wanting (if the Arsenal e-mail system magically starts working again!) and Samir Nasri could be off to double his money at Manchester City.

With Cesc, I think most Arsenal supporters understand why he wants to return and even though the last month or two has turned a bit ugly, I prefer to blame Barcelona; I am biased after all!

With Samir Nasri, my feeling is very different. With Cesc going, Samir would be the main man. He would play in the centre and have the team practically built around him. Or he could go and earn 180k a week and be second choice behind David Silva (who in my opinion is much more established at the moment) at Manchester City. Off course Nasri may over take players that play in his position at Man City and be first choice but at Arsenal he is guaranteed being the main man where as, at Man City, with all the money they have spent, it may not that easy; Just ask a certain Manu Adebayor.

I wish we had sold Nasri earlier in the summer and bought Juan Mata, hopefully that is still possible and we have not completely missed the boat.

A centre back is needed and that goes without saying and I still think we will get one before the transfer window closes on September 1^st.

As for the season ahead, August seems vital both on and off the pitch. The tricky start with an incomplete squad will be a huge challenge but if Arsenal can pull it off (qualify for the Champions League and get perhaps two wins and a draw or even one win and two draws or two wins with one loss!) and add to the squad, then maybe the optimism will return.

Time will tell.

To Newcastle we go. UP THE ARSENAL!