Arsenal 0 Chelsea 2, was anyone surprised? After so many seasons of expecting magical comebacks (a-la Kanu) from the brink of defeat and acheiving many, this season I watch the game like the majority of other fans and anticipate the worst after we go behind to the top teams.
So instead of focusing on the negatives let’s look at the positives. I thought Lehmann looked good and made some great stops, he was totally without blame and at this point I would be happy if he continued next season in goal. The back line faired pretty well for a make shift defence, except of course Ralph’s indecision allowing J.Cole to muscle him off the ball and finish us off! Toure looked inspired though, he always gives his all, I feel that grit might have been better off in midfield though and he did allow Robbin to escape him to score the 1st!. Senderos and Campbell coped well as a central defencive paring, I’m happy with that tandom in future. Henry hit the post again after some amazing footwork and RVP’s goal should have stood, on another day they would have put both away.
There’s the positives then, not that many really is there! We all know whats required don’t we, so no point rehashing old posts, let’s just hope all our Christmas wishes come true. Personally I would wish for just 2 things right now. 1st a tall target man to play off when our ‘play to feet’ fails to work and 2nd a midfielder like Essien who bosses the pitch.
On one last note, if Wenger asks Henry if he feels he’s more inclined to leave at the end of the season than not and he say’s yes, do you think we should sell him in January to maximize our return….Or should we keep him to help us win a cup competiton? From my point of view I would say sell now for …40 Million quid and bring in a high class replacement next season. (that doesn’t effect my 2 wishes)
58 Responses to “Are there any positives for Arsenal?”
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December 19th, 2005 at 8:12 am
Hmmm, not sure Henry would go for anything like the GBP40M you mentioned but on the plus side he’s one of very few players in the world who, IMO, would still command a sizeable fee should he decide to leave with just one year remaining on his contract. For a start any side declaring an interest in him would immediately bring one or two other big bidders into the equation & push the price up. Along with this, any buying club would know they’d be getting him for the rest of his (top level) career so that’s also worth a premium. We’re talking about at most (an entirely hypothetical) 20ish million squids though…
December 19th, 2005 at 8:19 am
Like most fans I put my money on Chelsea winning cuz I lived in the world of Reality. Thank God they won and I did well at the bookies. Yes talk about having faith in my team. Well, that was my money and not in the mood of messing about with my money
This is nothing to do with silly faith but from what I’ve seen this season and I’m afraid we not good enough to beat Chelsea liverpool or United. Mark my words. Charlton on Boxing day will make it 4 in a roll unless Wenger stops complaining and tell the players to play football.
What game were you watching NBG. where Senderos and Campbell coped well as a central defencive paring . Stop it.
But I do agree with you. The time have come for us to Sell Henry. Unless you living in denial or the fantasy land the guy is leaving so we might as well make some money of Barca.
Hey what do I know?
Arsene Knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
In Wenger we trust everyone else fcuk off
Have Faith and Up the Arse
Not to forget kiss the Ba*****
December 19th, 2005 at 8:41 am
The biggest positive I see is on order: a club with experience and talent in about two years. I don’t see anything of merit happening in January. Panic buys aren’t Wenger’s style, and who is there that will really help us where we need it? I’m afraid we just lost our last paddle.
But we can still push along with our hands. I never expected to win this one. Yesterday was a chance for us to erase the past few disappointments and fire the club into a new gear. There were moments where we showed some improvement. Hleb is still green and fresh off the physio table and I think he’s going to be great. He’s just not what we need right now. Flamini showed heart as usual, but he’s a little short of what we need, too.
Sol is a plank. Time to make jeans.
Lauren and Toure are finding consistency and heart, but they still have to raise their hands for two goals conceded. We’ve got players filling in all over the pitch and forwards that can’t finish. A recipe for disaster if ever there was one.
But as I started my reply, I’ll conclude - we will rise to greatness again. Wenger’s gamble has finally broken the club in the short term, but the CL still beckons. I think I speak for most of us when I say if we were to lose in the semi’s, it would have been a good year. But even if that goes sour, he’s still leaving the bookie with a few bucks on which to build his next fortune.
Can our big guns fire us back into European contention? Will Henry be leaving in January? At this point, I fear the worst. In fact, I’m working on an article about our vets and the unbeaten streak. I won’t get into it here, but suffice it to say it may be a bridge too far to bring them around ever again.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:05 am
OK…
first and foremost…
Why the hell we would consider selling Henry in January? That would be suicide and surrender.
If we make the top 4, and the CL next year… and bring in proven players, there is a good chance he will stay at Arsenal.
If you sell Henry in January, then sell everybody. Sell Campbell, Pires, Freddie, and anyone else worth a damn… because without Henry in the team, we have ZERO chance of finishing top 4.
40 Million pounds? The only team that would pay that much for him is Chelsea, and I’d rather see him go on a FREE than sell him to Chelsea.
Positives?
Well, I don’t think we are so far behind Chelsea in talent, that we can close the gap. A couple of good purchases in January, and getting Ashley Cole back in the new year will help a lot.
We are capable of making the top 4. Wenger on Arsenal.com admits the goal is to make the CL, and that is ESSENTIAL, and we are simply trying to get as far up the league table as possible.
Its not going to be easy this season, but we have to get on with the tasks, and get our heads out of the sand. We need players coming in… in JANUARY. Hopefully Wenger and the board do it properly… and we make the top 4… make a good run in the CL… and make a run at the FA Cup.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:09 am
We should only sell Henry if we DON’T want to make the CL next season.
