Apr 20
Today’s match against Chelsea is a captain’s match. Key players missing (Henry/Sol), tough opponent (Lampard), big psychological warfare element. The captain really needs to ‘own’ this one.
It’s also a big match for Wenger. Can he match Mourinho? Can he win the chessmatch?
Sure, other players all have roles but win or lose, I’ll be looking first at those two. I think they both have it in them to win their respective battles.
34 Responses to “Wenger and Vieira - Show Us All What You’ve Got”
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April 20th, 2005 at 7:20 am
I think we saw one of Vieira’s best games of the season on Saturday and now that Gilberto is back the two of the could win that midfield tonight and the match.
April 20th, 2005 at 7:58 am
I agree. Vieira had one of his best games for a long time on Saturday and it just goes to show how the influence of Gilberto changes his game.
I actually think we can sneak a win tonight with a vieira goal….
April 20th, 2005 at 8:02 am
The win will be nice, but it’s just A GAME.
No matters the outcome, I won’t chalenge Viera, Wenger, Mourinho or Lampard, just over one game.
It’s too childish and unproductive to put such an unhelathy pressure on yourself, if you really want to win these high profile game.
The key will humility, commitment and intelligence.
The players will have to use their brain first and should avoid to take it personnal at any stage.
It’s going to be a collective battle.
One individual mistake could decide the outcome.
SO PLEASE, NO UNHEALTHY PRESSURE.
I urge fans to relax, and to enjoy by a journey in the past year and what it has bought to us.
Viera and Wenger after nine year cannot be chalenge one season, not no mention one game.
Memory should help anybody : players, fans, coaches.
We are still the champions.
If we have to loose tonight we must loose in dignity as whole : players, fans, managers.
I know some people have already written their post to slam the USUAL SUSPECTS in case of defeat.
If we loose what I will make me more sad, is to heard “fans” coming “I told you this, I told you that, Chelsa is this, Wenger is that……”.
Dignity will recommend to share a little bit the pain suffered by the team.
They are the one who loose, we must not forget it. We are just supporters. It’s their team. they are who can loose or win, not us.
It’s time to clelebrate the unbeaten champions before we celebrate our rivals win.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:12 am
If Vieira show’s up and is willing to take a battering like he did on the weekend we should win that midfield battle. Lampard gets goals like Pires does and once he’s worring on how to break through first Paddy then Gilberto he”ll be out the sloppy goal option. It’s Terry and the headers we have to worry about. Let’s hope Lehman is playing for his spot next year and doesn’t flop around like a fish out of water. I’m not worried about the flanks we have Ralph and Cole (?..heheh).
I got 1-3 Arsenal with Vieira one and Reyes two.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:22 am
Fair enough. But, personally, I hope we hammer the dirty chelski scum and they fall to pieces in all their remaining games. i wont be congratulating them for winning the league. they’ve spent almost 1/4 billion pound in what, 2 seasons? it kind of takes the competitiveness out of it.
i also hope liverpool beat them in the champions league, and im really not a fan of liverpool.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:41 am
I think the key for Arsenal will be to expose Chel$ki at left back and right back.
They have effectively been playing with four centre-backs across the defensive line and that has seen them concede more goals than usual (16 in the last eleven games as opposed to 2 in the eleven games before that).
Pires vs Huth, could be very interesting. If Bobby doesn’t bottle it after a big challenge from the German he could get a lot of joy down that side.
Mourinho might opt to go for Glen Johnson but he too has been prone to errors (although mostly unpunished).
Wenger might spring his own surprise tonight. Pairing up Senderos and Campbell and switching Toure to the right. That would give us a serious attacking threat down the right. He could also play Lauren ahead of him (in Freddie’s absence), that would also give us the flexibility of going for five at the back when needed and smoothering the midfield and the supply to Duff and Cole.
I don’t think Vieira vs Lampard will be the key battle,it’s important, but Silva vs Makelele will decide who controls midfield.
Another interesting side show will be Terry vs Campbell. Terry has been telling everyone he should be a first choice for England during Sol’s absence, he might just find out what it means to challenge Sol like that, and we’ll see how much Terry’s injury has recovered after Bastian Sweinsteiger crunched into him.
Wenger’s easiest decision will be who to play upfront: Reyes and Bergkamp. Van Persie was excellent on Saturday but this game needs Bergkamp’s experience and Reyes’ pace.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:47 am
You right on both points Rick. Will wait and see what Wenger have under his magic hat and who the real PV is.
Like most football fans today, this game is really open and whoever turns up to play will win. The hype stops here.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:48 am
Henryetta,
I’ve got the same dream.
If we beat them, and if Fulham show more resilience, they’ll loose a little confidence and that could help Liverpool beat them.
If Liverpool beat them, the premier league race could open up more.
That’s why I want us to beat these dirtty bastard russians.
Anyway win or defeat I’m convinced as ever that we’ve got the best team and the best football in England.
April 20th, 2005 at 8:56 am
I like your game plan, paul, but its a damn good thing you don’t make movies. ;^)
I think our guys look at every game the same. They’re professionals and need to play football day in and day out the best that they can. When you do well, you enjoy it and that’s what life’s about. Not just winning. I couldn’t survive in a career that caused me to focus on another’s success. At the end of the day I have to look at myself and ask if I played to my ability. If I did, it was a good day.
Its the fans that live in the land of rivalry. Its the supporters that want to see players and managers crumble and suffer. Ours is a much different kind of passion. We reach onto the pitch with our hearts because that is how we can participate. The supporters are as much a part of the game as the players…just in a different way.
I see our guys (well, most of them) shake afterwards and hear about how they visit one another and know each other’s families and it helps you understand the nature of professional competitiveness. It must be that way, otherwise we would not see the brand of football that The Arsenal, and for the most part the entire top-flight, put out so many months out of the year, so many years out of their lives. As a player,iIf you don’t maintain a healthy distance from the game, you end up hurting your career by doing dumb things like beating up a 16 year old, or hitting your girlfriend in a club, or (gasp) kicking a fan a la Jackie Chan. Yes, it also must be that way, because…
…it makes wanting to throttle the likes of the kicking Nevilles, and the thick Keane, and the rotten Ferguson all the better. You see, its because it is healthy that the unhealthy make a name for themselves. That fuels the passion for all of us and puts us on the same page as our heroes. There is no doubt in my mind that when we take the pitch in our FA final, Paddy, Ashley and Sol will feel exactly the same way as we do. We can only hope they are able to channel it in the right way. And on that day, if all goes well, football becomes that perfect dream.
April 20th, 2005 at 9:15 am
With the factors you mention, Rick, history and reality put us at a slight disadvantage. But were B. City at a disadvantage greater than ours? Oh, yes. As were Blackburn and Man City. All three teams added together don’t amount to a third of our class.
This one’s all about NERVE and GUTS. And that starts with Paddy. We’re going to stare them down like a big heavyweight fight and take our time taking them apart. Gilberto and Senderos are the key factors tonight, because they will unleash the true nature of our captain. Makalele will bow to his buddy tonight. Lampard will shoot wildy and desperately, and hopefully face the scowl of Senderos. They’re going to feel the pressure from the kick off, and SEE IT IN OUR EYES.
To their credit they will play football, and they will always believe. But we must play better football, and have MORE belief. Wenger’s lineup will be CRUCIAL. It will sound the charge. We need to set the tone and control the fight through our chemistry. This is do or die for Reyes in my opinion. He must join the team mentally as if his life depended on it. But I feel that everyone out there, even Cole, is on the same page. Its why I’m wearing my 26-12-0 shirt right now. This is how we WILL WIN tonight.
Yes, we have no Henry or Freddie. But because of a few key factors like Bobby’s couple of goals, our clean sheets, Gilberto ’s returning presence and brilliance from the kids, the table has never been so set (until our FA final) for The Arsenal to sit back and let The GUNNERS control the match.
UP the GUNNERS! UP the GUNNERS! UP THE GUNNERS!!!
April 20th, 2005 at 9:28 am
lets see if reyes can actually stand up tonight, that will be a start.
i really hope senderos starts as he is the only reason why arsenal are looking more solid at the moment.
don’t think the return of gilberto has made a great deal of difference to vieira’s game. i just think he had a good game on saturday. simple as that.
im worried about our fire-power for tonight. we were functional rather than spectacular on saturday and i cant see us creating more than two chances. i predict 0-0 or 1-0 chelsea with a deflected lampard goal. again.
April 20th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Great blast Scotty! I think you’re right about the guys and I hope you’re right about the result.
April 20th, 2005 at 10:19 am
Thanks, milkman. I decided that I have to have belief if I expect them to have it. Day of the match, I’m giving nothing but POSITIVE!
April 20th, 2005 at 11:22 am
Forgive me for being so simple minded. All I care about is that Chel$ki?s balls are as blue as their jerseys by the end of the game. One can only hope ? blue balls to go with those blue jerseys so they can sing the blues, over a few Blues.
For me I?d just like to see Chelsea coach Mourinho (MoronWho) served a plate of humble pie for a change and nothing would be more fitting than if the Arsenal dished it out and carved it up for him. Oh yes, their victory in the EPL will be very tender when they?ve just had their balls kicked in by the kids from up north, Highbury way!
I don?t give a rat?s arse how the Arsenal do it; I know they can and now is the time to rise to that occasion.
Roll out the cannons?
I?m a gooner
Go Gunners go.
April 20th, 2005 at 11:59 am
Me too! For once I will be a Liverpool fan for a day when they take on the Chelski in the semi.
And paul u r dead right. It’s plain silly to measure a manager or a team just through one game.
April 20th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Yes we can loose the game but Chelski won’t celebrate before they beat Fulhma, an easy task, but has to be done first.
The Cl’s 1/2 is already in their mind. It could a be a key factor against Fulham if they decide to be physical and pressure for 90 minutes.
Chelski could try to reserve some energy.
The race is still open.
I go for a win, but even a draw or a defeat is not a shame.
It’s football.
We’ve been beaten by Bolton.
April 20th, 2005 at 12:42 pm
Play smart, stare them in the eye, show no fear, keep the shape in midfield.
Lastly, Reyes will feel as if time has stopped around him as he hooks the ball just that much above Cech and as he tumbles, watches the ball roll into the net.
We can win.
Believe.
April 20th, 2005 at 12:57 pm
I seem to remember Reyes scoring a couple of rather big goals against Chelsea.
I think our record against Chelsea in the last 18 matches is 10 WINS, 1 DEFEAT, 7 DRAWS
Can’t get much better than that, we do very very very well against them. I think we have nothing to lose and should be very loose & confident out there.
Wenger’s not playing tonite, so I won’t blame him if the troops don’t perform. He can only put them out there, fill them with confidence, and put the right people in the right places. The PLAYERS still have to succeed and do their jobs.
I expect another good match from Vieira. Nothing less is acceptable.
BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2005 at 1:57 pm
No, Wenger won’t do that, but I agree it’s the obvious tactic. I’d try starting van P up front but if he’s obviously outclassed switch to Dennis. What worries me about relying on Dennis’s marvellous passes is who’s he going to pass to?- Vieira, Pires, Gilberto? Well maybe, let’s hope, because if it’s Reyes the chances are he’ll simply fall down. It happened on Sunday, I think twice.
April 20th, 2005 at 2:20 pm
I’ve just seen Arsenal’s line up, and I’m extremely disappointed in Wenger’s predictably. If Arsenal do win this, then we can win the league, because Chelsea should win this game comfortably, and if they don’t even get a draw then they’re capable of messing the whole thing up.
April 20th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
It’s half-time.
Arsenal have got more possession than Chelsea.Two missed sitters by Pires.
Flowing football, the defence is looking good.
Bring on Van Persie for Bergkamp early, cuz Dennis seems to be out of pace for the majority of the game.
April 20th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
As most of us agreed, reyes and bergy up fornt togather is waste od time. It looked like Peres who was in the attaking position.
Anyways, good game today. I hoped that were able to create more chances. Even when RVP and Ali came, the game was already almost over. Arsenal played a great 60 minutes. But tough luck fot Peres. And I dunno what Reyes was doing today ?
I am sure if Herny was able to play today, Arsenal could have shown more affective result.
Man U lost, so the race to second place is in our side specially they have Chelsea at the end.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
April 20th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
Decent performance from both teams tonight.
Silva, Pat and Bobby were very good.
As a whole there’s not much to stay.
But we miss striking options, though Bobby was a threat.
Dennis made his runs, and almost created a goal. Not much to say.
The defense was good considering the quality in front of them.
ANother clean sheet.
Senderos passed his last biggest of the season.
He won some key battles and lost one or two. This happens to the best.
He proved that he can be there with the best.
Therefore he’s convincing everybody that he should in the first eleven.
Kolo improved a lot. He has become better in the air.
On the ground he already is one of the best in Europe because of his pace and skills.
Considering the stability and quality in our central defense, Campbel is being given all the time he needs to be on his top.
95% is not than better than Kolo or Senderos.
Cole and Lauren were solid.
Cesc is going to be a world class. I’ve no doubt about it. He was decent like the team. He will develop physically and become more powerfull.
Considering the clients, I am very happy with the draw ESPECIALLY THE CLEAN SHEET.
We missed Tierry Henry, but we had a good game. I think even the neutral cannot moan too much about the quality of the game.
Congratulations the lads.
April 20th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
Sorry, that performance wasn’t good enough, we gave up the title with a whimper. Where was the fire and passion?
Senderos was good, but not so good that we don’t need to buy another central defender, he made two crucial mistakes that would have seen us buried twice were it not for Drogbas’s bad finishing and a woeful final ball.
Reyes doesn’t want to be at Arsenal, he was completely hopeless, playing at 25% of his capacity. Bergkamp was completely anonymous again. There was no right sided attacking threat and the team was completely lop sided with Pires & Reyes our only hope of creativity, both were shut out with relative ease, although Pires was our best player.
I questioned Wenger’s predictably ineffective line up before the game started and he didn’t make any changes until the 78th minute, pure insanity. You could tell after 20 minutes that Arsenal were running out of ideas and would create nothing if Wenger didn’t change it, as Chelsea were defending with such ease.
Yes we were unlucky when Pires hit the bar, but we would have seen a different game had that have gone in, whilst Arsenal were also lucky not to pay for 2 bad errors from Senderos.
This team needs surgery, Goalkeeper, Central Defender, Right Midfield & Striker are all big priorities now. Sell Reyes, his body language was all wrong again, and add the money to what Wenger has in the summer. Bergkamp must go, legend though he is, his contribution is completely negligble and he’s holding back the progress of the team.
April 20th, 2005 at 6:58 pm
Arsenal started well and maintained the tempo in the first half. The game became less flowing in the second half - could be due to tired legs. As expected, Wenger started Bergkamp and Reyes upfront. They were largely ineffectual against a well organized Chel$ki defence. Without Henry’s cutting edge, the chances fell to Pires who could have won himself a major contract extension if he had scored from those two opportunities.
I think it is time to let players like van Persie, Ali and Quincy start for the remainder of the season. Reyes was pedestrian and it must be a scary thought for us that Wenger wanted to rely on him in place of Henry. It does not appear to work. Bergkamp seemed to run out of steam after an impressive early season - maybe the call from Ajax will the swansong for the great man.
