Author Archives: keenosafc

Arsenal players enter new relationship

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When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang handed the ball to Alexandre Lacazette when on a hat trick against Stoke City, the Gambion got some grief from some attention seekers.

Here was a striker, who should be hungry for goals, already with 2 (including 1 penalty) handing the ball over to a team mate. One fan, who must have had some good betting information,  had stuck a fiver on him getting a hat trick was especially angry.

But what it showed was Aubameyang’s awareness of a fellow striker who was going through a bad patch.

Before he joined the club, Aubameyang had been highly criticised in the press. Egotistical. Self-interested. Flashy. A big time Charlie. A poor team mate.

The majority of these comments were by people who did not know him. Had not followed his career. Had probably never had dealings with him. They saw the flash cars, the jewellery, and his skin colour and judged him. Like they do with Raheem Sterling.

That day against Stoke City, Aubameyang showed exactly who he is.

He saw Lacazette through his own eyes as a striker. His team mate had scored 1 goal in 13 games. Had an injury. Had not really settled at his new club. Every striker will recognise another striker struggling. The simple chances get skied or put wide. The confidence is not their for one on ones. The offside flag gets raised more often than not.

Aubameyang’s two goals against Stoke City had made it 5 goals in his first 7 games for Arsenal. He could have easily made it 6 in 7 and walked off with the match ball. Other strikers (Harry Kane) would have done. They would have been greedy. Even if it was at the detriment of their team mates.

By giving the ball to Lacazette, he hoped that a goal would spark him in to life. Would shake the cobwebs. With himself being cup-tied in the Europa League, he knew that it was more important for the team for Lacazette to score than himself.

Lacazette slotted in the penalty.

And Aubameyang got it right. It did spark Lacazette into life. The Frenchman is now 5 in 6. Against West Ham, Lacazette scored twice. One of which was set up by Aubameyang.

What stuck in my mind re-watching the game last night was the celebration of the Arsenal players.

A huge fuss was made when the side looked split after Alexis Sanchez scored against Crystal Palace. It was back page news. Against West Ham, the team celebrated as one. And it was the final embrace that inspired this.

The last two to celebrate together were Lacazette and Aubameyang. A warm embrace. One which showed genuine friendship. Lacazette was delighted to have been scored, and Aubameyang looked equally as delighted for him.

It highlighted the togetherness of Arsenal’s record signings.

For Arsenal, top strikers have been like busses. We have waited a decade for a pacey, direct striker, then end up with two at once. And there has been plenty of talk about how they would fit together.

Can they play together? Will they be happy rotating? Might one end up leaving?

They might not be suitable to play together every game. With Henrik Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil to be added to the team, it will give the new manager plenty of food for thought on how to line up. What is for certain is with all 4, we have options. Different formations. Different tactics.

It should be remembered that for Dortmund. Aubameyang played a season alongside Robert Lewandowski. He was out wide with the Pole up top. It is a roll the he can perform.

The budding relationship between Aubameyang and Lacazette is one of the few positives from this season. And one that we can begin to get excited about next years.

Keenos

10 players that will leave Arsenal alongside Arsene Wenger

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The Certainties

Per Mertesacker – The big German has already announced that he intended to retire at the end of the season. He will take up a new role as Head of Academy in 2018, and will provide a good link between the new manager and the current set of senior players.

Santi Cazorla – It is with a heavy heart that Arsenal need to say goodbye to Santi Cazorla this summer.

The Spaniard has yet to play this season, having picked up a recurrence of an ankle injury damaged playing for Spain in 2013 in Champions League fixture against Ludogorets Razgrad on 19 October 2016. He also missed half of the 2015/16 season suffering a knee injury in a match against Norwich City.

23 league games in 3 seasons, and now 33 years old. He should not get a new contract, but ~Arsenal should continue their support and funding of his rehabilitation.

Jack Wilshere – A couple of months ago, Jack Wilshere had the fans on his side in his contract stalemate with the club. The majority wanted the club to offer him what  he wanted.

A mixture of the excellent form of Aaron Ramsey and his own atrocious form has led to many of his loyal followers waivering.

The lack of noise coming from the club surrounding his contract indicates that he will leave us in the summer. Reality will then hit, as he will struggle to be a regular starter for a top 6 side.

A move to sit on Chelsea’s bench is my bet.

David Ospina – A new goal keeper will be top of the recruitment teams list this summer. When you look at David de Gea, he has been worth a good 12 points for Manchester United. Arsenal barely break even with Petr Cech.

Ospina is not good enough to replace Cech, so a new man will come in. Rather than Cech leave, and Ospina remain as number 2, the likelihood will be that the Columbian exits, leaving Cech as 2nd choice keeper for the last year of his contract.

Carl Jenkinson  – It is incredible to think that Carl Jenkinson has now been at the club for 7 years. The rough diamond that joined the club in June 2011 is now about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Chuba Akpom – Once rated as the brightest young talent to come through the youth system, his Arsenal career has never really kicked off with some very average loan moves.

