Gunnerblog

74 Comments Add your own

• 1. gogogooners  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:09 am

  has done nothing wrong at all I would say. Maybe he is guilty of speaking his mind in his native language to a newspaper from his home country. Shame on him. Just remember he wanted to be at Arsenal as much as Cuntly Cole wanted out. He has had a bit off season with whole not being fit thing and as the man says, “but in the end I blame myself.” Not the medical staff, team, AW, or anyone but himself. Sounds like a decent guy

• 2. dan  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:22 am

  i wonder if he is going to be at arsenal next season.i get the feeling he will end his career in italy

• 3. gogogooners  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:35 am

  next season at Arsenal yes. Long term gunner? I think not. I agree he will play out his days with likes of Milan, Inter or maybe Juve. Juve will be the kings of Italian football again. How long is he under contract?

• 4. vinz  |  March 26th, 2007 at 5:10 am

  Sorry to say that but in truth, what Gallas said was right! See what happened to Henry, V.Persie and co, their injury seem in and out never ever settled. Perhaps like wat Gallas said, wrong diagnostic at 1st?

• 5. alvin  |  March 26th, 2007 at 5:29 am

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuPbMwajkqI

  watch this

• 6. gelbseque disco dave  |  March 26th, 2007 at 5:35 am

  I see Myles was sucking England’s collective cock on ANR… poor, misguided soul.

• 7. J Marsh  |  March 26th, 2007 at 6:10 am

  Fuck me, I haven’t been on the boards over the weekend and I’m glad I wasn’t as I think I might have goine looking for a high building to throw myself off, or somebody else of, depending on who’s about. What’s with the orgy of depression that some of you whipped up on the last board? Are you really that miserable or are you all looking for sympathy shags from one another?

  How can you be this depressed? Seriously? Did we get hammered by Spurs at the weekend or something and I missed it? The fact that there was a Spurs fan on the board yesterday and he wasn’t talking more shit than some of you says something. “Wenger has something about young boys”?? Either you aren’t Arsenal fans or you’re fucking idiots. Just for a second suppose that this crop of youngsters don’t make it at Arsenal, we’ll sell tham and they’ll make it elsewhere, in which case we’ll have money from their transfers. Even if a few of them make the grade with us then it’d be brilliant. Should we not have signed Cesc at 15 cos he was young and that it’s be further proof of ‘Wengers thing with boys’? By that ‘logic’, you’re all football fans, that must mean you’ve got a thing about watching guys in tight shorts running about a sweating right? What about when they cuddle after a goal? Does that light your candle?? Prats.

  The bloke who was saying that Graham never went two years without a trophy, do you remember what our league form was like in 92/93?? We scored 40 goals in the entire bloody league season? Would you rather that? How about 94/95 when we finished 12th? I know Graham left before the end of the season but the damage was well and truly done by that stage. How about the fact we finished in the top four only TWICE during his nine year reign?? This isn’t ancient history people, it’s still fresh in my mind anyway, and I remember in those days wondering if we’d ever challenge for titles or play good football, pretending to my Spurs supporting mates that I loved 1-0s and playing great football didn’t interest me.

  I can’t comdemn everybody on this board as there have been some sensible stuff going on, and some of you making some great points even in the face of overwhelming moronity (I may have just invented a word). I try to tell myself as I read the boards that the prats who’re saying “Wenger out” aren’t Arsenal fans and are just on a wind up mission but I just don’t think it’s true. The shortness of some peoples memories is frightening. We should be fucking grateful for challenginf for honours EVEN EVERY FEW YEARS, how many teams genuinely do that? How many do it with our resources? That’s right, Fucking NOBODY!

  Anyway, like others do often with their posts, I’m in danger of just repeating my traditional ‘Some of you are fucking idiots’ posts of the last few weeks. I’m sorry for boring anybody who this post wasn’t aimed at and I’m also sorry for even rising to the bait of some of them. Just the complete lack of perspective, understanding of business/football, lack of gratitude for all we’ve done under Wenger and about a hundred other factors made reading them particularly annoying. Oh one final point, the bloke who said that if they offered Wenger a lot of money personally rather than a transfer fund he’s “Bite their fucking hand off”, one question…If he’s just interested in the money what THE FUCK is he doing at Arsenal?? Why didn’t he go to higher paid jobs when he’s been approached?

