So Chelsea have paid the money, and it looks like the “stock” they ordered is about to be delivered…
Ok, it’s only January, and we are ONLY 7 points behind… I have heard that. Ok, they may suffer a “blip” somewhere down the road… I have heard that. But the FACT is we have dropped another two points, and they didn’t. Hell, they haven’t even conceded a single goal for the past God knows how many games. I warned everyone about Chelsea when we were ahead of them earlier in the season and got plenty of stick as a result, but I’m sorry to say my worst fear seems to be turning into a reality.
I understand the spirit that we shouldn’t give up. Of course we won’t. Even our team is 30 points behind we will still be there supporting our beloved Arsenal. Yet realistically speaking, our task of removing them from the top of the Premiership summit is getting tougher and tougher.
Can’t really fault the team’s performance in the Man City draw. The depth of our squad was stretched into limit. Like Man Utd of 97, we are now virtually playing the kids.
Looking at a bigger picture, we probably won’t be able to complete with Chelsea and Man Utd in the near future, at least not until the new stadium is ready so we will have more transfer fund available. As a result, the role of the “kids” is getting even more significant. I have heard the fellow Gooners crying out loud for us to buy quality players like Gerard, Wright-Phillips, King… But in reality can we really afford to? In order for us to keep pace with the big-spenders likes Chelsea and Man Utd, the only realistic hope for us is to rely on our youngsters.
Do I envy Chelsea that they have a sugar daddy? I can honestly say I DON’T. As Stag pointed out in one of his comments earlier - he wished one day Chelsea would go bust [financially]. He’s not alone there.
This is a team which has no chance to balance their book even while they could go on to sweep every trophy available. Nobody knows how long their sugar daddy’s interest in football will last. I bet everyone in the football world [including the Chelsea fans] have asked themselves, “What happens if Roman leaves?”….
As for Arsenal, I still firmly believe our future is bright, regardless of how we eventually fare this season. Our state-of-the-art new stadium will be completed in 2 year’s time. We have a lot of promising young talent in our squad. Most of all, we are a solid and well-organized football club. Maybe not the richest in the world, and we may not be the biggest, but at least we can rest assured that this is a club which is run well and will make us proud for a long long time to come.
37 Responses to “Mr. Abramovich, here is your order of a Premiership trophy, please sign.”
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January 4th, 2005 at 7:56 pm
We can compete on the pitch with any team on the PLANET.
A draw to ManCity is not the end of the world, or the end of the season. City played well. For once, lets just give the opponent credit for playing well… none of the blame game please.
It WILL be tough to climb past Chelsea and win the league. But 7 points is not so different than 5 points… they could draw a match and lose a match in succession and we’d be 2 points off the top. Is that so unthinkable? Please… THINK ABOUT IT…
I enjoy the kids playing, and we NEED them now more than ever. I don’t want us to go out and by a Top Striker, 2 Midfielders and 2 defenders… because that would mean the young players would NEVER get a chance to play… period.
Think a bit longer term than next week or this season… if we don’t win 2 years in a row… so FREAKING WHAT!!!! Maybe we’ll win 2006 and 2007. Its not our ordained RIGHT to win the title EVERY year. Its no longer ManUnited’s either… and you have to like the team Liverpool is assembling as well… if they could stay healthy, watch out NEXT season. It could be a 4 team race for all the trophies. This is good for football and the EPL… NOT Chelsea trying to buy the title and every player thats good… but COMPETITION.
I enjoyed the way we came back in the 2nd half and once we scored the goal, we were all over them. GREAT play by Henry… as usual… VanP crashed the bar/post with a nice free kick, and Pennant got his feet wet too…
FA Cup is next up… hope more of the kids playing continues… there’s no crying in football/soccer… so save the whining for another time.
January 4th, 2005 at 8:32 pm
To be honest I don’t think we are crying about a draw with City. 10 pts. out of 12 is not bad at all. But Chelsea is a darn good AND lucky side. This is sports and there’s nothing wrong in admiring the competition. I don’t really see them collapsing to be honest. It’s not just the ability to buy, they are well coached and very tactically astute . We have been hampered by injuries and are breaking many players into the team. That’s why I say we are in transition.
I don’t think we need the deep pockets to compete with Chelsea/Manu. We piqued ManU twice in the last three without that, didn’t we? After all we have a hugely talented young squad that can only get better. Few players out there have more promise than our kids. With Ash Burton we can only be better.