Selling Henry? INSANE.
Why not sell Ash, Sol, Pires, & Freddie in January while we are at it?
Let’s give up completely and try and finish mid-table.
LoveG… I know its not very bright right now, but you KNOW you don’t sell your star players. EVER. That makes you a selling team. We’ve already done that with Vieira, and look where its left us.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:37 am
The writing was on the wall in the F.A Cup final. The whole team is too slow, slow in thought and in movement. We’re not in the same stratosphere as United, Chelsea, and Barcelona in terms of attacking midfielders and forwards who have zest and purpose and defenders that can dicate play when the opposition is defending deep. When we defended deep against United Silvestre speared balls behind our full backs for Rooney and Ronaldo. When we sit back against Chelsea Terry can stride forward and probe with confidence. Who have we got, two clumsy oafs in Campbell and Senderos, who couldn’t even pick out an obese discus thrower with a pass.
How terrible were Senderos and Campbell yesterday. Both as slow as slugs and their inability to win important battles was illustrated in the first goal when a chelsea throw in was not dealt with by Senderos and somehow Drogba put Robben through. What other team, apart from Sunderland, could give away such a stupid goal?
We are really going to have to buy some ball playing central defenders as they are constantly giving the ball away in midfield thus leaving themselves out of position and not allowing us to build up any sort of momentum in our attacks.
We are a terrible, terrible team when trying to claw back deficits against good teams and that’s where our limitations up-front are exposed but when the game is 0-0 like yesterday we are dangerous and if Van Persie’s goal had been allowed we could have scraped a draw and you never know, we may have even relaxed enough to actually play our game with confidence and put them to the sword, but that was always unlikely. However our defence put paid to that. Stag, you can talk about our gash midfield but when you give a goal away to the best defensive team in english football history and give them confidence, every team bar Barcelona is going to look pedestrian trying to break them down. Our defence has always been and always will be our achilles heel. Who remembers Sol Campbell gifting United possession outside our area for their first goal in the our 4-2 defeat last season? If we cut out the individual mistakes in our back four the rest of our team could attack with calcluated calmness and not have to chase the game due to the stupidity of our defence.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:43 am
No goals in 4 games.
Thats not on the defense.
Midfield is where it all starts. They share the blame, even your golden boy Cesc. What have you done for me lately… in Arsenal’s case… NOTHING.
December 19th, 2005 at 9:53 am
Stag,
Like you I want Henry to stay and win us things but my hearts says the guy is leaving. As you said yourself ” if I was in Henry shoes I won’t be waiting for the kids to come good whilst I’m getting old.”
Arsenal have to buy players with skills and experience and I don’t see Wenger doing that so Henry will be leaving. This team is not up to the business. Cole to me will be leaving as well. He had said it time and time again that Arsenal need experience players and if we don’t and Madrid come calling he will go.
Is about time the management of Arsenal FC start asking serious questions about what direction they wanna take the club. Having a new stadium means f all if you don’t make it to the CL.
That says we are a selling club
December 19th, 2005 at 9:56 am
I agree that our players Talents are good, but you don?t just depend on individual talents. None can deny that Real Madrid has the most talented players, but they are doing as bad as us.
Our style of play should be a bit modified or at least flexible enough to be modifiable when needed. i.e. playing physical when needed, switching from defense to offence during a game.
I think we are suffering from a thin squad, the moral for those 11-14 players that played in the last 4 game ?I believe? are much destroyed as the flooded City of New Orleans.
How can you expect those kids to get themselves up to track now ? A team that finished unbeaten 2 seasons ago, has suffered its 6 defeat from 16 games. If I am playing in a team like that, I would loose the apatite for playing. When bring in new player either from the reserves or new players, those players will be in better morals to play. If they can bring the win to us, the whole club will be lifted up again ?.
Now I am asking when will we WIN a game? Almost 14 months ago, I was asking when will we lose a game?
I am not asking to rush and buy any players, but AW should at least use his abilities and buy us a cheap (not young) player that can provide a plan B !.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:00 am
LoveG, good for you that you are living in the REALITY all the time, and actually made some fast cash out of your beloved club’s expense by betting Arsenal lose.
I may be a day dreamer who got nothing but silly BLIND FAITH towards our club, but I had NEVER and I would NEVER bet against our own club, nor written our own club off. If I’m going to make some fast cash, there are 9 other Premiership fixtures available all the time.
Sorry, I’m confused. You actually wrote ‘THANK GOD they (Chelsea) had won”????
December 19th, 2005 at 10:01 am
Real Madrid are not doing as bad as we are.
They are not 20 points behind the leaders.
and Wenger needs to buy PROVEN talent, not cheap anything. Pay the money, bring in the PROVEN players we need, or we are DONE this season… and for the short term future. Those are the facts.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:02 am
I’m afraid your wrong. It’s not the midfield’s fault if the defenders behind them give the ball away every five minutes and thus find themselves caught out of position and invariably conceding a goal. How is that the midfield’s fault?
I’ve often commented on how deceiving and over-rated our goal scoring statistics however your fondness for basing everything on statistics restricts and renders your arguments mechanical and devoid of context. Everything is not black and white. Arsenal actually scored a perfectly good goal yesterday, should have scored a couple at Newcastle but for Henry missing and Henry was desperately unlucky against Bolton. Our goal-scoring is not the root problem although our defensive weaknesses highlights the limits we have in an attacking sense when chasing a game. But then, what teams are convincing chasing game? Very few.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:05 am
Ash and Henry are ONLY leaving if we don’t buy proven talent in January and don’t make the top 4.
(perhaps Ash is going regardless)
But there is still time to make the top 4 in the EPL.
4th place is reality. But thats all it takes.
We can definitely do that if we splash the cash for the proven players we need in January.
Its not total doom. Henry will wait to see what we are doing in January.
Without CL football, the new stadium will be a HUGE financial burden in year 1.
Then, we will REALLY be in financial trouble and not be able to bring in talent. That is REAL crisis.
Its time to stop the bleeding NOW.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:15 am
Agree Andez, don’t get your passion and your money intertwined. Did anybody else feel flamini was anonymous yesterday? Exactly. Hleb looked well, will the real Fred please step up…
December 19th, 2005 at 10:28 am
I’ve said it before, Arsenal is a midtable team. Just look at our line up npw and compare. How many ’stars’ do we really have?
This problem has been building. We lose Edu and we get Flamini. We lose Vieira and voila - Alex Song. For Wiltord we get the misfiring Reyes. What about van Bronckhorst and Palour? As for the existing stars, they have faced no competition for places and some like Lauren have been retained well beyond their sell-by date. After seasons of ignoring the kids Wenger suddenly decides to break them in all at once. Wenger says he wants to give them a chance except that unlike Fabregas, Flamini, Reyes, Robin, Eboue, Song, are not Arsenal youth products and don?t deserve any ?chance?. In the meantime teams like Spurs have been loading up on talent, many of it the same local talent that Wenger keeps dissing and expects us to belive the likes of Gilberto, Flamini and Reyes are better than. A bit fitting that Joe Cole should kill us with such a sweet finish. He was an Arsenal fan you know. Told you have a team with no locals is diluting the Arsenal Spirit. The French contingent got it from Adams& Co., now that contingent is gone. A copy of a copy. Now we even lack the fight to come from 1-0 down.
No way we would ever have won this game unless we got a late goal. I could never see a victory for us and refused to waste my money on PPV to watch us lose. Come on now. If Robin’s goal had stood do you doubt for aa minute that Chelsea would have failed to score? The reason Chelsea keeps beating is the same as the reason we kept beating them. They’re simply the better team - by far.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:30 am
Stag is spot on in that we don’t want to become a selling team. What quality worker wants to come to an organization that sells (fires) their best employees? That’s stupid.
As far as the future, I’ve been asking since the summer what’s going on and no one answers me. Probably because, like me, no one really knows. No one can even SWAG it so I won’t ask anymore.
Wenger allowed too many experienced midfield players to leave since the unbeaten season in order to give youth a chance. Youth has failed so we need to buy. I don’t care if he calls it panic buys or not but with 63 million and a request for fans to trust him, Wenger must do something. Problem is that most player need about 1 1/2 years to become truly effective. We don’t have that kind of time.
I never imagined that under Wenger our team would be so poorly managed to be twenty points back at any time but to be that far back before Christmas is unbelievable.
btw I’m back from the desert, boys.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:34 am
“btw I’m back from the desert, boys.”
If that doesn’t put our season in perspective, we’re lost. Welcome back, mate. And thank you.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Arsenal should not sell Henry no matter how much money is offered. But Wenger should consider passing the captain’s armband to another player as I believe the pressure of captaincy is affecting his game. Sol has lost a step or two since his injuries last season - he is not the same player he was two seasons ago. An experienced central defender in his prime is needed to partner Sendoros or Toure for the longer term. Lauren may have performed well this season in the right back position but his lack of speed against faster opponents like Robben and Ronaldo can be Arsenal’s achilles heel. In Hoyte, we have a speed demon though somewhat inexperienced right back but he should be the future right back for Arsenal. Many of us have said this many many times that the biggest weakness is our central midfield position where there is truly a lack of stature though not short on passing ability and skill. Who can we bring in to complement Gilberto and is not cup-tied as well? I think Wenger will have to look to South American players for that position. I am afraid that Cesc and Flamini will continue to play fringe roles for the team unless they receive NFL type of strength training to beef up their stature - Makelele and Petit are not tall players but they have the strength and tenacity in their tackling to win balls. Song is definitely one for the near future if he progress well in his development. Up front, I will stick with van Persie to partner Henry. van Persie will improve and become a better forward next season. I will keep Pires & Ljungberg in the team to provide the experience down the wing back positions but there is a need to have younger and capable replacements for them as well. Helb is really more of a central creative player in the Bergkamp mold though he can fit into the wing back position as well. I am afraid Reyes has used up all the chances given to him to prove himself - he has been a disappointing buy and I would recommend to trade him to Real for someone like a Baptista.
Lets look forward to next season as I am afraid this season is a wash out. We might get past RM in the CL but when we come up against the AC Milans or Bayern Munichs, we will be found wanting.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:37 am
Your right, they are miles better than us, although that is no great shame when you consider how much they’ve spent. I am still trying to get my head around the fact that Joe Cole cost ?6 million and Reyes cost ?17 million. Transfers have been and will always be an ego-trip for Wenger. He passes up good english players who can improve, except Jenas who I believe is crap, and pays ?17 million for a player like Reyes who was apparently playing very poorly in his final year in Seville, a time when Wenger was scoutinh him intensely. it just doesn’t make sense. I could understand and suport his transfer policy if it wasn’t full of so many contradictions.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:39 am
More like who can we bring in too replace Gilberto so he can piss off.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:49 am
It was a terrible terrible weekend for me and not just because of Sundays game. Against all odds I had hoped that maybe Arsenal would win and the weekend would not be all deppressing but it was not to be.
It is further disheartening to come in on this site today and read the posts from the usual supsects (love_gunners) among others who have always made great hay out of the fact that they are somehow the only fans around that pre-date Wenger. These same so called fans openly admit to having bet against their own club and have the temerity to state on an Arsenal website : “Thank God Chelsea won”.
Wow this is something else, so called Arsenal fans actually GlOATING about their teams defeat at the hands of their great rivals.
As far as the game is concerned yes Chelsea won the game fairly, but I do believe that a more fair and reflective score would have been 0-1 or 1-2. Van Persie’s goal should have stood and the only glaring mistake that stands out was Lauren’s dithering on the ball when Joe Cole was bearing down on him. That was unforgivable and pretty much snuffed out any credible chance of a comeback. Other than that one instance though, Lauren was solid taking into account the fact that he was played out of position.
Another disheartening thing about yesterdays match was the state of the league tables. As much as I hate Manure I would still prefer them to win the title any day of the week to Chelsea. And this defeat made it that much harder for them to come back against them. It has been a very long time since Chelsea took six points from Arsenal in the league and so it has to be admited that the body blow that they inflicted on us was severe.
The conclusion is that the defense needs to be shored up greatly. The defense is the teams weakest link. The midfield and the strikers performed well but it was the weak link in the defense that Chelsea exploited to maximum affect.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:15 am
We’ve got 63 mil. We don’t need to buy cheap, we need to buy class; regardless of the price. And we do need to hurry up and do it soon. We could play with a thin squad if our players were more experienced and more dyanmic. It’s what made Vieira phenomenal. He not only delivered a hard tackle, he passed, dribbled, faked, tricked, and scored very well. Everyone wants a Vieira. We had the prototype and gave it away. I won’t beat that horse anymore.
Real Madrid isn’t doing as bad as us. They’re in third place and still in the title race. We aren’t any of those two things. The reserves aren’t going to help us out of mediocrity. We are desperate now like Manure were after they sold Jaap Stam. Unfortunately other teams know that and will force Wenger to pay like Leeds pimped Manure for a ridiculous amount of money for Rio. We’ll suffer the same fate as they did and bounce back or refuse to pay and stay in mediocrity.
December 19th, 2005 at 11:19 am
I am as disaapointed as anyone with yesterday’s result, but some thoughts to share:
1. Kolo worked his socks off. I am not Wenger, but even before the season began, I posted here that I think Kolo should fill PV’s spot. Kolo is tall, athletic, can go box to box, knows our system and I think he would be a good fit in that role; but obviously AW disagrees with that. My thought is AW has been counting on Gilberto to fill in PV’s void but that strategy has back fired. Gilberto has not been himself since his injury at Bolton last season. Though we missed him terribly last year, he is not up to what we and AW expected this year, and that has hurt us…..badly.
2. Senderos and Campbell seem to be a decent pairing…not perfect but decent, and I think they need to play together more to get better. We clearly miss Ash right now. We have given up 3 crucial goals in the last 3 weeks from Ash’s spot (Bolton’s 2nd, Solano, and Joe Cole).
3. I love Thierry and Robin starting, but the issue is lack of FREQUENT service to them. If the opposing team knows that our forwards won’t be threatening, they are much more composed and attack minded which then exposes our back side…..this goes back to having a midfield engine, a general, some hard-arsed monster who gets the ball back, feeds it to wings or forwards (PV comes to mind). We miss him….NO DOUBT.
4. Flamini is awful. Pure and simple. Ran his socks off, but did not contribute positively at all. He gives the ball away 90% of the time. That is unacceptable if you’re a midfielder. Actually, Gilberto has been doing that as well recently…..again, not acceptable.
5. I said this before the season started…..TH14 will not be himself this season because of the added pressure of the captaincy and this has been worsened by the lack of a powerful midfield. In my opinion, someone else should have the band (like Sol), but that will NEVER happen. Also, Sol was not playing when we needed to have a new captain. So that has not been great either.
6. We can not, should not, and hope, will not sell Henry in January. Without him, it will be near impossible to make it to CL qualifying next year. That, as every one agrees will be disasterous.
7. Even though he does not like to, I think AW will buy this January. I think he sees the season slipping away and we will need reinforcements. Who he will get I don’t know, but I hope our scouts are finding a proven, non-cup-tied, midfielder, or defender who can be a midfielder. Again, don’t know who. I must admit Bolton’s Faye ate us up and he as an animal. If I’m not mistaken, he is also Senegalese (go figure). Would like to see him donning the O2, but he just renewed his contract with Bolton I think…….like that means anything!!!!
Any way…..disappointing season so far, but not fatal. We need a few tweakings and we may, just may, be in a good position come May.
Until then, Go Gunners……
Big Gun
December 19th, 2005 at 12:01 pm
It’s alright for you Love_Gunner, I predicted Arsenal would lose against Bolton, Newcastle & Chelsea - but I didn’t put a penny on any of them.
Personally I feel the midfield is Arsenal’s biggest problem, that’s not to say we don’t have problems in defence - since Wenger’s inherited rearguard dissipated he has proven to be clueless at buying defenders. For a manager who is so in love with technical football, he has 4 defenders who are unable to make an accurate pass of more than 10 feet - and his coaching of defenders is equally bad, as they have little positional sense.
However, when you have the liks of Vieira/Petit/Edu - even Parlour to a lesser extent, in front of you it certainly makes their job a lot easier.
Senderos looks sh*t to me. He’s not Arsenal quality - might as well get rid of him. He’s far too slow and awkward, and his distribution is even worse than Campbell’s. Yesterday it was his turn to have a complete and utter nightmare. I don’t rate Senderos and believe we should replace him as soon as possible.
We all know the midfield problem, inexperience in the middle, ageism on the flanks. I’d rather have Reyes & Hleb playing than Pires & Ljungberg - who are both past their best.
Up front Henry & Van Persie are doing as much as they can considering the midfield can never give them the ball. I don’t understand the criticisms of Henry, he cannot drop deep to pick up the ball and beat 8 players, it’s hard enough beating the 2 or 3 that crowd around him. He needs service and support. Same for Van Persie really.
Wenger’s tactics yesterday were a joke. He obviously told the team to push right up, but you can’t do that when you have a defender as slow as Senderos in the team. Mourinho obviously targeted him at half time, because Drogba & Robben ripped him apart on the counter every time they could. It was as easy as Chelsea thumping long balls any near Senderos and watching him struggle.
I would like to think Arsenal can make 4th, it’s incredibly crucial. I’m not going to moan anymore about Wenger this season, he’s f*cked up, and he knows and we know what needs to happen now, I just hope he acts aggressively in doing it.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:02 pm
Money is the root of all evil. What you do it with it is your business!
To pontificate that you bet against Arsenal and won some cash is something I wouldn’t have written on an Arsenal fan site. I think you have a lot of nerve. The only thing these comments conjured up in me was a complete feeling of disdain for you.
I don’t know whether I really want to read this type of post because in my heart I feel that it is complete arrogance on your part. Call me old-fashioned but I felt the grief of loosing, you telling me you made money of the loss and Chelsea’s win because your money is so important are not really something that should be posted here. Keep it to yourself. If you?ve thrown in the towel and want to sell the stars, bet on the opposing team and slap me in the face by writing it here. Well, suffice it to say I have no respect for you at all. I think your name is an oxymoron at this point and I can?t take anything you write as serious.
I?m only writing now because I simply can?t believe your utter sense of self-importance that you think we would want to know you made some cash at the bookies. Old-fashioned thinking tells me you are no fan and if you are, why rub salt in my wounds with this information.
What kills me is that if you were chasing money you?d probably be better of following Abramovich?s club and betting weekly that they will win. Logic tells me that would make you a love_MONEY. Some things are better just not said; why you elected to tell me this I don?t know. I have no respect for you sir, none what so ever. I will not respond to your posts because from now on I see you as someone who follows another sense of the game, which has absolutely no ethics. You?re sounding less and less like a true fan to me. While others may not voice an opinion or ignore it, I can?t.
How would you of felt if Pete Rose was the manager of your club - according to and the importance of moeny I assume you’d say that makes him a smart guy.
Maybe you should think before you voice your thoughts - Christ was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver too ? you are a JUDAS to me. Enjoy your money and buy a length of rope with it.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:09 pm
I said it above but I?ll say it again.
Love_G
Money is the root of all evil. What you do it with it is your business!
To pontificate that you bet against Arsenal and won some cash is something I wouldn’t have written on an Arsenal fan site. I think you have a lot of nerve. The only thing these comments conjured up in me was a complete feeling of disdain for you.
I don’t know whether I really want to read this type of post because in my heart I feel that it is complete arrogance on your part. Call me old-fashioned but I felt the grief of loosing, you telling me you made money of the loss and Chelsea’s win because your money is so important are not really something that should be posted here. Keep it to yourself. If you?ve thrown in the towel and want to sell the stars, bet on the opposing team and slap me in the face by writing it here. Well, suffice it to say I have no respect for you at all. I think your name is an oxymoron at this point and I can?t take anything you write as serious.
I?m only writing now because I simply can?t believe your utter sense of self-importance that you think we would want to know you made some cash at the bookies. Old-fashioned thinking tells me you are no fan and if you are, why rub salt in my wounds with this information.
What kills me is that if you were chasing money you?d probably be better of following Abramovich?s club and betting weekly that they will win. Logic tells me that would make you a love_MONEY. Some things are better just not said; why you elected to tell me this I don?t know. I have no respect for you sir, none what so ever. I will not respond to your posts because from now on I see you as someone who follows another sense of the game, which has absolutely no ethics. You?re sounding less and less like a true fan to me. While others may not voice an opinion or ignore it, I can?t.
How would you of felt if Pete Rose was the manager of your club - according to and the importance of money I assume you’d say that makes him a smart guy.
Maybe you should think before you voice your thoughts - Christ was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver too ? you are a JUDAS to me. Enjoy your money and buy a length of rope with it.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Well Mr.T, I?m only glad you didn?t say I told you so, which you?d have every right to say. I found it disconcerting then and the reality of it now is equally painful.
