By 1970’s Gooner
Fabregas’s departure, if it materialises, would be the final nail in the coffin of Arsene Wenger’s football model of development.
As reiterated on this blog on many occasions in the past this model of football development needs two vital ingredients to stay firmly cemented in place if it is to succeed.
The first is to strike and then keep in place the right blend between talented and technically gifted youth alongside experienced and hardened professionals.
In this way the team can be competitive against the more hardened teams at the top of the League, win trophies and at the same time bring on the youngsters under the guidance of the more experienced players to full football fruition.
A bit like Manchester United.
This Wenger has failed to do. He let or was not able to keep through stinginess and probably stubbornness (in not granting more than one year extensions to players over 30) experienced players who could have provided such a balance.
Players like Pires, Flamini and Hleb from the recent past. And if you want to go back a few years, remember Edu?
He left because Wenger and Dein tried to play hard when his contract extension was up for renewal. If he had stayed I have no doubt we would have won the league again at that time…
The second element is the need to keep the stars of the team while releasing the more aged players who have had their best years at the club, often at remunerative transfer fees.
Players like Vieira and Henry left leaving behind their best football years fetching about 15m each.
This policy keeps the finances in a healthy position ready to buy the next bunch of stars of the future. Players like Ramsey, Wilshere will be and like Fabregas once was.
Vieira, Henry, Overmars and Petit all, of course wanted out – but they were either 30 or approaching 30.
Which brings us to Cesc. If he leaves he will be leaving just at the time when he will be reaching his prime. He is only 24 and will be the youngest star to want out.
This past season has been Fabregas’s best.
Wenger pushed him just in front of two holding midfielders and granted him the freedom to roam in support of a main central striker. And he has excelled, providing more assists than any other player in the Premier League and scoring 19 goals!
Fabregas’s departure would give the message that Arsenal will for ever be a work in progress, getting near but not near enough, often clobbered by more street wise hardened opponents.
If you want to win titles and glory then don’t go to Arsenal….
In this coming season we are likely to see a physically and mentally more mature Fabregas ready to become a truly world star.
But will we? Is Wenger going to stand up to Barcelona, the money men, the Board and more importantly the player himself and say it loud and clear:
YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Arsenal fans demand a new keeper
By 1970’s Gooner,
Arsene Wenger made an extraordinary statement in his weekly letter to the Arsenal fans. I get it on my e mail but I almost always ignore it as it usually reiterates an amalgam of his post match comments.
This time it attracted my attention as it was very direct and a little bit angry.
He asked the Arsenal fans to leave the transfer policy to him and we will see the results…
Is he getting fed up with everyone telling him to buy and buy and buy?
You bet he is.
But I am with the majority of the fans who are desperate and fed up to watch year after year talented youngsters play attractive football but get slaughtered by the big guns when the business part of the season arrives.
And there is one transfer that simply has to happen if we are to have a cat’s chance in hell to win anything next season and that is buying a new first team keeper capable to pull out those performances that will win you those points that Almunia and Fabianski certainly failed to do.
Van de Sar has been doing it season after season with Manchester United. Funnily enough Wenger passed on the chance to make that call that Van de Sar was expecting from him when leaving Fulham!
Shay Given, one of the best keepers in the League, was similarly available but again Wenger passed…
Petr Cech has been a top class keeper with Chelsea during those title winning years inclusive of this season of course.
Even Spurs have a better keeper than us. Gomez singlehandedly destroyed our chances to win the title.
I need not go on and on.
In fact the vast majority (82%) of nearly 2000 Arsenal fans that voted on our poll (see above) are clear that if Wenger does not sign a new keeper our chances of winning the title next season will evaporate EVEN if we buy all the outfield players that we need!
That is a strong message indeed.
There are numerous goalkeepers out there who are infinitely better than our lot.
David James may be old but so is Van de Sar. Joe Hart or even Shay Given at Manchester City, Gordon at Sunderland, Green at West Ham, Schwarzer at Fulham.
The list is endless and there are many, many keepers abroad which I am sure if Wenger puts his mind to it can come up with a decent choice.
But will he bother?
Arsene Wenger made an extraordinary statement in his weekly letter to the Arsenal fans. I get it on my e mail but I almost always ignore it as it usually reiterates an amalgam of his post match comments.
