Feb 25
Blackburn 1 - 0 Arsenal
Arsenal look good early, then revert back to the crap we’re growing all too familiar with, as an early Pederson goal is enough to give Blackburn all three points. It also sees Rovers leapfrog us on the table.
64 Responses to “Match Report - Blackburn v Arsenal”
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February 25th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Oh, isn’t it so lovely to be brought back to earth by goold old Blackburn.
I have some choice things to say of the some of the players, something much more important bothers me now.
ARSENAL WILL NOT BE PLAYING IN EUROPE NEXT YEAR!!!!
Wigan will take one UEFA Cup spot due to the Carling Cup. If one of Chelsea or Liverpool don’t make it to the FA Cup final, then only 5th place will give an European slot. I hope everybody at Arsenal understands the gravity of the situation.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
Very good choice of Icon there Mike. Exactly as how I felt….since the game was not on tv, I had to read comments online…Even though I knew how Blackburn would play, I was hoping, hoping for a change. Thugs. Thugs. Argh. F** Thugs. Blackburn and Bolton are not going to be relegated for a while so somehow Arsenal have to find a way to play them.
AHHHHHHHHHH!
February 25th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
It has nothing to do with thugs. Arsenal are sh*t that’s all. Get used to it.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:23 pm
I saw the game live and it was as frustrating as the icon above suggests.
Senderos - badly badly exposed by Bellamy’s pace.
Reyes - how he must be missing the European referees who blow the whistle every time he goes to ground.
Gilberto - his usual self passing the ball to the opposition.
Fabregas - totally lost on the right, either play him in the middle or don’t play him.
Diaby - reckless at best, his tackles right now lack timing.
Henry - frustrating, not much time on the ball, and when he did have it he gave it away quite easily.
Adebayor - adds a new dimension to the side which nobody else in the team is in tune with, also poor shooting.
Discipline - what’s wrong with the side?
1. Lehmann pushes Ried and gets a yellow
2. Toure kicks the ball away after Henry’s free kick rebounds of the wall and gets a yellow
3. Senderos gets injured and Flamini takes a quick free kick
Work rate - very very poor, how come only the opposition close us down so quickly while we are just not capable of the same thing
I repeat once again - ARSENAL MAY NOT BE IN EUROPE NEXT YEAR.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Forgot to mention Pires, who had one great chance at goal and instead of shooting chose to pass the ball to Henry. It shows a lot about his confidence right now.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Always look on the bright side of life- da da, da da da da da da …
It should easier to get tickets next season (for those who want them).
February 25th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
I haven’t seen the game yet, but read enough of the commentary. Am I the only one who is befuddled why Senderos plays ahead of Djourou…How many goals and games has Senderos got to cost us …In almost every game, he does something stupid that costs us a goal or nearly costs us one….We are lucky that Lehman saved his a** in Madrid.
If I was Henry I would be very frustrated about this…I am sure the rest of the team are nervous whenever he is involved in the game…It cannot be good for the team’s confidence.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
But you guys were screaming blood at us guys who said that the likes of Gilberto and (probably) Reyes will NEVER deliver us what we need in the EPL. It was possible to carry them as passengers when we had the likes of Pires, Bergkamp, Edu and Viera taking up the slack for them, but they are totally incapable of taking responsibility themselves. Whatever happens in the Champions League (and we could have our best season ever there) we must remember Bill Shankly’s dictum that ‘Cups are all very well, but the League is our bread and butter’ and sign players who will perform consistently at places like Ewood Park and the Reebok. At the moment we have guys who go missing on a consistent basis during these away matches.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Thanx for the Icon Mike.
It pretty much sums things up nicely.
Slapped back to reality.
This is the AFC right now. We can beat Madrid but not Blackburn.
Today’s match was more important in the grand scheme of things, wasn’t it?
We aren’t going to win the CL… and it looks right now like 4th place is beyond us.
I had high hopes that we would understand the effort and determination that is needed, after a SPLENDID display in Madrid, but it appears not to be the case. We are Jekyll & Hide… and the EPL and the Blackburn’s of the world are a completely different kettle of fish than the open play of Spain.