Of course we’ll do our best and win every game, but Chelsea has to self-destruct and we have no control over that. Even if we beat them, it?s down to four. They may lose the odd game in the Champions League and FA cup and get knocked out, but a collapse in the Prem. I just don’t see it at the moment. Of course injuries could strike and things change quickly, but otherwise whose going to do our dirty work when so many team roll over before they kick the ball? Villa? Bolton? Portsmouth and City maybe, and ManU. We’ll need help and it?s just not forthcoming at the moment. It?s no longer just about our ability, but we?ll be right behind them.
January 4th, 2005 at 9:35 pm
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!!?!?
and it ain’t over now….
January 4th, 2005 at 9:41 pm
That history never happened. This is sports. but I get your point.
January 4th, 2005 at 9:53 pm
Afrikan,
Andrew was making a reference to a line from the classic comedy “Animal House.” When trying to rally his frat brothers after receiving the news that they’d all been expelled, John Belushi’s character, “Bluto”, poses that famous mixed-up question.
You should definitely see the movie when you get a chance.
January 4th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
EXACTLY!
Brilliant reference Andrew…
January 5th, 2005 at 12:32 am
As a Chelsea fan I would be outraged if we won the league simply because we had bought talented players who then beat other teams. That is not in the spirit of the competition at all.
Personally I would have been much happier if we had simply gone bankrupt as we so nearly did. Imagine my disappointment when my club was saved at the last moment by Mr Abramovich’s purchase of the club.
Arsenal have long been an inspiration to REAL fans. The opportunity they gave old Alf Wenger, the caretaker of the Highbury Boy’s Club, to manage the club he’d grown up supporting brought a tear to many an eye the world over. His insistence on only playing local boys who had come up through the youth team was the very essence of what English football should be all about.
We are hopelessly compromised but you still have a chance to set an example. All you need do is commit to never paying more than the average transfer fee in the 4 divisions for any player and guarantee that should anyone want to invest a lot of money in your club you would refuse to accept the money. Here’s your chance to set an example and to banish any suggestion that you are just suffering from a particulalry bitter form of jealousy.
January 5th, 2005 at 1:04 am
Maybe it is time for the FA to introduce some form of salary cap and players draft like in the NFL to improve parity within the league (after reading about the Manure-Spuds refereeing fiasco, FA should also allow decision challenges by coaches). This way the teams that focus on building from within will stand a much better chance against the big spenders like Chel$ki and Manure. It might make it tougher to compete in Europe against teams not under a similar scheme but the long term benefits will be good for football development in the country.
7 points is tough to overcome but not impossible. City was average earlier in the season but lately, they have punched above their weight. Credit to them for stiffling and harrying Arsenal on the ball though these are the type of games that the Gunners can ill afford to drop points.
January 5th, 2005 at 1:41 am
Love the “1941″ quote Andrew, thanks!
January 5th, 2005 at 2:08 am
First off, you’re right, Manchester City played a wonderful game, and they never parked the bus in front of the net either. Now here comes some negativity - so shield your eyes Stag - Viera was total crap. He was so bad that I think we win that game if he’s on the bench. He was so bad that if Man. City had parked a bus in front of the net it wouldn’t have mattered, because Viera couldn’t have passed the ball into so tight an opening as the net. He was just plain horrific. I thought he was on the mend, but this performance put paid to that idea. He is complacent. He thinks that because he possesses world class skills he can go easy and it will all work out. His passing is just plain lazy. As you can tell, I am really irritated by Viera right now. I have really held off him until now, but today was so nightmarish that I couldn’t take any more.
Now don’t think I’m crabby because we only took a point. I’m not. I really think Man. City deserved their point. I never feel down on the Arsenal when they drop points like this - even when they’re chasing Chelsea. Somehow seven points behind seems so much better that eight points behind, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why. A thought occurred to me after the game though that might explain it. I had the feeling come over me that Arsenal are going to win the league by just one point! You heard it here first fans.
I have also been convinced by all those compelling arguments that we shouldn’t buy anybody expensive. Our kids have an outstanding future - let’s just tweek. I agree wholeheartedly that we don’t have an ordained right to win. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, and I think the only thing we have a right to expect is that Arsenal Football Club will do its best - from the execs down to the players. That is it - no more. That, in a nutshell, is why I don’t mind when Arsenal ties or loses in good, hard fought games like the Man. City game. You play hard and you let the chips fall where they may - and if they fall through a sewer grate, you weren’t meant to cash in.
And finally…
I LOVE ARSENAL!!!!!!!!
January 5th, 2005 at 4:53 am
Last year chelsea couldnt win the league and everybody start mocking them and saying money can’t buy you trophy. Now they are top of the league and we start cursing them and hoping that they go bust?
Frankly, I also think that Chelsea was almost like cheating with their unlimited budget and all that. And I couldn’t hide the fact that I will be thrilled to see what is gonna happen when Roman leave.
But the fact that they are top of the league now has nothing to do with their ability to buy the best players around. It was down to a man called Jose Mourinho. I can tell you that even with less skilled players, his team would still be up there.
I bet if Ranieri were still in charge this season, they won’t be 7 pts clear right now.
Of course we are also not helped by the off form vieira and shaky defense few months back.
I don’t know if we can drop Vieira right now, especially with our midfield crisis. Carrick will also not be a good replacement imo. Well, if you bring in mascherano, that would be another story ^^
all in all, 7 pts is nothing!!! We got more points to spare some seasons back and the trophy went to Red Nose. So let’s fight it out till the last match!!
January 5th, 2005 at 5:30 am
Am I WHINING stag? For God’s sake have u ever read my WHOLE article? Please don’t just argue for arguing’s sake.
January 5th, 2005 at 6:20 am
I dont really no where you stand..
1. You enjoy the kids playing. Damn you were the same person saying Mr Wenger can’t just play the kids.
2. So you know what is going to happen in two to three yrs. That is great but this is football not nfl stag.
3. Now you think competition is good for Arsenal. Hmmm
Stag I like you but person stop living in the past. Buy yourself a copy of the Express and read a good article about why United and Arsenal need to stand thinking deep instead of the managers blaming everyone but themselves.
January 5th, 2005 at 6:23 am
I can’t believe I’m agreeing with a chelsea fan here like my girl but is true.
I said money can’t buy you title but take that back and like most fans I could not stand your manager but the guy had done and said a lot of things that had change my mind abbout him..
January 5th, 2005 at 6:26 am
Well I’m used to Stag by now.. Just say PV is God and Wenger is the Lord and the whole Arsenal players are Angels and he could like you. Arsenal do no wrong in his books.
January 5th, 2005 at 8:32 am
If I take your post right at this early hour, your ability to lay on the sarcasm over four paragraphs is impressive. Nice one.
But there is a rift between the clubs evident in less cleverly exaggerated examples than those you posit here, and everyone with two eyes who has to work for a living knows it.
Of course, one must do properly with one’s adavantage, and to that I applaud the Blues.
But no team goes from floundering obscurity to 7 points in the lead without a little black magic.
Cheers to your team and your fellow supporters. You must have had quite the season thus far defending yourselves time and time and time again.
January 5th, 2005 at 8:44 am
I just LOOOOVE the smell of bitter postings in the morning! Nothing like dropping points to get us dropping the gloves. S’more like it.
The difference between our club and The Blues is clear to everyone. There’s no way to fix it other than to raise our game and start keeping the kind of clean sheets they do. I, for one, hope we focus on improving much faster, and much younger. Cause for every 28 year old bracer, there’s a 19 year old who can run circles around him (unless his name is Reyes, who’s got mad pace but just needs to stay on his feet a little more). And eye for youth is the answer to blank check benfactors, and once they’re on board, they can’t be bought away unless we say so.
Our poor November form is why we’re 7 behind, otherwise its a tight one right where it should be. Sure, being able to purchase about 150 million pounds worth of experienced depth would have helped, but we threw away the lead partially through COMPLACENCY, and have no one to blame but ourselves.
But its not over. And lest we forget…
…Arsene KNOWS.
January 5th, 2005 at 10:02 am
Ture, we can’t take away what Mourinho has done with Chelsea, quite a remarkable job. But we can’t also take away the FACT that they are BUYING the title. If 200 plus million pounds spent in two years does not mean - buying titles, i wonder what is….
January 5th, 2005 at 10:28 am
You can rationalize all you want but, if Chelsea win you cannot say that they have not bought the title. You bring up the point that Arsenal has bought their team as well. Here is a little tidbit of info for you. In the last 10 years arsenal have spent 94.7 million on players also in that time they have recouped 54.1 million on sales for a net of 40.6 million. In only the last two years Chelsea have spent 194.5 million and recouped 2.3 million. So in the last two years Chelsea have spent 4.7 times as much as Arsenal have in the last Decade. That is called buying a championship.
January 5th, 2005 at 10:55 am
Love G…
I am swayed by the good play of the kids.
I think that playing a few in each match of a 4 game in 9 day span has been a GOOD THING. Its smart… its good for short and long term.
I can change my mind on issues! If facts come in… you change your opinion.
I don’t want ALL of the kids in ALL the time, or a team full of reserves… but I think it helps the Pennants, VanPs etc…. to play in actual meaningful matches. We can get a glimpse of the future and find out if they have what it takes to play in the EPL.
Competition is good for THE LEAGUE. It should push Arsenal to get to the next level… the level of greatness… IF ITS IN THEM.
You often RIP APART our “so-called” youth program… if we just buy players in this market… then the kids will be buried yet again… on the bench or in reserves. I think they have the talent to compete, at least most of them do.
I have come around to the idea of playing them more… I am not sure WENGER WILL do it… but I think its a good idea.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:01 am
Andez, never said YOU were whining. But the typical reaction to a draw here on ArseAm… is THE SKY IS FALLING… BUY A DEFENDER, MIDFIELDER, STRIKER NOW! or we’re doomed. It happens time and time again… I just happened to ask for NO WHINING while writing a response to your article.
Now… Love G… who just called me out…
whined about Vieira again… as usual.
There were 10 other players out there as well…
but its always “the crappy captain”s fault. City played well, lets praise the opponent for once.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:04 am
We drew…
so its VIEIRA’s fault. As always. THAT is WHINING.
Why not tip your cap to the opponent Love G…
Are they allowed to play a good match?
Wenger’s at fault too? Why? he didn’t buy the players Chelsea did?? or he played Vieira over Pennant???
Just because we drew, doesn’t mean we did anything wrong. 10 pts. from 12 is GOOD.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:06 am
I watched 80 minutes of the game…
and while he didn’t play well, I don’t think he lost the game for us by ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. Who’d you play over him? there aren’t many options and WENGER and the PLAYERS love and believe in him.
It takes 11 men to win or lose. Its not one play or player.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:09 am
I was hugely impressed by your response in this instance Stag. Very measured, very well written. I know you take a little flak here now and then - even from me - but while the post you responded to was somewhat biting, you don’t seem to have risen to the bait. I completely agree that we are all free to change our minds - though sometimes it helps to let people know why we changed them. It helps people to know that we don’t flick back and forth at the mercy of whim - and I know with a certainty that you don’t. Anyway, I was just really impressed by your response.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:39 am
Ordinarily I’d be right there with you Stag, but I just can’t get over how poorly he played in this instance. You’re right about options though. I suppose the bluff answer is Flamini - but without an actual injury to Viera, thats a slap in the face to him when he is already rested. I don’t say there is an easy answer - but there wasn’t an easy answer at the goalkeeper position either, and Wenger swallowed hard and sent a message. I know Lehmann isn’t Viera, but dammit, does that make Viera untouchable? Thats just a little hard for me to swallow after watching Viera’s recent performance. His decision making was terrible, and even if it had been better, his passing wasn’t hitting the broad side of the barn. And you’re right about his teammates loving him - I’m sure they do - but that can become codependency without too much effort.
You’re also right about it being a team effort, and that ordinarily no single man is responsible, but in this case Viera made the mistake that cost the goal and he did virtually nothing to make up for that mistake. Let’s just say that he was 51% responsible for the loss, and the rest of the team 49% responsible. Majority rules.
January 5th, 2005 at 12:05 pm
Stag..
There are a few people in this world that thinks Micheal Jackson is as holy as Bill O’Reilly or O’Reilly is the new God “My @ss@ and with you PV is more than God.
Please asked anyone sitting down in the cold yesterday what they think about the bloke and will you will get one answer. Of course some will say he is wicked and needs another pay rise. Pat is playing for being French period. Why is Edu not in the team. The guy is fit as well. And funny how Wenger came out next week saying the fans are starting to like him again. What fans someone stouted yesterday or have Henry /Cses coming out and say something good about him. The signs is there for all to see.
January 5th, 2005 at 12:06 pm
Say no more.. I ‘m really impressed as well.
January 5th, 2005 at 12:23 pm
Just a note on Vieira.
Realize that he has been coming back off injury, correct?
He HAD been playing better up until this last match, correct?
Now… we just played 4 GAMES in 9 DAYS.
Who played ALL THE MINUTES IN ALL THE GAMES?
Vieira, Toure, Henry.
Toure is a defender… so he isn’t covering the pitch, and Henry isn’t exactly known for tracking back, is he…
So, Vieira is running the pitch for 90 minutes a game, and 4 games in 9 days. EVERY ONE ELSE was rested or subbed off at some point in this period.
Not a major excuse, but fatigue is often a factor.
January 5th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Love G…
I am not sure Michael Jackson is guilty either!!!!!
haaaaaaaaaa!
I will give you an excuse for PV’s play yesterday. I know you LOVE excuses. We played 4 matches in 9 days. Who played ALL the MINUTES in ALL the games over this period???
Vieira, Toure, Henry. Thats it.
He was coming off injury and had just started to play better. You do ADMIT that prior to yesterday’s poor display, he has played BETTER and given us hope of a return to his good form… right? Do you admit that he had played better recently?
You want another admission, that I might be changing my mind on…? I’ll grudgingly admit that it would have been better if Vieira had gone in the summer, AND we replaced him with a solid midfielder.
Its apparent that he is NOT the same player right now… but, yes, I still think he can play alot better and be a catalist in helping us win trophies this year. Unfortunately, we don’t have much of a choice in midfield at the moment, and unless Wenger buys someone before window closes, we have VIEIRA, and we’ll be sinking or swimming with Paddy. Wenger still loves him, and so do most of the players.
January 5th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
It certainly would NOT have been better if Vieira had gone in the summer, and who exactly would that solid midfielder be that would replace him? Would he have fitted into the team and the EPL without a period of adjustment? Would he have commanded the love and respect that the rest of the team afford Vieira?
The only circumstance that I can foresee where selling Vieira in the summer would have been a good idea is if he goes for a lesser fee this summer and I don?t think that will happen.
January 5th, 2005 at 1:45 pm
Tim…. this is based on how he has played. He has not been close to what we’ve come to expect. As many here on ArseAm are aware, I am his BIGGEST supporter. But if we had?? Steven Gerrard… I think we’d be a bit better off!
January 5th, 2005 at 2:55 pm
Well, everybody wants Steven Gerrard, but that?s fantasy football. My point however is could we expect another midfielder to arrive and play better than Patrick has played so far this season, let alone play better than him when he?s in form? Remember that all of our current best players have needed some time to find their feet in Wengers team. If we?d sold patrick this summer then his replacement would have had to have been bought in a hurry, at an inflated price and then would have needed at the least a couple of months to settle in. Surly it?s better to stick with an underperforming but familiar world class player than to add a newbie to a squad that already look like it?s going through a period of transition?
January 5th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
Normally I’d agree 100%… but its debatable. That takes alot for me to say about Paddy. He needs to step up and play near his capability… as we REALLY need the real PV4 now.
January 5th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
I wonder if it was inevitable, given human nature, that PV4 would become a lightning rod after the summer transfer speculation. Its sad if its true, given that PV4 has provided so much high quality play to support the Gunners success in the past. Maybe I’ll take the positive spin here and say that maybe we gain something by his being here in sub-standard conditions because maybe he provides an excellent example to the kids in *training*, which we never get to see. Maybe these bright young stars are better *professionals* because of him. I sure hope so.
January 5th, 2005 at 11:49 pm
Ice, there is NO DOUBT that he is THE LIGHTENING ROD. There are supporters out there (here, on ArseAm! even) who are so pissed off with him, that he’ll never get a break in their eyes. He can do no right.
The FACT, that he got such a ringing endorsement from Thierry Henry, who said he would have considered leaving Arsenal if PV4 went to Real… and that Wenger is 100% devoted to him… SAYS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT. It says that he is a great teammate, loved by his coach and fellow players… a LEADER on the team.
This type of statement brings out the wrath of those who now dislike him… but they can’t argue with the above facts.
He has been a shell of what we know to be Patrick Vieira, but there is still time for him to rescue his season and lead us toward some hardware.
January 6th, 2005 at 8:20 am
I agree, Stag. But I must tell you. If he decides to play games again?oops, sorry, consider an important and justifiable career change?this summer and he does go to the retirement home of Real and he brings Henry with him…
…I will hunt him down and I will hobble him.
There. Now I have an FBI file.
January 6th, 2005 at 10:03 am
We need the real PV4 now probably more than ever! Lets just hope we see that PV4 the rest of the season particularly in the champions league as that is probably our most important competition now. But if Chelsea falter we’ll be there waiting. He should have something to prove now so lets see how he responds.