ESPN on one of their websites is reporting that Wednesday’s match at Prague will be on multiple ESPN feeds.
The upcoming entre into this season’s Champions League is interesting, if not because we all can’t wait to see how our club will continue to develop through the early part of the season, but also for the historical perspective.
Sparta Prague is Rosicky’s former club – we’ll see how their home crowd receives him – and is also the club of Chel$ki’s Petr Cech and the great Pavel Nedved of Juve.
History tells us that in 1906, one of the members of the Sparta Prague committee brought with him from a visit to London an Arsenal jersey, and since then, Sparta Prague has typically played in a maroon kit. The influence of The Arsenal has many arms!
Currently, Sparta has a North American! He is the forward Dave Simpson Knight – a Canadian, 24 years old, who is the first-ever North American to sign with Sparta Prague’s first team. Shortly after his signing in the summer of 2006, he was loaned to SK Kladno, where he spent most of the season on the shelf due to a head injury. He is now back with Sparta Prague’s reserve squad.
The rest of their squad is almost entirely Czech with a pinch of Slovakia nationals thrown in for good seasoning.
Sparta Prague is a huge club in their part of the world, and I’m sure their supporters will be ready to make the Toyota Arena (Letna Stadium), an intimate double-decker that is close to the pitch, as hostile as a 20,000-capacity ground can get.
A couple of away goals are what the doctor has ordered for the Gunners!
The game will be broadcast here in the US on delay @ 5PM ET on Setanta USA.
83 Responses to “Sparta Prague vs. Arsenal”
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August 13th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Kind of off topic… does anyone know if ArsenalTV will be available here in the States? I don’t see it on GolTV’s schedule… if it’s not, that will suck because it enabled me to at least see the games a week later.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
I read some suggestions to play Bendtner and van Persie together. Personally, I love what I saw from this kid so far, and like everyone else, really excited of the kid’s prospect.
Nevertheless, I don’t think it’s a good idea to start this kid so soon.
The thing is - when we only get to see a glimpse of him so far, we saw all his strengths. But like every player, he has his share of weaknesses. And giving the fact he’s just 19, still very raw, the more you get to see him, the more weaknesses a fan will find out.
So I can almost picture it on my mind now - if he starts for a few games, and not making as much impact as fans expected, soon some sections of fans would inevitably start to jump onto the kid’s back. It happened a lot these days.
Think of Fabregas, when he first broke into the first team, I remember the whole Arsenal world were very excited about him. Yet even as talented a kid as Cesc, there are still doubters and critics as years gone by. van Persie, Eboue, Clichy, Diaby, Senderos, Djourou, Walcott…. all the same.
But most importantly, I don’t think Bendtner is READY yet (to be a starter). He’s the perfect PLAN B for us at the moment. Say, we play a certain style of game, the passing game for 75 minutes of the match. The opposing team got used to this style of us and learned how to deal with it. Then all a sudden with 15 to 20 minutes to go, with their legs already started to gone, we bring in this tall, aggressive kid he’s strong in the air, it will undone our opponents’ defensive game plan and cause confusion.
For me, it’s better to play Bendtner the role as Van Persie first joined us. Back then van Persie scored many late goals as subs. Because he gave us something DIFFERENT. And it’s better for a young striker coming on taking on a bunch of tire legs defenders during the late stage of the match and give them a better chance to make an impact, thus raise their confidence. Than starting them straight away. A few starts without goal, it may hurt their self-belief. Besides, as starter, crowd will expect more, the pressure is higher as well.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:38 am
Just FYI Sparta Prague drew 0-0 away in their lats game and their scoring record is not great either. So if we keep it reasonable tight at the back we should win 2-0 atleast away. That’ll give us a nice cushion to build on.