This time it attracted my attention as it was very direct and a little bit angry.
He asked the Arsenal fans to leave the transfer policy to him and we will see the results…
Is he getting fed up with everyone telling him to buy and buy and buy?
You bet he is.
But I am with the majority of the fans who are desperate and fed up to watch year after year talented youngsters play attractive football but get slaughtered by the big guns when the business part of the season arrives.
And there is one transfer that simply has to happen if we are to have a cat’s chance in hell to win anything next season and that is buying a new first team keeper capable to pull out those performances that will win you those points that Almunia and Fabianski certainly failed to do.
Van de Sar has been doing it season after season with Manchester United. Funnily enough Wenger passed on the chance to make that call that Van de Sar was expecting from him when leaving Fulham!
Shay Given, one of the best keepers in the League, was similarly available but again Wenger passed…
Petr Cech has been a top class keeper with Chelsea during those title winning years inclusive of this season of course.
Even Spurs have a better keeper than us. Gomez singlehandedly destroyed our chances to win the title.
I need not go on and on.
In fact the vast majority (82%) of nearly 2000 Arsenal fans that voted on our poll (see above) are clear that if Wenger does not sign a new keeper our chances of winning the title next season will evaporate EVEN if we buy all the outfield players that we need!
That is a strong message indeed.
There are numerous goalkeepers out there who are infinitely better than our lot.
David James may be old but so is Van de Sar. Joe Hart or even Shay Given at Manchester City, Gordon at Sunderland, Green at West Ham, Schwarzer at Fulham.
The list is endless and there are many, many keepers abroad which I am sure if Wenger puts his mind to it can come up with a decent choice.
But will he bother?
Monday, May 03, 2010
Arsenal’s goalkeepers are a joke
By 1970’s Gooner
When Arsene Wenger said that due to Almunia’s wrist injury he would give a chance to Fabianski to prove himself I smiled. Wenger is up to his old tricks I thought as Almunia has probably been dropped.
On the other hand how can Fabianski prove himself in only three or so games? Surely you need more games than that to decide whether a keeper is good enough to win you the Premier League?
In fact the only decisive conclusion that could come out of this short run of games with Fabianski in goal could only be on the negative side i.e significant errors being made ruling the poor guy out of the reckoning.
And this eventuality has surely materialised. Or at least I hope that Wenger has now realised this!
Fabianski is not good enough to take that goalkeeper’s jersey. He should at best be loaned out so that he can learn on someone else’s back.
Nor is Almunia good enough and that is in my opinion quite obvious too. He has been given chance after chance, season after season but also failed miserably to convince.
It’s time to get the cheque book out Mr Wenger.
No team with real aspirations to win the title can do it with a goalkeeper, of at best, average quality.
Please go out and get a top class goalkeeper. And spend the money you say you have and give this very promising team the backbone it richly deserves.
A backbone consisting of the goalkeeper, a central defender (of an age below 30) and another strong defensively minded midfielder.
That’s all.
When Arsene Wenger said that due to Almunia’s wrist injury he would give a chance to Fabianski to prove himself I smiled. Wenger is up to his old tricks I thought as Almunia has probably been dropped.
On the other hand how can Fabianski prove himself in only three or so games? Surely you need more games than that to decide whether a keeper is good enough to win you the Premier League?
In fact the only decisive conclusion that could come out of this short run of games with Fabianski in goal could only be on the negative side i.e significant errors being made ruling the poor guy out of the reckoning.
And this eventuality has surely materialised. Or at least I hope that Wenger has now realised this!
Fabianski is not good enough to take that goalkeeper’s jersey. He should at best be loaned out so that he can learn on someone else’s back.
Nor is Almunia good enough and that is in my opinion quite obvious too. He has been given chance after chance, season after season but also failed miserably to convince.
It’s time to get the cheque book out Mr Wenger.
No team with real aspirations to win the title can do it with a goalkeeper, of at best, average quality.
Please go out and get a top class goalkeeper. And spend the money you say you have and give this very promising team the backbone it richly deserves.
A backbone consisting of the goalkeeper, a central defender (of an age below 30) and another strong defensively minded midfielder.
That’s all.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Which team, apart from Arsenal, would you prefer to win the Premier League title?
By Aries
It’s a hard choice really having to pick either Chelsea or Manchester United.