  He’s building something special at Arsenal, I just really resent the fucking fact that some of you morons are going to be reaping the benefits with the loyal fans like some of those on this board like LD, Rural, Respects and many others.
  Arsenal TillI I Die.

• 8. In Defence of William Gal&hellip  |  March 26th, 2007 at 6:17 am

  [...] Read This Entry In Full [...]

• 9. gelbseque disco dave  |  March 26th, 2007 at 6:53 am

  Marshy, Gelbs has seduced some weak-minded Arsenal ‘fans’. Don’t let him bother you.

• 10. Eddie Yak  |  March 26th, 2007 at 7:17 am

  William Gallas is a ‘ pot calling the kettle black’. If he studied, carefully, his last ten matches he will see how poor his contribution is. Please, Mr. Gallas, you are not a wonderful footballer and you should count yourself lucky to be accepted by Mr. Wenger when your career is at its lowest ebb. You should repay him with your football skills and not hid behind a wall of criticism to cover your own poor poor performances. When on the field you dream and make passes to your opponents and afraid to tackle. Your performance is nowhere near to YOUNG players like Gael Clinchy but you are the bloody guy who point your fingers. Please do it after your promotions to Coach of Arsenal and in the meantime ZIP your trap !!! Experience is useless if you are lazy and big headed, I wonder why you are not in the French side on Saturday ? Please ZIP UP and show the world and Arsenal fans you are as good as what you said !!!

• 11. Good to be a GOONAH!!  |  March 26th, 2007 at 7:19 am

  that he is misquoted in the French press or continues to be infatuated with all things Chelsea is really not the point…

  I think supporters simply have the sense Wenger has based some of his team selections/tactics upon Gallas. That Toure, Djourou and Senderos have become fullbacks of late… with Gilberto played out of position in the middle in SPITE of a finally fit potential all world partnership Toure and Gallas available is questionable to say the least… moreso when two central defenders were “rested” or left to sit on the bench.

  there is a “Gallas’ dilemna” that has in my mind afflicted the club. That we have not seen the best of the player is certainly a problem… but that we have not seen the best of a potentially excellent back 5 is a bigger one. A problem that I humbly suggest reflects bad upon the personality of the player… indirectly at least

• 12. WillyG  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:00 am

  Gallas is a winner,and is not happy with second place,if we want to win games and titles we need players like him……..Good news that Adebayor might not play for Togo

• 13. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:07 am

  If Gallas has been a long way off his best, then I can’t wait till he’s back to full speed. If you watch the games live, you see what a leader he is, constantly cajoling and covering the younger players like Hoyte and Traore. I think he’s far and away our best defender and I think too many people are just willing to believe his troublemaker reputation and jump on him the first time the news of the world misappropriates the French language. This article is top notch, becuase it actually goes to the trouble of exposing that. Every team needs somebody who tells it as it is, as for the leader’s in our squad, Gallas is the yin to Gilberto’s paternal yang. I think Wenger said something a couple of months ago to the effect of there’s no room for good losers at Arsenal. Amen to that and amen to James’s rant.

• 14. Amos  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:08 am

  Quite right to point out the discrepancy between the reported comments attributed to Gallas and those actually made. He is being harshly judged based on fairly tame comments when read in full.

  Part of the comment was used to try to give the impression that he was bemoaning a lack of expereince at the club after joining but in the full comment he says at the same time “When I left Chelsea I knew we would remain behind for at least one year.” Puts a different complexion on things when you include that key sentence.

  The decision to play Gilberto at centre back was to provide the defense with greater positional experience while injuries and suspensions reduced our choices. Playing Toure at right back in the last couple of games was the sensible choice of those available given injuries to Hoyte, Eboue and Clichy. With Clichy, Hoyte and Eboue fit I would expect Toure and Gallas to play together. Singling Gallas out as responsible for this set of cirmcumstances more than say Flamini, who has refused to play left back, is harsh.

• 15. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:09 am

  Eddie, Gallas is not afraid to tackle, the fact that he rarely has to make a tackle is an indication of his class. That’s why his disciplinary record is so good, his positioning is awesome and he forces the striker into a decision, which creates panic in the attackers mind. I have lost count of the amount of times I have seen Gallas pinch the ball off a player’s toes. You don’t have to dive around like a twat (John Terry anyone?) to be a good centre half.

• 16. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:11 am

  While I agree with most of what you have said Amos, I should point out that Flamini hasn’t refused to play left back, he just said he doesn’t want to play there all the time. Flamini played left back at Craven Cottage and has come on for Hoyte in the full back position on at least six occasions this season.

