Dec 21
Couple of strong pieces in the London Daily Telegraph. Both worthy reads, especially the first one which lays out the problems facing manager and team right now.
21 Responses to “London Daily Telegraph On The Arsenal”
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December 21st, 2005 at 5:32 pm
Carling Cup:
What a terrific ending in regulation, just beautiful to see (we needed this to lift our spirits)!!!!
Arsenal-Doncaster 2-2..YES!.
Last minute goal by Gilberto to put us into PENALTIES!
December 21st, 2005 at 5:33 pm
What a game. I was about to give up when I saw Gilberto’s equaliser. Stag seems like we did better in the second half, more shots on goal according to Soccernet gamecast. Just saw we won. I won’t say it was a poor performance until I see the game or highlights. This is a cup match against a giant killing team. We live to fight another day.
December 21st, 2005 at 5:53 pm
It’s difficult right now. Painful. Embarrassing.
But hopeful too. Between the double of ‘98 and the double of ‘02, Arsenal won squat. A couple of finals appearances yes, but those were very lean years. 6-1 defeat to United. Finishing miles from top spot. Wright, Petit, Overmars, Anelka gone. The old rear guard aging or moving on. And it took a while for Henry, Pires, Wiltord, Freddie, Lauren, etc to come good. But they did and they did it in amazing style. It will happen again.
PV sold, Edu gone, Bergy retiring, Pires and Freddie shells of their former selves, Sol old and injury prone. These things happen in football, only it seems like it has happened all at once for Arsenal. So be it. Wenger knew he could not compete with Chelsea this year of next year. That he has taken 3 titles from Ferguson without bankrupting the Club is a minor miracle. But with Chelsea, a new plan is in order.
Last year, this year, and, most likely next year are years of investment. Some people call it transition. Whatever the word, Wenger is responible for the construction of a stadium which will give Arsenal the financial muscle to outstrip the world’s major clubs (Chelsea excluded).
Being the competitor he is, Arsene will never admit that he kissed the season goodbye after selling Vieira and assesing the state of his older players. But he’s an economist and a visionary and sometimes you have to be ruthless and clean out your portfolio as times change. In a couple of years, when we re back at the summit, we’ll look back and recognize that, yes, Arsene knew.
December 21st, 2005 at 5:56 pm
Bring on Wigan!!!!! It will be a great final against United. What a shame Wembley will not be open by then. According to Wenger the big boys will be back for Wigan.
10 out of 10 for Almunia, the guy was on top form from start to finish. Some great saves in the second half. Senderos is having a nightmare time. Defends what defends. But the future is not alll the bright with these kids.
Hope RVP and QOB are fit for the christmas holiday games cuz Henry is not 100% fit.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:03 pm
Well Arsenal scraped by. Just hope the two injuries were not serious. Good thing they didn’t draw Man U because playing Man U 3 times in Jan might have been a bit too much to take. It was 2 years ago that Arsenal had to play Boro 4 times in Jan and man that got tiring, even though Boro were thrashed 2 times…
December 21st, 2005 at 6:21 pm
What a rollercoaster that one was! Looked dodgy there, I think we can all agree. Arsenal were not their vintage best by any means, but credit to Doncaster - they were right geed up for it, and nearly had it. Also their supporters had some smashing viking hats by the sounds of things.
On the downside though I burned my feckin hand tonight. I’ve made alot of deals with God in the past for Arsenal wins, but this time, sorry lads, I would not have traded a Carling Cup tie win over Doncaster for this. But since I have the burn anyway, the win is nice.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:25 pm
Rick,
These are some of the things most of us have been saying for some time now even before a ball was kicked. Now the truth is coming home. There is a wicked article in today’s Daily Mail and Evening Stardard. Arsenal FC are in denial with itself.
Stag, If supporting Arsenal means we should hate others then there will be trouble in offices or in schools everyday down London. As the sports minister said these kids have to grow up and will say we have some kids here too. As Ian Wright said anyone who hate someone because they support another team needs help. That have nothing to do with football but using football as an excuses to do their own sad things.
I will never like the Spurs but don’t hate them. The chairman of Arsenal son is going out with one of the Spurs director’s girl. Is all about love not hate.
There is no point to argue with members of the KKK or someone who come here a diss A Cole’s mum for no reason. The sad thing is the person don’t even know the guy’s mother.
As a Londoner or someone from South London I have no time for that. “Me got no time to waste on stupidness” But Is all good when people call you names behind their computer screens but not on the streets of SW 11.
But you right hatred have no place in football and I paid no attention to Racist and fa**ist folks.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:27 pm
Where did you hear about these viking hats. I was watching the game on sky and did not notice that.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:32 pm
The BBC radio five live commentators kept mentioning them. Only a few supporters were actually wearing them, but it sounded ace nonetheless.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:37 pm
Arsenal played quite well tonight and proably shaded the game in terms of possession and all-round control but Doncaster were very good, had the better chances, and can think themselves extremely unlucky. Bit of a cliche’ but no one really deserved to lose. I still can’t believe what I saw out there, Gilberto Silva yes, Gilberto Silva, transitioned from a jog to a sprint for the goal for the first time since, gee, august 2002 in the charity shield against Liverpool. Well done Gilly, as Almunia called him.
Almunia 10/10- Guy looks a class act at the moment- an absolute monster in goal. He looks like saving every penalty he faces.