Normally I would prefer the team that played the best football to win the title and Arsenal have done that in my opinion. There’s not much to choose between Manchester United and Chelsea in terms of football played. Both have had good and bad games.
But there is a big difference between the two in their financial standing.
Chelsea have bought the titles they won and by extension they will have bought this one if they do go on and win it. Their financial strength is derived from big handouts from their owner and benefactor and not from what they earn through the normal sources of revenue open to football clubs, such as TV money, gate receipts, shirt sales and other marketable products.
Manchester United on the other hand have tended to rely precisely on these incomes which themselves are not inconsiderable but nevertheless football related.
However much it hurts me to choose a team to win the title other than Arsenal then I will vote for Manchester United.
Maybe Arsenal will win it! We still have an outside chance you know…
It’s a hard choice really having to pick either Chelsea or Manchester United.
Normally I would prefer the team that played the best football to win the title and Arsenal have done that in my opinion. There’s not much to choose between Manchester United and Chelsea in terms of football played. Both have had good and bad games.
But there is a big difference between the two in their financial standing.
Chelsea have bought the titles they won and by extension they will have bought this one if they do go on and win it. Their financial strength is derived from big handouts from their owner and benefactor and not from what they earn through the normal sources of revenue open to football clubs, such as TV money, gate receipts, shirt sales and other marketable products.
Manchester United on the other hand have tended to rely precisely on these incomes which themselves are not inconsiderable but nevertheless football related.
However much it hurts me to choose a team to win the title other than Arsenal then I will vote for Manchester United.
Maybe Arsenal will win it! We still have an outside chance you know…
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Wenger needs to get his and Hillwood’s cheque book out
By 1970’s Gooner
It is true that any team in the world will miss seven fist teamers like Arsenal have missed at various times this season. Robin van Persie, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Arshavin, and Fabregas.
But if their replacements were good enough then their absence would not have been felt so much. And Arsenal have suffered.
When the first teamers were out Wenger had to rely on aged players like Silvestre and Campbell or on young kids like Denilson, Eastmond and Bendtner.
The depth of the squad is simply not good enough and it is indeed a miracle that we have consistently been in the top four in the last five seasons.
I feel however that no major surgery is required in the squad but the major deficiencies have to be seriously addressed in time for next season.
And if Wenger finally gets his and Hilwood's cheque book out we may well be celebrating the title this time next year.
First and foremost Almunia and Fabiansky have to go. They have let us down on many an occasion this season and in important games too. No title winning team can rely on these two inadequate clowns.
And to think that we passed over Van de Sar when he was available as well as Shay Given last season! Wenger should buy a top class goalkeeper there’s no two ways about it.
Next shambles this season was our defensive cover. It was well known in advance that Djourou will not be able to offer cover to the two first choice defenders, Gallas and Vermaelen yet what does Wenger do?
He lets Senderos go out on loan, brings in Campbell and keeps Silvestre. Campbell has been brilliant but could not be used too often due to age and Silvestre …well, as I wrote too often in the past, he is a disaster waiting to happen.
Djourou’s long term fitness should be assessed and if he is ok then we need to bring in another quality central defender.
A central defensive midfielder is also needed because we cannot really expect Denilson to play that role every time Song is out injured, on Africa Nations Cup duty or banned.
And finally if Chamach is indeed coming this summer then we will not need more reinforcements in the forward positions.
All I can say is that Chamakh should have been at the Emirates in January. We may have been closer in the title race than what you may think.
Still, better late than never.
And if Wenger buys the right players this summer then all these barren years would have been well worth enduring.
For they will be seen as the necessary investment in the time needed to bring on the talented youngsters, like Fabregas, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Nasri, Walcott and van Persie to Premier and Champions League domination.
It is true that any team in the world will miss seven fist teamers like Arsenal have missed at various times this season. Robin van Persie, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Song, Arshavin, and Fabregas.
But if their replacements were good enough then their absence would not have been felt so much. And Arsenal have suffered.
When the first teamers were out Wenger had to rely on aged players like Silvestre and Campbell or on young kids like Denilson, Eastmond and Bendtner.
The depth of the squad is simply not good enough and it is indeed a miracle that we have consistently been in the top four in the last five seasons.
I feel however that no major surgery is required in the squad but the major deficiencies have to be seriously addressed in time for next season.