DannyT on the money with his result of a loss.
Tip the cap when it needs to be done.
How I wish you were wrong today… but the maddening march to mid-table in the EPL goes on.
Wenger and Dein and anyone else can say whatever they want to about Henry signing, but if we are not top 4, he’s not going to be here next year.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Some of it could be fatigue…We played Real in the middle of the week..Left everything on the field..We need a deep bench in these situations to make a difference against Blackburn, who are the hardest working team in EPL.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
BTW- If Real are watching this match and I am sure they were, they are thinking how can I isolate Senderos against Ronaldo or Raul…Basically, what Mourinho did to us.
February 25th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
While Arsenal relished the Madrid game (Henry looked like he really enjoyed that game), Blackburn and Bolton must look forward to playing Arsenal week in, week out.
The league table is getting very very nasty. So what happens now? Fight or Flight?
February 25th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Dave, remember we talked about the new stadium’s capacity during the road trip in Nov? (err, I assume I have the right person here
We were wondering why stop at 60,000 and not go upto 80,000? Well it seems 60,000 capacity was a better bet than going any higher…
February 25th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
With all due respect Raj (see response to earlier thread) this was an action replay of the failures we’ve had away from home throughout this season. To put it mildly, we have form, and on that form we know that we lose these kinds of games. The solution seems to be quite straightforward: Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg have pointed out that we lack the ‘courage’ to apply our skills when we come under physical pressure away from home. In simple English, too many of our players just don’t fancy it when they’re niggled, harrased and pressurised. We need players who do have the ‘courage’ to apply their skills away from home. Out of the current crop of players only Cesc and RVP convince me that they have that courage. All the rest, including TH14 can go if the price is right. Good riddance frankly!
February 25th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
I am not disputing your point, that some of these players lack balls without Viera. But, you might have to make an exception for TODAY in terms of effort because of the game we played mid week…We left a lot on the field and was probably mentally drained.. we needed a deep bench to pick up the slack.
Especially against Blackburn, who have the highest work rate in the EPL, it was going to be difficult for a tired team. …But, this game was lost due to another defensive error and not beause of the style we play…We seem to be creating enough chances but can’t finish due to lack of quality strikers…You can’t blame Henry since he has to play every minute of every match now and he needs to pace himself and not pick up injuries. So, I can see if he put on the brakes in this game….It is more important that he protects himself and be able to play thru the end of the season.
Blackburn was just as physical last season too, the difference was we finished on the opportunities and were better defensively…Senderos was playing a lot better then…The Chelsea games are still in his head this season or other teams have learned from Chelsea how to isolate him.
February 25th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
Yes, we want Cesc & RVP!
Cesc, an 18 yr. old lightweight who doesn’t perform nearly as well in Europe as he does in the EPL in just the matches you mentioned… and who enjoys his LINK TO MADRID in the papers…
and
RVP… the guy who completely misses the ball on his kicks, and has been out injured for how long?
Yeah… I’d rather have Henry thanks…
and Gravesen for the EPL would fit nicely too…
There won’t be CL nights in Spain for Cesc to shine… just cold dreary Winter nights in Bolton and Blackburn next year… where Cesc and Gilberto and our other finesse/soft players do NOT excel.
GET A CLUE… courage does not = toughness.
Potential does not = proven talent.
Cesc & RVP do NOT COME CLOSE to equalling Vieira & Henry.
There is no price thats right for selling off your best players for potential.
February 25th, 2006 at 1:54 pm
Why are we “tired”?
We were OFF the week before we played in Madrid.
We played on TUESDAY for f’s sake.
These guys are tired now? is that the latest excuse?
February 25th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
1) Yeah, I don’t buy the “tired “arguement. For athletes of this caliber having to play twice in one week should be par for the course. Chel$ki sucked it up after a lost and won today.
2)This week continues to reinforce, in my mind, that AW has created a team that belongs on the continent more than the EPL. We lack the physical power and courage to win in our HOME league.
