I Wish I Had A Clever Title For This: Arsenal News Roundup for Feb 13

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 9:56 AM EST in Team and Club News

Hey look everyone! The Champions League is back this week! Arsenal play Milan in the away leg of this Round of 16 tie, and while I can't admit to being all that knowledgeable about Milan, because I don't pay attention to Italian soccer, Amy Lawrence at The Guardian seems to think that this might just be the best possible time to be facing them.

Here's Arsene Wenger, being modest on the official site.

Lukas Podolski has said he wants to leave Cologne this summer. London is lovely! North London is the best part of London!

Hey look, it's happening again. Let the sports world's most annoying dance begin!

Per Mertesacker tweeted a pic of his banged-up ankle. I have a whole photo gallery of this type of picture of my own ankles over the years - I was expecting Mertesacker's to be a lot worse, to be honest.

Emmanuel Frimpong is done for the year after shredding his knee at Wolves.

So long again, Thierry.

And finally, another, less negative look at Andrei Arshavin's Arsenal career so far.

Have a splendiferous day.

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re: RvP

Nope. I’m not doing this again. I REFUSE.

WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS, A MILLION MILES AWAAAAAAY

I write about the Arsenal for The Short Fuse.

Twitter: Brohan_Cruyff

by Thomas Wachtel on Feb 13, 2012 10:03 AM EST reply actions

Islington Council needs to request EU Regional Development Funds....

…in order to develop nukes for use against Fleet Street and Spain. All of Spain.

It’ll have to be tactical nukes for Fleet Street, though, or I might get blown up in the library.

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

I am in lobby for this

WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS, A MILLION MILES AWAAAAAAY

I write about the Arsenal for The Short Fuse.

Twitter: Brohan_Cruyff

by Thomas Wachtel on Feb 13, 2012 9:06 PM EST up reply actions

I'm going to ignore it

It’s Marca. It’s fucking Marca.

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Feb 13, 2012 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

This

Any news that comes from Marca or AS might as well be dumped in the trash.

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions

The good news is

That RvP put out a tweet over the weekend that stated something along the lines of “I’ve never given an interview to Marca. Good day.” So we know Marca is completely full of shit and lies on this story.

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

The annoying thing is that it won't stop

The genie’s out of the bottle now. I won’t spend any more links on it, but you can rest assured that from now until he decides his future this summer, you will hear nothing but crap like this.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

"I won't spend any more links on it..."

Thank you.

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Not a problem

I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to link to it here today, but I figured it was worth a mention. But don’t expect a whole lot of watching-of-RvP’s-every-utterance links.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

Completely understandable the first time around

You know, to signal the Bullshit Tsunami Horn. But it’s redundant to signal the horn after the waves of bullshit have engulfed us.

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

That's a lovely picture of Mert's ankle.

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 10:29 AM EST reply actions

I was actually surprised it wasn't worse considering he was stretchered off

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

Looks like mine last summer.

I turned it badly playing street hockey in May. Don’t worry though, I started running again in October

WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS, A MILLION MILES AWAAAAAAY

I write about the Arsenal for The Short Fuse.

Twitter: Brohan_Cruyff

by Thomas Wachtel on Feb 13, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

In other news

Rangers are about to go into administration. Remember when they were good and had Paul Gascoigne?

I know some people are upset about Arsenal not spending money, but without care that could be us one day.

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Feb 13, 2012 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Rangers are fucked because the SPL has a crappy TV deal and they haven't gotten CL money either.

That’s why.

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

As I understand it it's more than that

When they were paying a ton or money to players, they were doing it using what could charitably called “creative accounting” – they set up an employee benefit trust out of which the players got paid, instead of paying them from their operating income as the law says they must; that trust wasn’t taxed, which allowed them to spend more money. The government finally got wind of the scheme, though, and came after them with a tax bill of something like £50 million. That’s why administration is imminent – the lack of CL money doesn’t help but it’s not the main problem.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

*a ton of money

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

Huh. Okay, I stand corrected.

That said, the comparison between Arsenal and Rangers is not a fair one.

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

But the comparison between Arsenal and, say, Portsmouth is not

They’re going into administration again. Portsmouth spent vast amounts money they didn’t have, and it came back to kill them. And yet somehow Harry Redknapp emerges totally unscathed. It boggles the mind.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

Uhh...yeah, it kinda is.

Catchment area, ground size, and not having a clown for a manager make a big difference.

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

When a smart manager starts throwing money at problems

he can turn into a clown pretty quickly.

WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS, A MILLION MILES AWAAAAAAY

I write about the Arsenal for The Short Fuse.

Twitter: Brohan_Cruyff

by Thomas Wachtel on Feb 13, 2012 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

Obviously

But, in the scheme of things, Rangers are a “Big Club”.
This is the first Big Club to go into admin (Leeds have never been or never will be a “Big Club”).

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Feb 13, 2012 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

Good to know that Kyle Bartley is getting used to playing out of position while at Rangers

The defence was uncharacteristically hesitant, particularly early on. Kyle Bartley was unconvincing at right-back…

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spl/dunfermline_1_4_rangers_gers_remain_in_hunt_as_fresh_striking_options_come_to_the_fore_1_2113929

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

Things to make you happy:

Gol TV are showing Stoke-Valencia in the Europa League ahead of Manchester United-Ajax.

Teehee.

Arteta, it's all about the right pass it goes left to the left foot of VAN PERSIE
Proud member of Fusillade and The Short Fuse

by Aidan Gibson on Feb 13, 2012 11:27 AM EST reply actions

I maintain that they are only doing that to catch the bemused look on the faces of Valencia players when they realize they're in Stoke

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

And doncha know it, it's supposed to be 37˚ and rainy on Thursday night in scenic Stoke-on-Trent

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

My friend who grew up in Stoke

suggested that every member of the Valencia team get a lovely Stoke toilet as a token of their visit. The Potteries!

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

All credit to Arshavin, that was a great cross out of nothing for Henry's goal.

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by silverace99 on Feb 13, 2012 12:42 PM EST reply actions

SPOILER ALERT

we talk about that in this week’s podcast!

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Hazard to the Spurs

According to France Football…fwiw; csb

/commence freak out

//unless that means Bale/Modric to Arsenal, who am I kidding?

by jf55510 on Feb 13, 2012 4:51 PM EST reply actions

Hazard was never likely to come to Arsenal anyway

wages would probably be too much.

And as much as I detest them, they’re just “Spurs” and not “The Spurs”, by the way. The Spurs play in San Antonio.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

The only club that has an honorific before its name is The Arsenal

and I like it that way!

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Damn you for spoiling a perfectly good joke!

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

Almost forgot:

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

-shakes fist-

Managing Editor, OnceAMetro.com

by Ben Schneider on Feb 13, 2012 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

Um, check this out

by Adnan Ilyas on Feb 13, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Reply fail

Try this

by Adnan Ilyas on Feb 13, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions

Dangit!!

You just tricked me into going over to a Spurts blog. Now I gotta go bathe in tomato juice to get rid of the smell.

Captain, there are doubt''s...

by Match Day 5 on Feb 13, 2012 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sure you were do for a tomato scrub down anyway

by Adnan Ilyas on Feb 13, 2012 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

This is true.

Captain, there are doubt''s...

by Match Day 5 on Feb 14, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

Juan Mata was signed by Arsenal nine different times, according to L'Equipe

Me, I’ll check the date (Feb. 13th) and realize there’s a lot of things left to be played out before the start of the summer windo.

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 13, 2012 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

That is the single biggest thing to remember about both this comment thread and the CFC piece Adnan linked to

I’ll check the date (Feb. 13th)

If Spurs have done a deal this week, that act alone breaks innumerable rules, not to mention the rules about initiating contact or responding to a contact outside the transfer window. Spurs, for all their faults (SERIOUSLY PEOPLE THEY HAVE A PIGEON FOR A MASCOT), are not stupid, and they would not do anything to get themselves in trouble with the league – and legal documents are notorious for their, y’know, legally-bindingness.

This is not the 1970’s. Backroom deals do not exist any more. if Hazard is signing anywhere, it won’t happen until the summer.

by pdb on Feb 13, 2012 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Also the subject line

I thought he’d already signed at Chelsea!!!

WRITTEN IN THE STAAAAARS, A MILLION MILES AWAAAAAAY

I write about the Arsenal for The Short Fuse.

Twitter: Brohan_Cruyff

by Thomas Wachtel on Feb 13, 2012 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly

Hazard isn’t up for a Bosman and I’m pretty sure whatever club he goes to would rather not have to pay anything extra on top of his soon-to-be high transfer fees.

(see: Cole, Ashley)

"I know you're from Middle America, and sometimes you feel like you're representing more than just a school or a conference, maybe an entire group of American citizens out there."

by Twin Cities Hawk on Feb 14, 2012 9:49 AM EST up reply actions