Yesterday was indeed a nightmare and as much as I love the guy the buck most definitely stops at Wenger?s desk.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:22 pm
I’d rather see him go with a handshake and part in good company. He has served our club to at least deserve that. Just now he’s looking rather dismal I agree.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
I’m with you sir. “Thank God that he is a fair and loving God, yes.” but not that Chelsea won, as God doesn’t pick sides or go to the bookies.
That said I’m sure that Sunderland and Everton fans are winging up a few prayers themselves.
December 19th, 2005 at 12:30 pm
Tomas Rosicky would be a good start, although I’m not sure where we would play. He should probably take Hleb’s place until Alexandr improves- he doesn’t look quite up to it at the moment. Rosicky is genuine top quality on the ball, unlike Ljungberg, Reyes, and even Pires now.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
Can’t blame Gilberto’s poor performance in midfield against Chelsea… he didn’t play.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:08 pm
FoxSoccer shows the German league often.
I have seen Rosicky for a few years now… he seems to be a very good player. I’d love to see us in for him in January.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:10 pm
There has been a paradigm shift since I last posted because while most of the names remain the same, I can?t believe some of the things that I?m reading here today.
Arsenal lost one of its most important games. Yes, it wasn?t entirely fair with the RVP goal disallowed but Chelsea went on to win and Arsenal lost. Nothing more and nothing less. It happens all the time; AC Milan didn?t win any silverware last year and lost their most important game rather embarrassingly. Did they sell off their stars?
I agree that ?the boss? is completely responsible and in the end he has to make the changes which to date, he has seemed reluctant to effect. I hope that he goes on to prove himself worthy of the respect he has so earned from his fans. We?ve also had some very bad luck and it seems that the referee?s calls are not going Arsenal?s way. Overall, just now things aren?t looking to rosey for the club.
However, it?s not a sinking ship, even though some of the rats seem to abandoning ship (?Thank God Chelsea won?). They have to find the resolve to claw back their place in the table and work hard to get it. Pardon me for this platitude, but isn?t that what sport is all about. Surely, none of us thought we?d be at win number 120(?) unbeaten.
Wenger needs to actually do something now and not sit on his hands living off the laurels of the clubs history. There is plenty of time and games for the club to salvage this season with a top 4 spot in the EPL table.
I?m not blindly marching ahead optimistically because the reality of the recent losses makes that march somewhat difficult to do. I have faith that with some serious adjustments, putting some players on the bench, a new acquisition for the midfield, some good luck, and Arsenal will retain their CL position. What else can I hope for?
We lost. Shite happens! To use some astute feminist thinking: we are not victims but rather survivors.
That?s were I stand. Arsenal deserves that from me and I deserve to feel that our club is doing something to effect change and continue our respected place in European football.
It?s been hard but in the end, I think it?s worth it. Good sport and beautiful football.
I awoke this morning feeling good about myself, sad about the loss and hopeful about the future.
_________________
I digress, why does Moronho pump his arm back and forth when Che$ki score because it?s what he does best ? jerk off (it is another manifestation of his narcissistic ego).
December 19th, 2005 at 1:22 pm
The most disturbing thing about Arsenal’s current run is that it’s not down to bad form but bad players. Players who are not good enough at this level or no longer good enough.
I don’t think the players will improve, so the results will not deviate much unless Wenger buys.
If he can’t find who he wants in January then this could to be far worse than we could have imagined.
There will be probably be more injuries to come, like for every team - and the “kids” are likely to fade through tiredness by March/early-April.
There is only one solution. Arsenal will not go on a big 10 game winning streak with these players. Even if we win the next 3, which is plausible but unlikely, Man Utd will likely wreck our progress.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:27 pm
If he wants to bet against Arsenal it’s up to him.
Personally, although I have rarely done it - or believed it wise, I think it’s quite a good idea during bad times.
Think of it this way, if you put ?20 on the other team and Arsenal win then you are happy. Whereas if Arsenal lose, the likely ?50-100 profit might somewhat soften the blow.
Either way you might be happy that evening. Only a draw can kill you.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:39 pm
Do you really need a reply from me nope!!! cuz you are very naive.
Why not closed all the betting boxes Arsenal then.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:49 pm
Thank You and well said.
The nerve of this guy to come on an Arsenal fan site and actually say that he bet against Arsenal is beyond belief.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:56 pm
Andez,
Stop being soo naive here. You are among few folks I will responses to. Why do we have all these betting boxes and bookies at Arsenal then? At the end of the game asked how many fans went to the bookies to collect their money. This have nothing to do with faith but reality.
Is part of the game and part of the culture so live with it. Players/managers even bet against their teams. This is nothing new so don’t make a big issue about nothing.
December 19th, 2005 at 1:57 pm
I think that it was the massive spate of injuries that finally broke our back. As I said before letting Vieira leave was a mistake but in this particular game that was not what made the difference.
I believe that it was our defense and Lauren in particular that cost us the game.
We need new blood in defense thats for sure.
December 19th, 2005 at 6:57 pm
Just got back (don’t ask lol)
Well id like to start by saying that Chelsea overall deserved to win. They dominated right from off for 20 minutes until we kicked back into action. Though we played better at end of 1st half and did so in spurts, they seemed to step in up in 2nd half and we never really got going tbh with any real chances. So some points about game to consider:
1- Henry went AWOL again imho.
2- Defence not good enough. we always seemed panicky and liable to attacks.