On a side note I think this whole TH14 contract saga is hanging around this squad’s neck like an albatross. Maybe that kind of motivation/veiled threat of “win or I leave” worked for Gerrad last year with ‘Pool but it seems to be only adding to the tension that this team plays with week in and week out. I love watching the man play and would be devasted if he left but for the sake of the club he claims is first in his heart he needs to sign the bloody deal or leave. The whole season has decayed into a CL quest to keep King Henry and this year’s club doesn’t have the shoulders for that.
So many plots have intertwined to make this “Fairwell to Highbury” season a sad one and one to forget.
BUT I will be there March 18th to root the boys on and pray for a few miracles along the way.
February 25th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I think given our recent play in the league table the answer is flight.
We had to have this game, or at least a draw, to gain any momentum from Tuesday’s result. Instead we laid another egg.
February 25th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Well, Wenger got exactly what he deserved for playing Senderos again. How many times does he have to cost us a goal before Wenger wakes up and plays Djourou ahead of him.
We played well in patches today but the stats show whatever team scores first has a big advantage both literally and pyschologically.That’s what we keep giving away cheaply; the all important first goal. That’s the difference between this team and the “invincible” team- the old team had keown and this team has Senderos. That there is enough to explain largely why we keep losing away games.
This was alot better than Liverpool and we created a few good chances but when a team keeps making individual mistakes, or in this case an individual, your always gonna be pissing in the wind.
February 25th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
What do you expect Fabregas to do, come out and say he’s disgusted with their interest and chastise them? C’mon Stag, a bit petty don’t you think.
Cesc played well today and carried the fight to Blackburn. If anyone deserves a rollicking it’s Henry who did f_uck all. Every time Fabregas or someone made run into the area Henry just stood there like he was the referee.
February 25th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
It’s a game of opinions stag, but I think you’d be surprised at how good Cesc and RVP would be if complimented by the right players: Cesc with a genuinely first class holding midfielder (i.e. not Gilberto or even Diaby) who’d give him the freedom to operate as a playmaker; RVP with a genuinely unselfish support striker (Tomas Rosicky?) capable of prompting him into the game. BTW I’ve never made an argument in favour of Gilberto being in the team, you can’t bring him up when making an argument against me. Gravesen’s just not good enough.
February 25th, 2006 at 3:55 pm
Love it. Good to see English wit has not left you after all those years over there.
KEEP THE FAITH
February 25th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
In a way, this was the most devastating loss of the season because this game put the lie to any pretense that the ship will be righted on the backs of the young players. The Real Madrid game is the anomaly, not this one. I don’t think it’s going on a limb to say that the chances of qualifying for the Champions League look slim. Since that’s the case, I believe Wenger owes it to next season to play lineups and/or formations he has chosen to forego to date, i.e., Djourou alongside Toure, Diaby and Fabregas in midfield or, alternatively, Hleb and Diaby in midfield, and when Van Persie returns, combine him up front with individuals other than Henry (so Henry can get some rest and so Arsenal can begin preparations for what might well take place next year.)
Today, it seems clear that the combination of Arsenal’s limited finances and Wenger’s accumulated frustration with Vieira’s annual summer flirtations with other elite European clubs
has cost Arsenal Champions League football next year. I see no reason to expect any buys over this summer that will remedy this situation. The finances will not improve by then. Indeed, I believe Arsenal’s biggest decision this summer will be whether to simply play Henry next season at the new stadium, knowing he’ll be leaving at the end of the year for free or to sell Henry at market value, which is a fraction of his actual worth to Arsenal, as they did with Vieira this past summer. I would also note that I’m convinced Arsenal has made a deal with Cole to sell him to Real Madrid at the end of this season. He will not be back next season. Arsenal is rebuilding and it’s going to take time. The real question (as has been noted here previously) is whether Wenger is the man to rebuild the team or whether it’s time to grab a Benitez, Mourinho, etc. from the continent, i.e., someone 10 or 15 years younger than Wenger is today. Several names come to mind (Paul LeGuen, Didier Deschamps) but, in my mind, Wenger deserves another year for all he has done for Arsenal, even if he drives all of us mad during that time.
February 25th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
If anyone ever posts another message proclaiming Cesc’s greatness, I am going to personally hunt them down and confiscate their keyboard!!!!