And if Wenger finally gets his and Hilwood's cheque book out we may well be celebrating the title this time next year.
First and foremost Almunia and Fabiansky have to go. They have let us down on many an occasion this season and in important games too. No title winning team can rely on these two inadequate clowns.
And to think that we passed over Van de Sar when he was available as well as Shay Given last season! Wenger should buy a top class goalkeeper there’s no two ways about it.
Next shambles this season was our defensive cover. It was well known in advance that Djourou will not be able to offer cover to the two first choice defenders, Gallas and Vermaelen yet what does Wenger do?
He lets Senderos go out on loan, brings in Campbell and keeps Silvestre. Campbell has been brilliant but could not be used too often due to age and Silvestre …well, as I wrote too often in the past, he is a disaster waiting to happen.
Djourou’s long term fitness should be assessed and if he is ok then we need to bring in another quality central defender.
A central defensive midfielder is also needed because we cannot really expect Denilson to play that role every time Song is out injured, on Africa Nations Cup duty or banned.
And finally if Chamach is indeed coming this summer then we will not need more reinforcements in the forward positions.
All I can say is that Chamakh should have been at the Emirates in January. We may have been closer in the title race than what you may think.
Still, better late than never.
And if Wenger buys the right players this summer then all these barren years would have been well worth enduring.
For they will be seen as the necessary investment in the time needed to bring on the talented youngsters, like Fabregas, Clichy, Song, Diaby, Nasri, Walcott and van Persie to Premier and Champions League domination.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
It’s tactics, not who starts, that will prove important in Barcelona
By 1970’s Gooner
Yes there are a lot of injured and absent players form Arsenal’s potentially most important game of the season.
There is Gallas missing from defence. Campbell is feared to be suffering from a hamstring strain and/or fatigue, Song and Fabregas are missing from central midfield and Arshavin from the offensive players. Van Persie is a long term absentee of course.
As a result most of the debate among Arsenal fans centres on the possible line up in the key positions where players are or could be missing.
Will Campbell play now that Song is out or will Wenger throw Silvestre in? Will Walcott start or will he be used as an impact substitute?
To my mind it’s what formation and tactics Arsene employs not who starts that will prove important in Barcelona.
Barcelona dominated possession for three quarters of the game at the Emirates and if we are to emerge victorious in Barcelona we simply have to stop them playing by denying them possession.
This is the single most important aim that has to be achieved if Arsenal are to have a chance.
And for this to be achieved in an Arsenal way (i.e not kicking the opponents to death as some other premier League opponents do against us) Wenger has to employ tactics that will thwart the opponent’s midfield and deny them the freedom to pass the ball around.
This can be achieved by adopting a more conservative approach especially in the first half because if Barcelona score first then it’s most probably game over.
A more conservative approach implies changing the formation from a 4 3 3 we have come to enjoy in the Premier League to a 4 5 1.
4 5 1 as played by the Arsenal will and should not be a defensive formation where players just stay behind the ball and defend.
4 5 1 will make life very difficult for Xavi to weave his magic and also deny space to their full backs when they try to roam forward as they did at the Emirates.
Two more things also have to happen.
Nasri who will be deployed centrally should not play as far forward as Fabregas did in the first leg. He should instead, when Arsenal are without the ball, drop back into the middle and mark Xavi denying him the space.
Bendtner should also not forget his defensive duties form the front. Indeed Arsenal should mark Barcelona’s defenders tightly when they have the ball and force them to distribute long rather than short (to Xavi for example). Arsenal will then have a much better chance to win the ball back.
Once all these are achieved then Wenger will begin to think about match winning substitutions. It is important not to play all your hands right from the beginning because if something goes wrong then there will not be a lot of room for maneuver left.
Walcott should therefore stay on the bench.
Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
Eboue Nasri Diaby Denilson Rosicky
Bendtner
Subs: Fabianski, Traore, Silvestre, Merida, Eastmond, Eduardo, Walcott (to come on for Sagna, Eboue goes to right back)
Yes there are a lot of injured and absent players form Arsenal’s potentially most important game of the season.
There is Gallas missing from defence. Campbell is feared to be suffering from a hamstring strain and/or fatigue, Song and Fabregas are missing from central midfield and Arshavin from the offensive players. Van Persie is a long term absentee of course.
