Arsenal Lobby

I'm assuming Koscielny will be back. It's not actually confirmed yet.

urbaNRoots wrote:Koscielny will be back for Wigan? That's huge news!

If that's our team, I hope Podolski has a good game because he hasn't had one in ages

I'd say Podolski actually had a good match when he come off the bench at Swansea - a goal and an assist in half an hour of playing time, which should have won the game for us.

But yeah, I would very much like to see him come in and score 2-3 in a match soon. It'd be good for him and good for Arsenal.

Obviously as a starter, Poldi has proven to be a good player when coming off the bench. His last good game as a starter was against Liverpool FA Cup depending on how you rate his overall performance against Bayern (a game of two halves for him).

I know he can do so much better if he works a bit harder, that's why I demand more from him. Games against West Ham, Liverpool and Bayern show that. But he' shown good form in the FA Cup so let's hope he continues that against Wigan.

Simeone will stay there for a long time, same with Klopp. These are unrealistic targets. We should find our very own Simeone, someone who knows the club inside out, knows a thing or two about managing a football team and has a winning mentality.

I can't see Simeone staying there for too long especially with Atletico Madrid financial situation.Think he will give it about two seasons then leave.

Does Bergkamp come as a package with De Boer. *drools*

Podolski is just a conundrum of a player. He's so good in the final third with his end product, but his movement tends to be geared towards dropping deep and getting involved in the build-up instead of trying more to get in behind where he'd be more effective. Then when he does get involved in the build-up, his passing and close control is inconsistent. One game his defensive work rate is outstanding, the next non-existent.

It's no wonder he's been so in-and-out of the side during his time with us.

On another note, anyone find it interesting that the four Champions League semi-finalists all possess pace, power, defensive solidity and the ability to counter attack, as opposed to just having superb technique and ability to keep the ball? Hope Wenger is taking note.

Some are calling it the end of tiki taka.

I think this summer could be tiki taka's last hurrah as the world's most potent and deadly footballing philosophy if Spain can't retain their crown.

Giroud - We want to win it for the fans
  

"I'm expecting a big atmosphere for a big game and I look forward to that," Giroud told Arsenal Player. "I will have family in the stadium so I want to enjoy the game with my team-mates. I can't imagine anything else apart from a victory.

"I'm a competitor and I want to win every competition. The Premier League seems to be difficult now but we have the FA Cup, we have a great opportunity to show a strong answer on the pitch this weekend. We want to do it together and to look forward.

We really want to bounce back and concentrate on this FA Cup that we really want to win for our fans and for the club. After that, we know we have five finals in the league."

"I think it's nothing crazy [that is wrong]," he said. "It's just we have to come back to something simple and restart to the basics, like more commitment, more determination.

"If sometimes you are not at 100 per cent in the head, you are not ready enough… we were not sufficient in our commitment and in our intention to play at Everton. We have seen our mistakes on the video and we need to learn about them and not do it again."

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140410/giroud-we-want-to-win-it-for-the-fans

I don't get all the smileys when you quote players and managers saying the most routine things possible

Chelsea force Arsenal fixture change

Posted by: Arseblog News

Arsenal’s Premier League showdown with Hull City has been subject to a late schedule change with the match pushed back a day to Sunday 20 April.

The clash at the KC Stadium had been penciled in for 5.30pm on Saturday 19 April, but due to a television scheduling conflict (brought about by Chelsea’s progress in the Champions League) it will now be played on Easter Sunday at 2.05pm.

A statement on Arsenal’s official website explains the late change:

“This change has been decided by TV broadcasters and the Premier League, following the Champions League semi-final draw, in which Chelsea were drawn to play away at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, April 22.

“Consequently, Chelsea’s Premier League match at home against Sunderland, originally scheduled for Sunday, April 20, has been switched to Saturday, April 19, kick-off 5.30pm.”

Not only is it another early weekend kick-off, it’s also a real pain in the arse for travelling fans who’ve no doubt already booked travel arrangements.

Basically, a big f**k you from Sky to Arsenal fans. Now presumably someone will be making an offer to refund those now out of pocket? It’s unlikely to come from Arsenal who say the decision was completely out of their control.

Bleep you Chavs,will most most likely miss this game now .argh

Arsenal fall to 9th in UEFA Club rankings – lowest in AW era (& outside top 8 seedings for CL groups*)

Was expected. Point system is flawed. EL teams get more points than CL teams.

Was looking at that last night. If we qualify for the Champions League, we'll still be top seeds since United and Valencia, who are above us in 5th and 8th respectively, won't be in the Champions League next season and as far as I know, winning the Europa League won't give Juventus enough points to go above us.

We're just about clinging on to top seed status, though.

The points total is taken from the last five seasons, including this season. So from 09/10 to this season, the points have been:

Arsenal: 25.585, 22.671, 22.050, 21.285, 21.328 (total: 112.921)
Valencia: 19.585, 21.642, 25.171, 22.542, 24.114 (total: 113.056)

And our respective European placings:

Arsenal: Last 8 (CL), Last 16 (CL), Last 16 (CL), Last 16 (CL), Last 16 (CL)
Valencia: Last 8 (EL), Last 16 (CL), Group (CL) + Semi-Final (EL), Last 16 (CL), Semi-Final (EL)

So in this case, progress in the Europa League has yielded Valencia a higher points tally than us, even if the Europa League doesn't reward you as many points as the Champions League. Chuck in La Liga's strong co-efficient score (which is part of the calculation), and you can see how Valencia are above us in the rankings.

What can give Europa League teams an unfair advantage in these situations is that you can get points for being in the Champions League group stages, drop down to the Europa League as a result of finishing 3rd in the group and then get more points there against weaker opposition.

Bob Wilson's set to undergo treatment for prostate cancer.

Wish him a speedy recovery.

Should Wenger start Fabianski next game?

It would be hard on Fabianski if wenger leaves him out for the next match imo, he deserves to start next game.

Just like he deserved to start vs Wigan he more than deserves a run in the final. He's earned it.

I don't agree, Fabianski is our Cup GK and Szczesny our league GK so Szczesny starts league games and Fabianski in the final.

People tend to forget but Szczesny has been fantastic this season and won us several games on his own.

Training for tomorrow game, Lord Bendtner and the Boss are back.  

Arsenal express disappointment about final ticket allocation:

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140414/club-disappointed-by-ticket-allocation

GoonerJay29 wrote:Arsenal express disappointment about final ticket allocation:

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20140414/club-disappointed-by-ticket-allocation

25,000 to a club who has 40,000+ who are season ticket holders?