I’ve said it before — he’s small, inexperienced slow, unsure when on the ball and falls apart under anything approaching physical pressure. Add I have no idea why AW would ever consider playing him on the wings.
Playing against one of the laziest midield’s in the world he looked fine in midweek — today — same old, same old……
I’m officially kicking off a Sell CESC campaign — if Real want him (and are likely to overpay for him), they can have him …. maybe we can put the funds to good use. I’m sure there is a skinny teenaged footballer somewher that we haven’t bought yet!
February 25th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
How are we creating enough chances??? How many times do our midfileders sllooowly take the ball forward … stop ….look around ….. look confused …. and then send an aimless pass to the other team or lose the ball…
We didn’t lose because we wer tired… we lost because we were the second best team…. that’s right, our team today was less committed and less talented than Blackburn — plain and simple.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
I agree Stagg — losing TH14 would be horrible…. but I think we may have to face up to some hard truths — we can’t keep him unless we are in Europe and that is looking increasingly unlikely. Also, TH14 may be a luxury we can’t afford. Even with him, it looks like it will cost a fortune to build this team back up.
Perhaps we will make a virtue out of necessity and get a great price for him and use the proceeds to rebuild quickly. It worked out for the Cowboys when they offloaded Hershcel Walker. Juve did good business when they sold Zidane to Real Madrid…. I don’t want him to go, but I’m preparing for the worst and hoping that management will be savvy enough to make the best of it if need be.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
I agree with your assessment of playing Kolo and Djourou..Why couldn’t Hleb start on the wings today…We have seen how ineffective Cesc is on the wings.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Cesc will be a great player in 2 years time when he has grown more and hopefully is a little faster…I would not sell him, he just needed to come off the bench for a Viera. It is not Cesc’s fault that we are in this situation…He is doing the best he can. So, let us not start any sell Cesc thread…He is only 18…How many 18 year olds do you know that can play the way does.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Cesc is not great - at least not yet. He has the ingredients to become a very very good player. An eye for the killer pass, sliderule passing and tenacity. Yes he lacks the physique and speed but that can be rectified easily. One summer of NFL-style weight training will do it for him. He’s only 18 by the way.
I wouldn’t sell Cesc to anyone yet - he can contribute to Arsenal for the next few years. Neither should Henry or Cole be sold. I would be glad to trade Reyes to Real Madrid though. He has not justfied his transfer fee since the time he arrived. Yes he works hard chasing down balls and such but his final ball and touch often let the team down. The end product is simply not good enough from Reyes.
This season is a write-off as far as EPL is concerned. At this rate, Arsenal will finish somewhere between 5th and 8th. Not sure if this will help Wenger to improve the team next season but if Wenger keeps saying this team has the quality to be a great team, then I think the lessons learnt this season would have been wasted on him. This team lacks experience in key positions and a leader on the field - both needs to be fix in the summer. Another seaon of mediocrity will certainly mean an exit for Wenger as Arsenal needs CL football to pay for the bills in the new stadium. I really don’t see this Arsenal team winning the CL this year.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Well said..
After all the crap I read on Tuesday maybe reality is setting in for some of those happy positive folks.
No Europe next season is not even funny come to think about it
February 25th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
They might be Thugs but Arsenal are a group of girlies.. Blackburn like Bolton are hard working and know how weak we are and nothing else.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
A great player in 2 years? Maybe … I doubt it, but maybe… maybe it will be four years … maybe never …. I think he is always going to be undersized and not particualrly athletic, I think he is more suited to La Liga than EPL and with CESC on the verge of making the Spainish national team, Real Madrid will be hot to trot.
Basic rule of business — if someone is willing to pay you more for an asset than it is worth to you, sell it.
Whatever Cesc is going to be .. and neither you nor I can really guess that … it seems clear that he is not going to be a major factor for the next couple of years at least and frankly we can’t afford to wait.
If we can buy the help we need over the summer without selling Cesc. All well and good, but I see no evidence that we have a pot of money to spend
February 25th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
Hmmm.
Diaby red card is coming soon. His timing is very bad..
Reyes should be sacked and had enough of this diving prat.
You can not blame Senderos and Cesc for trying. The problem is they are very overated . These kids need time to develop but the system is not allowing them to do so because we have a sh*t foundation for a club like Arsenal.
As for Hnery - He can’t be doing the job of 11 men. Someone had to step up his game but at the moment we have a group of girlies who know how to dive and cheat.
Blame the manager.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
I don’t discount the fact that he’s a teenager (and very good for a teenager … alhough he’s no Messi)and I agree he should never have been pushed along this fast. But looking at him, I don’t see someone with the kind of frame that is going to fill out. I suspect he is always going to be undersized and underpowered and better suited to La Liga.
More importantly, if we can get Real Madrid to overpay based on potential, more power to us. I think that’s particularly true if we buy Rosicky, who is a larger more experienced version of Cesc.
In the end, we need experienced players — lots of them. That costs $$$$. The only way I see to raise it, is to sell — the likely candidates are Cesc and/or Cole (not counting TH14). The hard truth is unless we are willing to endure more years like this one, we have to raise some cash and replenish our ranks.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
True..
There will be seats and cheap tickets at the same time. Next season will be ok but the season after will be hard times if we don’t make it to Europe. The huge sh*t with no one to pay for.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Of course your boy Cesc was WONDERFUL today… loved the dive in the box… thats suited perfectly for Spain.
If the price is right we should sell him too…
Let’s get the BEST prices for ALL our players and sell the whole lot of them.
That way we can get lots of talented young kids in here around 16-19 years old…
February 25th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Csec is better than Gravesen…:( I read it on this site after one game.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Mazza - I’m not saying Cesc is bad but please this kid is overrated.
The fact is Gravesen is 100% better than Cesc.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me right?
I’ll use “YOUR” arguement.
If you complimented THIERRY HENRY and PATRICK VIEIRA with the right players, what do you get?
You get an UNDEFEATED TEAM for an entire season nicknamed the INVINCIBLES.
Gravesen is far more suited to the EPL than Cesc EVER will be. I’d like Gravesen NEXT TO Cesc. He’d be playing for Silva. Might offer a bit of edge and protection out there.
I think Rosicky is excellent. Have said so numerous times on this site. He’ll not likely be coming to Arsenal, as he isn’t 19 or under.
Gilberto is not half as bad as folks like to make out, its who HE is surrounded by… when its Vieira and a solid back 4, he’s outstanding. When you ask him to do more than he’s capable, he’s exposed.
Gravesen isn’t good enough for Arsenal?
Thats an absolute LAUGH. We have a PATHETIC central midfield that has cost us dearly ALL SEASON LONG. Gravesen would play over Silva every day of the week.
February 25th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
What else will happen in 2 years?
Cesc has done F all this season so I hope you folks will stop over rating this kid. Yes he is only 18 with more years ahead of him. The same things was said about 100’s of kids I’ve seen at Arsenal within the last 8 seasons. None of them still plays for Arsenal.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
You can’t sell your best players and think you will be able to attract top talent.
Who on earth will want to come to the Arsenal if we sell Vieira one Summer, Henry the next… and Cole likely to go as well.
We are fighting for mid-table WITH Henry… without him, we’d SUCK.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:03 pm
I will ALSO be there on March 18th, to support the team… and so will Scotty and LoveG…
I mini Arsenal America tour!
February 25th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Cesc was our best player today and our best player on Tuesday. Our next game is against Fulham away and whilst the likes of Henry, Gilberto and Reyes will put in their customary bizarre away performances (why on earth does Wenger keep picking them?) Cesc will be our best player again. Of course Cesc won’t be the new Vieira - he’s a type of different player, but he will be the new Xabi Alonso and anybody who’s seen Alonso play will know that that should be good enough for us. Get Cesc a proper holding midfielder to play alongside and watch him become the BEST playmaker in the European game. He’s been one of the very few bright spots of this season and the criticisms of him on this forum are quite ridiculous.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Senderos played in Madrid, we posted a shut out.
We didn’t score a goal.
You can’t win if you don’t score.