3- especially compared to Chelsea who have Tony Adams-esque John Terry at back, who was outstanding and even better was an unsung hero, William Gallas (best Chelsea and Premiership defender imo)
4- Drogba had beating of Senderos all game, like last 3 meetings.
5- Lauren was terrible for most of game and capped it off with fine stumbling assist for Joe Cole who was best player on park in 2nd half.
6- Toure’s poor positional sense was uncovered throughout game and led to first goal.
7- Campbell is way off pace. Gr8 tackler but Drogba, Robben and Cole all outran him + he backed away for 2nd goal. Poor.
8- Fabregas and Flamini did well and contained Fat Frank, who didn’t have sniff.
9- Freddie. Im sorry mate, but ur gr8 service to the club shd be at an end at end of season. So poor, he has done nothing all season. And imho we can do so much better for team. Can still keep him but shdnt have starting place with form unless shows improvement + we cd get someoine by selling him for cash.
10- Maybe this is catalyst for Wenger to disembark some key players like him, and get new bodies to build team around (we need a SWP type on wing - man he was soooo made for us) in our new era.
11- The REFEREE was poor in the sense that Essien shd have been sent off, but agruably Senderos shd have been sent off…….
12- Meaning it was clearly the LINESMAN who was the worst person inside Highbury cos he can’t even read new rules to see who ball is played to for that legit RVP goal. Truly awful.
13- Chelsea played long ball for most of game. I counted 20 at least. They will never be considered a gr8 team if they continue to play like that, and ud think after spending ?200m they can afford to play decent football. They also rely heavily on set plays i notice.
14- Obviously they can sometimes and mix it up which is good, but id hate to have a season ticket at Stamford Bridge cos id hate to see that most of time. They need an Adriano and they cd be unstoppable. Maybe it’s cos they haven’t a natural striker who doesn’t rely on long balls.
15- But then it’s exactly that which we need. We DON’T have a Plan B. Never have done and this Wenger must address. We needed a Carew not only for this match but many away matches to to alter play.
16- We are too narrow. No width (need a SWP again il add)
17- I loved Terry’s focus before game. As Henry was smiling and joking around, JT stared straight. Didn’t even acknowledge his friend Henry….
18- And it was shown when JT had a massive go at Henry during game for bad tackle he’d made. TH14 looked shocked. Terry showed what a proper captain is like. henry shows his captaincy with his skill and quality but JT adds more by defending players, throwing everything at ball and doesn’t sulk, have head down or let friendships get in way.
19- I’ve lost ALL respect i had for Mourinho. No manager shd ever NOT shake hands at end of game. Shameful, unprofessional and not classy. Chelsea have to work on their PR cos it’s not on. Money can’t buy class and he hasn’t got any most agree. It’s why most people hate Chelsea things like that.
20- Last point……Fans were fantastic and sung even when losing 2-0.
December 19th, 2005 at 7:41 pm
What exactly did Fab and Flamini do?
Nothing.
Henry didn’t get the ball. He had no service. When he got it, he almost scored another wonder goal. Is he supposed to run back to our end and take the ball, dribble thru the entire Chelsea team, and score? Is that what he needs to do now?
Sorry he’s a good sport with good sportsmanship as well. Being a good person and enjoying playing the game or not bad traits. Never will be, in my opinion. Sorry he’s not an A-hole out there. I never want him to be.
Lauren might have given the ball up, but Cole still had to go around the statue that is Sol to score.
And Toure was excellent. He played with grit passion and determination. He ran at Chelsea from the back. He was our best player.
December 19th, 2005 at 7:46 pm
Great recap. Thanks.
December 19th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
You might not like Julian betting against Arsenal but don’t talk bollocks about money and evil, Gerard. You always give Chelsea and Abramovitch flak about their money, but you’ve never objected to the very concept of the Premier League, a creation purely to keep more money with the richest clubs. Arsenal are definitely among those elite. In the eyes of many, many League club supporters, the Arsenals, Liverpools, and Man Us are finally getting a taste of what it’s like to be second (and third, fourth, fifth…) best financially.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:23 pm
I don’t in principle gamble at all so I’m biased, I very rarely even buy lottery tickets. I have gambled with drugs though, but the more you win with them the closer you get to death. I will always choose life, sir.
As for my criticism of Chelsea, I am not alone and I keep good company. I realize you maybe be cynical about FIFA but there has to be a governing body and for now its it. I agree with this principle it would help eliminate some of this greed.
< < http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=footballNews&storyID=URI:urn:newsml:reuters.com:20051219:MTFH71436_2005-12-19_20-46-17_L19144643:1 >>
Thus, while not a complete socialist model for the ideal of a football league the EPL provides equity to all clubs that can stay in the first division. It is not the EPL which gives Arsenal money it is me, just in little bits. It’s closer to a socialist norm than Abramovich’s top down spending approach.
Don’t lecture me on money - money is the root of all evil, sir.
I know because I have…, well just trust me. Suffice it to say I sell expensive paintings.
I agree with the criticisms which are levied against against the top clubs. My brother in law, an Irish Scouser, has abandoned his beloved sport because of the very thing you speak of. He did watch the Pool win the CL though.
May you also prosper - thank you.
That said, to compare Arsenal with Chelsea is a real stretch sir; maybe you should explain yourself.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:26 pm
Shame on you sir!
If you need to soften the blow just hit the damn bottle.