As for Bendtner yeah..too many morons in the world out there these days who expect anyone who plays for Arsenal to be the best in their position and either score a goal a game or make 4 goalline tackles a game or be a “monster” in the middle of the park…whatever that means…Bendtner is best as an impact player….much like Theo when he came on last season..Carling Cup is fine for NB this season with the occasional game here n there.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:39 am
The only reason why people are not slagging off Theo much is because he’s English…so he has some more time…lets hope he breaks his EPL duck soon…I’m sure it’ll come…its just a question of when…
August 14th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Wenger has clearly said that Bendtner is still raw and not ready for full time football. So we will be seeing cameos from him along with a runout in the CC and maybe FA Cup. Perfect.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:33 am
I think Arseblog described Bendtner as a bull in a china shop. Quite apt.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:33 am
I think Fred described it pretty spot on in terms of the main difference between Adebayor and Bendtner. One of Adebayor’s weaknesses as a striker is he can only place the shot. While Bendtner is more a natural striker who can hit it as well as place it.
As for their ball control, although both look a bit clumsy, important thing is both of them can keep hold of the ball and not easily to lose possession. As both of them are 6 footers, naturally we can’t expect them to have as silky a skill as little man like Hleb, Rosicky. Afterall there aren’t many Thierry Henry out there who’s over 6 foot yet still got a silly touch.
One interesting thing about Bendtner is, although he’s a bit clumsy, because of his size, strength and determination to hold on to the ball, it made the defenders around him look clumsy as well. Felt like everytime when he got the ball inside the penalty box, there was a chao around! Good for our cause!
August 14th, 2007 at 2:40 am
I remember RVP’s interview some time back…he had said…”There was a time when I wasn’t playing much and I wasn’t happy at all. I spoke to the boss about it. Arsene told me …relax your time will come. And he was right” … AW will ease Bendtner in and know when to put him in and when not to put him in. Bendtner’s time will also come..I only hope he is patient enough and not like David Bentley and some other guys who’ve left us…
August 14th, 2007 at 3:05 am
Another difference between Ade and Bendtner is the heading. Ade is, frankly, not very good for this height, while Bendtner is just awesome. The way he outjumped the Fulham players on almost every occasion was too good. He even jumped high to clear the corner after Toure almost scored an own goal.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Am reading reports that Gilberto found out about Gallas as captain from the internet. Hope that’s not true.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:55 am
yeah it is true apparently….and that is really poor man management from wenger!
a random rumor links us to Pedersen…..and i am in support of that….even though its probably bs. I think Pedersens raw pace, and great left footed crossing will be very useful. plus he will need no time to acclimatize to the EPL.
the mirror says blackburn want cash plus flamini…….i say HURRAH!!! lets give them cash plus flamini plus song!!!
August 14th, 2007 at 6:46 am
and i think bendtner and adebayor would be our perfect attacking starters for those northern, cold, rainy, mid-week evening trips. lol.
and if we add pedersen we would have an added option for those sort of trips.
we would still have to keep Fabregas and van Persie on the bench though….incase things went pearshaped.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Funny, I mentioned Pedersen about one and a half years ago and everyone told me I was nuts. Now that he’s more expensive, everyone thinks we should bring him in.
One thing that still has me completely amazed is in the Lazio game when Bendtner scored his goal. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player jump higher than a keeper can reach to win a high ball. Freaking incredible.
You can’t forget that Adebayor has loads of pace. He does a quick little turn and has blazed past the likes of John Terry, Ledley King, and many others. Bendtner’s not blazing past anybody. Sorry.
If what you’re saying about Gilberto is true, that’s the wrong, f*cked-up answer.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Its very very strange if it is true, and that too from the master of man management. I dont know what’s happened…
@Fred: Flamini’s not done too bad a job …thats unfair on him…deciding a player is cr*p based ona previous record….as for Song..he is defensive by nature and the same cannot be said of our other midfielders…so he’s going nowhere…
August 14th, 2007 at 8:16 am
I’ve liked Gamst for some time now as well, even when his shirt had Pederson on the back
That said I doubt Hughes would let him go even for an obscene amount of money. His is one of 3 or so difference makers for Blackburn.
I think Bendtner may get some longer sub minutes. I like the idea of bringing him on with a lead as well as it gives us a release target during the run of play and a large presence for set-piece defenses.