• 17. Amos  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:20 am

  It was probably harsh of me to name Flamini, especially as you point out that he has been more flexible than I suggested, but the point I was trying to make was that singling Gallas out as creating a dilemma in selection policy due to a personality trait is also a little wide of the mark.

• 18. Sweet FA  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:46 am

  I am glad we have Gallas, i respect the fact that he speaks his mind and we do need a player like that in the team… Fair play we all know we have the potential and that the players have developed well this season, but with Gallas in the team there will be no time for them to be content with progress alone…. His winning attitude is fantastic. I would like us to buy 2 reasonably experienced wingers this summer with about 7-10 goals in them, (Qaresma, Simao). A repeated Q but does anyone know just how long Gallas is under contract for?

• 19. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:02 am

  I think Gallas signed for four years. Simao is a player I like the look of on the limited times I have seen him, Quaresma is a showpony, another Quincy Owusu if ever I saw one. I agree, I like Gallas’s attitude, I wouldn’t want everyone in the squad to be like that, but one or two grumpy people is always good to keep people on their toes and avoid complacency. I always admired Keane greatly for being like that. I would be annoyed if Gallas came out and said what a great season it was.

• 20. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:28 am

  Oh and Amos, you are quite right about the blame being attached to Gallas, at Villa and Everton he was our best player. Unfortunately, it looks like Chelsea got what they wanted from their little statement about Gallas in the summer. I just didn’t imagine Arsenal fans would be the ones stupid enough to fall for it.

• 21. J Marsh  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:34 am

  LD-Agreed with all you’ve said regarding the Gallas quotes. The fact we have someone strong enough to stand up and say what he thinks is a good thing. When Roy Keane used to do it at Utd he may have ruffled a few feathers but the fact is that sometimes things need to be said, the boat needs to be rocked occasionally to improve things.
  And I couldn’t agree more, the players SHOULD be unhappy with the season, cos that means they’ll be more determined to put things right next year. I’ve been pleased to read quotes from Cesc and Gallas saying how unhappy they are with the season, it’s evidence of a winning mentality.

• 22. CeeCee  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:39 am

  Your translation is pretty accurate, mate, and it goes to show how easy it is to take things out of context. Adding that he blames himself makes all the difference, in my opinion.

  I wish people would get off his back. Gallas, when on form, is one of the best defenders in the world and we should be happy to have him. His season sucked so he’s venting a bit. So what?

  On another note, this reminds me of Pires who never granted interviews in english. Most people took that to mean he couldn’t speak the lingo at all but the way I understand it, he was getting by but didn’t want to take any risks of his words being misinterpreted through his sometimes awkward command of the language. Smart move, in my opinion, given the state of the media in this country…

• 23. Qs  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:43 am

  Everyone accepts that Gallas is a marvellous footballer and I doubt an serious fan would want him to leave. That doesn’t mean we have to be happy about what he’s saying. Gallas would be a massive favourite of mine if he wasn’t in the French press every fortnight complaining about something. I’ve seen it all before with players complaining in the press and its very rarely of benefit to the team. Just look at the rift at Man City right now, I don’t want a dressing room divided like that. Do you?

• 24. Ruralgoon  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am

  Too right CeeCee; the media in this country [probably all countries,actually] seem to take great delight in misinterpreting what someone says. It seems to be a valued journalistic “skill” to be able to take someone’s honest words and twist them to fit whichever scenario is likely to create the biggest sensationalist headlines and therefore more column inches as the poor bugger who’s been misquoted tries to plead their innocence!

• 25. J Marsh  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:49 am

  Its true Cee Cee but then the british press get hold of an interview done in the players own country and interpret a sentence to make a juicy story anyway, eg Anelka, Gallas etc. I agree that it is a clever thing to not give interviews to the English press directly though, in fact that rule should probably be applied to English players as well. The problem, besides media hacks being desperate for a story, is that the English press take a very literal view of the use of langauge, particularly from foreign players in their own tongue. They take their words, twist them and then blow them out of proportion. As was said, we should know better than to fall for it every time.

• 26. Amos  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:51 am

  The whole point is that he hasn’t said anything contentious when not taken out of context. Gallas has an artificial reputation, in part foisted on him by a grudging Mourinho, which means that any comment is forensically examined and portrayed as criticism where it can be. As Gilberto Silvers piece shows he isn’t really complaining about anything much. Any criticism he does make is qualified by the fuller text. Unless he has to live as a trappist monk then the least he can expect is that Arsenal supporters take the trouble to consider the full piece and not just react to tabloid headlines.

