[Update: LDE's preview has been added]
With each passing week, the sense of disappointment has increased. It is quite unfortunate that all of Arsenal’s weaknesses have been on display for everyone to see. Their “dirty laundry” was out in the open starting with the Carling Cup loss when the first signs of tensions within the squad emerged. And what happened in the games after the 2-0 Blackburn win has been documented enough times. Still for me each new game started with hope that maybe, just maybe Arsenal will spring into life. Despite all their problems and bad patch of decisions given against them, Arsenal still find themselves only 6 points adrift at the top with 5 games to go. All of Arsenal’s lifelines have been used up for this season. Their fate has not been in their hands for a while now. So the only thing Arsenal can do is to win all their games and hope for the best.
As for me, I can only offer another story when I think of Sunday’s game.
[Climatic Scene of 2008: A football odyssey]
The Hero walks into a room packed with 88 opponents. The young Hero is brave and confident and calmly proceeds to take on each opponent one by one. After he has dispatched about 40 or so men, he is still standing strong yet panting a little. However, by the time he has taken out 66 men, he is clearly tired. Unfortunately, there is no time for rest as the Hero only came by himself, leaving all his sidekicks home. Also, some of the Hero’s sidekicks were still nursing their wounds from previous battles. The last 12 opponents prove to be quite tough for the hero as he is repeatedly beaten up and injured.
The Hero is knocked out and finds himself lying on the floor, almost lifeless. Just before his eyes shut, he remembers why he is fighting in the first place. He is fighting for a better future, a future where good and virtue would prevail. Images of his 19 year old son flash before his eyes, and with the speed and agility of a young boy, he gets up and knocks out the 88th person. Victory is achieved. Or so the hero thinks.
A rule for an action movie is to only celebrate when all the corpses have been confirmed terminated. One never turns their back on some half-dead opponents. As the Hero is limping away, one solitary opponent rises and delivers one final blow to the hero. The hero is knocked unconscious. The room doors open and in walks Fernaldooney, an old rival of the hero. Fernaldooney looks at the lying body of the hero and is delighted. He can finally put his rival to rest.
[Flashback]: The Hero and Fernaldooney have a long history of rivalry. In total, the two have been involved in 202 fights with Fernaldooney winning 81 and the hero claiming 76 wins. The remaining 45 fights had to be abandoned for various reasons like the arrival of police, etc. However, in the last 13 Premier fights Fernaldooney and the Hero are tied with each claiming 4 wins & the remaining 5 bouts drawn. There have been some memorable victories claimed by each rival with the Hero winning historic fights in 1998, 2002 and even in 2006/2007 while also suffering some humiliating defeats as well. Also, there was one fight in 2004 where Fernaldooney cheated and won a fight unfairly. [End Flashback]
Fernaldooney feels no threat from the Hero and is moving in for the final kick. However, the camera pans towards the ground and shows slight movement in the hero’s right hand.
###@@@@@@
##%#%#%#%# Missing Reel ##%#%#%##$###%#$######
[End. Roll credits]
Confused Audience Member #1: “What the f*** was that about?”
Audience Member #2: “Damn. That bastard Tyler Durden took the final reel home, again!”
Audience Member #1: “Who the hell is Tyler Durden?”
AM #2: “You know that guy who worked over at Fincher’s Club F. on 19th and 99th”
AM #1: “Nope, no idea who he is.”
AM#2: “Well he often takes reels from movies and then splices them on matinee shows on Sat and Sun.”
AM#1: “So when will this reel show up?”
Audience Member #3: “I believe going by his track record, he might show it on a morning show on Sunday.”
AM #2: “At this theater?”
AM #3: “No, probably at Theater D”
AM #1: “Well, hopefully the ending is worth it”
AM #2: “Yeah who knows, if things go good for the Hero, there might even be a sequel.”
AM #1: “Who knows. The Hero was pretty badly bruised.”
AM #2: “Yeah. But come on, who does not like a happy ending?”
Am #1: “Well, let’s see what Sunday brings.”
Here’s LDE’s Analysis:
I’m finding it really hard to think tactics for this game. I’m finding it really hard because on paper and form-wise it looks like an absolute mismatch. It looks an absolute mismatch because United’s front line is on absolute fire and anyone who plays seem to score goals. I don’t think football wise we’re any poorer or better than United. I think Arsenal and United play arguably the best football in the premiership albeit with very contrasting styles. In big games; no matter how much you want to argue form goes completely out of the window. Like in a derby; However badly Spurs are playing they will always always raise their game for The Arsenal and will give us a game. Same here..