Now 22, it is time for the club to focus their time and efforts on Eddie Nketiah and Stephy Mavididi

The Maybes

Shkodran Mustafi – The club’s most expensive defender, Arsenal were open to selling the German last summer. In the end no serious offers materialised and Gabriel was the one who ended up leaving the club.

He might be saved by Laurent Koscielny’s injury issues. The club are certain to buy at least one centre back, which will leave Koscielny and Mustafi competing for a first team place. If the club get in the two centre backs they need, Mustafi will be the one to leave.

Calum Chambers – He might have only recently signed a new deal, but the reality is if a new centre back is signed, he will be 5th choice.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also a more attacking choice at right back. His career at Arsenal could depend on Hector Bellerin. If the Spaniard stays, Chambers will not.

Lucas Perez – Has had a tough time on loan back at Deportivo de La Coruña, where he has been heavily criticised by the fans. This seemingly rules out a permanent return to Deportivo.

Our lack of width might mean a new manager keeps him at the club, but if an opportunity to recoup what we spent on him arises, he will be out the door.

Joel Campbell  – The Costa Rican became a bit of a battle ground for the Wenger argument. Many who wanted Wenger out put him on a pedestal, using his lack of game time as a reason to bash the manager.

4 years on from his good performance at the 2014 World Cup and he has certainly not developed into the talent many claimed he was. Now 26, Arsenal must regret not cashing in after the last World Cup. Like with Perez, our lack of natural wide players might lead him to stay, but it is unikely.

The George joins a long list of Holloway pubs by closing down

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So it is official, The George is shutting down. Its last home match day will be the Burnley fixture.

For a few years now, The George has been my match day pub. It was, in my eyes, the best match day pub – although saying that makes me think of the Arsene Wenger quote of “everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home”.

It had it all. Decent beer, quick service, quality staff, TV screens and a jukebox.

Post game in The George was always an event. Once the one pinters had drunk up and left, the atmosphere in their was cracking.

Get the right tunes on the jukebox and it would go off.  I remember a game recently we stuck on Gold followed by Sweet Caroline. It was electric.

Going back a few years, the late night Chinese delivery was always a bonus.

Over the years, The George have supported this site. Whether that be through Peter giving GC help and advice with the She Wore Shop or being the place where Keenos wrote many of the post-game blogs. We owe a huge thank you to them.

 

There is no debate, Arsenal is losing one of its best pubs. And it continues a worrying trend of Holloway Road losing its decent boozers.

A few years back now, we lost the Herbet Chapman. I remember when that pub went down hill. It was taken over by new management. Some youngster student-types. They clearly had it in their mind what they wanted a pub to be. And that did not include football fans. Unfortunately they had bought the wrong pub in the wrong area.

They did not want fans to be there. Not even on a game day. And made it clear to us we were not wanted. I remember one game, it would have been a 3 o’clock kick off, and they decided to bleach the floors clean at about 6pm. It was their way of saying “we are shutting, please leave”. The pub died not too long after.

Then you had the Phibbers and Metro Bar.

We lost the Metro to the housing developers. The student accommodation is nearly build. The Phibbers has recently reopened as the Victoria Tavern. It advertises itself as “craft beer and awesome pizza”. It has a table football table and neon mini-golf course. It does not look like a proper football pub.

Most recently the Wig and Gown shut down and was then rebranded.

It shut down due to noise complaints. The neighbours who moved in above complained about the live music and bands that used to play. This was a big part of its Monday – Friday business. No longer being able to play live music drove away the clientele.

The Wig and Gown has since reopened as the House of Hammerton. Another craft beer pub.

And finally we have The Bailey.

I am sure many of you will remember when The Bailey ran out of beer. It seemed to happen often. And they went to the Tesco up the road, bought cans of beer and still had the cheek to sell them for a fiver!

The Bailey was a decent boozer, although the landlady certainly had her favourites when it came to serving people. It has now reopened as an upmarket chicken shop that also sells craft beer.

And now we have The George going. The best of the lot. Decent service, decent beer. The memories the stories.

So where does it leave Arsenal fans to drink in on a match day?

Holloway Road is becoming like Upper Street. Filled with craft beer pubs that sell over priced food. There really are not too many options left for the fan who just wants to have a beer and get away from the Barmies.

You still have the likes of the Tollington, Che Guevara, The Eaglet, The Horatio and The Lamb. Add in a few of the cafes and restaurants that have recently become popular with football fans. There are still places to drink, but they are not perfect for the likes of me.

They already have their atmosphere, their clientele. And if the displaced from The George began drinking there, it would be like when two schools merge into one. A recipe for disaster.

So what now? Perhaps a move further into the Cally? Or head back Finsbury Park way. The Twelve Pins, the Blackstock. Of even those old haunts up Blackstock Road. The Gunners, Bank of Friendship, Woodbine, T-Bird.

What is for sure, The George shutting is a sad day for football boozers down Holloway Road.