• 27. Ruralgoon  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:54 am

  Qs; that sort of person can work one of two ways, depending on what they’re moaning about! Ifthey are complaining about how unfairly the refs and the media and the FA are treating them/ the team, it can actually act as a rallying cry to the team to unify and win against the supposed odds. The individual becomes a leader.
  the other scenario is that they complain about how the management is treating them, or of unequal treatment through the team… its this sort of complaining that splits teams… and so far I’ve not seen anything like that from Gallas.

• 28. dan  |  March 26th, 2007 at 10:49 am

  the question to ask if if gallas was so much a winner how did he feel being in chelsea before mourihno arrived.why did he not move to a bigger club

• 29. Dick (aka Willy)  |  March 26th, 2007 at 11:00 am

  Gallas is very much the arm-over-the-shoulder type player who needs the love of his manager, the fans and his team-mates. If he doesn’t get the same attention as everyone else he feels forgotten and then draws attention to himself by coming out with rash, unconsidered comments.

  However, at heart he is a good guy and a great player. His treatment of Marseilles and Chelsea mean we have to be careful with him because he will make stupid decisions (off the field) at the drop of the hat. i.e. we piss him off, he leaves.

  Personally I think Gallas was good at the start of the season but since he’s come back from injury his performances have been well below par.

  In a way, that’s a good thing; there’s no way Gallas will want to go another season without winning anything or playing the way he has been, and he will be a major force for us next season.

  By the way, has anyone checked out Samir Nasri yet on YouTube? He’s amazing. And he’s hotly tipped to be joining us.

• 30. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 11:40 am

  Dan, you could say that about any player playing in just about any team in the world. Only one team can win its domestic leagues in a season, so why is everyone else bothering? Dick, while I agree his circumstances at Marseilles were less than savoury, he did nothing wrong to Chelsea and hasn’t come out with any rash comments here. All he said at Chelsea was that he didn’t want to be a permanent left back. He respectfully asked to leave 1 year before the end of his contract and Chelsea kicked up a huge fuss and refused to let him go. Mourinho said if he has to sit in the reserves until the end of his contract, then that’s what will happen. So Gallas took exception and didn’t go on a money spinning pre season US tour to get his way. If you tried to leave your job and handed in your notice in a timely and legal fashion and your firm refused, telling you they would second you elsewhere against your will, I’m sure you wouldn’t smile and say yes sir, no sir.

• 31. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 11:44 am

  And to labour a point that myself and Resoects repeat with regularity, Gallas gets this treatment from the press because it suits them to portray him as the “typical moaning Frenchman.” Yet Steven Gerrard’s constant, “I’m going, I’m staying, I love this club, I’m off” si largely ignored. As the United song says, “Steve Gerrard, Gerrard, he kisses the badge on his chest, then puts in a transfer request.” Terry and Lampard’s current contract stances attract no such furore, yet Henry was the constant focus of media tittle tattle last season.

• 32. joshin69  |  March 26th, 2007 at 11:51 am

  If it is OK with you guys, i shall reserve judgment until he has been with us for at least a year. It will be next season that will show. And i love the fact that he is talking a lot at the back. something we have been really missing is a player back there barking out orders, letting the players see 360 degrees with their ears

• 33. ron  |  March 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

  who cares? if he plays good then i like him.

• 34. ron  |  March 26th, 2007 at 12:45 pm

  hey gs your time hasnt been changed

• 35. Little Dutch  |  March 26th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

  Ron, word up.

• 36. Darzinho  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:04 pm

  I don’t think it’s a good idea to bad mouth your fellow employees, least of all the press. It’s very reminiscent of Roy Keane’s constant moaning.

  Having said that, I don’t think Gallas meant any harm by it.

• 37. Fanny Moloko  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:04 pm

  there’s a dung beatle in my fanny. his name is gallas.

• 38. dildooooooo  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:07 pm

  TOOL UP TERPINS - THIS IS DILDOOOO’S REVENGE!! RAAAAAAAR!!

  I JUST MET THE HEAD LAWYER OF THE MARMITE LOVE LINE AND STUCK MY TWO FINGERS UP HIS SOWSKA, THEN DOWN HIS TUNGSKI, THEN WIPED IT ON MY FOOGAZY!

