Arsenal Lobby

Robert Pires has confirmed that he received a proposal to sign for Valenciennes. Hasn't decided if he will retire, though.

We will most likely not win the EPL this season, sure, but had we won at City, we coulda been 6 points behind them. And speaking of City, they played 17 games and scored 53 goals. That's like an average of around 3 goals a game. That's insane.

afc top scorers: Van Persie (20) then... Walcott (4). Concerning drop.

LOOOL

Samuelj29060 wrote:afc top scorers: Van Persie (20) then... Walcott (4). Concerning drop.

indeed, here hoping it will change next year.

But the thing is, a lot of players have scored. Van Persie aside, the goals are spread around the whole squad

Gervs

The Verminator wrote:We will most likely not win the EPL this season, sure, but had we won at City, we coulda been 6 points behind them. And speaking of City, they played 17 games and scored 53 goals. That's like an average of around 3 goals a game. That's insane.

The fact that we held them to one goal at the Etihad is encouraging

More potency in our attack and we're solid through and through.

Player of 2011

Sky Sports Player of 2011:

Luis Suarez - 38%
Nani - 28%
Robin van Persie - 26%

Seriously? Scoring 34 goals in a calender year apparently isn't enough.

Also, why have a pole to decide this? That just increases the chances of biased voting.

fvck sky sports guys

we all know who the players would vote as MVP in the end of the season

New forum design is great!

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was again grateful to Robin van Persie in last night's win over Aston Villa.

Van Persie struck again - this time from the spot - in the 2-1 triumph.

"He keeps going. Of course you always have that question when he plays against Manchester City and then again with that intensity, do I rest him? At the moment he feels alright so I just take a gamble. Now we have a little breather to prepare for our home game and let's hope we can win then," said Wenger.

"We have to give credit to Villa tonight, we know they always give us a good reception here. They always make it very difficult for us."

ARSENAL hardman Emmanuel Frimpong insists there is more to his game than just kicking opponents — but he admitted: I'm no Lionel Messi!

The midfielder's tough tackling and enthusiasm has made him a big hit with Gunners fans.

Frimpong, 19, is set to return to Arsene Wenger's starting line-up at Aston Villa tonight.

He said: "Sometimes I'll go on Twitter the day before a game to see what the fans are saying.

"People are suggesting I'll deal with any players they don't like — 'Frimpong will get him', and that kind of thing.

"They seem to have created a wanted list of people for me to go for — I don't know what they think of me!

"I think I'm going to have to make a YouTube video to show the fans the other things that I am good at in the game.

"But then again — I'm not exactly Lionel Messi!"

Frimpong was in the team for Arsenal's recent Champions League loss at Olympiakos.

He said: "It was a hard game in a very hostile atmosphere. It was a shame we lost but I've learned that I can play in an environment like that.

"I'm just happy to be playing — it's always a pleasure to be selected."

Arsenal travel to Villa Park, looking to bounce back from Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Gunners boss Wenger said: "It was frustrating because I feel we had the opportunities to score but we didn't.

"From last time we know how frustrating it is when you don't score, the chances were there.

"All the players had spirit, although technically I thought we could do better.

"We are a team who wants to respond quickly now and keep our spirit and determination.

"If we keep that spirit and determination, we can go from strength to strength. We can have a bright future."

Wenger insists his team are progressing quickly after a stuttering start to the season.

The Frenchman added: "We're not the same team we were two months ago. In the next two months, of course, we want to be different again."

Wojciech Szczesny will again be in goal for Arsenal after his outstanding display at City.

Wenger said: "He is one of the best already in his full first season. He has, like the team, a promising future.

"We are confident that if he keeps his attitude and determination to do well, he can be one of the best.

"My secret belief is that he shouldn't set any limitations on his progress at just 21 years old.

"He is brave and that's an important quality.

"He is just at the start of his career and you do not want to say too early that he is the finished article."

RVP

Samuelj29060 wrote:New forum design is great!

Thanks Christmas special

Podolski and Gotze on the radar as Wenger plans January sales
By John Cross Published 10:30 22/12/1

It would be great to have a Secret Santa at every Premier League club.