I also wonder how long van Persie will play. 3 games in 1 week is a lot…
August 14th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I think Adebayor is a better all-around player. Bendtner is a more natural goalscorer.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:23 am
agree Gunningsteve, i also don’t think Mark Hughes is willing to let Pederson go, especially the season is already under way, impossible for them to look for replacement.
that’s the way it is i guess, sometimes even when u got cash, doesn’t mean u can always get your man.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Unless you’re Chelsea
August 14th, 2007 at 9:07 am
just saw the squad listing for the Sparta game. Doesn’t look like many attacking options off the bench and I suspect the starting will be from those who played Sunday.
Jens Lehmann
Manuel Almunia
Alexander Hleb
Tomas Rosicky
Mathieu Flamini
Cesc Fabregas
Theo Walcott
Nicklas Bendtner
Gael Clichy
Bacary Sagna
William Gallas
Kolo Toure
Philippe Senderos
Alex Song
Robin van Persie
Emmanuel Eboue
Justin Hoyte
Armand Traore
August 14th, 2007 at 9:34 am
No Gilberto, Denilson and Diaby. Flamini again in the middle. Not the best option. I hope we can keep it tight.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Rosicky seems to me like someone who is going to have to come into his own this season. Further, either Van Persie or Adebayor is going to have to step up and be the go to guy. On Saturday it appeared that they were unsure where to go for that monetum shifting goal without Henry in the lineup. Luckily the penalty was called and bailed Arsenal out. I thought the defense looked poor at times as well. Sure Arsenal had a shut out after the first 53 seconds of the match but it was Fullham, and they were playing to defend their lead almost the entire game. I just thought some of the defenders looked tenative when the ball was around the goal.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:03 am
If we play with the 4-5-1 transforming into 4-3-3 style I’d like Bendtner to start. Henry was typically exhausted after being the single striker, we need van Persie for Sunday, and Bendtner is fresh. I still want RvP in the starting XI as well. Walcott with either Hleb or Rosicky on the bench?
Yeah, I’d like Denilson in the squad too. It is funny though, I considered we had an abundance of players in midfield but we seem so short of good options to slide in for Gilberto on a consistent basis. I consider Flamini a good squad player but not an everyday player. Makes me think about Diarra… Wenger has got to be thinking that someone will step up.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I have known about Pedersen from his time with Tromso, he was a very good left winger on the FM at that time and I was curious to know more about him. Watched some clips, but from that you can’t judge a player if he is good or bad. So when he came in the EPL, I watched him very closely( I sound like a scout here
), and I must say he didn’t disappoint, he became the leader of Blackburn and one of the better midfielders in the country. So, if he comes, he would be a great addition to the club. I hope this is true, that we are interested and we can conclude the deal before the window shuts down.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Mark Hughes will be tough…I’d be surprised if he let MGP leave for Arsenal; even if we offer Flamini he will be tough…………certainly at least until August 20th……Even after that I don’t see it happening…..but I would like to have him in our kit.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Based on how well Hleb played against Fulham I think Wenger would find it difficult to bring him off the bench.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Gilberto SHOCKED at not being chosen captain, and hearing about it on the internet!
I really hope this is just a bullshite story made up by the media… because if its true, its just horrendous management on Wenger’s part.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
“Pedersen’s raw pace”?, He doesn’t have any pace, and that’s the one reason why he couldn’t play for Arsenal.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
With regard to the Gilberto stuff:
Here is a snippet from the BBC story regarding the communication (or lack thereof) with Gilberto- the following is from http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6946470.stm
And team spirit, according to Wenger is very high - despite reports that Gilberto was upset that he only learned he would not be captain via the Arsenal website.
Wenger added: “I respect Gilberto a lot. I had a face-to-face meeting with him and told him what I wanted to tell him. ”
“I cannot justify every small decision, and explain it to everybody. You make a decision because you just want to make the right one.”
I wonder what he “wanted to tell him.”
Hard to figure out stories like this and what was actually said when and in what context without seeing unbroken audio + video from an interview or press conference.
Whatever happened, Gilberto is a pretty mature individual and will handle it well, I predict. Others (including those just left) would not.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Gilberto was never first choice captain, he was standing in for Thierry Henry. Then Henry left, so why does Wenger have to justify who is made captain? Gilberto might expect it to continue, but not necessarily so. Don’t know what all the fuss is about.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Excellent point about the nature of Gilberto’s captaincy.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Danny, Agreed…
Everton3 - 1Totties….HT at white hart lane…………….sweet
August 14th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
What are the chances that Jol gets to celebrate Christmas with a job?
August 14th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
I would have expected Wenger to personally inform Gilberto of his choice before it became public. Gilberto was his deputy and had been mentioned as a possibility for the role. My guess is it slipped off Wenger’s radar given the busyness of pre-season build-up and the multiple roles he is filling - and true to form the media want to make a meal of it.
But Gilberto’s a mature character like you say fstanin and I’m sure Wenger will sort it.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Jol’s done an ok job….but his challenge is to take Spurs into the top 4 and that’s a tough one. All the top 4 sides are pretty strong and have strong management used to doing what is required to ‘get’ one of the CL football places.
I’d be surprised if he was sacked mid-season.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
This Gilberto situation is a bit worrying, I mean couldn’t Arsene have a “out of office reply” e-mail for these situations?
August 14th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
@live_don’t_exist…
I agree with you that I don’t think Bendtner is ready to start yet.
But I also need to say, to be fair, that your reasoning that people aren’t “slagging off Theo much is because he’s English” is a bit short-sighted.
The reason he hasn’t been slagged off as much as some others probably has more to do with the fact that he’s only 18… and hasn’t really played enough to say yet. Hell, Bendtner will be 20 before Theo even turns 19!
I’m guessing NB will play tomorrow at some point. Probably not starting, but it will depend on what sort of formation AW goes with. The striking options are slim, so if Wenger changes it up from Saturday and goes with a 4-4-2 instead, we’ll see one of the teenagers play.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I was as surprised as anyone when Gallas was made captain. However, thinking about it, it made some sort of sense. Kolo will disappear to the ANC mid-season and I have some doubts about his ability to lead. He might try to do too much if captain.
The start to the season is very important. You want your captain to lead from the start. Gilberto may not play until September and he is under most pressure (of the captaincy candidates) for his place with the surfeit of central midfielders at the club. Lehmann is probably in his last season.
Yes, there are problems with Gallas as captain but there would be problems with any of the others. Djourou going on loan solves the problem of pressure on his place. Before anyone at the backs shouts out Cesc, he is too young yet. Two seasons of Gallas and then Fabregas.
Anyway, to tomorrow, with the squad we have out there, I don’t think the team will change. No Denilson, Diaby or Gilberto means Flamini will play. Wenger won’t want to risk losing so he won’t play Bendtner instead of Hleb or Rosicky. Ditto Walcott.
Finally, you have to laugh. Losing 3-1 to Everton at home!! Bottom of the Premiership, even if only for a few more days! Wouldn’t it be brilliant if the bottom three of Bolton, West Ham and Spurs stayed there until the end of the season. Impossible to happen but we can dream. Seriously though, can’t wait to meet all the Spurs supporters tomorrow at work.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Everton were excellent, played Tottenham beautifully. To be fair, Tottenham were missing Dawson, King and Lennon, which makes a difference, but their midfield really is utter shite. Jenas is dreadful and Zokora (who acclaimed himself the new Vieira) is about as effective deterrent as pepper spray against a herd of buffalos.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
as andez will say….topfourhotspurs, topfourhotspurs
i wonder if they will start to panic now.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Dawson and King’s absence might have made a difference….but Lennon’s probably didnt. Lennon is all speed and little end product…..a bit like Walcott really.
the problem with spurs is that their midfielders dont score many goals and yet they dont even create many either. and that is exactly why they dont have a chance of breaking top 4. they keep on stockpiling on strikers and defenders when their midfield is pathetic.
