“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!!” Those were Muhammed Ali’s famous words. They became his tagline. And since he quit the ring, whenever an exciting new boxer shows up, the question he has to answer is “Are you the new Ali?” Make no mistake, men like Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and co are great boxers in their own right, the best of their generation. But the figure of Ali still strides every boxing arena like a colossus. And it’s not because he was the biggest and strongest boxer of his time. But because he carried off his victories with an unmatched style and panache, often beating the most incredible odds. When he fought George Foreman, nobody gave him a shot, Foreman was bigger, stronger, younger. He had a punch like a Mack truck at 100 mph. But Ali beat him. Beat him in some style too. Invented a method of boxing called the Rope-A-Dope. Left his indelible footprints in the Boxing ring, and indeed, all of sport.
Fast forward to Arsenal Football Club of England. Different sport, different rules (although I’d fancy Sol’s chances in a boxing ring). Not very much money to speak of. Committed to a new stadium set to eventually gulp over 300 million pounds. Stuck hunting in the bargain shop for buys (with the exception of Reyes), no possible hope of displacing Manchester United, the giant of English football, the richest club in the world. Squad too small to be able to sustain a title challenge over a season. Hires unknown Frenchman as manager in 1996.
Wins the double in 1997/98. Wins the double in 2001/2002, sets new record by being unbeaten away from home throughout the season. Wins the FA Cup in 2003. GOES UNBEATEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SEASON IN 2003/2004, SMASHING 115 YEAR OLD RECORD. GOES UNBEATEN FOR 43 LEAGUE MATCHES, SMASHING 25 YEAR OLD RECORD. DOES SO IN PANACHE AND STYLE. UNTOUCHABLE. Play the most breathtaking football ever seen in England. I share Henry’s belief that one day this incredible run will come to an end. One day. This unbeaten run certainly entitles Arsenal to be named the greatest side in English football. Even in Man U’s treble season, they never managed this. 95 goals in 43 matches. An average of 2.2 per match. Out of the bargain closet, pluck Thierry Henry, the world’s most deadly striker, Patrick Vieira, the Greatest Midfield General in the World, Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Freddie Ljunberg, and most recently Cesc Fabregas.
The unknown Frenchman, Arsene Wenger, becomes one of the most respected and sought after coaches in the world. He has truly built a fantastic team. Not a group of talented individuals, a team. Arsenal punch above their own weight, defy the odds, confound the critics time and time again and do so in a manner that leaves the opposition applauding.
So, here’s my personal list of the greatest in their fields:
Mohammed Ali
Michael Schumacher
Arsenal FC.
And let no man doubt it!!
19 Responses to “The Greatest!!”
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August 29th, 2004 at 8:18 am
What about MJ?!
As much as I wish we are really as great as we wish we are, but there is no point that only us, the Arsenal fans, believe we are a great side. In order to become a truely great side, we have to EARN recognisation from the whole football world, that means - winning the Champions League.
Nevertheless, but I’m firmly believe we are about to withness something very special in the history of football… Before that happens, we will still have to take one game by a time. Let’s hope we can make it GREAT!
August 29th, 2004 at 10:04 am
As a man from chicago don’t forget MJ!!!
August 29th, 2004 at 10:14 am
I agree that we have a long way to go before we are considered one of the “greatest”. The streak is amazing… the CL trophy would cap it off nicely. We do have a very good chance to make a legitimate run at that trophy this season, just like last season.
If you want to throw out “greatest in their fields” and you throw out a team…
look no further than 9 consecutive NBA championships. Boston Celtics. No comparison in the sport of professional basketball.
August 29th, 2004 at 10:37 am
If we do ANYTHING this season, I hope we retain the title first and foremost.
I’d happily go out of Europe at the QF stage again if it meant securing the league, even if it meant weeks of painful tabloid nonsense.
Fergie said he wouldn’t consider us a “great”side until we’d won consecutive titles - so should we do that, I will be waiting for him to hold his hands up and admit that, by his own standards, Arsenal are indeed a great side.