Did someone said that Ali looks more buffy? Would like to see how he fares in the next few games. With Reyes not able to beat his marker, maybe Quincy can come in and show how it is done. I like van Persie to get a run in the starting team to have him ready for the to be expected bruising encounter against Manure.
On the bright side: Another clean sheet with Sendoros in the team. He handled Drogba very well and Drogba has been in form for the past few games. The setpiece defending is more robust - thanks to aerial strength provided by Gilberto, Viera and Sendoros. Also Lehmann is playing better making a few good stops.
April 20th, 2005 at 7:07 pm
Danny… please, relax.
Give Chelsea a bit of credit. They have lost 1 match in the league all season, and allowed 4 goals all year at home. They are not exactly chopped liver.
Wenger going with tried/true veterans is not insanity, its not even mildly surprising. He’s steady and stay the course. Always has been. AW is not going to make drastic changes. He doesn’t believe in throwing kids to the wolves unless he HAS to.
0-0 at Chelsea is a good result.
We needed a WIN to make it interesting. We had our chances early. Without our best player in TH14, we drew on the road at Chelsea.
Somehow, you find this an unacceptable effort?
I am not sure how or why.
Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the opponent, not our season… but it is Chelsea’s day in the sun.
April 20th, 2005 at 7:58 pm
We said Stag. Danny may make it all seem like it’s the end of the world drawing away with this season’s champions but you have to take your hat off to Wenger, for sticking with his young guns instead of taking the easy route and having a January clearout buying.
No Thierry, Sol & Freddie, can’t expect to beat Chelski considering our thin squad.
Yet again another clean sheet. How many teams can say that after playing at Stamford Bridge this season, certainly not Barcelona, Bayern & Man Utd.
By buying a keeper, defender with experience, striker to replace Bergkamp and also a tactical no 2, we should be back where we belong!
April 20th, 2005 at 8:36 pm
2 missed sitters?
huh?
He volleyed the first one out of mid-air and beat the keeper with the shot, only to be denied by the cross bar. That was pure skill by Pires.
The 2nd one he HAS to put on goal. It might have been stopped, but its gotta be on target.
April 21st, 2005 at 6:58 am
I agree that normally a draw against Chelsea wouldn’t be a bad result, but I was dismayed at Arsenal’s lethargy. You have to admit, Arsenal did not look like a team desperately trying to hold onto their title - there was no intensity to their play except for the first 10 minutes.
Chelsea deserve it of course, I just thought Arsenal could have made a better fist of it, especially in the second half
April 21st, 2005 at 7:08 am
What do you mean sticking to his young guns? Reyes, Fabregas & Senderos were the only young guns, and they replaced Henry, Ljungberg & Campbell. Do you really think he would have played his young guns if he didn’t have to? He didn’t even trust his subs until the game was dead.
In my opinion, the young guns are great, but they’re not ready yet, and they won’t be next season either. Wenger has the ammo, and he needs to spend it in key areas, at least you agree with that. I have a bad bad feeling that Wenger will stupidly give Bergkamp another year and he won’t buy a defender either.
I am really questioning his tactical accumen after last night, why did he leave it so late to make substitutions?? And why did he bring Aliadiere on 2 minutes after Van Persie and not both together? He just wasted 2 of the last 10 minutes of football.
Why don’t you question these daft decisions, and the pointless formation of Bergkamp & Reyes up front, if he loves his kids so much,why not play Van Persie or Aliadiere from the start?
April 21st, 2005 at 8:31 am
Let’s sack him, and hire you.
April 21st, 2005 at 8:33 am
Chelsea had alot to do with it.
They are a solid team, hard to break down.
Thierry Henry would have helped. He wasn’t available.
April 21st, 2005 at 10:47 am
Don’t forget Chelsea was fresh with a weeks rest whereas Arsenal got their legs kicked from under them on Saturday.
April 21st, 2005 at 12:56 pm
You’re just a sycophant. Maybe you don’t even care about Arsenal.