August 14th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
How do you make a player like Gallas who complained on his website after T14 left…. hand him the captians band and give him the responability of leading.. he’s not going to bad mouth himself or his leadership…. Good management by AW..
and 3-1… toffes.. did anyone watch that game.. all the $$ the spurs spent can’t get you a W.. when you have (medicore/often injured midfielder) Jennas & Lennon… the spurs mid was no match for Arteta and gang..
August 14th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
I watched the game, and yeah, Arteta has become their midfield star now when Tim Cahill is injured. And why you all slam Jenas, in my opinion he was the only midfield player that was trying, had that “never give up” attitude. Oh, and Jol fielded Berba, Bent and Keane in the starting eleven, and they still couldn’t find the net :)))) But that’s only because they lack creative midfielder in their squad, there is no one who will create chances for those guys.
And Fred, you are wrong on Lennon man. He is on a higher level than Walcott, has a better ball control and knows what to do with it, and his end product is better too, while Theo still has a lot to learn in every aspect of his game. They miss him badly.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Arteta was absolute class.
Lennon is a decent player, I agree with Fred that half the time he doesn’t know what he’s doing but he pulls people all over the place and has quite an effect on games.
Jenas is absolutely dreadful, he really is. God knows why anyone would want to play him in central midfield full time; no guile, no intelligence. no muscle - scores the odd decent goal, that’s all. Long may they keep him there.
August 14th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
slamming Jenas? …. because he is a spur isn’t good enough?
August 14th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Exactly Danny, about Jenas. Especially when take into consideratoin some folks been crying for AW to sign him a few years’ back.
Martin Jol is useless. Sir Alex and Mourinho apart, the last managers who spent more than 100 million pounds in his reign with their club were David O’Leary and Houllier. At least O’Leary managed to give Leeds’ fans a joy ride in the CL, and Houllier won Liverpool a few cups. Jol spent 108 mil so far, and counting, in 3? years? Imagine had AW have that much fund available.
Heard that now Spurs is linking to Curtis Davies and Guti, really no idea where their money coming from? Martin Jol looks more and more like a FM manager to me. He seems to believe by just bringing in players then all a sudden the team would be different.
sometimes a good football team is about organization. Everton’s organization on the pitch was far better than Spurs, despite didn’t really have much money to spend in years. This, u achieve by hardwork on the training pitch, not the transfer market.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
also i wonder how Jol felt when he saw Blackbrun landed Roque Santa Cruz for 6 mil after landing Bent for 16 mil himself? Injury-phrone aside, i think Santa Cruz is a classy player. I tip him as one of the buy of the seasons (if he stays healthy).
August 14th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Looks like a bad start for Spurs. Another loss could be on the way as they play Man U on the 26th. Certainly a wonderful news to us especially much have been talking about them challenging for the top 4.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Moyes is the Wenger of mid-table teams. Very little money to play with but builds a good team with a lot of youngsters. Credit to Everton mgmt who stuck with him for 6 years despite having to fight relegation at times. Fergie always said that managers should be given time to prove themselves.
Mark Hughes is another such manager. It’s true that his side don’t play great football, but he is a very astute manager on the field and in the transfer window. Some of his buys - Nelsen, McCarthy, Santa Cruz - were excellent.
I think our Sunday game with Blackburn will be veyr tough. I will be happy with a draw. But before that, we need a win at Prague.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:41 am
@ryecatcher: U got me wrong about the Walcott bit. Its true…see now if tomorrow Cesc came on and didnt perform well for 4 games in a row people would start slamming him forgetting that although he’s played loads of games he is still only 19..20?? and can have bad games..
Theo ..dont get me wrong…doesnt deserve to be slammed…coz ur right he is only 18…but I’m saying the media is a bit more forgiving to high profile players if they’re english..think if AW had bought some kid from Iceland for 5 million rising to 12 and he didnt set teh world on fire when he came on…the media would jump on him…and say that AW is anti english etc etc…so no I dont think Theo should be criticized …I was just pointing out a media characteristic…. hope that “clears the air”
August 15th, 2007 at 12:51 am
As for Martin Jol and his Spurs team great that they lost. However I feel sorry for managers like him some days…bigged up by the media as the best upcoming team…get sucked in by that and spend big bucks on players who are decent but not world beaters and then the same media who bigged them up turns on them and criticizes their spending..Martin Jol having ambition is good for the club no doubt…but he too has been a victim of media overhype…and feeling the pressure for Spurs to be a “top 4″ side because of media overhype..where truly they were not yet quite there….if this trend continues and they lose games at WHL as well…they will find it hard to make the UEFA Cup…still we had only 1 point after 2 games last time round and were 17th so…
August 15th, 2007 at 12:57 am
A word on Jermaine Jenas…@Stag: Didnt u want him here at one point??