Ear muffs for Blackburn boss Steve Kean to shut out the abuse from his own fans.

A Subbuteo set for Fernando Torres to help him rediscover what a goal looks like.

A football for Carlos Tevez as the Manchester City mercenary hasn't kicked one in ages.

Last year, you could have bought Cesc Fabregas a one way ticket to Barcelona. Samir Nasri £10m worth of record tokens.

Nicklas Bendtner a waxwork model of himself. Actually, that will probably still work for him this year.

This year Billy Ocean was enough to keep the Arsenal squad happy at their Christmas party.

I'm not sure about Arsene Wenger's musical tastes, but the Arsenal manager was quick to draw attention to his team's spirit after the win at Aston Villa.

Wenger said: "Our spirit was exceptional. That's why we have come back so strongly after our bad start to the season."

There's two parts to Wenger's statement. They kept going at Villa Park, Yossi Benayoun, a squad player, put his head in where it hurt to nod in a last gasp winner.
I'm not convinced Arsenal, under pressure for long spells, would have won that game last season. But the team fights for each other rather than each man for himself.

Furthermore, Arsenal were in a mess when Wenger staged his own madcap version of Supermarket Sweep at the end of the transfer window.

Benayoun was seen as a panic buy with a questionable attitude. Per Mertesacker's pace and mobility were in doubt. Mikel Arteta was supposedly not the player he once was.

But all three brought in a good attitude, an attitude which was there for all to see at Villa. They even emerged with credit in defeat at Manchester City.

Alex Song gets better each week, Robin van Persie has 34 goals in 34 games and is within touching distance of breaking Alan Shearer's record of 36 goals in a calendar year.

Laurent Koscielny has improved no end, Wojciech Szczesny is in great form and even Thomas Vermaelen is happy to do a job for the team at left back. Not every player would have done that in the past few seasons.

Arsenal are massive title outsiders and they're not in the shake-up for four trophies as they were last season. A top four finish may be the sum total of their ambitions.

But in many ways, Arsenal look a healthier, stronger outfit. If they buy in January then there may be a decent chance of ending the long wait for silverware.

They have got money to spend - or will face ending up with a huge profit. Fans want trophies not healthy balance sheets.

But Arsenal are bang in for Cologne striker Lukasz Podolski and seem increasingly hopeful of landing top quality back-up for van Persie, no matter Wenger's cautious denials.

Mario Gotze is on their wish list. A few managers want the Borussia Dortmund playmaker in their stocking though. It's now or never on that one.

Left back cover back is needed. Thierry Henry rejoining on loan is a good possibility.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will feel like a new signing when he eventually gets a sustained chance in the first team. He was another good signing in the summer.

Few will shed a tear if Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh are allowed to go. Arshavin looks out of step with his team mates when he comes on because he looks disinterested while the others are in there scrapping. No wonder Theo Walcott looked upset at being substituted for him at Manchester City.

Arsenal have got some momentum and need to build on it. But, just like in the summer, it's important the right characters come in.

It's also vital Arsenal prove their ambition as they also battle to keep van Persie. But it's clear he's also revelling in the new found belief in the squad.

They've got some big games coming up over the festive period, but this squad are up for the challenge and their greatest asset is their never-say-die spirit.

loooooooooooooooooooool he's like "I did nothing"

LOL

Walcott deeply contemplating the true meaning of life, going through a mini existential crisis as a ball speeds at him at 120 km/h. Yeah. Badass

Made me laugh:

Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb has been offered to Queens Park Rangers after his latest career setback.

Hleb, 30, left Arsenal to join Barcelona three years ago but his latest loan spell at Wolfsburg has not worked out and the Spanish club are looking to offload him again.

Belarus international Hleb, who also had a spell on loan at Birmingham last season, is surplus to requirements at Barcelona who are ready to release him if QPR will take over his contract.

Hleb, who once wrote to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitting he made a mistake leaving and asking for another chance, has been offered round the Premier League but it is believed only QPR showed any level of interest.

I'd swap my clothes with Alex Song just to be able to throw them away.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL