Ed. Note - Well, sorry to say, it looks like the season is over. I just read the following piece and, quite frankly, Arsenal will be lucky to avoid the drop this season. The grains of truth are overwhelmed by unneeded negativity. I come out looking like Stag compared to this member…
Lots for AW to think about this Christmas, also lots to think about for fans, there have been a lot of interesting points doing the rounds at the various arsenal blogs/websites including this one, ranging from Reyes to Almunia and ofcourse, Chelsea!
First things first, the game against Newcastle was one of our most insipid performance yet going forwards at least, the defence stood pretty firm and Kolo and Sol both were well, Kolo and Sol! Almunia was good too. Vieira looked a lot better too, though his goal was a but fortuitous. But seriously going forward we were crap after the first 35 minutes and Newcastle deserved more from the game, just think about it, Newcastle have been down and out they have been carved open by Manu, Chelsea and Liverpool (very recently by Liverpool) their defense is tattered and still our front line struggled, what kind of a message does that send out to the rest of the league? I know it was just after Xmas and the boys looked in a bit of a trance, maybe they were tired. But seriously the last 3 games have raised some serious issues for me and I would just like to know other gooners opinions on them:
1.) Henry: sorry I have to start with the main man himself, now normally I am a TH14 supporter thru and thru, but just seeing him against Pompey he wasn’t up for it, he wasn’t up for it at all against Newcastle this would have been a perfect chance for him to get a hatrick but nothing. He didn’t harry, didn’t chase, nothing. He wasn’t doing anything, missed a few passes, then a bit more of the head shaking. Is it a mental thing, why is he either 150 or 0% why not 75% sometimes, why does he go completely off sometimes, can we as a team afford to have play like this just because he’s the world’s best (no doubts about that), just wanna know?
2.) Viera: his form has to be a worry but I think he will come back. I personally think he’s on the up again.
3.) Cole: any Arsenal fan would have noticed that over the past 4-5 maybe even 7-8 games Ashley Cole’s form has been dipping. First it was just his offensive play but in the last 3 games starting against Pompey I think his defending has become atrocious at times. I just don’t know where his early season form has gone! Doesn’t look like the world’s best left back right now does he? Plus his tempers gone out of control, he feels he’s been wronged in every incident and is getting into a lot of trouble with the refs as well.
4.) Reyes: where is he? I think it’s just too early to pass judgement on him yet, his early season form was better than anything Defoe has done in his whole career, but the fact remains he still has it all to do in the EPL. I really really think he needs to come to the fore and give the team added attacking options, because as I have been saying since our loss to Manure and the following slump all the problems are with the attack and not the defence.
5.) Edu: I agree with the majority sentiment on this website, he was a good player but I won’t mind seeing him leave because I think Flamini is a very very good player, a new Vieira in the making I think. Ofcourse who could ever ask for more than Cesc.
6.) It’s all in the attack: I really think the problem
has been in our attack. When you score only once against WBA & Crystal Palace(Liverpool, Manure,Chelsea have all scored 4-5 against them)
you know something is wrong with your attack, we’re just loooking to walk the ball in to the goal too much, we dont shoot from range (except for Sol’s strike), we looked lazy against Pompey and Newcastle. Henry doesn’t harry defenders enough, we aren’t direct enough, not taking on defenders enough, van Persie is looking a bit better with each game though he doesn’t link up too well with Freddie. Also why isn’t Pennant playing even when he was fit for the last game?
7.) Almunia: yes i think he’s definitely a better shot stopper and reaction wise he’s awesome, though as a sweeper keeper and against crosses and high balls still doesn’t look too comfortable but he has time though and Lehmann on the other hand probably doesn’t, he can consider himself to be the unlucky casualty of the mid season blip that we had.
8.) Finally the team: seriously something was wrong at Newcastle, despite the show of strength and huddle at the end, there were plenty of angry stares, hands on hips during the game, lack of communication up front between FL8 and van Persie and Lauren, even at half time the French musketeers came out before the rest of the team??Can anyone please tell me why? The team followed after about 3-4 mins. We need some new blood from the bench or from the transfer window. Something fresh, cause at the moment we aren’t playing like champions and I just feel maybe it’s not our season in the EPL (it is too early to say though), I think our chances in the CL look better.
I’d just like to know what everyone feels about this.
p.s- disclaimer: I am an out and out arsenal fan, and I always support the club whether they win or lose and I don’t look for negatives or anything it’s just that I always like to take a close hard look at the team, and NO I AM NOT A CHELSEA/LIVERPOOL/MANURE FAN!
25 Responses to “Things to think about over Christmas”
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December 30th, 2004 at 1:48 pm
So when did you start supporting Chelsea, ManU, or ‘Pool? Just joking.
December 30th, 2004 at 1:50 pm
Watch out Indian_G… Stag is coming to get you!! [just kidding haha]
December 30th, 2004 at 2:04 pm
Ummm, yes… I am … gotta warm up a bit because there are alot of ridiculous statements! But I’ll be back later to carve up this turkey.
December 30th, 2004 at 2:36 pm
LOL, let me know if you want some confidence.
December 30th, 2004 at 2:39 pm
I have to say that I think there is a good deal of sense in what I_G has to say. Rick, you may take umbrage to the tone, and when we come off another much needed win without giving up a single goal let alone one from a set piece, I agree the post is a bit of a buzzkill.
But without getting into too much detail, I have to say that watching The Arsenal play is a lot like watching Cirque de Soleil. There are amazing things happening, but they’re being done in such a way to keep the audience at the edge of their seat. Its like highwire football. Capable, artful and, at times, surpemely athletic…but I’m always waiting for the guy to fall off. Its nervy stuff, and has a lot to do with, I think, our style, our strengths, and some uneveness in the team brought on by injuries and new, YOUNG blood.
I can’t say why the our Gallic heroes took the pitch prior to the rest of the gang…maybe they were just itching to go. Maybe Wenger wanted to talk just to the rest of them a little more. I don’t blame anyone for raising an eyebrow, though, cause we’re funny like that. Let’s face it, there is a palpable division with so many French stars. But if you’re pulling a dog sled, and you got some young pups and some old pups, not all of them are going to be going at the same speed all the time. You do your best to keep everyone on the same page…but slack and stumbling is bound to happen.
I have to think that Henry feels cuffed trying to link up with v P., but he’s an artist and who could really match him? Its like Olivier acting against Eiljah Wood in King Lear. Uneven, to say the least. We still need more patience and a stretch of health and luck and the momentum will start showing more 3, 4, maybe even 5 goal games. I, for one, think we’re concentrating on the clean sheet and we’re getting it. Mission accomplished there.
And we have pace and touch to spare. We’re going to use it, sometimes when patience and fundamentals would serve us better. But that’s not the animal that AFC is, not what had us go unbeaten. We’ve always got them on the back foot, even when we’re giving the ball away cheaply. Our attack seems to lack organization at the moment, but that is often our strength. Any one of us, at any one time, can make the difference alone. Case in point, Paddy’s goal.
And who are we comparing ourselves to? ONE team, Chelsea. Without them we’re four in the lead. But they’re an anamoly, the new guard, and a new enemy with a purchased depth rarely seen in the EPL. Still, against them we should have won. Were we in the set piece form we were yesterday, even with the bobbly passing and the stubborn need to bore through the center a bit too much, we would have nicked all the points to the good.
Yes, our 1-nil win was ugly yesterday. When was the last time a Gooner could say that? Oh right, Pompey?the other away tie. Next up, giant killers Charlton. Maybe it’ll ALL come together?clean sheet, three or four in the net.
December 30th, 2004 at 2:49 pm
ScottyUSA
If we had edge out all three points against the likes of WBA, Palace and Bolton, we would now be one point ahead of Chel$ki. At the end of the season, those games may come back to haunt our EPL ambitions - more so than Chel$ki IMO.
December 30th, 2004 at 3:14 pm
Too true. Stinkin’ Old Trafford.
And what do you suppose the odds of Chelsea keeping their current pace are? They’re always healthy. Mourinho, say what you want, is a winner. Barring injuries to Terry, Robben, Duff and Lampard at some point, we could be seeing another unbeaten streak in the making.
Please, ArseAmers, let me have it right in the kisser! I want to be dead wrong!
December 30th, 2004 at 3:40 pm
I agree with IG to an extent, though I can look the other way with so many games in so few days. And true. ManU/Chelsea/Pool did rip those teams. The fact is we are simply not as free scoring as we were at the start. But I’ll take the 1-0’s because at least we are keeping a clean sheet, and it shows we can grind. But he’s right. We have the tendency to walk the ball into the goal, but we also have an unrivalled scoring record in the prem for the past two seasons, so its hard to complain. But we are not yet back to our ealy season form. It was an ‘insipid’ performance and a ‘lucky’ goal.
Lauren seems to have trouble dealing with pace what’s up with that? Ashley seemed to have an attitude. I think Henry was ‘ok’. Van had a good first half. But I’ll take it. Tis the season to grind out wins.
Stag the floor is yours.
December 30th, 2004 at 4:23 pm
Seriously, dont criticize me just coz u think i am being -ve, i’ve just stated some things tht i have noted over the past fprtnight or so of football and i think most ppl will agree they r not “ridiculous statements”
December 30th, 2004 at 4:26 pm
yes even i think maybe winning 1-0 is just something wenger wants to concentrate on after a string of bad results due to set pieces, also noticed we looked more like scoring frm our corners than ever before this season (dont know if tht had to do with crappy newcastle defending), and charlton will be a tough game + jerome thomas will want ot prove a point or two
December 30th, 2004 at 4:34 pm
Indian G!
I’m sort of the guardian of the team/players on the site!… no, I wouldn’t call the statements truly ridiculous… but I am the GLASS HALF FULL type when it comes to this team. I just don’t understand where alot of the negativity comes from. Especially after a hard fought win AT Newcastle. We are a spoiled bunch of supporters… spoiled by the amazing success we have acheived recently. 49 straight without a loss… 2 losses in 60 something?
December 30th, 2004 at 4:47 pm
Stag
even i am an optimist but i dont think it does u any good by constantly ignoring the flaws no matter how small they r, at the beginning of our mid season slump when we drew to pana home and away then drew southampton (not to mention the murder at OT) ppl kept saying its okay its okay we’re still top of the table and even after WBA and CP 1-1’s it took a loss at pool for most to realize tht we were in deep shit (by our extremely high standars) so i just think such flaws should be brough to the fore rather than smothered under the carpet and saying its okay atleast we won against newcastle which is a tough place (btw manure beat them 3-1 pool 3-1 and che 4-0)
December 30th, 2004 at 7:14 pm
Chel$ki has yet to play at the places Arsenal lost. They are now down to 16 available players. With the present 4 games in 8 days fixture, it will be very tough on their players. Throw in FA cup, CL games & international games coming up in the next 2-3 months, something within Chel$ki will give. Most of the Gunners (and Wenger) have been thru this type of fixture congestion for the past two seasons and have the experience (both good and bad) going into the end of the season. Moanrinho has not. Wenger is right when he said it is still too early to worry about Chel$ki and to focus on our own performance instead. Heck there is another 18 EPL games to go - so anything can happen between now and end of the season.
December 30th, 2004 at 9:58 pm
IG, I was a guy who was advocating for 1-0 wins when the team was performing badly during November. In fact, I even wanted this to be our Plan B, i.e., grind out results by scoring a goal either from a deflected shot by hitting someone’s back side or from a corner etc. and then defend that lead like our lives depended on it. This was exactly what happened in our last 2 games (of course Sol’s strike was not the kind of goal I wanted, but will take it anyday) and we defended well. So how can I now complain about this and tell you that I agree with your post.
Nevertheless, you raise some points for which I will have to reluctantly agree. The one on Henry… yes, I will never know when he will come to life. He normally plays well when is agitated, like when referees give free kicks in favour of defenders or when he gets in an argument with them. Otherwise I always get this feeling that he tries to be the super friendly footballer. So I have come to accept the fact that I cannot expect him to be a fighter. However having talked about the -v’es, he is for me the world’s best footballer when he is in the mood. And so will always love him…..
Vieira is slowly coming good in the last couple of games and he did a lot of defensive work in the 2nd half of the Newcastle game. Love him for that. I am begining to think that he has finally moved the transfer saga out of his mind and he is coming back to his old self. Another 2 or 3 games, we might see the old Patrick Vieira back.
I still have hope for Reyes, he will just have to toughen up a little bit more and stay on his feet. He is a brilliant footballer and talks about selling him etc., should be squashed. Remember, his cushioned return header set up Henry to score against Chelski in the 70th second. He can work magic at times and he will be a key player in CL this season. He will setlle to the EPL’s physical demands by next year.
Rest of the players are okay except I have to mention Ljungberg here. He for me, is the greatest Arsenal player in the team now, and has been since his move. Sadly he is being ignored most of the time. During the 2001-02 season he was so sensational that the whole of England were afraid of him cos’ for the 2002 world cup, England were paired with Sweden in group stage. If anyone notices, he is been making those intelligent darty runs into the penalty box to date, only to retreat back to his position and nothing coming out of it. No one tries to thread the ball to him, except Cesc of late. And when it comes to grit, there’s no player who is more committed than him. He goes into physical challenges, the way we dive on to the bed when our dream girl is lying on it half-naked. Yet people criticize him and say that he has never emulated his past form. If only someone could spot him and pass the ball….
December 30th, 2004 at 10:08 pm
I-G
Do not get caught up in what United or Chelsea did against an opponent. It simply doesn’t mean anything. Its a worthless statistic. Different day, different weather, different strengths, etc…
F*** Chelsea… and United too for that matter… I refuse to use them as a measuring stick… because our top 11 are better than theirs. They’ve won the 1/2 League trophy… thats it… thats NOTHING btw… its meaningless. A long way to go… and Chelsea have won f-all. If we are in deep shit, then every other team in the league is dead and buried except Chelsea. We’ll bury them in April at the Bridge.
December 30th, 2004 at 10:48 pm
OK Indian G… here’s my two pence worth.
You state the Newcastle game was an insipid performance. Can’t agree with you there. It was a good match. It was exciting at times. We played very well and very organized defensively. And we won 1-0. Vieira’s goal was a good goal. I don’t exactly think it was lucky. We had far more of the ball in the 1st half and definitely deserved the lead at the break.
Comparing how we did against Newcastle and how other teams did against them is silly. Different game, different time of the year, different situations. Only thing that matters, 3 points.
Now, our last 3 matches you are calling into question? Seriously?
We have had defensive issues ALL season long. Its been a comedy act with the set pieces at times. For the first time this season, we have 3 straight matches without giving up a goal… 4 out of 5 games posting shut-outs. This isn’t a negative, its a HUGE positive.
We’ve had numerous complaints here about our play… mostly our defensive efforts. We’ve posted 4-1 wins a few times, 5-3, 5-4! and because we didn’t keep a clean sheet… complaints.
Well… we’ve started to play ALOT better defensively and perhaps we’ve concentrated less on that free-flowing style and open beautiful game and more on grit and defense. I’ve seen players tracking back into our 18… that I don’t usually see in our own half much. So… the last 3 games are a breathe of fresh air.
1) Henry.
As I have said before… Enough.
He is the leagues leading scorer by 6 GOALS! He is the best striker in the world. The crap about him not playing well in big games is RUBBISH! (see the Chelsea match)
fotunately, he is simply magnificent… and he can’t play up to his own amazing standards every match. But god help us without him. He not only scores more goals than anyone else, but he is unselfish, and sets up tons of goals too.
2) Vieira: well, I’ve said more than enough on Paddy. You’re all aware of where I stand on PV4.
He’s been a shell of himself so far, and we are only 5 points out. If he can continue playing as he has in the last few matches, watch out world!
3) Cole: He didn’t exactly have a good match against Newcastle… but to call his defending atrocious is OUT OF ORDER. He’s a fantastic player, and I haven’t noticed his play in decline. No Way.
4) Reyes: SLACK, cut him some… PLEASE!
He’s a kid. So are Cesc, Flamini, VanPersie, Clichy… etc. We want them to play… they get to play, and when they aren’t stars immediately… we want them gone? Sell Reyes? why? It takes time to adapt to the English game. Henry was not very good in his first full year at Arsenal. Shouldn’t expect any of the kids to be fantastic.
5) Edu: I am a Gilberto fan over Edu. But, when he’s in good form, he produces some flair that we don’t have much of in central midfield. If he wants to go… he wants to go… Cesc is great, but who’s to say he won’t want to go home to Spain in a few years. I wouldn’t put all my eggs in the Cesc basket.
6) “he problem is in the attack”
This is borderline ridiculous… well alright it IS ridiculous. Most goals in the EPL by far.
We have 8 more than Chelsea, 14 more than Liverpool & Boro… we have the leagues best scorer in Henry… oh yeah, that Pires guy is 2nd with 10 goals… and Reyes isn’t even playing and he has 6. The problem is NOT the attack. Its been the defense and set-pieces. Now that we’ve had 3 straight shut-outs… we should really be ecstatic!
7) Almunia. I am still out on him. Not sure if he is THE ONE. I feel for Jens, he’ll probably go in January. Not sure who I would want if I had my pick from the whole world. Keepers always get the blame… its a tough position.
Ridiculous. I watched the match twice. I was really happy to see, in my opinion, the togetherness / brotherhood of the team. They were all REALLY happy for Vieira getting that goal. I think our comraderie is our strength. These players truly like playing the game together. Its VERY unlikely Wenger is bringing in anyone in the January window. He has said so repeatedly. I don’t think we need anyone. Just to play the kids we have a bit more…. and get the team healthy. I like our chances in the league… so much so… that with the nice price they have at Ladbrokes, I put a few quid down on them when ArseAm was in London.
So, you do have some valid points. And this IS the place to express them!!! You might think my points are rubbish…. and that I am just see things thru Arsenal colored glasses… TRUE… but I do believe we will come good by MAY.
December 31st, 2004 at 4:30 am
As a lurker here since the begining of the season, I’m finally going to get off of my duff to throw my 2 cents into the ring; having noticed a couple of items in the Newcastle game that no one else seems to have mentioned:
1.) Both Sol and Kolo looked shakey dealing with flighted balls coming down Route 1 (the worst was the mess Sol made of it in the 1st half, heading the ball into Ameobi’s path who then lashed a shot just wide.. off of Almunia’s fingertips). Whether or not this is simply an outgrowth of the trouble-in-the-air-with-set-plays problem I’m not too sure about, but it was difficult watching them struggle more than once with long flighted balls or punts coming at them.
2.) I thought vP played pretty well (for the first half at least) but one thing he has shown me that he can do better than anyone else in the first 11 is in taking corner kicks. I can’t remember a game when we’ve looked anywhere near as dangerous on corner kicks, or even gotten so many corners past the first defender, and it’s all from him. Plus, he dummied the defenders to set up Paddy’s goal out of nowhere. It just seems like he’s not quite settled into a forward role yet… trying too hard in spots, not working well enough with his teammates in others. (like someone else said, I would love to see him work together more with Freddie, whose own form seems to have returned to him over the past 6 weeks or so). If vP doesn’t start to get some of his shots on frame, though, he’ll probably get put back on the bench in short order.
3.) Both Paddy and Almunia look to be growing in confidence/upping their game. Here’s hoping it stays that way.
4.) Flamini. I’m still trying to decide whether the fact that I didn’t notice him at all in the second half was a good thing or a bad thing. He still has yet to really overly impress me with either his tackling, his passing, or his positional play (in the 2nd half things really did seem to get sloppy around the midfield, though that could just as much have come from conditions or fatigue).
5.) Happy was I to see Lauren and Sol venture upfield more. For too long it has seemed to me that the only overlapping threat we’ve had has predictably come from Ash, and seeing that change (even if only for a couple of attacks) makes a welcome addition to our options in and around the penalty area.
I’m not, however, seeing the doom-and-gloom that indian_gooner is seeing. To me the games and the players are just looking somewhat unsettled at the moment… moments of sublime skill combined with moments of sloppy miscommunication and bad passes in the middle third.
Truth be told, I don’t think we’re that far away from getting back to our top gear again
December 31st, 2004 at 7:53 am
My beef with Reyes is that he’s getting a chance others never get, solely because of his price tag. And I don’t think that’s fair. Players take time to settle, but he had gained form, then lost it, alarmingly so. I also think his constantly losing his balance and the ball disrupts flow and puts pressure on the team. Is the fact that we’re keeping clean sheets without him, perhaps a coincidence?
I like van P’s shoot on sight attitude. And it wasn’t like he was way off most of the time. I also liked his willingness to take players on. He also needs to learn to play better with others, but that can only come by playing. He did well, only his second half sucked. I think this kid is going to be big.
I don’t think it was that bad a game, but Campbells shakiness in dealing with those long balls was worrying, though not typical. Hopefully an off day.
December 31st, 2004 at 8:34 am
having just seen the match again, and having read ur 2 pence worth, i’d just like to reiterate at no point am i trying to give unneccessary criticism or take a -ve point of view, plz read vot i have said carefully just coz of the ed note at the beginning,ppl think this is a highly -ve article when it isnt so on all aspects let me just counter some of the things u have said:
1.)i have actually stated tht he’s the worlds best beyond any doubt at no point am i questioning tht, all i am saying is tht y is he king henry one day and worse than a $2million striker the other day and vot r the effects of this on the team?
2.)agree with u on viera
3.)cole: c the match again major attitude problem, his tackles were very poor and dangerous, i think when players get under his skin he tends to loose it a bit and flies into tackles dangerously not being able to keep ur cool is a very poor trait esp for defenders.
4.)Reyes: again i have stated tht i think he’s better than defoe, i think he is essential to give the team cutting edge they sometimes lack (like against pompey or newcastle) in attack.
5.)Problem being in attack : i’d like to know how many we have scored since game 50 (against manure) if u leave out 90 minutes of mayhem at spurs 0+2+1+1+1+3+2+1+2+1=14 in 10 games not our kinda form but still not bad, and i think its more our methods of attack tht poot the team on the backfoot defensively.i will stick by this and i agree maybe i am wrong but i will stick by it.
6.)Almunia; i am sure he’s not THE ONE but i am pretty sure he’s the next stop gap keeper AW has in mind (he hates spending big in defense anyways)
7.)Edu:agree with u on that
8.)Team:again thts y i love arsenal and thts y i support them “victory thru togetherness” and i think the lads really believe in tht, but i have said something is needed to just infuse something fresh in the team (like reyes did last yr by winning us FA cup match against chelsea 2 goals) and i am not suggesting we have to buy someone i am saying maybe someone of the bench even would be good, someone like Quincy maybe, btw i think Hoyte looked very good against rosenborg, y isnt he in the team more?
So i just think ppl r criticizing my views coz they think its just a stereotypical criticism of arsenal when its hardly tht!
December 31st, 2004 at 8:55 am
he’s prob getting tht chance coz AW thinks very highly of him (he wouldnt have shelled out the cash if he didnt)
dont think reyes absence has anything to do with clean sheets (i think he tracks back a lot more than pires)i think tht is just down to better defense
agree with u on van p he looks like a very bright prospect his shooting is pretty good frm range tht adds a new dimension to us, which is imp.
i think he needs to improve on the return ball to henry, he doesnt have to be super fancy everytime with the return ball something tht he was trying against newcastle. yes ameobi did get the better of cambell 2-3 times in the air atleast wasnt a very heartening sight though i think on the ground kolo in particular had one of his best games for a while.
December 31st, 2004 at 9:46 am
All fair points miranda… I don’t think you can throw out the 5 goal performance against Spurs, or I could throw out 5 of the 1 goal performances!
December 31st, 2004 at 10:02 am
ummm..sorry abt tht dont know how tht is a comment by gutless lurker it was actually a comment by me indian_gooner maybe i wasnt logged in or sompin i dont know, apologise for the confusion
December 31st, 2004 at 10:14 am
Comparing our result against Newcastle to MU, Chelsea, Pool is a little off the mark. I have watched some of Newcastles recent games and they were utterly pathetic. They put three times as much effort in against us as they did against those three teams together. We did not play particularly well but a lot of that was down to the fact that Newcastle was constantly pressuring the ball. This was the first game in quite a while that Newcastle looked up for. Provided they can keep up that level of effort thay will get some much better results soon. Anyway not a great performance but all that matters is the three points at the end of the season.
December 31st, 2004 at 4:28 pm
I did say that we will bounce back strongly from the Liverpool defeat and it has been poved so. 6 games, 5 wins and one “could have won, should have won” draw.
Attack is not the problem. We have scored the most goals in the most goals in the premiership and that is a big achievement.
Cole didn’t have his best game but to say his form is declining seems to me to be going overboard.
Henry has set such high standards for himself that we have started taking him for granted. He is allowed an off day here and there. Like Arsene said, there is NO striker that doesn’ have a bad spell.. yet here we are complaining about a bad game. Annnnd, he needs time to settle with Robin van persie.
One thing i’ve noticed about the VP11is that he plays better off the bench. in the 2 games he has started, he hasn’t impressed as much as when he came off the bench, but once an understanding forms between him and the players around him, he will get a lot better. Also, he is a dead ball specialist. And like someone said, his corners are a hell of a lot better than henry, reyes or pires
Give Reyes a break, the guy is out injured. I do not doubt his ability, let him get poperly used to the premiership. Not sure how many of you watch La Liga but from the few games that i saw him play for Sevilla (esp the 4-1 thrashing of real) , he is going to be huge..
Let the revival continue and our early season form will return, particularly if Paddy also gets back to his best which he is in his way to doing
January 1st, 2005 at 3:27 am
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL (AND I GET THE FIRST POST OF 2005) WISHING ARSENAL TEAM, MANAGEMENT, STAFF AND SUPPORTERS A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF TROPHIES!!!!