.. Jenas is hugely overrated..he scores an odd free kick and an odd goal but he does not dominate the midfield like he was supposed to when he left Newcastle…and Zokora as well for that matter..I was wondering why we didnt buy him when he went to Spurs specially after I saw his performances for Cote’ D Ivoire…obviously AW knows…
@Sheed: What is “trying hard” ? Put me n you on a football field and even we will try hard. Yes effort is very important but then even Dan Smith was trying hard when he cracked DIaby’s ankle…Freddie tried hard…cared a lot…red thru and thru but after a time just the effort is not enough… there has to be end product or else your expectations need to be lowered. Jenas is yet another player ..like Malbranque, Zokora, Tainio and countless others who are good honest but average limited players…Maybe thats what AW means by super super class…players above these players….
@Nipuna: Great statement that…Moyes is the Wenger of mid-table teams and Mark Hughes as well….absolutely perfect….
August 15th, 2007 at 1:37 am
U bring up a fine point of the media hype LDE. But I also think if Spurs ends up fail to make the top 4, they may have every reason to thanks the “Special One”!
I recall early days of the summer, Mourinho came out and claimed he believe Spurs would be one of the title challenger. And when the “Special One” speaks, bangwagon riders listen! I think it’s about that time the “Top 4″ talk started.
As stated before, it added on the unnecessary pressure to them. Particlar from the midtable sides, it may just spur them on whenever they play Spurs, to remind them there are other teams in the Premiership afterall.
@ nipuna, well said of Hughes and Moyes. IMO Everton is one of the biggest overachieving sides in the Premiership, giving the resource they got.
sometimes i also think - the clubs with the limited fund often bring the best out of the managers. As they have to plan their spending much more carefully than those who got load to spend. And they will also have to push themsevles working harder on other aspect of the game, such as the team organization, tactic stuffs like that in order to make up their disadvantage in the spending department.
those who got load to spend, when things go wrong, they may seek for an easy way out - just go out and buy another player. But the best managers of the game usually are the one who can bring the best out of what they got. If a manager does not have that ability, then no matter how much they spent, it will be the same.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:58 am
Wenger himself said on Arsenal.com that he rates Jenas. So Arsenal fans can be forgiven for wanting Jenas.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:45 am
lol@nipuna: That was typical Wenger…the moment he opens his mouth about how he rates the player…10000 papers will link us to him and a 5 million pound player value will suddenly become 12 and a half million. Sometimes I think AW leads everyone including us up blind alleys, then goes and gets someone no one expected and at the same time gets other clubs to blow more cash on a player he never really wanted int he first place…Jenas was the same I think…he never really wanted JJ.. if sum1 asked him he couldnt say …”JJ is cr*p…could he ??” … so he might’ve said ..yeah I rate him and all of a sudden JJ was the next big thing… got to laugh at people who get sucked in by AW… he’s the greatest
August 15th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Andez:As they have to plan their spending much more carefully than those who got load to spend. And they will also have to push themsevles working harder on other aspect of the game,
This is very true. Less funds mean you work with what you have and improve. Thats what AW keeps saying when he means you have to strengthen from within. Mourinho might have also known this and hence overhyped Spurs and forced them to spend more….its all mind games…
August 15th, 2007 at 5:08 am
LDE, I never said “trying hard”, I said that he was trying, and by that I meant trying to do something, to make things happen, but he couldn’t do it on his own.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:09 am
Yes, LDE. AW publicly rated a lot of players before, Fowler, Carrick, Kluvert, SWP… and many other more. Yet most of the time he never really went for them.
I agree with ur theory, it’s probably all smokescreen, so that no one would join in the bid of the players he really wanted and raise the price.
nipuna, actually not every Arsenal fans wanted Jenas at that time. only some of them. It was the time when Vieira departed. i think some of the fans got panic. Fulham Diop also being mentioned. when i saw him coming off the bench the other day (off the Fulham bench!), it just showed how little fans really know.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Andez, I know that not all Arsenal fans wanted Jenas. I was one of them. Just pointing that if Wenger rates a player, you can expect some fans to want him. The “Arsene Knows” factor. Like Andy Johnson. Not many may like him, but I would like to have him at Arsenal. I think he is better than Ade.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:25 am
I am wondering what kit Arsenal will wear against Prague. If I remember correctly, they have an all maroon kit. So all our three kits clash. That’s why I didn’t like it when we moved away from yellow. Same problem against Liverpool. I think the third kit will be worn as much if not more than the second one. Arsenal and Nike’s way of making more money?
August 15th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Arsenal is already a better club in terms of this aspect. Man Utd and Liverpool both have an alternative HOME kit for the CL matches. Now that’s greedy!
August 15th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Martin Jol is far from useless. He is just misguided in his love for English players i.e Jermaine Jenas.
He is still a very good manager and Tottenham will come good. Arsenal weren’t too far from being thumped 3-1 on Sunday themselves by shitty Fulham so I wouldn’t get too smarmy over it.
Hilarious watching them lose though.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:40 am
errrr….i rate Moyes, Hughes, Erikson and Alladyce over Jol. So he isnt even among the top 8 coaches in the league.
Give Moyes, Hughes and Alladyce the money and the stability and they might be able to break into the top-4. To be honest I am really afraid of Everton and Man City this season.
Jol on the other hand thinks that to score more goals (and therefore enter the promised land of top-4) he has to flood his team with strikers - when he would have been far better served if he had used the 16 million for Bent to get TWO Hlebs or Rosickys type players.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Looks like Spurs have changed their home kit to all white.
That’s another team against whom Arsenal may have to play their 3rd kit.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:30 am
I think Jol is useless. He got no creativity in midfield, he got no left side midfield, he got no depth in defence, and what he did? Go out and spend 16 mil on a striker!!
Note: the 4 strikers he got, all he didn’t get them cheap. None of them are youngsters who may be willing to wait for their chances….. Means none of them would be too happy to sit on the bench. None of them would be too happy to be taken off mid way the 2nd half. Sooner or later they will p*ss each other off.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:31 am
I believe we can wear our Red home kit for away games when the home team wears white….or am I sorely mistaken????
August 15th, 2007 at 9:33 am
As for Spurs will come good, of course they will come good. You spent 108 millions in 4 years you better be coming good. But hell like I care. I just enjoy every one of their defeat as much as with every one of our victory!!
August 15th, 2007 at 9:55 am
I think Jol is great.. and a perfect manager for the Spurs.. any Spurs manager with that kind of bank roll and talent on the pitch.. and comes up short every season.. works me from my gunner perspective….
August 15th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Doesn’t look like many attacking options off the bench
Just Theo and Bendtner, hardly any at all
*rolls eyes*
August 15th, 2007 at 10:12 am
those attacking options worked for us sunday… 21 shots!!… hopefully sparta won’t have a hell bent human wall of a goal keeper like Warner… or a zach knight blocking goals
August 15th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I agree that watching Spurs lose is a big delight. Judging from their defense and midfield, I think top 4 is a stretch. However, I thought they deserved better than 3-1. They controlled large portions of the game but didnt have that final ball from midfield or someone who could penetrate on the flanks and set up their strikers.
Lennon (who has much better ball control than Walcott) will help, but I think they are going to suffer on the defensive end all season long. I think they’ll finish 6th or 7th.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
@Biggun — yes, we wear our regular home kit on the road alot - at spurs, at Chelsea, etc. Sometimes, they will do that but wear red stockings instead of the white, when the opposition also wears white stockings (like spuds).