Seeing the cold bar steward do that through gritted teeth would make my year!!
August 29th, 2004 at 11:30 am
So if The Arsenal never win Europe, will that mean we were never better than ManU’s treble side? Or the Porto squad???
I see it this way: Fergie will never consider us great until we do exactly what he has done. Same goes for Mourinho. Yes, Europe is a goal that will haunt the club until it is conquered. As is back to back titles. BUT…
…if you made a list of all the teams in Europe who have accomplished the above, you’d need a pretty big piece of paper (or have to write very small, your choice). Were one to list the teams that have accomplished what we have in the seasons of the recent past…well, you wouldn’t really need to write it down, would you? The one thing that hurts from a public relations standpoint is that they never bothered to make a trophy for going unbeaten. Of course, the reason for that speaks volumes for the accomplishment.
While I don’t think that makes Preston NE one of the all time great sides, The Arsenal’s championships and trophies, combined with Wenger’s vision and execution of exciting football, will SURELY never be forgotten or duplicated. And that, in my opinion, definitely qualifies an athelete and/or a team to be called the greatest (and in my opinion, we have Michael Jordan covered in Theirry Henry.)
As subjective as the criteria can be, what matters is one’s mark in history. In that light, The Arsenal’s mark on the game is singular and indelible. Even with a few empty spaces in the trophy case.
August 29th, 2004 at 12:29 pm
As a Canadian, I should also mention Wayne Gretzky.
August 29th, 2004 at 1:51 pm
Yes, I would trade the League championship for the Champions League. We have never won the CL. It is the trophy that has alluded the Arsenal Football Club in recent years… its the holy grail.
I’d trade the league for the CL in a second…
I’d be interested to see what others feel about that… but in my eyes its no contest.
August 29th, 2004 at 2:21 pm
While we’ve certainly secured our place in history, in singular stlye I might add, I’m a sucker for proving we can do it all, and with this team I think that’s entirely possible. You know the boys want the CL. Wenger wants the CL. I want it all. But I’ll settle for the CL this year.
Because we haven’t yet. And because we can.
August 29th, 2004 at 2:28 pm
Thierry is incredible and on the way to legend status, but can’t really be compared to Jordan. I’m originally from Chi-town and perhaps biased, but there you go. No contest. Yet.
August 29th, 2004 at 3:53 pm
For me the Champions League anyday. I’m sure it’s the one the players most want, the one they know their peers will respect. Remember Reyes smirking at his first CL game (Celta away) when the anthem was played - like he was thinking This is IT! The CL has an amazing romance. Real, Milan, Juve, Ajax, the obvious great clubs, but even Red Star Belgrade - did they win the Serbian double last year? do they even l exist any more ? I haven’t a clue, but to fans all over Europe it’s still a magical name. To be one of the greats you have to win it. We deseve to, and I’d happily sacrifice the league and the cup if it helped.
August 30th, 2004 at 12:32 am
I can’t say I would trade the Priemership title for a Champions League Cup. I can’t do that because it’s like saying that 38 games mean shite. As much as I want that CL trophy in the cabinet to shut up the detractors and warm the hearts of the players and fans, I just can’t kiss 38 games goodbye. For those of you who would trade, aren’t you really suggesting we should play a primarily youth side in the league - the way we do for the Carling Cup - in order to keep our players fresh and uninjured? The league is still by far the greatest measure of a team’s quality, consistency, and endurance. All 20 teams have to play the same circuit. *FAR*, *FAR* less luck involved than the CL. How many people really rate Porto as a football giant now that they won the CL? Or, as is the case, do people see a blip on the radar caused by the almost freakish exit of all the top clubs in Europe? Does anybody expect me to believe that winning the CL made Porto a better team than Arsenal? Does anybody think that Porto winning the CL against weak opposition (minus ManU) was a greater achievement than going unbeaten in the top flight league? We may all want the CL trophy in the cabinet, but I wouldn’t trade those 38 league games for all the tea in China.
My vote goes to the UCLA men’s basketball team under John Wooden. Unstoppable.
