Emirates Cup Day 1
ARSENAL 1 - 1 AC MILAN
a picspam + some news
So ~someone scored in his home debut today...
WATCH HIS FIRST GOAL!
Click to viewand these people celebrated (lol, I kid)
Guess who else was in the stands? Bensey is not impressed with your 36th minute goal, Chamakh. Nicky scores his in the 90th+ minute bitches. That's drama right there.
~Oh hai dere Aaron ;)
Romeo, oh, Romeo
He clearly just wants to be a musician like his mom.
Daddy still loves him though
Mexican wave time!
Now back to normal messages:
As you can see, a weight has definitely been lifted from him
the bbs and his bff are clearly thrilled for him (did we decide on Chamir?)
As is the rest of the team
Hi-5s all around
CHAMIR <3
Wow, can someone punch me in the face for not putting up a picture of Capitan Verma. Srsly, boy can look hot even with a duckface.
Kos did a great job today too! - he seems to be settling in!
Nobby's back and he's been looking less nobby as of late - probably bulked up over his extended break. Kos should ask for some tips ;)
Oh and this dude took a break from partying with Dinho and scored too =P
Gattuso don't like your face
Jack was like a pitbull terrier out there today, y/y?
Now for some a lot of wise words from this HBIC:
On whether today's game was the workout he expected...
"Completely, it was a good test for us. We came back from a hard-working [training] camp and you could see some legs were not completely refreshed and recovered. But what was good is that it was a good test for the players we've brought in and the young players and overall for the team. We struggled a bit in the last 20 minutes because we shuffled the team around a little bit, but overall for 70 minutes we looked solid defensively and dangerous going forward."
On Marouane Chamakh's Emirates Stadium debut...
"He had a good first game. He had a good presence and intelligence and I believe him and Koscielny did well."
On whether the two new boys have the ‘Arsenal' mould...
"We wanted a player up front who could play for the team, works hard and can play in different combinations. At the back we were looking for somebody who is calm, can play out from the back and read the game well. Of course it's only one game but their attitude in training is very good and they can only improve."
On the goalkeeping situation...
"Almunia will play tomorrow. Fabianski did well today, you can't fault him for the goal and he did everything else well. The only thing is there wasn't much command on the free kick [which led to the goal]. From the outside it looked as if no-one took charge of the organisation and that's a little bit down to goalkeeper. But overall he had a good game."
On the point that the back five could be quite unfamiliar with each other...
"It is a concern because we want to be defensively solid. The six players that played today looked solid defensively. When I say it's a concern, there was lack of communication on the free kick, not a lack of quality."
On continued Mark Schwarzer rumours...
"There are a lot of things I don't master in football and the rumours are one of these things."
On Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere's performances...
"It's very positive for Arsenal that two 18-year-old players did well in battles against more experienced players. Of course sometimes they have a lack of experience but they both have individual qualities and are fighters. They are not scared of anybody, they put their foot in and really good for it in challenges, in a good way."
On whether he will send Wilshere out on loan again...
"I think I will keep him. He was at Bolton and they wanted to keep him again and I'm sure if I went out looking, I could find clubs. It's difficult to say how many games he will play because it depends on injuries, which you can't plan around. Also you don't want to give a restricted target to a player. He can play wide and in the middle, behind the striker and also deep, which is interesting. He should get a few games."
On Celtic's line-up tomorrow...
"I don't expect them to play with their best 11 because they have a decisive Champions League game next week. It will be tough for them but they have to try. Though it won't affect my team selection. I will have to consult the medical department tomorrow and I may have to protect a few but I will play my strongest team."
On Aaron Ramsey's recovery...
"He started to have a very little jog last week but no ball work as of yet. Short term he will not be available, he will be available again this season but if he is back in November he will have done well. Let's count three months from today."
OP's notes: Hallelujeah! Why do journalists forget about Aaron all the freaking time?
On reports he recently met with Cesc Fabregas...
"I cannot confirm nor deny anything. In the last six months, this story has made our lives difficult. At the moment, what is important is that when Cesc comes back, that he comes out. For me, I have nothing more to add. The conversations with the players have to be private because I cannot come out every time I speak with a player."
On whether Arsenal's players are fed up with the Fabregas speculation...
"Well in fairness I said many times the noises come back a lot from Spain and are translated here. I believe it is in the interest of the Premier League that all the big clubs keep their best players and for the reputation of the Premier League [it is important that] the best players play in this country."
On whether Barcelona have a case to answer on allegations of ‘tapping-up'...
"They [Barcelona] certainly have a case to answer, but it is always the same - how can you prove it?"
On Carles Puyol's recent comments...
"Puyol is responsible for his own statements, which is why I have said before that only Fabregas can clear the air when he comes back from holiday. Puyol has to look after his own affairs and leave the rest to Cesc Fabregas."
On whether he will 'put Fabregas on show' when he returns...
"[He returns on] August 5. There is no show. There is football. The only show in football is to play good football in the matches. Cesc does that as well as everybody else. What can I say about that? I cannot master what is written in the newspapers, I can only master our decisions and that is it. Cesc has five years to go and that is it."
On why he feels Fabregas has to come out and clear the air...
"Because the speculation does not stop. Who can stop the speculation? Only Cesc maybe, I don't know, maybe not even Cesc. But that is how I feel. We cannot go into a season where everyday you read about that. He has not played today and I sit here and speak about Fabregas.
On reports that Barcelona won't give up on Fabregas until the transfer window closes...
"Barcelona has given up for a long time. Who is Barca? You say to me 'Barca has not given up', what does that mean? Who is the person who says they do not give up? The newspapers? The newspapers do not make those decisions. I told you yesterday what will happen - Fabregas will stay here."
On whether his thinking is influenced by the home-grown player rule...
"I play the players I believe have the quality. We have, not by coincidence but by hard work, a good English generation. Today you did not see Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who has quality. That is why I play them - because they are good, not because of the rule. I gave Wilshere to Bolton last year and Frimpong played well in pre-season, that is why I played him. It is not linked with the rule. Players like Fabregas, for example, are home-grown."
On whether Emmanuel Frimpong is likely to go on loan...
"No. I want to keep him."
On France Under-19s' victory at the European Championships and if that avenges the French World Cup performance...
"I congratulate the Under-19 team. But I do not think that makes up for what happened during the World Cup! That will take a bit more to save our reputation and restore it."
Sauce
An awkward Robin tyfyt if you managed to read through that.
