A 2-0 win is arguably the most solid result you can hope to pull off on the first game of the season.
Sure, you can always crave more goals, but the final score against Cardiff City on the opening day saw us comfortably claim the three points, while keeping an equally important clean sheet.
On the flip side, a 3-1 home defeat to a side which struggled for form last year is going to sound alarm bells, whoever it happens to.
So it’s little surprise there is talk ‘boring boring’ Arsenal have been in contact with West Ham over the possibility of signing star centre back Winston Reid.
Last season’s Hammer of the Year showed no signs of early season sloppiness by turning in a typically assured performance.
The 25-year-old New Zealander has recently signed a new contract and is pretty much the only guaranteed starter across the defence, leaving James Collins and James Tomkins to fight it out to partner him.
Sam Allardyce has shown faith in Reid, and helped nurture him into a top class defender. The manager has tweaked the team, but balanced it in a way that hasn’t required wholesale changes, leading him to claim this week that this ‘year two’ squad is “right up there” in terms of the best he has had. That has meant players like Reid are confident in knowing their role, can be assured of game time if they play well, and are rewarded for success.
Arsenal have struggled in recent years, slipping out of real contention for the title, with the main focus usually being on scrapping to secure 4th place. They’re a team that seems disjointed, expected to succeed without the belief to mount a serious challenge.
We’re a club moving forward. There are realistic aspirations that could bring genuine success. There is a lot more for Reid to achieve at West Ham.
And aside from the player himself, his transfer would be a massive step backwards for the club given the hierarchy are determined to quash perceptions we are always prepared to sell our top stars.
It has been documented that we need to clear the wage bill to free up funds to bring in a striker. But it would be a huge shock if we sacrificed our best defender to a London rival to balance those demands.
Losing Reid would leave us short in the centre back position, with little chance of finding a replacement of equal quality. Retaining Winston will better our chances of securing a lot more solid results throughout the remainder of the season.
gooners can get lost… simple
He’s a stayer, gonna score well for my dreamteam
50 million and Wilshire then we will think!
Reidy is one player we can’t afford to sell, Tell the Gooners to SOD OFF we are fit and strong this season and all apart from Taylor and vaz te are staying……….
Wild speculation at best. Does ANYONE think that Arsenal attempting to sign Winston Reid as a cheaper alternative to Ashley Williams is going to appease the gooner supporters???
Right now their spuds neighbours are signing players, like money was going out of fashion with some MEGA buys. I don’t think the name Winston Reid is going to make them gooners jump for joy!
Arsene has an atrocious record on buying defenders and an aversion to spending money so that pretty much ends ALL the speculation right here.
Only sell if we get £40m cash…and they also have to buy Vaz Te and Taylor for another £12m!!
Good grief. Please noooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice one Brian. But knowing what a soft touch the bosses are the n they can have hi m for 3.65 millions.
When are we going to start playing hardball with transfers like spurs
Don’t have none of that reidy your a loyal type, hammers are on the way up goners are in reverse
To be honest, I don’t think Winston want’s to leave us, he seem completely happy with the club and the fans alike,
we gave him a big break and stood by him after a disastrous first season, and he really appreciates that, Arsenal are a club in decline,
Spurs will finish above them this year,
we are a club in ascendancy,
Winston is coming along for the ride,
COYI
Reid today Diame tomorrow! Tell them to sod off Sam!!!
If we was going to sell a defender would Tompkins be a more obvious choice.
Arsenal should go for him and also go for Mikel Obi in chelsea as a defensive midfielder
couldnt agree more. one of the main reasons we finished 10th last season was because collins and reid were so solid.
He wouldn’t go to arsenal anyway in my opinion, there a club going backwards.
Tell Arse## to get lost . He is a loser . We should build out team around Reid . Let them have Tomkins as he will never be good enough .
Boring Boring arsenal indeed! Diame last year and now Reid this! Can we just move onto some real news please?!?! COYI!
We will swap him for Wiltshire if they want to do a deal!
That’s how highly I rate Reid. Arsenal would never bid what he’s worth so don’t worry about them.
His a good player that although don’t like Sam theirs no way he would sell Reid. Tommo much more of a polished performer is more likely the one to go hence the rumours samba coming. Would definetly sell him personally for west ham boy Wiltshire but also that won’t happen.
Let him have Tomkins, he’ll never be good enough????? What’s wrong with you? If we sell Tomkins, not only do we lose defensive cover but one of our promising young players. I rate him more highly than Collins and still has a big future! He’s still only just 24!!!