August 30th, 2004 at 7:32 am
Of course you’re right, the League’s the real test, whereas the CL is sometimes literally the luck of the draw. But that said, the sides that have most often won it ARE the great power houses of talent - Real, Juve, etc., and in fact Porto have done it twice. Freak winners are rare, though because of the luck factor, a couple of POTENTIAL winners always go out in the early rounds. I can see Chelsea winning it this year: their strength in depth, the defensive way they’re playing - they’re conserving their energy, drat it. My head says it would be madness to sacrifice the league but my heart? . . . this year I’d go for the CL. I feel that if we don’t for once put it first and give it everything we’ve got, the players’ hearts will be broken. Remember that ghastly time last season when we played 4 crucial games in 9 days and went out against Chelsea because Henry had a thigh strain? So yes, if we’ve got Real or Milan, say, on the Wednesday, I’d play the kids in the League the weekend before. They’ll do fine anyway, apart from the defence, of course, which is why we keep banging on about the scary lack of cover at the back!
August 30th, 2004 at 8:24 am
I hear ya…but perhaps Jordanian status is so elusive because he was so omnipresent in the States and we’ve had him jammed down our throats with commercials and bugs bunny movies (or was that Daffy Duck?).
I’m sure, in Europe, Henry is making a similar mark. Perhaps not. Interesting to debate the comparison, though.
August 30th, 2004 at 8:37 am
Sorry to post off-topic, but WHY ARE WE PICKING UP A MIDFIELDER FROM VALENCIA?
Is Wenger still sore at Ranieri for the CL crash out last year?
Incidentally, it looks as though ManU are going to be relying on another handball in stoppage to steal a goal as it is 0-0 in their tie with Everton. Smith may turn out to be the most fortuitous signing of the year for any club if they do.
August 30th, 2004 at 9:28 am
Who says so? The Spanish papers?? I’m so loathe to believe anything until I see it floating in my soup.
Um, don’t we have enough strength in our midfield? Logic explanation here, anyone?
August 30th, 2004 at 9:34 am
Sorry. I don’t think Henry is quite there or as you say, we’d be seeing him on our telly screens, Fruit Loops, socks and underwear just like Mj saturated the lives of every living thing on the planet.
I hear he was big on nappies in the Ivory Coast.
August 30th, 2004 at 9:57 am
It DOES appear we are about to sign a 27YR.OLD
midfielder… which makes ZERO sense.
We don’t have room for our current crop of midfielders and the youngsters (Cesc/Pennant/VanPersie) don’t have room to play…
Maybe he can play right back?!!
August 30th, 2004 at 10:20 am
Why indeed a midfielder. When I heard the rumours about Carrick, for instance, I simply dismissed them - even if Paddy was going, it didn’t make sense. Seems I couldn’t have been more wrong. And a 27-yr-old, for God’s sake? I guess if there isn’t a good defender available now it’s better to wait until Jan. But given the time it takes most players to settle into the side, it’s really leaving it late for this year’s CL. Maybe you’re right, maybe Wenger has seen this midfielder is ‘really’ a right back? Let’s hope so. 9 hours till the window closes!
Yeah, looks worse and worse for Manu. And poor Newcastle with Bobby Robson sacked. And Liverpool don’t look anywhere near gelling at the moment. Seems we and Chelsea are skating away from the pack. There’s just that small matter of Spurz to blight our happiness at present. I don’t like Bolton much either.
August 30th, 2004 at 3:24 pm
Is anyone else puzzled by our transfer-market behaviour? Since when did we announce to the world we were interested in a player, let alone post their pic on the website? Normally our signings come almost out of the blue - Flamini, Senderos, van P, even Reyes (though there’d been rumours about him the summer before). It’s almost like we’re putting out some kind of smokescreen - which makes me wonder what it’s intended to hide. Are we actually working to sign a defender after all? I guess, if we’re successful, we’ll know by this time tomorrow but these announcements about wanting Carrick and the Valencia player are definitely odd.