  YOU GAVONE, YOU!

• 39. Vanilla Ice, Ice Baby  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:10 pm

  go ninja, go ninja, GO!
  go ninja, go ninja, GO!
  tunage mutant ninja turtles,
  turtles with a hard-on!

  cowabunga, dude

  WHOA!

  the wheels of my skateboad are on fucking FIRE, man!

  whoa…

• 40. Self Harmer  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

  Can someone help me please??

  I’ve just slit my foreskin open with a razor blade… and all because the lady loves Cadbury’s Milk Tray.

• 41. Julio Big Mac  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

  innit!

  just been macky dees… innit!

  ate a big mac… inniiiit!

  called him julio egg bap tea bag milky bar chicken noodle… INNIT!

• 42. Chinese Restaurant  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

  we croooooooooooooooowse!

• 43. Phillip Collins  |  March 26th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

  I am well excited aout next season. Really. Arsene is gonna make u all eat your words just you wait and see. Bayern Real Inter and Barca will be runnign scared when they see who we’ve got and what we do. Who needs Messi when you’ve got Sunu? Who needs Eto’o when u can have Ade-Tool? Who needs a Skoda when ya got Ferrari lol? Cristiano Ronaldo? Nah we dont need wingers. Lets keep Pleb instead. Cesc? Gotta love someone who is 0 in 29 in the EPL. Essien? No dude we gettin’ CANA! Woopeeee! You wait and see when Aliaidiere and Julio wipe the smiles off David Villa and Torres. Cant wait to see Senderos shackle Drogba once again. Gotta love that management tactics Arsene! Song? Yo who needs Makalele or Gerrard when you got Song?! Don’t sweat the technique! So excited about the comin EPL season. WE WILL SWEEP ALL BEFORE US! WAIT AND SEE! Yo thanx Arsene for gettin me all excited about next season n shit. Wonder if he’ll brainwash anyone into thinkin finishing 5th is some hot-ass glory. He’s turned Arsenal into Comedy Central man. Daaaaaaam….

• 44. Esta  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:02 pm

  Phillip read comment #7.

  Thanks for being our prime example in relation to that comment.

• 45. Rob Griffin  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:11 pm

  You should all read the tibetan book of the dead, it’s really facisnating.

• 46. Phillip Collins Mum  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:25 pm

  sorry everyone but phillip woke up because his bed was wet

• 47. Pete Doherty  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:27 pm

  Im a junkie, me!

• 48. Steve Mclaren  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

  Hello, what do you all think about me playing Peter Crouch as a right back in Wednesdays game against andorra? I was also thinking about having Paul Robinson upfront (lets face it, he scores more goals than rooney). Also, Peter Beardsly is coming back to the team and playing as a central defender, with options to be the tea boy if he doesn’t like playing there. We cannot lose!

• 49. Chris Waddle  |  March 26th, 2007 at 3:59 pm

  wai-ay, man! geordie racer, geordie racer - fly!

  somewun just dun e big fat shit, man, on me ‘ead, man.

  pigeon kebab an’ chips - gateshead - fog on th’tyne, all mine.

• 50. Steve Mclaren  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

  Come back to us Chris, we need you to beat our toughest ever opponent……..Andorra! These players have skill beyond anything England can produce, and it’s a must win game! Please Chris, you’re our only hope.

• 51. Seperated At Birth (the story of Bob & Blob Griffin)  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:13 pm

  Here is a story about Bob and Blob Griffin:

  Twice upon a time (they were twins, you see), a pair of slimey siamese brown poo-poos - joined at the hip - slid out of their mother’s bucket-wide bumhole and announced their arrival in this World with an almighty, bum-cheek-wetting SPLASH! Down into the turgid pit of green sewer liquid did they wriggle, swimming up-stream against a sea of condoms and digested cream-cakes. Pulverized by wave after wave of turd water the despairing poo-poos broke apart - one careering left toward the dreaded gauntlet of the Philadelphia sewer-ways, the other was picked up by a rat and carried toward the more upmarket junctures of the Shit & Piss Underpassage that lead all the way to Bradford.

  They never saw one another again until they met at a go-karting centre in Magaluf. Once called the other one a cunt and a bar fight broke out.

  Four minutes later, when both turds had ran out of breath, they shared a moment, eye to eye, turd to turd, brother to brother-fucker, mother-fucker, shover-lover… and said, “My dear brother numski!”