August 15th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
By defination Malbranque is a creative player, so is Jenas to an extent.
I thought Tottenham played okay. Just that their shit defence let them down and deflated the rest of the team.
By the way, Jol got them fifth in the league two years spending hardly anything so he is not useless. He bought Carrick for £2.75 m and bought Berbatov for £10 million. He knows his stuff. The hardest thing to do in the current premiership climate is breaking into the top four and Jol is finding that out.
Being an Arsenal fan is no excuse to be ignorant to the qualities of an opposing manager just because he manages our local rivals. When it comes to their annoying fuckwit fans, that’s a different matter ; ^)
August 15th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
well, i rate ferguson and mourinho as better tactically than wenger and they are our rivals, so this has nothing to do with underrating a rival’s manager.
i think if u give eriksson that exact spurs squad plus the budget he will break into the top 4. and to lesser extent moyes, hughes and allardyce might be able to given that squad and money.
so by EPL standards he is rather mediocre. And there is no point saying Malbrunque or Jenas are “creative” players - he should be looking for players that can actually create! or else he has no chance of entering the top 4 anytime soon.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
english players are so underwhelming….if walcott were french or dutch he would have a far much better ball control already … instead he is just speedy with a good cross on him….but he is an above average defenders dream really….very easy to dispossess.
i heard some random new snippet when he first came to arsenal that the coaches wanted him to do some extra sessions which he declined (dissappointing the coaches)……a typical english player!
August 15th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Doesn’t sound very likely to me.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
“By the way, Jol got them fifth in the league two years spending hardly anything so he is not useless”
Mazza, what about these (to name just a few):
Chimbonba 6 mil
Dawson 8 mil
Zokora 8.6 mil
Jenas 8 mil
Keane 7 mil
And grand total (during his reign in charge = 108 mil, more than ANY other club but Chelsea).
That is hardly a case of “hardly spending anything” as u put it right?
Anyway, I still think he’s an useless manager.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Anyway, I don’t know how you can call for Wenger to get sacked merely a couple months ago, while asking us to respect the QUALITY of a Spurs manager??!!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Hence why I said two years ago Andez. All the players you’ve listed were bought last season.
By the way, he didn’t buy Keane or Defoe.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Sorry, I missed out “ago”.
I said Wenger should respectfully leave, not get sacked. I haven’t necessarily changed my mind on that because I still think we will do nothing this season. I hope he proves me wrong though.
You really are talking crap Andez, what the hell has it go to do with Arsenal and Spurs? A good manager is a good manager. Who gives a shit who he manages?
August 15th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
So a manager who spent 108 mil in 4 years winning nothing is a GOOD manager. A manager who spent I am not sure even more than 108 mil in a DECADE winning load of trophies should RESPECTFULLY leave?
If this is the message I saw from a Spurs message board I would NOT be as p*ss.
Let me tell u one thing - HAD Martin Jol an Arsenal manager, he spent 108 mil in 4 years yet the best he finished was 5th place, then tell me you still think he’s a GOOD manager then.
And if Arsenal lose the next 2 games, I’ll see if you would be equally kind to our OWN manager.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
2-0 Arsenal. Goals by Cesc and Hleb.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Great result even if left a little late. Should let a few regulars get a rest in the next match or at least a shorter bit of play.
August 15th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
A really good CL win, despite for much of the match we didn’t look particularly threatening or coherrent on the narrow pitch.
Our 2 FB’s made the goals, with 2 of our midfielders finishing them.
Sagna: I like him. Has a physical presence and took the rough stuff well. Plays like a RB and offers the composure that Eboue didn’t. I also liked the way he clattered one of the SP players with only a couple of minutes to go. Made his point for the return leg, but smart enough not to do it early in the game when the likelihood of getting a yellow is greater. Also demonstrated a good engine breaking late on the left to assist with Hleb’s goal.
Fab: Still getting into the season but showed his growing maturity with that tackle on Repka and his willingness to shoot. Composed with the finish for his goal.
Late goals: Whilst we want the team to score early, having a reputation for being capable of striking late is hugely demoralising for opposition teams.