Seasons greetings from The Arsenal manager.
A massive December sees us top.
The Stoke match was a blip but I rotated a lot due to the Dortmund game being the biggest of the season so far. Us and Zenit were joint 2nd, so a slip up would see us out and into the europa league. Fortunately Cluj beat Zenit and the draw was enough. Not the best group stage for us but a date against Barcelona in the knockout round will give the players that extra incentive.
Massive transfer news as the turn of the year comes Lewandowski became available to sign on a pre-contract, 3 offers on the table from us, Man City and Bayern Munich, he chose City... all my media flattery and private talks with him couldn't persuade him, I can only see he has gone for money, Man City are not a stable club, they will pay him massive wages but I don't see what he'll gain, the prediction is that he'll become unhappy and be sold, just like Hart. I could have gave him and his agent a bigger bonus, a bigger wage and appearance fee, but this club isn't going to be held for ransom.
I don't think in the scheme of things we even would have needed him. Jack Wilshere has started scoring goals from midfield, the attacking midfield position just behind the striker is becoming his own. Jovetic can slot in there up top or left wing as the inside forward and contribute now too, this season he's showing why I signed him and I think signing Lewandowski would have knocked his confidence. On the subject of in form players Mertesacker and Vermaelen have made the world XI at CB and LB. Mertesacker I could not see in my plans when I took over, but his reading of the game and calmness he brings to the back 4 is exceptional and will be key for a while longer.
A massive December sees us top.
The Stoke match was a blip but I rotated a lot due to the Dortmund game being the biggest of the season so far. Us and Zenit were joint 2nd, so a slip up would see us out and into the europa league. Fortunately Cluj beat Zenit and the draw was enough. Not the best group stage for us but a date against Barcelona in the knockout round will give the players that extra incentive.
Massive transfer news as the turn of the year comes Lewandowski became available to sign on a pre-contract, 3 offers on the table from us, Man City and Bayern Munich, he chose City... all my media flattery and private talks with him couldn't persuade him, I can only see he has gone for money, Man City are not a stable club, they will pay him massive wages but I don't see what he'll gain, the prediction is that he'll become unhappy and be sold, just like Hart. I could have gave him and his agent a bigger bonus, a bigger wage and appearance fee, but this club isn't going to be held for ransom.
I don't think in the scheme of things we even would have needed him. Jack Wilshere has started scoring goals from midfield, the attacking midfield position just behind the striker is becoming his own. Jovetic can slot in there up top or left wing as the inside forward and contribute now too, this season he's showing why I signed him and I think signing Lewandowski would have knocked his confidence. On the subject of in form players Mertesacker and Vermaelen have made the world XI at CB and LB. Mertesacker I could not see in my plans when I took over, but his reading of the game and calmness he brings to the back 4 is exceptional and will be key for a while longer.