Its really simple.
Give TH14 decent service and he will score LOADS of goals. Its not speculation, its fact.
The midfield of a few years ago set up Henry and Henry set them up as well. Thats not happening now… its a simple equation that we have no solution for with the current team.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
You aren’t far off base.
He wants to go to Spain? See you later.
I’d rather have Henry.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:09 pm
Nope LoveG…
he’s not just better than Gravesen, after one match, I saw it on this site that he’s one of the best in the world!
February 25th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
Our best player is Lehmann.. He has saved our ass from day one and after him I will say Kolo.
What game have to been watching - Cesc is an average kid period.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:13 pm
Nope, not Cesc’s fault we suck.
Apparently its Henry’s fault.
All these folks with the SELL HENRY mantra.
Thats just brilliant.
There is ZERO guarantee Cesc will be a great player. NONE. ZIP.
He’s good for 18, thats for sure.
Has had some really good matches… and some not so good ones. Thats what 18 year olds do.
I KNOW Henry is among the world’s best. So is Ashley Cole. Those are assets you try to keep (and get) PROVEN ONES.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Read it again Stag.. You know I know Gravesen is 100% better than Cesc. I was just having some fun with the guy.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
I watched BOTH matches.
I am sorry… he was NOT our best player in either match. He had a very good game against Madrid. What exactly did he do that was so outstanding today? He dove in the box… that was special.
The criticism of Henry is the most ridiculous thing I’ve read… he’s our best player by a country mile and folks want to sell him. Thats just brilliant.
I’d sell Cesc, who’s unproven… a long time before I’d ever sell Henry.
Lehmann is our player of the year.
Its not close.
Lauren… Kolo… both good seasons.
Cesc isn’t close to our best player.
He’s 18, with potential… lots of it…
and currently over-rated by many Arsenal supporters.
February 25th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
Exactly Stag, although piling on Cecs IS unfair. Its not his fault we sold a player that was still the most dominant man in the center of the pitch in English Football, even at less than his best. Our record against the teams we have lost to this year - save Chelsea and Liverpool - shows clearly that Patrick Vieira’s absence has weakened us physically technically tactically and psychlogically and strengthened our opponents conversely in all aspects except technically. But without the football technique means little as we found out yet again.
It was sheer folly to think either or both of Cecs or Gilberto could sufficiently replace Vieira’s presence. It was sheer folly to let Edu who has the size and experience Cesc lacks go - and for free - and then to sell Vieira. It was sheer folly to sell Vieira without having already signed a similar type of player and presence and already introduced at London Colney. It was sheer folly not to spend whatever was necessary up to 25 million to replace Vieira. It was sheer folly not to have Juve wait until after we’d played Chelsea since he could have stayed until after that as a win could have giiven us enough of an early boost to keep closer to the top till the new year.
Oh, hell, it was sheer folly to sell Vieira! And the damage has only begun unless we act and really fast!
February 25th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
Gravesan and Cesc are two entirely different type of players. Cesc is a creative mdfielder who needs a holding midfielder to support him. Gravesan could be that midfielder. Wenger believes that Cesc can step in to replace with Vieira and he was wrong - the results and performances this season bear testament.
Give the boy a break - he was forced into the team by Wenger when Vieira was injured at the start of last season. If there is one person to blame for the team’s current problems, that person is Wenger.
February 25th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
“Wenger and Dein and anyone else can say whatever they want to about Henry signing, but if we are not top 4, he’s not going to be here next year.”
And how ironic that he’s part of the problem. Even he knows he can’t score away from home unless he’s playing a Madrid side in mediocre form. Its Paddy all over again with the flaccid spirit and the “rather be anywhere but here” body language.
The season never got off the ground, and its down to much more than the loss of one player. Among the reasons, we’ve got no leadership and Wenger doesn’t have the mettle to fix it. Great job Arsene, but you built a side for the wrong league.
Sad, really. I’ve already resolved to a major rebuild. But no player is bigger than the club. Can’t wait to fly the f*ck over there to see Titi barely phone it in and the rest of them go limp.
Here’s a thought…when we eventually get knocked out of the CL, and there’s nothing to play for, imagine the performances.
