Date: May 2007

An Inspiration from Chelsea’s 2nd half performance

May 7, 2007 by

I hope Wenger would keep a tape of Chelsea’s second half performance against us at Emirates, and shows to his young team – THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING TEAM.

In short – NEVER GIVE UP.

Forget about we need a striker, winger, central defender… What we need most is a RIGHT ATTITUDE. The determination to battle on regardless of the CIRCUMSTANCES.

Chelsea did not win the league. And their manager make me sick. But their second half performance against us (with 10 men) just showed that – when you really really want to win, when you have a strong desire, you are like playing with 12 men even when you are only down to 10.

One of our KEY weaknesses is – we depend so much on the flow. When we couldn’t get the rhythm going, the team struggling. If this problem extends to next season, we could buy ourselves a Kaka, Buffon or whoever, we would still be brilliant one week, awful the second week.

How to inject this never-say-die Arsenal tradition back into the team? I don’t know. It’s the gaffer’s job anyway. But the team has to understand if we wants to fight for the title, we are going to expect a close title race like this season between Man U and Chelsea. It’s all about who has the toughest mental strength, and who have the ability to hold the nerve when it matters most.

Arsenal 1 – 1 Chelsea

May 6, 2007 by

Gilbo’s second penalty conversion in as many matches proved enough to send the title north to Manchester as Arsenal drew with Chelsea 1-1 at the Grove earlier today.

Arsenal started the better of the two sides, and really should have been up by more than one when Chelsea got their equalizer, a glancing header by Michael Essien reviving the ten-men Blues and sparking them into action. Chelsea were playing as if the title depended on it, while Arsenal were simply playing not to lose.

In the dying moments, Emmanuel Eboue almost won it for the Gunners with a shot so powerful, it surely must have left a dent in the crossbar it hit.

So, in the end, a mixed bag of emotions for Gooners the world over, as the result denies Chelski the title, but, a win would have been so much better, and it certainly had been there for the taking.

One game left this season, Sunday at 10 AM ET at Portsmouth. The Gunners will be looking for a victory to close out the season. Should they earn the win, a Liverpool draw or loss on Sunday will see Arsenal improve on last year’s fourth place finish by leapfrogging the Champions League finalists to third.

A crazy thought for a Thursday

May 3, 2007 by

Hey, just thought I’d throw this out there:

Love Wenger, big fan of everything he has done for the club. I believe he will be considered one of the 10 great managers in the history of top flight football in England. But, maybe, after 10 years, it’s time for the lads in the dressing room to hear another voice. How about Arsene moves to the front office in a technical director’s role and a new manager slots in? That new manager?

Ronald Koeman

Fantastic pedigree. As a player he won a boatload of trophies, including two European Cups. He also had a knack for coming up big in big games. As a manager he’s done remarkably well, often with limited budgets. He took Vitesse Arnhem to the UEFA Cup in his first job, then revived a slumping Ajax side before they decided to start firing managers like Steinbrenner during the 80s. He then when to Portugal, taking Benfica to the Champions League semis and winning the SuperCup. Now back in Holland at PSV Eindhoven, he’s continued to win titles and punch above his weight in the Champions League.

I’m not suggesting Arsene Wenger be marginalized, merely allowed to exploit his strengths (pretty much everything but match management) while the club strengthens it coaching staff with a proven winner.