  THE END

  The above is currently being adapted into a film starring Tom Cruise and Ewan McGregor. It is being developed under the working title - ‘Cunt Faces’

• 52. Eddie (and a whole lot more)  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:15 pm

  You lot are well sad and pathetic. Why don’t you do something constructive? CHIEFS!

• 53. Egg Shen  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

  Shut up Eddie, or i will send you to the hell of burning oils where people are skinned alive, it’s that simple, understand?!!?

• 54. week  |  March 26th, 2007 at 4:55 pm

  gallas is too high maintenance. he demand much privilage than do any other stars.
  he shud imitate the leadership of PV4.

• 55. davey b  |  March 26th, 2007 at 6:22 pm

  trouble with gallas hes got theirry syndrome its not me its them attitude ,what happened to we win as a team we lose as a team,he spends every spare minute of the day going on about chelsea so dont say its cause hes cares ,he cares about winning but when we dont he does nt except that he is part of a team who should take losing collectively ,no his petulent behaviour just says blame others lets hope his own team mates are not as damming as he is if he drops a clanger

• 56. gooner09  |  March 26th, 2007 at 6:24 pm

  J MARSH mate listen up. wenger isnt THAT serious abou trohies
  he sed wiinnin aint everythin and that he’d rather play pretty footie than win trophies!

• 57. Rohan  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:09 pm

  As much as I love the Gallas-Toure partnership at the back, I don’t see a real leader in the air to go and fight for the aerial balls and score from corners.
  Chelsea have Terry, Man U have Vidic and Liverpool have Carragher.
  Although they can head of course, I can’t see either of them doing what those three do.

• 58. *_Respect Highbury  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:11 pm

  Oh Dear.
  Excuse my absence for a while but this lengthy birthday hangover has proved somewhat costly. Getting on top of the work I have been missing and recovering from this state of sickness I have been in has taken longer than anticipated…

  Anyhow, please allow me to address our imbecilic ‘buddies’ from across the Atlantic. My dearest destroyers of all innocent things Iraqi, please listen.

  Arsenal Football Club is not a ’shock and awe’ project. We tend to do things with a modicum of intelligence, restraint and most of all, and this is the key part, thought and careful planning.
  Now, prior to you jumping down my throat and calling me ‘rose-tinted brigade’ or an “Arsene Agent”, please allow me to refute such preposterous nonsense. I am critical of Arsene when he gets it wrong. If you read any of my prior posts, I have criticized Arsene when he has blundered. And like any manager, he has blundered now and then e.g. the PSV match away from home, the PSV game at home, the Watford match away…So I am balanced in my analysis.

  HOWEVER, some of the spurious and virulent abuse directed towards Arsene is more fitting to that of a Sp*rs fan. Have you any idea how utterly rancorous towards the man you sound? If you are Gooners indeed, you should take the time to get behind Arsene. He needs our support more than ever now. It’s fine to have the hacks against us, the Chavs etc…we are used to this. What is simply unacceptable however, is some of the drivelling nonsense I have heard, especially stemming form our Yank cousins. If you want to criticize Wenger and slate him, then fair. Gelbs does this and I think though no everyone may agree with hi; it is his right. However some of the other mooncalfs on here are overstepping the mark. How constructive is it to make inferences referring to Wenger’s “paedo” tendencies? Are you bloody Sp*rs fans? Arsenal are supposed to be the Thinking Man’s Club. I have vehemently in the past, slated ManUre fans and their uneducated rambling about “Wenger Paedophile” in the past.

  Therefore, imagine my disdain to find so-called “Gooners” following suit. Outrageous.

  I have already said my piece on transfers. I think Wenger does need to sign 2 top players to help address certain players. Yes, Cana does not inspire one with great hope and expectation and nor does Ferrari. However, before castigating Wenger, how about you wait and see who he is ACTUALLY going to sign, as opposed to permit the NOTW to lead you down the garden path?

  You do not send a man to the gallows before first establishing his guilt, or else we may as well return to the days of feudalism and savagery.

  Criticize in a balanced view by all means - but before you begin your sheepish “Wenger out” bleating, please consider that this man went a whole season unbeaten - which for me, tops any Champs League triumph. It shows a remarkable consistency that only one manager in the history of world football has been able to achieve. Oh, and it beat Cloughie’s record. THAT is one record you cannot denounce as a ‘fluke’. Such consistency is no fluke.