Eboue 7/10- Very lax defensively but compensated by joining the attack all night long.
Djourou-7/10- Looked okay and fairly solid.
Senderos- 6/10- Still making too many mistakes too ruin otherwise solid performances. Should have blocked the first goal and the second, well, lets just all forget about that one. I like the guy so I’m gonna take it easy on him.
Cygan- 6/10- Could easily be a 5 out of 10 but he just scraped a 6. Still an absolutely shocking left-back but tried his best.
Quincy abeyie- 8/10- Played very well and Arsenal would have been screwed without him. Still has the shot of 8 year old girl though.
Gilberto 6/10- Fantastic effort for goal but again looked robotic in midfield and sorry to say, he just played crap again.
Alex Song- 6/10- Average display by a fairly average player. He has “good eyes” according to Wenger but still yet to see what that brings to the team. Maybe he bowled Wenger over with them during the trial.
Alex Hleb- 7/10- Along with Quincy, he carried the fight from midfield and dribbled effectively but again the final product was absent. Looks a class act waiting to happen.
Van Persie 7/10- Looked good but injured
Lupoli- 7/10- looked very lively and willing but he could have played to literally christmas day and still not scored.
Bendtner- 7/10- looked dangerous and is very physical. I would play him ahead of Lupoli in the first team for his physical presence.
December 21st, 2005 at 6:53 pm
8 for Quincy and 6 for Senderos are a bit too much. Will give Quincy 6 and Senderos 4.
Surprise suprise the best man on the field was Cygan by a mile, going forward and defending too. Almunia was extra wicked. Gilberto had a bad game till he scored that goal. Helb maybe 7 had a good game too but the rest of the kids were running all over the place but doing very little.
December 21st, 2005 at 7:00 pm
I’m not sure about Cygan, he still seemed to be making the same mistakes but got away with them this time. Senderos could have easily gotten a 4 it’s just that I feel sorry for him, he already looks like he is suffering from a permanent migraine.
December 21st, 2005 at 11:16 pm
You Londoners are privvy to a lot of articles we never get to see here state-side. These were a couple of good articles filled with a lot of hard facts and truth, in many respects.
Its a dangerous tight-rope we are walking right now, between the development of the kids and their “potential”, and the crisis that will occur if we fail to make the CL next season. Right now, it appears Wenger has gotten it wrong. He needs to act in January to correct things. We will see.
The match?
Well, again… some of you Londoners SAW the match, I got to listen on BBC radio. From what I heard, it appeared like Doncaster had the better of us for a good portion of the game. Thats dissapointing to me, as the kids we have are so often touted… I expect more than struggling to the death with D1 Doncaster.
They made it clear that Senderos didn’t have a good match, thats for sure.
Now, is RVP hurt badly? Rumors abounding that TH14 could be sidelined for days, weeks or MONTHS. That would be a freaking disaster. No other words describe that scenario. Praying its only rumor and that Thierry is OK. We’ll see with all those matches over the Xmas period… you need DEPTH at this time, and we just don’t have much.
I’ll take the win and be happy with it!
December 22nd, 2005 at 9:42 am
“I will never like the Spurs but don’t hate them. The chairman of Arsenal son is going out with one of the Spurs director’s girl. Is all about love not hate.”
Have they come out with Henry Kool Aid in the UK?
I hear you, l_G. I’m a big softy, really. Never really felt one way or the other about Spurs until I started hearing others talk of the past, and getting caught in someone’s insults once. It was silly at first. And then I got just p*ssed enough to join in on the arsepile every once and awhile. I even call a few Yank United fans friends. But they’re not allowed to sit at the adult’s table when they come over.
I don’t want our players to hate anyone either. Waste of energy and keeps you down. But I do want them to take offense to losing. Losing really insults me, so I concentrate like hell not to let it happen.
Up the Arse!
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:18 am
I think Arsenal America is BROKEN AGAIN?!
December 22nd, 2005 at 10:39 am
I listened to the Beeb, too, and they made every blown snot by Doncaster sound brave. I was getting info from others that were watching it and while we were getting carved up in the back and Sendy had a bit of a ‘mare, it wasn’t anything like those two clowns made it sound.
In the past I’ve listened and saw a replay and laughed out loud at the disparity.
RvP out for a week or two, Henry okay. But again, I don’t anyone’s really fit.
December 22nd, 2005 at 2:03 pm
Test 1 2 3.. Anyone here..
What’s up with this site? Yesterday was all about the KKK and the fascist mob so don’t tell me the Chelsea Russian mafia have hijack this site today
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:16 am
This is one of the most intelligent and succinct posts I’ve seen on this site all year. It?s nice to see someone step back and look at the big picture and assess things over a period of time more than a few weeks. Great perspective, thanks!
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:53 am
I think its naive, and I think that Wenger has simply f’d up. We’ll look back in a few years and Arsene will simply be gone. He will depart for Spain or even as the French national coach.
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:55 am
I would imagine the Arsenal American leaders are probably on holiday!
Thats why the site hasn’t been fixed.
Have a great holiday everyone.
Let’s hope we get a “W” or two during the wild Christmas mash of games…
Who makes this crazy schedule?!
This is why players get injured, match congestion… but this is PLANNED?!
December 23rd, 2005 at 1:12 pm
To all ArseAmers!
And huge thanks to Rick, Mike, Andrew and all the other gluttons for punishment.
Remember, Santa and Arsene knows!