As a result most of the debate among Arsenal fans centres on the possible line up in the key positions where players are or could be missing.
Will Campbell play now that Song is out or will Wenger throw Silvestre in? Will Walcott start or will he be used as an impact substitute?
To my mind it’s what formation and tactics Arsene employs not who starts that will prove important in Barcelona.
Barcelona dominated possession for three quarters of the game at the Emirates and if we are to emerge victorious in Barcelona we simply have to stop them playing by denying them possession.
This is the single most important aim that has to be achieved if Arsenal are to have a chance.
And for this to be achieved in an Arsenal way (i.e not kicking the opponents to death as some other premier League opponents do against us) Wenger has to employ tactics that will thwart the opponent’s midfield and deny them the freedom to pass the ball around.
This can be achieved by adopting a more conservative approach especially in the first half because if Barcelona score first then it’s most probably game over.
A more conservative approach implies changing the formation from a 4 3 3 we have come to enjoy in the Premier League to a 4 5 1.
4 5 1 as played by the Arsenal will and should not be a defensive formation where players just stay behind the ball and defend.
4 5 1 will make life very difficult for Xavi to weave his magic and also deny space to their full backs when they try to roam forward as they did at the Emirates.
Two more things also have to happen.
Nasri who will be deployed centrally should not play as far forward as Fabregas did in the first leg. He should instead, when Arsenal are without the ball, drop back into the middle and mark Xavi denying him the space.
Bendtner should also not forget his defensive duties form the front. Indeed Arsenal should mark Barcelona’s defenders tightly when they have the ball and force them to distribute long rather than short (to Xavi for example). Arsenal will then have a much better chance to win the ball back.
Once all these are achieved then Wenger will begin to think about match winning substitutions. It is important not to play all your hands right from the beginning because if something goes wrong then there will not be a lot of room for maneuver left.
Walcott should therefore stay on the bench.
Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
Eboue Nasri Diaby Denilson Rosicky
Bendtner
Subs: Fabianski, Traore, Silvestre, Merida, Eastmond, Eduardo, Walcott (to come on for Sagna, Eboue goes to right back)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Greedy Wenger dents Arsenal’s title hopes
By 1970’s Gooner
I was very interested to see what Wenger had in mind when I saw Arsenal’s team sheet containing Rosicky and Walcott.
It was obvious that they were not going to be up to the physical approach that Birmingham have been renowned for this season.
And so it proved to be. Walcott was very quiet and Rosicky coming back form an injury lay off was pretty ineffective. He was almost at walking pace for most of the game!
The effect of this selection was that Arsenal had no width with which to stretch the game which inevitably meant that most of the play had to come through the middle.
But hell, that is where we were at our weakest. Especially against Bowyer and Ferguson who were both very combative indeed.
Song’s inevitable move to centre back (he had a fine game) meant that Denilson and Diaby had to act as the defensive shield. Neither did.
Denilson was not strong enough and Diaby was more forward minded than Fabregas even!
The lack of width and crosses also meant that Bendtner was not supplied the balls with which to do any damage.
It wasn’t until the two most obvious substitutions were made that we immediately began looking like we could score. And we did.
Arshavin and Nasri should have started the game. If they had we would have probably ran out winners from the first half.
What an earth was Arsene Wenger thinking of?
The answer is obvious. He was greedy enough to think that this Arsenal team could actually win the double! The Premiership and the Champions League.
That is why he rested these two players and Eboue as well. He intends to play them on Wednesday at the Emirates.
But surely the most important game is always the next one.
Wenger should have played his strongest team, get the win against Birmingham, keep us in the title race and then with confidence high go into the game against Barcelona.
But now it has backfired.
It seems that it is Chelsea who have benefited from getting knocked out of the Champions League.
Not us…
I was very interested to see what Wenger had in mind when I saw Arsenal’s team sheet containing Rosicky and Walcott.
It was obvious that they were not going to be up to the physical approach that Birmingham have been renowned for this season.
And so it proved to be. Walcott was very quiet and Rosicky coming back form an injury lay off was pretty ineffective. He was almost at walking pace for most of the game!
The effect of this selection was that Arsenal had no width with which to stretch the game which inevitably meant that most of the play had to come through the middle.
But hell, that is where we were at our weakest. Especially against Bowyer and Ferguson who were both very combative indeed.