  Yes he broke up the winning team - but this was borne out of necessity and circumstance. Believe me, I doubt he would have done so otherwise. Who throws away a perfectly-functional Ferrari to only attempt to re-build it from scratch? Exactly.

  And if you really are screaming “Wenger Out”, then may I point you no further than the English national team. All the people clamouring for these great (fictitious) English players and alternative managers: you need look no further than England’s team, to know that you should be VERY careful what you wish for.

  If anybody can name me one manager that will do a better job than Wenger, with the paucity of the resources at his disposal - then I am all ears. Seriously, a guy takes a genuine emotional interest in the long-term well-being of this club and what do our Yank mates brigade do? Call for a Peter Ridsdale. Scandalous.

  As for the Gallas thing, as Little D said, Mourinho expressly went out of his way to tarnish Gallas with a very dark brush. As Arsenal fans we should give him the benefit of the doubt. Of course, you can never be too careful and his behaviour at Marseilles was less than ingratiating. However, the press are hardly reliable sources of information. When will people learn this? I like the fact that he comes out and slates the team a la Roy Keane. Good. About time somebody did it.
  Certain “Wenger out” folk are slating Wenger for being ‘too soft’ on the players and not reading them the riot act. Now Wenger has drafted in a player that does so, and they don’t like it? You can’t win can you?!!

  Of course, GTB made a valid point on the Blackburn game and it is clearly still a point of considerable contention when one analyses why Senderos was shunted out to right-back when Gallas was clearly capable. And yes, questions may also be asked as to why Hoyte (yes he is toilet – did you see him for the U21s? Dear Oh Dear..) played left-back at Everton, and why Kolo and Gallas were not played together….anyhow. My point is, until Wenger says otherwise, it would be disrespectful to assume that Arsene has not got his dressing room under control.
  Some people forget just how ruthless Arsene Wenger can actually be. I remember Overmars and Petit being in El Prat airport (Barcelona) before you could say “Sangria” - the minute they stared whining. Patrick Vieira could not believe his ears when Wenger told him we’d accepted Juve’s money. And as I have said before, I sometimes genuinely fear for Henry if Arsene is peeved at him…As Little D. said, Arsene can be “like a sniper in the night”. You never see his ruthlessness coming.
  If Gallas is out of line, just as Fergie did with Keano, Arsene will let Gallas know who formulates the rules at AFC.

  And finally: can people stop please comparing us to Chavski? Thank you. If you want to put our season in comparative perspective and cite ManUre as an example. fair enough. But let me repeat this: Chelski are the modern day equivalent of Ben Johnson, to Arsenal’s Carl Lewis.

  Now. Ben Johnson had always been a decent, but underachieving sprinter for quite some time. The odd domestic glory in Canada here and there, but nothing to set the world alight. Now, Carl Lewis (Arsenal) has a remarkable pedigree. He has broken records and won various medals.
  So imagine my surprise, when, Ben Johnson beat Carl Lewis with considerable ease in Seoul in 1988. Of course, it subsequently came to light that Johnson was doped up on EPO and anabolics to his eyeballs.

  My point? If perennially-average Ben Johnson can spank Carl Lewis, where is the merit in that if he is doped up? None is the answer. We all know that Carl Lewis is the better sprinter, with the superior pedigree. However for so long as Ben Johnson is on anabolics, the race will never be fair. In fact, you almost EXPECT Johnson to smash Lewis whilst on that many pills. Anything less than resounding victory against Lewis, and the guy can be accused of incompetence.

  Therefore if you like, compare our season to ManUre’s. But do not be fooled by the Chav’s postulating and loutish cocksure, attitude.
  They are simply Ben Johnson enjoying the limelight of a doped-up training regime.

  So let’s give Arsene the benefit of the doubt until we are 30 points behind again or something, next season perhaps. Until then just try and give him your support. Do you expect us to improve by hammering the man on a consistent basis?

  Oh and one final note: If the club sells out to that Kroenke twat, I will be apoplectic with rage. What would be the point of coming this far, with this much transition, debt restructuring, stringent finances…if it is only to give in to the evil forces of US investment? No thanks. I know the club are saying it will not happen but I repeat: please keep Arsenal as it is.

  That will be all. Rant over.

• 59. Mulhern  |  March 26th, 2007 at 8:37 pm

  its about time we got some hunger into our team.

