duo

And yet last season he played well and got dropped, came on in later games and gave the few sparks we had in attack, utter bollocks imo. He had 'moments' of brilliance when he came on but it was no where near his potential. Which was the frustrating thing - Imagine what a fit Ben Arfa could have done.

It is a year old picture I found the source from a news article dated Dec 2013 - yet it clearly shows he was out of shape last season. And he's come back this season no slimmer.

Ben Arfa isn't helping himself - I'm annoyed as I so want to see the him play. Yet the lad seems to have just lost interest. I want to see him lean, mean and banging on Pardews door.

No Cabella or Janmatt?

To be fair to Pardew it's not his fault he kept his job. Two wrongs don't make a right. As much as it pains me to say I'm actually with Pardew on this one - just look at the lad: https://twitter.com/samuelJayC/status/490203541991325696/photo/1 If he wanted to prove a point he would have been in top shape for the start of the season - see Cabaye for comparison: https://twitter.com/dembabafoot/status/351764448794521600/photo/1

Really is a depressing state of affairs. I think we all agree that Pardew has grossly mismanaged him but it doesn't excuse him not acting like a professional footballer. He didn't look fit at all last season and as much as I complained about him not playing looking back now if he really wanted to play he'd have got himself fit. Seeing the pictures of him returning this season is an absolute joke - he's taking the biscuit and it's no surprise no one has bid for him. For all his talk it seems he's just happy picking up his pay cheque.

You say competing but he played 30 games last season so I'd argue he should have scored more playing with the likes of Rodriguez. 11 were from the bench like. Had 8 in 11 starts (and 5 from the bench) in Jan before Berbatov joined. Fair dues. I still hope we sign another striker though...

You say competing but he played 30 games last season so I'd argue he should have scored more playing with the likes of Rodriguez.

Hmmm... I seriously hope we buy another striker. I've yet to see a player develop under Pardew so I'm not holding my breath that this lad is going to suddenly become prolific in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

A striker is where the Cabaye money should go. £20 Mil Lukaku - job done. But it's clear Ashley isn't willing to spend the cash to acquire a proven goal scorer.

Who is ITKMysteryAgent?

Pardew

Reasonable read on Riviere - knew nothing about him before. http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2043913-scouting-report-should-arsenal-sign-monacos-emmanuel-riviere

Ashley will be faxing his offers to clubs as we speak.

LOL - Louis Van Gaal = Genius Shows the difference a World Class Manager makes.

This is surreal lol

Eh? lol

Christ, more spare tyres than the ferrari pit crew! Thought he'd lost the number 10?

Perhaps that's why people aren't right thrilled about selling the one we've got then. ..for Peanuts to one of the most Cash Rich teams in the league.

Hard to get excited about a signing knowing if he's any good he'll be sold.

On his day he was class. Wenger is no fool.

They clearly wanted to sell him more than Arsenal wanted to buy him. I can just see the conversations: Ashley - "Arsene now you've lost Sagna - how about the current France RB?" Arsene - "Ok - what's your price?" Ashley - "£20Mill" Arsene - "LOL" Ashley - "15MILL" Arsene "You're actually serious?" Ashley "We've just bought a striker so need to balance the books - £12MILL" Arsene - "£8MILL" Ashley - "£11MILL" Arsene - "£8MILL" Ashley - "£10MILL" Arsene - "£8MILL" Ashley - "Ok - 8 MILL"

New fitness coach http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20140704/billows-appointed-head-of-fitness_2281670_3958601

How lucky can you get. QPR did not deserve to win.

this thread gets more depressing with each passing year.