Wilshere injured, but Arteta training at Colney

Posted on September 5, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 40 Guns

I have to say, what excited me most about the signing of Mikel Arteta was the possibility of once more seeing an intelligent, technical midfielder alongside the prodigious Jack Wilshere. It seems I will be waiting some time. Yesterday, Jack took to Twitter to confirm he’ll miss at least two, possibly three months with this mysterious ankle problem. To put that in context, that’ll be more than a third of the season and is in danger of becoming half. Also, … →

Park & RVP net seven goals in one day

Posted on September 3, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 31 Guns

With all the fuss over deadline day, I almost forgot there was a round of internationals to be played last night. Several of our new boys were in action, with strike pairing Robin van Persie and Park Chu-Young grabbing the headlines. Park scored an excellent hatrick against Lebanon, before RVP went one better by netting four in the Netherlands’ 11-0 win over San Marino. Follow the links for video clips. Whilst the level of opposition has to be taken in … →

Transfer frenzy: 5 signings in 2 days

Posted on September 1, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 268 Guns

I expected activity from Arsenal. I hoped for three, maybe four additions. But five signings in two days is more than I could have wished for. The 8-2 defeat to Manchester United brought the club to its knees. But it also brought a change of ideology. Arsene saw how on that day how vulnerable his young squad was, and has moved decisively to reinforce it with experience and quality. The cavalry has arrived. On Tuesday we completed the signing of … →

Deadline Day Preview

Posted on August 31, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 103 Guns

Deadline Day is upon us. As you rise this morning, Brian Swanson will be dusting down his giant iPad, Jim White will be gargling salt water and taking speed, and some unfortunate soul will be stood outside the Tottenham training ground waiting for Harry Redknapp to tell him he’s signing a “triffic player”. Yesterday, we knew of three deals going down: Park Chu-Young, Andre Santos, and Per Mertesacker – whose signing I tried to inform you about before the press … →

Transfer frenzy: André Santos, Mertesacker, Eljero Elia & More…

Posted on August 30, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 129 Guns

Since the 8-2 hammering at Old Trafford, there has been a radical shift in Arsenal’s transfer policy. With the shallowness of his squad painfully exposed, Arsene has moved to bring in a clutch of experienced players. The cavalry are finally coming, and Arsenal could now make as many as four signings between now and the end of the transfer window. Yesterday was a Bank Holiday in England, but that didn’t stop Arsenal from holding transfer talks late in to the … →

8 – 2 : A Post-Mortem

Posted on August 29, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Reports, Premier League | 158 Guns

MANCHESTER UNITED 8 – 2 ARSENAL Match Report | Highlights Video | Arsene’s reaction A couple of weeks ago, when Cesc Fabregas left for Barcelona and Samir Nasri seemed determined to follow him through the door, I told you that “the night is darkest just before the dawn”. It’s a turn of phrase I had heard the character of Harvey Dent use in Christopher Nolan’s Batman film, ‘The Dark Knight’. It’s supposed to engender comfort among troubled souls; to tell … →

United Preview + Park signing imminent

Posted on August 28, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Previews, Premier League | 147 Guns

There is a massive match today, and at the risk of sounding uncannily like manager Arsene Wenger, I’d like to talk solely about that. However, with the window creaking towards closing, inevitably there is transfer news on the agenda. It appears that Arsenal are about to sign South Korea striker Park Chu-Young. After Monaco were relegated last season, Park, who is captain of his country, has spent the summer searching for a move. It seemed he’d found it when French … →

Bolton want to sell Cahill

Posted on August 27, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 51 Guns

Although the clash with Manchester United is tomorrow, the talk around the club is still dominated by transfer speculation. It’s understandable: with just five days to go, Arsene has indicated he’d like to add three players to his squad. “It is important [to strengthen] because we will lose players in January with players going to the African Nations Cup. We lose Gervinho and Chamakh together so, first of all, it is important to strengthen up front. It is important that … →

Udinese thoughts: Pride, Passion and Pace. Lots of pace.

Posted on August 26, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Champions League, Match Reports | 28 Guns

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction In the run up to this game, I’d have been lying if I’d said I wasn’t worried. When I saw the XI we’d be fielding, those concerns only grew. I was sat in an Irish bar in Italy, far removed from the constant team news bulletins and probable line-ups I’m accustomed to. As I watched the team emerge from the tunnel, I saw their faces: youthful, raw, and understandably anxious. Six months ago, … →

Nasri won’t be missed like Cesc

Posted on August 26, 2011 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 15 Guns

“Imagine the worst situation — we lose Fabregas and Nasri. You cannot convince people you are ambitious after that. You can’t then pretend you are a big club, because a big club holds on to its best players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they can’t come in and take our players.” Arsene Wenger, July 11th August 15th: Cesc Fabregas signs for Barcelona August 24th: Samir Nasri signs for Man City It seems a … →