Arsenal Season 2008/9

[johntheclaret]

I know we have a few of these topics already, but with Arsenals season imploding, (yes, I have used that word in the Soccer forum), I thought I would start with a couple of news stories that have been doing the tour this week.

Thanks to Skysports (and others)

William Gallas has arrived at Arsenal's training ground while the rest of his team-mates prepare for Saturday's game at Manchester City.

A miserable week for the Frenchman has seemingly seen him stripped of the club's captaincy and now left out of Arsenal's squad for the trip to Eastlands.
Gallas has hit the headlines this week after speaking openly on Thursday of unrest in Arsenal's camp, while revealing details of a bust-up inside the dressing room at half-time in the recent draw with Tottenham.
Arsenal have yet to make an official comment on Gallas' outburst, or whether a subsequent punishment had been issued, but it is widely understand the defender has played his last game as skipper.

A number of the club's former players have been quick to condemn Gallas' breaking of the sanctuary of the dressing room and, his comments have not sat well with his team-mates either.
It has been suggested Gallas offered up the captaincy at a team-meeting on Friday, although details of any such discussions are for the moment subject to conjecture.
Manuel Almunia is expected to lead Arsenal on Saturday, with Gael Clichy thought to be the other leading candidate to take the captain's armband.


Unrest in the dressing room, poor on filed results, Arsenal's season all but gone. Could this be the beginning of the end for Arsene Wenger. ??

[johntheclaret]

And here's some good news for Gunners fans

Thanks to Skynews

Eduardo to return to training
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he expects striker Eduardo da Silva to return to training next week, following a spell of almost nine months on the sidelines.

The Brazil-born Croat has not played since breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle during Arsenal's trip to Birmingham on 23rd February - a game which many feel was the beginning of the end for Arsenal's title ambitions last season.

And with the club looking well off the pace so far this year, Arsenal fans will be hoping that the striker's long-awaited comeback can serve to ignite their faltering league campaign this time around.

"Eduardo is doing very well and is one week away from joining in training," Wenger confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
After such an extended period out of action the front man is unlikely to return to the first team before Christmas.
But faced with a notoriously heavy schedule around that time, Wenger will no doubt be keen to have even a half-fit Eduardo at his disposal.

It maybe too little too late, but after such an injury it's good to see him back on the road to playing again. My only thought, after such a bad injury, will he be as good as he was ??

[devilsadvocate]

And here's some good news for Gunners fans

About time with this thread!!! Of course I couldn't start it due to the whole "biased" thing.

BUT, enough with the good news JTC, the time is now to really turn on the Gooners and kick the scum while they're down.

Did I mention how much I now like Gallas? Well done William.

[Pidge]

I heard it was a player 5 or 6 years younger than him that was involved in the argument. Hopefully not Eboue. Dont want to see him move away.

[dinglinga]

but lets remember which player was laughing in the last few minutes of the arsenal v spurs game ,... mr gallas

so did the young buck question gallas professionism

[Bully]

nice topic there guys, bout time someone did it . interesting about gallas, not going to comment on it until its been sorted out with the club etc. seeing arsenals performances of late has dissapointed me, but when numourus first team players, i.e. adebayor, faberagas, toure, theo, GALLAS, rosicky, RYP ( when he was suspended ) , eduardo just to name a few are out either injured or suspended then it makes it hard to compete with some sides in premier league. cant wait till they all return , even over the christmas break there might be some teams looking over their shoulders come feb, march. was frustrated over the villa loss and man city loss but hopefully the first team players that are out will return and we will be stronger again!

[RoosterMarty]

I heard it was a player 5 or 6 years younger than him that was involved in the argument. Hopefully not Eboue. Dont want to see him move away.

Could be Adebayor, or maybe RVP (how old is he?). Very good chance it's one of those two...

[devilsadvocate]

I heard it was a player 5 or 6 years younger than him that was involved in the argument. Hopefully not Eboue. Dont want to see him move away.

It's being reported as Van Pervy. He's also had a spat with Samir Nasri at training.