Song’s inevitable move to centre back (he had a fine game) meant that Denilson and Diaby had to act as the defensive shield. Neither did.
Denilson was not strong enough and Diaby was more forward minded than Fabregas even!
The lack of width and crosses also meant that Bendtner was not supplied the balls with which to do any damage.
It wasn’t until the two most obvious substitutions were made that we immediately began looking like we could score. And we did.
Arshavin and Nasri should have started the game. If they had we would have probably ran out winners from the first half.
What an earth was Arsene Wenger thinking of?
The answer is obvious. He was greedy enough to think that this Arsenal team could actually win the double! The Premiership and the Champions League.
That is why he rested these two players and Eboue as well. He intends to play them on Wednesday at the Emirates.
But surely the most important game is always the next one.
Wenger should have played his strongest team, get the win against Birmingham, keep us in the title race and then with confidence high go into the game against Barcelona.
But now it has backfired.
It seems that it is Chelsea who have benefited from getting knocked out of the Champions League.
Not us…
Sunday, February 07, 2010
We’ve had enough Mr Wenger (and Mr Hill Wood)
By 1970’s Gooner
There’s something that either Mr Wenger or the Board are not telling us.
It has been patently obvious that the team needed a few more players of stature, experience and strength to transform it from very good to great.
The Board keeps coming out with statements that the money is there for Arsene to spend. Yet we see no real investment in the team. The only signings are those that are desperately needed to keep the team going. Not the ones that will have added more quality options.
Signings like Arshavin’s when the team really needed a player to help it make the Champions League places. That was last year.
This season it was Vermaelen. But again really desperately needed as Toure was on his way out.
Good signings but the absolute minimum.
And again this policy on living on a shoestring was repeated when van Persie and Bendtner got injured. NO SIGNINGS.
Except Sol Campel’s when Wenger realised that if either Gallas or Vermaelen got injured his only other real option was Silvestre! Another signing on a shoestring...
The result of this policy of stinginess is that when a first team player is out then there is a huge gap in quality and experience left to fill as the rest of the squad is littered with rookies or old has beens.
Examples are aplenty.
Song goes to the ACN and Denilson has to fill in...
Diaby gets injured and Ramsey has to fill in...
Van Persie and Bendtner are out Eduardo and Arshavin have to fill in....
Clichy and Gibbs are out young Traore has to fill in....
If either Gallas or Vermaelen get injured it will be Sol Campel or Silvestre, God forbid...
If Fabregas gets injured it will be young Ramsey...
Almunia is bad enough but if he got injured or dropped it will be the untried Fabiansky...
If the money was really there and Wenger chose to ignore it then I would call it CRIMINAL. For all that this team needs is a few signings that would have complemented this exciting pool of young players.
If the money is not there, which is what I suspect, then the Board should come out and tell us straight and proper.
There’s something that either Mr Wenger or the Board are not telling us.
It has been patently obvious that the team needed a few more players of stature, experience and strength to transform it from very good to great.
The Board keeps coming out with statements that the money is there for Arsene to spend. Yet we see no real investment in the team. The only signings are those that are desperately needed to keep the team going. Not the ones that will have added more quality options.
Signings like Arshavin’s when the team really needed a player to help it make the Champions League places. That was last year.
This season it was Vermaelen. But again really desperately needed as Toure was on his way out.
Good signings but the absolute minimum.
And again this policy on living on a shoestring was repeated when van Persie and Bendtner got injured. NO SIGNINGS.
Except Sol Campel’s when Wenger realised that if either Gallas or Vermaelen got injured his only other real option was Silvestre! Another signing on a shoestring...
The result of this policy of stinginess is that when a first team player is out then there is a huge gap in quality and experience left to fill as the rest of the squad is littered with rookies or old has beens.
Examples are aplenty.
Song goes to the ACN and Denilson has to fill in...
Diaby gets injured and Ramsey has to fill in...
Van Persie and Bendtner are out Eduardo and Arshavin have to fill in....
Clichy and Gibbs are out young Traore has to fill in....
If either Gallas or Vermaelen get injured it will be Sol Campel or Silvestre, God forbid...
If Fabregas gets injured it will be young Ramsey...
Almunia is bad enough but if he got injured or dropped it will be the untried Fabiansky...