Sigh…blech.
February 25th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
Just saw the game on telly again. Arsenal were not sh*t - they had a bigger slice of possession and were not outmuscled by Blackburn at all. Sh*t would have been the performance against Liverpool or against Bolton in the first EPL encounter. Blackburn defended in numbers and were tough to break down. The final pass was just not good enough to break down Blackburn. And when it did, Friedel was there to make the save. Blackburn’s gameplan consisted of punting the ball upto Bellamy who used his speed and tenacity to great effect. Flamini was out of position when Bellamy ran onto a pass and Sendoros was never going to catch Bellamy in a race. With Cole or Clichy’s pace, things could have been different.
Most of the players, with the exception of Reyes who was anonymous before being sub by Pires, were up for the game. Its one of those games whereby a moment of magic from Henry could have made the difference. Alas he was pretty well marshalled by Blackburn’s defence.
Remember that Arsenal is in a rebuilding mode currently and if that means missing out on CL next season, then so be it.
February 26th, 2006 at 12:31 am
Its soooo depressing !
I am depressed ….
February 26th, 2006 at 9:38 am
I’ll expect a written apology for Thierry when you are over there.
Please bring a LARGE rotten tomato to fire at Wenger… and a flask to drown your sorrows at a home loss to Charlton, and you are in business!
February 26th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Stag Let me know where you, Scotty, and LoveG will be before the match and I’d be glad to raise a pint with you!
Been looking so forward to getting over there but each week. . . Argh!
February 26th, 2006 at 10:51 am
I was thinking, considering Henry can’t physically play unless every ball to him is on the floor and at the right pace etc, how crap would he do at Chelsea with their penchant for the long ball and even short high ball? The only teams he could play for are us, Madrid and Barcelona. He would not be able to play for another english team as we’re the only team that tailors their play for him.
February 26th, 2006 at 11:06 am
I defended Henry before watching the game thinking that he might be pacing himself with all the minutes he has to play..But, he was our worst player on the pitch…he wouldn’t move for the ball if the ball was 2 feet away from him and the ones he did get, he lost possession right away….Hope he is not carrying around an injury..We need RVP back quick, so we can pair RVP and Adebayor.
February 26th, 2006 at 11:49 am
will you STOP with this stuff?
Henry can only play for 3 teams?
He could play for any team in the world… and if he got decent service, which is LACKING at Arsenal right now, he’s gonna score a lot of goals.
He is one of the BEST strikers in the world.
Its not debatable. Its fact. He’s f’n amazing.
So stop with the unrealistic comments that he can only play for a few teams and be successful.
You can do much better than that arguement.
Its ridiculous.
February 26th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Agreed. Agreed. Agreed. It would have been better for Wenger to spend more time with Vieira to motivate him than to choose the easy way out by selling him. It was obvious Vieira looked less hungry after the invincible season but many teams still fear him. And Arsenal players respond to him by fighting hard for the ball and never giving up. And Edu left becos he could not get regular first team football. Wenger could have kept him if he agreed to rotate between Edu and Gilberto. It was the unnecessary sale of two key players that messed up Arsenal’s season. The effect could be long term as the current crop of players may take a long time to get out of this malaise. And opponents are now coimg into games with alot more confidence and a gameplan that they know will work against Arsenal.
Wenger miscalculated big time and Arsenal suffered for it. I hope he realize his errors and fix it in the summer. Now is not the time to fire him bcos Arsenal needs him to right the ship.
February 26th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
Whatever Arsenal can do, Real Madrid can do better.
If we lose to Blackburn, Real Madrid lose to Real Mallorca, who are facing relegation.
Isn’t it just lovely, Arsenal and Real Madrid seem to be made for each other.
February 27th, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Please note the Carling Cup winners are the only ones to get a UEFA place, the runners up dont.
Man U will get a CL place so there will be at least two spaces for UEFA so 6th will do.
Dont be so negative if we win all our homes games and two away games we will finish 4th.
Bolton not Spurs are the team to worry about, let’s hope they win the FA Cup and then 7th place will be UEFA as well.