[Bully]

as much as i love arsenal, the way they are playing in the premier league at the moment i dont see them getting anything from the game against chelsea on the weekend

[devilsadvocate]

as much as i love arsenal, the way they are playing in the premier league at the moment i dont see them getting anything from the game against chelsea on the weekend

Yeah, but I ripped into your lot before they played Manure the other week and they slaughtered old red nose's boys.

Chavski aren't exactly covering themselves in glory at the moment having just had a 1-1 with Bordeaux in the UCL. They're still shaking from the might of the Clarets.

[Bully]

as much as i love arsenal, the way they are playing in the premier league at the moment i dont see them getting anything from the game against chelsea on the weekend

Yeah, but I ripped into your lot before they played Manure the other week and they slaughtered old red nose's boys.

Chavski aren't exactly covering themselves in glory at the moment having just had a 1-1 with Bordeaux in the UCL. They're still shaking from the might of the Clarets.

you were right! go the arsenal

[devilsadvocate]

I'm always right!

[RoosterMarty]

Arsenal are very good against the top teams and ordinary against the rest.

Chelsea on the other hand have dazzled against Rabble FC yet as soon as they play a decent side they struggle. Liverpool and Arsenal have both beaten them at home and Man Utd should have taken all 3 as well. With Jose they were incredibly hard to stop against the big teams...

[Cheese Twisties]

Arsenal are always dangerous against teams that try to attack them, which other big 4 teams are always gonna do. Its the teams that look for the 0-0 result that seem to get to us, and usually seem to result in calamitous piece of defending (usually from a set piece), shock loss, then complaining from the Professor about teams "not letting us play" etc.

Chelsea under the special one were unbeatable at home, but also boring as bat$hit which pretty much got Jose the boot. I haven't seen too much of Chelsea (or any EPL unfortunately) but they have looked more attacking and free flowing, which of course often results in conceding a few sausage rolls at the other end.

Back to Arsenal, Im sorta happy they are back in the pack a bit - id rather see them make a late charge (Eduardo back soon and maybe even Rosicky - remember him? And hopefully get a better keeper in the transfer window) than what happened last year when we were unbeaten 3/4s thru the year, then fell away completely and were utterly forgotten about in the last few weeks of the season.

[Bully]

Arsenal are very good against the top teams and ordinary against the rest.

Chelsea on the other hand have dazzled against Rabble FC yet as soon as they play a decent side they struggle. Liverpool and Arsenal have both beaten them at home and Man Utd should have taken all 3 as well. With Jose they were incredibly hard to stop against the big teams...

agreed with what you say, seems funny but if we dont beat wigan at home this weekend then all hope is lost!

[devilsadvocate]

I think we can close this thread with Arsenal's season now over.

Steamrolled by the mighty Clarets. First lower league side to defeat the dirty arse since 1989.

I can't wait for 2010 when the Gooners are in the Championship and Arsene is on the French govermnents payroll - WORK FOR THE DOLE!

[JK]

In the words of Hale and Pace "And I'm to tough I crack Walnuts up my ... ARSENAL, ARSENAL ..."

Yeah tough year for the Wenger Boys, I wouldn't rule them out of making a decent challenge in Europe still if they get a few of their injuries right, and remove Galla' vocal chords.

[Bully]

I think we can close this thread with Arsenal's season now over.

Steamrolled by the mighty Clarets. First lower league side to defeat the dirty arse since 1989.

I can't wait for 2010 when the Gooners are in the Championship and Arsene is on the French govermnents payroll - WORK FOR THE DOLE!

good on yah champ

[devilsadvocate]

good on yah champ

Couldn't resist. It's been 9 long years since we can really sink the boot into Arsenal, so gotta enjoy it while it lasts!

LMAO at this:

(After Gooners had been sledging Chelski all week about the silence after the weekend's result and previous rounds Carling Cup effort)

[johntheclaret]

Oh dear

Capital Punishment I Clarets 1 Fulham 0
Capital Punishment II Chelsea 1 Clarets 1 (Clarets win 5 - 4 on penalties)
Capital Punishment III Clarerts 2 Arsenal 0

Capital Punishment IV Spurs ???????