I will never bet against anything that I have invested my time and energy into.
Some people still have ethics - money truly is the root of evil.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:29 pm
Rosicky IS a proven talent..everyone knows that
December 19th, 2005 at 10:36 pm
“Right said Fred, lets roll up them sleeves and show those bastards what we’re made of”….Unfortunately for Fred he was still living in the past and didn’t realize George Graham had been sacked and the team was now full of foreigners! The End!
December 19th, 2005 at 10:37 pm
I’m naive, that’s rich.
I do not seriously believe that Arsenal is a Temple and that the starting 11 are the Priests.
I realize what the world of commerce and sport are.
If I won a bet against Arsenal, it would be blood money to me, but that’s my business.
I don’t give a rat’s arse what you do with your filthy lucre, sir.
I just think it’s damn unpolite, even callous, to come on an Arsenal fan site and pontificate how you won money on the loss and then thank our Lord that they lost so that you could.
Enjoy the money.
I may be naive but I still have my integrity.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:42 pm
I thought hey was going on a wonderful “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” tangent.
I’m Dutch isn’t that weird?
December 19th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
…and at the stadium at the end of the universe they all agreed the answer to life, the world and everything was 49! (unbeaten)
December 20th, 2005 at 6:01 am
Why not lecture you? You seem quite keen to lecture to others.
I for one am, and have always been, opposed to the concept of the Premier League. It has always been a “top spending down” system, as you put it. Abramovich’s arrival merely exacerbated things. But Arsenal is fairly similar to Chelsea, in that Wenger has been buying the best and most promising youth players from other clubs, and after they stuntifying their growth, sends them on their way. And as for Blatter criticizing clubs with too many “foreign” players, I’m surprised he hasn’t mentioned Arsenal more often.
I am an avid supporter of more “socialist” reforms into football, including better redistribution of television money and a return to shared gate receipts. I am far from cynical about FIFA; I am far more distrusting of the EPL.
My criticism of your argument is that you are attacking a main symptom of modern football, ie the production of Abramoviches, and not the system which sees this end result. After all, when you construct a whose main ethos is rampant capitalism, you tend to attract rampant capitalists. You cannot create a monster and then get angry at it when it destroys a few buildings, for it is a being entirely of your own making. I am not against criticizing Chelsea, only that to single them out is not seeing the forest for the largest tree.
Oh, and you needn’t hint about your art, at least not with me. I know all about it.
December 20th, 2005 at 6:52 am
and what exactly did Fat Frank the Robot and Essien do? Nothing. I’m not saying our midfield was awesome or even good, but we were no worse than them. I’d go so far at to say I was surprised that they managed to make Flamini look half-decent.
Agreed on the Toure (and Lauren) playing with grit and passion - they created their own chances with their own determined running, but Toure lost Robben most of the game (although why Arsene had us playing with such a high line given the lack of pace in the middle is questionable). Lauren should be excused as you say, Cole still had a lot to do and Lauren is playing out of position.
December 20th, 2005 at 9:34 am
agree with everything u said anfield89. On the shake hand incident, if u noticed, the Speical One didn’t do it last season at Highbury as well. But what can we say, he’s SPEICAL, at least he think he is.
December 20th, 2005 at 8:03 pm
I liked to talk about these issues more but just it must wait - too busy.
I would like to say that I only comment on things which I believe in. I think talking about how one has won some cash by betting against Arsenal on an Arsenal fan site is just going over the top.
I stand by my opinion and if that’s seen as a lecture so be it.
Truth is you don’t really want the lecture version cause it’s deadly long - all those year as professor.
December 20th, 2005 at 8:14 pm
As I originally said, you can by all means criticize Julian for betting against Arsenal. Again, my main criticism of your stance overall is that it is attacking the symptom, not the main cause. Otherwise you and I are in agreement as to the threat unregulated financial power poses to modern football.
December 20th, 2005 at 8:50 pm
didnt notice that mate. what a prize idiot he is. can tuderstand why everyone in media here is SAYING fo rboth of them to grow up?! Wenger tried to shake his hand by looking for him. What can u do, JM has no class, tho a gr8 proven manager form porto il have to say he seems to not care about his public image and respect.
December 20th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
Mate, toure is my fav player but he is poor at postioning, so center wd be best where someone can aid him. he didnt play to best, tho he wasnt worse. toure ALWAYS plays with grit and determination.
Not sure if u went but throughout game, lauren kept hoofing long ball up. solid def imo, but so clumsy he just had to get rid. + the crowd were getting restless with Henry mate, cos alas i know he didnt get gr8 service from Fab, flamini (whose job il add was to hold off 3 mid) but for hleb (who was good) and the poor freddie l who looks lost. Henry also is havin a go at players throughout game on own team + he’s always moaning. our best player of course but he’s signed for barca imho come end of season.
sol was very slow and has lost pace quite a bit but ud think senderos cd help. again i rate senderos but he didnt cut it vs chelsea.
We need a big imposing center midfielder badly. thats what we missed cos Fab cant do anything without that sort and gilberto the ‘fake’ brazilian isnt up to job quite honestly.
December 20th, 2005 at 9:00 pm
thanks i think mate. hope u werent being sarcastic. just had to voice my opinion on where we are going wrong and what happened explicitly that hopefully wenger will act upon. not in crisis of course but some fundamental differences that are becoming bigger compared to chelsea lot.