If the money was really there and Wenger chose to ignore it then I would call it CRIMINAL. For all that this team needs is a few signings that would have complemented this exciting pool of young players.
If the money is not there, which is what I suspect, then the Board should come out and tell us straight and proper.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Player Ratings Vs Man Utd
By 1970’s Gooner
Almunia: Poor today and a continuous liability 2
Sagna : Steady as you go but nothing more. At least he is consistent. 5
Clichy: Decision making not his forte 3
Gallas: Tried his best, as usual 6
Vermaelen: And we thought his inclusion would have given us the edge. Strong performance and a goal, again 7
Denilson: A kid among men 3
Fabregas: Tried but surrounded by mediocrity, 6
Song: A solid performance, 5
Nasri: Ineffective and often failed to track back, 4
Rosicky: Uninterested? 3
Arshavin: Eager but selfish, 4
Eboue: Made a difference going forward, 6
Walcott: Used his pace to good effect but not enough time to have an impact, 5
Bendtner: Out of touch, needs games 4
Almunia: Poor today and a continuous liability 2
Sagna : Steady as you go but nothing more. At least he is consistent. 5
Clichy: Decision making not his forte 3
Gallas: Tried his best, as usual 6
Vermaelen: And we thought his inclusion would have given us the edge. Strong performance and a goal, again 7
Denilson: A kid among men 3
Fabregas: Tried but surrounded by mediocrity, 6
Song: A solid performance, 5
Nasri: Ineffective and often failed to track back, 4
Rosicky: Uninterested? 3
Arshavin: Eager but selfish, 4
Eboue: Made a difference going forward, 6
Walcott: Used his pace to good effect but not enough time to have an impact, 5
Bendtner: Out of touch, needs games 4
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Arsenal’s vast room for improvement augurs well for the Premier League title
By 1970’s Gooner
When Arsene Wenger sold Patrick Vieira every single pundit wrote Arsenal’s chances for honours off.
Cesc and the rest got to the Champions League Final.
When Arsene Wenger moved Thiery Henry on every single pundit dismissed Arsenal’s chances again.
Yet Cesc and the rest topped the League in the first few months of that season and if it wasn’t for Eduardo’s horrific injury would have gone on to seriously challenge for the title.
This goes to show that this bunch of players that Arsene has put together have the capability to make up for the loss of significant players and still produce scintillating and high quality football.
This trend is being repeated again this season where this squad has had to put up with key players missing and still came up trumps. The run of recent results have so eloquently proved everyone wrong.
Players missing include:
- Arsenal’s top scorer (when he got injured) Robin van Persie and his young but very promising understudy Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal have relied on the diminutive Andrei Arshavin who never played centre forward before and on Eduardo who is still trying to find his feet after being out of action for so long.
- First team choice left back Gael Clichy and also his understudy Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal had to make do with the third choice left back Armand Traore.
- First team choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as his understudy Lukasz Fabianski.
In stepped the third choice rooky keeper Vito Mannone.
- Fantastic midfielder Alex Song away on Africa Nations Cup duty.
He has been replaced by Denilson and when not available, youngster Aaron Ramsey as well as rooky midfielder Creig Eastmond who made his full League debut only last week away to Bolton of all places.
- Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott have been away injured for most of the season so far.
Arsenal found the resources to replace them with Eduardo and Rosicky.
Yet despite all these players missing Arsenal are now sitting top of the League (albeit with a game played more than Chelsea).
The conclusion that can be drawn is that there is still quite a substantial room for even more improvement in this team. And I believe that when this happens Arsenal will be unstoppable.
Let’s look into how this can come about.
Bendtner’s return
When Bendtner comes back Arsenal will gain a double benefit. A player that will play in his natural position who will add height and strength up front. This will give Arsenal the variety that has been missing in its forward play.
Up to now the ball has been played to the forward’s feet on the ground by building form the back. This is Arsenal’s usual way of playing of course.
But Bendtner’s height and strength will provide another option. It will also add height when defending corners and dead ball situations.
The other benefit will be the release of Arshavin and Eduardo to play in their natural positions. The effect of this should not be underestimated as these players will become more efficient and also provide Wenger with more options.
Bendtner is penciled in for the game at Aston Villa next week…
Clichy’s return
Granted he was rather rusty against Bolton and should be partly blamed for the first goal conceded.
