Having just watched the Everton game I can say that the man Arsene has done it again in unearthing a gem in Fabregas, how does he keep on doing it? This kid is 17 years old but he looked like a man on that pitch. He has a great first touch, his passing is excellent and he is not afraid to take people on. I know that Everton were no great shakes but they had a midfield of seasoned professionals like Gravesen and Carsley and Fabregas did not look out of place. I think we have potentially a great midfielder and this could have been the reason why Arsene was willing to take the gamble and let PV4 go. He may not have wanted to throw him in at the deep end too soon but if PV4 had left he may not have had a choice but now that our captain is staying he can groom the kid gradually, which will only help his development in future years.
The jury is still out on Flamini and as for Pennant I personally feel that he does not have what it takes to make it at Arsenal.
Bring on the Boro?
Ed. Note - Way, way too early to say Cesc is ready. The kid played one game against relegation fighters. He did look good though.
9 Responses to “Arsene’s done it again”
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August 16th, 2004 at 2:29 pm
Teabag…
Gotta be excited about the prospect of Cesc’s future here at the Arsenal…. no doubt.
But as U realize, it was against a pretty dour team in Everton… and what happened as the game wore on and we were mesmerizing them with our skills??? They started to kick and hack the crap out of our players… that cannot be tolerated or we’ll be suffering alot of knocks and injuries. Someone has to step up in that instance… and it is usally Vieira. Take a card or commit a hard foul …
Pennant… I actaully disagree with you on him.
I think if he gets the playing time, he will be fantastic. He has alot of pace… and played well last year for a terrible Leeds team. I hope he gets more than a 30 minute run, here and there… and starts a few matches.
If we continue to get kicked all over the park by our opponents… who get frustrated when we run right by them as if they are standing still… we’ll begin to pile up some injuries!
Not sure this is a bad thing… in that I don’t know where / when the VanPersies, Pennants, Cescs, Edus…etc …. get playing time when Vieira Pires Freddie Gilberto Reyes Bergy all command spots in and around the middle of pitch…!!
Nice problems aye?!
August 16th, 2004 at 3:20 pm
Well Everton have descent midfield and Gravesen could and should be playing for a stronger team, however, Cesc played against Roy Keane in the Community shield and was excellent in that game. Many players far more experienced than Cesc have caved in while confronting the wit-less Irishman, but he showed no respect and outplayed the old man!! He is more than a huge talent (and he certainly is) he is now a good player, how will he be at 22, provided Wenger still is his mentor?? I can’t wait to see!
August 16th, 2004 at 3:25 pm
I’m with Teabag on Cesc if we’re talking about Wenger and his ability to bring true greatness out of the green. Just like Toure, Clichy?oh h*ll we all know who! They were ready, and so is Cesc. Wenger is just worried that he’ll get beat up. And there, Stagg has a great point. Send in our ersatz captain to shut ‘em down. That’s right…start the kid and bring in Vieira. That’s how I’d like to see him do it.
And hey…how many times can someone say that their 17 year-old midlfielder made Everton look like United.
Pennant got a hat trick the last time he had plenty of time on the pitch as a Gunner. I think in time he’ll show what he’s got once more. Another tribute to Wenger there…there’s so much competition on the training ground this year. And if you add up all their salaries together, you still can’t afford a Drogba or a Cech. Though I’m pretty sure we could have bought an Owen…as IF.
The point I think being made here is one I never tire of reading: Wenger makes Champions from the ground up, usually in their maiden season. I only wish we had a chance to see Bentley in two weeks, seing as now he’s injured. We’ve got them everywhere, y’all!
August 16th, 2004 at 3:31 pm
I leave in Austria and I’ve seen Pennant in pre-season on more than one occasion. I think he’s sensational. The kid has it, he only hasn’t had the chance to prove it. Trust me, if he gets few starts this season you will be writing articles about him.
August 16th, 2004 at 3:36 pm
cesc was amazing. many will say it was only against everton but i rather he gets hiw feet wet against them than Milan or Roma
he still has to do the business and the midfielders will try to injure him the same as if it was a better team
Pennant was given 20mins. no time at all and arsenal had already packed it in & stopped the attacking by then
I think Pennant will be a good player
August 16th, 2004 at 3:36 pm
Agree about Cesc’s brilliance but, for once, he wasn’t a Wenger discovery - not in the way, say, Toure was. Cesc was famous while still at Barca, the under-16 world player of the year, etc. Everyone was after him so it’s credit to Dein for stumping up the cash at just the right moment.
I’m not crazy about Pennant, despite his pace, though he may improve now he’s - hopefully - back on the straight and narrow. Wish we could have Wright-Philips instead. The only good thing is that Spurz now aren’t going to get him. I think we’re weak, or relatively weak, on the right.
August 16th, 2004 at 4:28 pm
I’ll take Freddie with Pennant to back him up any day of the week! If thats our weak spot…. then there are ALOT of teams in a heap of trouble!
Oh yeah… thats right… THERE ARE ALOT of TEAMS in A HEAP OF TROUBLE… ’cause we are gonna dance on more than a few teams heads!
August 16th, 2004 at 6:52 pm
Cesc has not only done it v. lowly Everton but against the #1 midfield of one of our main rivals: Djemba x 2 and Keane. I think that’s what prompted AW to use him. I like Flamini. Its way, way too early to write him off. He’s only 20, and has never played in England, and is foreign and needs time to adjust.
I like Pennant. I think he keeps Freddie on his toes to stay sharp. Also, when Freddie got hurt last season we had no replacement and Gilberto was very uncomfortable playing wing. Pennant matches Freddie in all aspects except Freddie’s ability to make runs into the box and Freddie’s knack for knowing what Henry, Pires and Bergkamp will do. He can learn both with minutes on the pitch. He did well enough to get a hattrick v. Soton.
Getting back to Cesc, he adds a new dimension we’ve never had before but enjoyed by Barcelona, Real madrid and Juventus and that is a playmaking center midfielder. Wenger has always played with 2 defensive center mids. Having a center mid like Cesc with obvious attacking abilities adds another lethal weapon to the…pardon the pun…Arsenal.
August 19th, 2004 at 12:57 am
I watch the Everton-Arsenal game thrice - just for the fun of it. Like every game critic out there reported, Le Boss has found himself a gem of a talent in Fabregas. I have to agree with all of them! With a bit more bulk and muscle, he may be even better than PV4 in a few years!! Flamini looked bewildered and lost when thrown into the mix. Granted this is his first competitive game for Arsenal - it will take him IMO at least half a season to start to fit in and have the feel for the EPL games.
Yeah - looking forward to the Boro game!!