• 60. Gelbs  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:20 pm

  I wasn’t that concerned when Pires left last summer because I felt he had perhaps past it, but after reading others comments, and how Pires supposed to of bought a luxury Highbury flat and stated his wish to come back to Arsenal, why not get him next summer? Surely Villarreal won’t be bothered or demand much. His experience would help and he might even knock in a few goals. How would it hurt? We lack experience and goals from midfield. We won’t buy anyone else, so why not get Pires back on the cheap for one final year? Maybe more.

• 61. Gelbs  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:41 pm

  Don’t think you can say Wenger was ruthless on Petit and Overmars. Sure, maybe he was fucked off with Petit inparticular always moaning about the refs etc, but the main reason he got rid of them was to do with the fact they wanted out, as opposed to him wanting them out. Same as Cole and Reyes last summer. He would loved to of kept those 2 but they were cunts and wanted out and no manager will want to keep players at their will. Particularly too when there is a shit load of money in it to sell them.

• 62. Gelbs  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:42 pm

  Plus remember, a year later in 2001, I know we didn’t, but we came closeish to resigning Petit before he went to Chelsea. Wenger himself said Petit was looking for a new challenger again with us. And he was tempted to bring him back.

• 63. Gelbs  |  March 26th, 2007 at 9:43 pm

  Against their will*

• 64. Gunner8  |  March 26th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

  RESPECTS RESPECTS RESPECT

  BACK WITH A VENGANCE!

  MERCI MEC

  and next time hook up the IV drip, cures hangover in minutes

• 65. ScarlettATL  |  March 27th, 2007 at 2:46 am

  I’m glad the players aren’t as insecure as some Arsenal fans. What? Did he embarrass us in front of our rivals by speaking candidly about what EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS? Acknowledgement and acceptance are the first steps to improvement. More than for the players, thank you Gallas for slapping the fans out of their great-future-youth-love stupor and back into the reality of professional competition.

• 66. Good to be a GOONAH!!  |  March 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am

  btw… Gilberto is now lifting his skirt in Juve’s direction…

  http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=457111&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=2&title=Gilberto+admits+to+Juve+interest

• 67. Good to be a GOONAH!!  |  March 27th, 2007 at 10:52 am

  Ben Johnson… miles better

• 68. The Fuckhead  |  March 27th, 2007 at 11:12 am

  When you are fast asleep and you start having nightmares, the best thing is to wake up.

• 69. Good to be a GOONAH!!  |  March 27th, 2007 at 11:25 am

  re post 68.

  Sometimes not committing everything that is in your head to this blog is the better option.

• 70. ScarlettATL  |  March 27th, 2007 at 12:22 pm

  “Juventus are a great club that want to return to winning ways,” Gilberto told Corriere dello Sport.

  Henry, Fabregas, Clichy, Gallas and now Gilberto… I’m seeing of pattern here of players that have made comments to suggest that perhaps the club/Wenger is not ambitious enough. Too much focus on youth and footballing aesthetics, not enough on winning.

• 71. Marco  |  July 10th, 2007 at 12:09 pm

  He’s too damn arrogant for my liking, and always has someone to blame (never a good combination)
  I can only stomach arrogance from those who DISPLAY SKILL

  And what makes him think he can demand talks with the manager about the direction of the club or its intentions?

  His job is to play football & he’s not even doing that properly
  but thinks he can tell Arsene how to do a managers job

  At 90k a week he’s a liability we don’t need. We were ripped of when buying him so lets just sell him & free up some more transfer money for EXPERIENCED PLAYERS WHO DON’T RUN THEIR MOUTH OFF

• 72. The Beautiful Groan &raqu&hellip  |  February 27th, 2008 at 1:06 am

  [...] he has divided opinion, between the scathing and the sympathetic. There’s an intriguing article on Gunnerblog, and it’s certainly fair to say that his comments have been exaggerated, but this is man who [...]

• 73. Misquoted or misguided? T&hellip  |  May 14th, 2008 at 9:02 pm

  [...] William Gallas, who was lambasted for “criticism” of the Arsenal medical staff. As a poster on Gunnerblog points out, it turned out on this occasion that Gallas’ comments were something like [...]

• 74. wing-chun dummies  |  August 7th, 2008 at 4:36 am

  Always good to read about swimming, my ex was an olympic swimmer..

  Can I ask though - how did you get this picked up and into google news?

  Very impressive, is it something that is just up to Google or you actively created?

  Obviously this is a popular blog with great data so well done on your seo success..

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