Yet we all know Gael’s quality and what he brings to this team. Now he is back the defence will be that much more solid. And we will need that with the difficult games coming up.
Can’t wait for Alex Song
If Cameroon go all the way in the Africa Nations Cup then he Song will not be back till mid February. Yet when he does come back Arsenal’s performances and defensive midfield capability for the latter part of the season will be so much more on solid ground.
Theo back on track
Walcott’s comeback (and eventually Nasri’s return in two weeks) will add more options for Wenger in the wide midfield positions as well as provide a much needed rest for Eduardo, Rosicky and even Arshavin who is carrying an injury.
Theo’s return in particular will add pace in the forward positions which has been missing of late.
Now all Arsenal have to do is stay top or in touch with the top after the completion of the next four games: Aston Villa away, Manchester United home, Chelsea away and Liverpool home.
It’s a tall order by all accounts but if it can be achieved then we will be well on our way for the Premier League title.
When Arsene Wenger sold Patrick Vieira every single pundit wrote Arsenal’s chances for honours off.
Cesc and the rest got to the Champions League Final.
When Arsene Wenger moved Thiery Henry on every single pundit dismissed Arsenal’s chances again.
Yet Cesc and the rest topped the League in the first few months of that season and if it wasn’t for Eduardo’s horrific injury would have gone on to seriously challenge for the title.
This goes to show that this bunch of players that Arsene has put together have the capability to make up for the loss of significant players and still produce scintillating and high quality football.
This trend is being repeated again this season where this squad has had to put up with key players missing and still came up trumps. The run of recent results have so eloquently proved everyone wrong.
Players missing include:
- Arsenal’s top scorer (when he got injured) Robin van Persie and his young but very promising understudy Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal have relied on the diminutive Andrei Arshavin who never played centre forward before and on Eduardo who is still trying to find his feet after being out of action for so long.
- First team choice left back Gael Clichy and also his understudy Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal had to make do with the third choice left back Armand Traore.
- First team choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as his understudy Lukasz Fabianski.
In stepped the third choice rooky keeper Vito Mannone.
- Fantastic midfielder Alex Song away on Africa Nations Cup duty.
He has been replaced by Denilson and when not available, youngster Aaron Ramsey as well as rooky midfielder Creig Eastmond who made his full League debut only last week away to Bolton of all places.
- Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott have been away injured for most of the season so far.
Arsenal found the resources to replace them with Eduardo and Rosicky.
Yet despite all these players missing Arsenal are now sitting top of the League (albeit with a game played more than Chelsea).
The conclusion that can be drawn is that there is still quite a substantial room for even more improvement in this team. And I believe that when this happens Arsenal will be unstoppable.
Let’s look into how this can come about.
Bendtner’s return
When Bendtner comes back Arsenal will gain a double benefit. A player that will play in his natural position who will add height and strength up front. This will give Arsenal the variety that has been missing in its forward play.
Up to now the ball has been played to the forward’s feet on the ground by building form the back. This is Arsenal’s usual way of playing of course.
But Bendtner’s height and strength will provide another option. It will also add height when defending corners and dead ball situations.
The other benefit will be the release of Arshavin and Eduardo to play in their natural positions. The effect of this should not be underestimated as these players will become more efficient and also provide Wenger with more options.
Bendtner is penciled in for the game at Aston Villa next week…
Clichy’s return
Granted he was rather rusty against Bolton and should be partly blamed for the first goal conceded.
Yet we all know Gael’s quality and what he brings to this team. Now he is back the defence will be that much more solid. And we will need that with the difficult games coming up.
Can’t wait for Alex Song
If Cameroon go all the way in the Africa Nations Cup then he Song will not be back till mid February. Yet when he does come back Arsenal’s performances and defensive midfield capability for the latter part of the season will be so much more on solid ground.
Theo back on track
Walcott’s comeback (and eventually Nasri’s return in two weeks) will add more options for Wenger in the wide midfield positions as well as provide a much needed rest for Eduardo, Rosicky and even Arshavin who is carrying an injury.
Theo’s return in particular will add pace in the forward positions which has been missing of late.
Now all Arsenal have to do is stay top or in touch with the top after the completion of the next four games: Aston Villa away, Manchester United home, Chelsea away and Liverpool home.
It’s a tall order by all accounts but if it can be achieved then we will be well on our way for the Premier League title.
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