Midweek

[Victor Meldrew]

Wilshere is going to be one hell of a player.

Yep, agree with this, incredibly composed on the ball for his age, I'd end Lamps' England career sooner rather than later and put Wilshere in the squad.

Hold on just a bit-let the lad have a full league season first and take a few knocks and get used to the rough and tumble because so far he has hardly played any Premier League games in his Bolton and Arsenal spells.
I'm all for playing young players but we need to see how he conducts himself-remember that Pearce didn't play him in an important U21 game because he thought he wasn't focused.
Joe Cole was talked up like Wilshere from a very young age and IMHO has never really lived up to the hype but if Wilshere continues to improve he could well be pushing for a place come the Euro finals in 2012.

[Royal Rother]

^ f*ck me some of the fawning above, as if Arsenal invented passing the ball. All very well pinging the ball around and making a side with significantly fewer resources look a bit silly, come back to me when they're doing that against any of the top sides at home and abroad. I wouldn't mind Arsenal half as much if they weren't such self-important c*nts; remember their (former) captain having a sit-down strop by the corner flag when they conceded a last minute penalty? Or how about Fabregas (their current captain) coming on to the field of play at the end of a game he hadn't even played in to have a go at Hull players, yes a pop at those representing the might of Hull. Add in to that the one-eyed sourness of their manager and his regular tirades at opposition who have the temerity to tackle his players. If they were made of chocolate they'd f*cking well eat themselves.

Yawn again at all that crap, I just enjoy watching good football.

And, on their day, whatever the opposition, today's Arsenal and Barcelona teams are about as good as football has ever got.

Winning isn't everything to this observer.

[floyd__streete]

I wouldn't mind Arsenal half as much if they weren't such self-important c*nts

Yawn again at all that crap

Talking of self-important c*nts.....

[FiNeRaIn]

I wouldn't mind Arsenal half as much if they weren't such self-important c*nts

Yawn again at all that crap

Talking of self-important c*nts.....

[LUX]

^ f*ck me some of the fawning above, as if Arsenal invented passing the ball. All very well pinging the ball around and making a side with significantly fewer resources look a bit silly, come back to me when they're doing that against any of the top sides at home and abroad. I wouldn't mind Arsenal half as much if they weren't such self-important c*nts; remember their (former) captain having a sit-down strop by the corner flag when they conceded a last minute penalty? Or how about Fabregas (their current captain) coming on to the field of play at the end of a game he hadn't even played in to have a go at Hull players, yes a pop at those representing the might of Hull. Add in to that the one-eyed sourness of their manager and his regular tirades at opposition who have the temerity to tackle his players. If they were made of chocolate they'd f*cking well eat themselves.

Yawn again at all that crap, I just enjoy watching good football.

And, on their day, whatever the opposition, today's Arsenal and Barcelona teams are about as good as football has ever got.

Winning isn't everything to this observer.

yes, but you have to be honest too, RR, you are not impartial. You are an (armchair?) Arsenal supporter and have always been. You refer to today's Arsenal team as if it's particular to now, but you've always waxed lyrical about them.

[Royal Rother]

I am nothing if not honest and the reason I have waxed lyrical about Arsenal for as long as you have "known me" on here is because of the style of football they have played - not just this team, they have long played football that is superb to watch. Whether it'll be good enough to win the PL or CL remains to be seen but it's certainly floating my boat.

I just call it as I see it - do you recall me having a long-term affiliation for Spanish football? Not at all, but I have waxed similarly lyrical about them over the last few years because, to my eyes, they play wonderful football, which just happens to be very much in the style of Arsenal.

[LUX]

can you see how Bremen v Spurs was a better spectacle/more enjoyable than Arsenal v Braga?

[Royal Rother]

Not for me.

Mainly because I didn't see the Spurs / Bremen game.

An end to end game, a few goals (equally or almost equally shared) is probably going to be more engaging and therefore more enjoyable overall than a 6-0 drubbing for sure, but that doesn't detract from the pleasure / jaw-dropping to be had from watching beautiful passing and movement a la Arsenal at their best.

A hard, close fought game is great while it's happening but when the whistle blows it's gone - Arsenal's football can send a shiver up the spine that keeps reverberating long after the game is over.

[floyd__streete]

Gr8 letter from a Mr Peter Richards of Cowley in today's Sunday Times:

Not only colder nights herald the onset of autumn. Arsenal play lovely football in beating a couple of mediocre teams. Arsene Wenger beams with pleasure at his creation. As the first cuckoo is heard, they are overwhelmed by Chelsea and Man Utd. Wenger rails at the bullies who will not let his side play.


Amen to that. Wenger already losing the plot this season it seems, manhandling the fourth official at the end of a game where his side were denied at the death having only led in the first place through the freakiest goal of the season. At least their inevitable implosion will give me some amusement as the season goes on.

[SpaceCruiser]

I see that Arse Rother is being his usual pompous self.

Whoops. Should I not have said that?

[LUX]

have to say it, well played Sunderland (and the fourth official).

Problem is, like Everton's comeback v Man U last week, it is all good news for Chelsea