Lets take a quick tactical look then shall we. Rooney and Ronaldo against Gallas and Senderos. The Roo man never never fails to score against us; just like Adebayor always scores against Spurs. So if we count one goal from him and one goal from Ronaldo off his left hip muscle it means we have to score 3 to win. Ideally though it’ll be nice if we can stop the 2 from going in in the first place itself. It’d also be nice if for a change people stop being blind about the number of aerial boobs Gallas has made as well; which have contributed to Senderos being beaten on the ground(Like the Second goal against Pool..ouch that hurts)..Still if WillyG can pop up with a crucial winner like at the Emirates; I’ll take a gaffe anytime. Maybe the experience of Gilberto isn’t such a bad thing after all in the closing stages of the season. If he can mark Ronaldo out of the game along with the two CB’s then we might have a chance. I’m fairly certain Tevez will not have too much joy against either Clichy or Kolo; Sagna got injured at the worst worst possible time IMO. Someone made a wonderfully insightful point about Clichy getting shut out by Dirk Kuyt…big big point. Just proves once again how important fullbacks are to Arsenal; more than any other team. If Clichy n Kolo can get forward more often than not we make muchmore of an impact. Which leaves me with an interesting question:
When do you know Arsenal are not playing well?
1) When Hleb and Fabregas begin to lose the ball in midfield.
2) Clichy/Sagna stop getting forward
Hence its imperative for our “wingers” to somehow force Right Back X and Evra to defend or drag them around. This so that our fullbacks can get forward and put crosses in or link up with the forwards…yes we score from crosses as well this season. Now if Clichy keeps getting forward or Kolo keeps getting forward I’d like you to carefully watch Ronaldo and how many times he is the one doing the closing down. I fancy you’d see very few…more often than not you will see Carrick,Scholes or Anderson closing the wing play down to release Ronaldo upfield === Ronaldo is not a winger. Anyway that hardly matters. Since all three of United’s strikers drive through the middle most of the time; the role of Fabregas and Gilberto becomes very crucial to ensure that Anderson, Carrick or Scholes do NOT find Ronaldo and Rooney even alone against our CB’s. This is the key to prevent United from scoring. Also a little more discipline from set pieces might help a little more.
Lastly to our strikers, RVP surely surely has to score. Arsene will play a 4-4-2 at OT; not a 4-5-1 — all the noises point very firmly in that direction. If RVP scores tomorrow and we win everything is forgiven; all those missed chances and all those injury months out. With Vidic out United are vulnerable at set pieces and Ade who has improved in the air or Gallas/Toure/Gilberto/Senderos could exploit this to our advantage. Rio cannot be at full fitness though I’d hardly want to think too much about it. Wes Brown is no better or worse as a CB than any of our CB’s including the much maligned Senderos….sorry. Owen Hargreaves will probably play at RB which is a very solid option; wasn’t he the best player for eEngland when he played there in the WC??
It’ll be tight and we need to win this in the mind before we win it on the field. How much of the mental baggage will the guys be able to put aside and come back and fight if we go 1-0 down? If we’re able to take it into the last quarter at 1-1 there’s a big big chance of us winning the game. However I doubt we’d be able to do it that easy — United are a (much as I hate it) side on championship winning form and it’ll take a lot more than just hard work to stop them. We need a win — not a draw tomorrow. So then we can build on that and try and win our last 4 games and take it to the last week somehow where anything can happen.
An optimistic gooner I am and will always be - ManU 1 - Arsenal 2
April 11th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Yup, its been all downhill since the 0-4 beatdown United put on ‘em in the FA Cup. At the least, could the revenge factor put them over the top? Didn’t work against ‘Boro. And with no Sagna and now Flamini, the odds are stacked against. But I’m going out on a limb and saying Arsenal will get 3 pts on Sunday. They have too.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Man United 3-0 Arsenal.
Arsenal will play well for twenty minutes or so.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I hate to say it, but we will play well for 20 mins or so, but not get a goal, then ManUre will start to turn the screws and we’ll be 2 or 3 down by 60m. They’ll toy with us - stepovers, juggling, playing keepyuppy amongst themselves - until we get so enraged we fight back and Eboue gets sent off.
By this point, the whole stadium is crowing that they don’t even mind if we scramble a consolation goal in the 90th minute.
My heart wants us to shock the whole nation with our guts. My head says it’s going to be horrible. Or rather it would be, but Ferguson is going humiliate us by resting all his big players and still get a result.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:46 am
hopelessly hooked gooner fan that i am: 2-0 to the Arsenal
April 11th, 2008 at 11:01 am
For once, I can’t being myself to be even reasonably optimistic.
Man United 3 - 1 Arsenal
We’ll chink one in early (surely the sign of impending doom), will give up the equalizer two minutes later (see, I told you so), and after it is 3 - 1 in the second half (Rooney and Ronaldo each score from 50 yards out), a brawl will break out (we start it), red cards will fly, and AW in his post-match interview will say that he didn’t have a good sightline on it and will have to watch the replay, but the sending offs where unfair.
The matches against Liverpool were cleanly played - this one will not be.
At least I would rather it be like this than us wimper away during the match and walk off the pitch feeling sorry for ourselves after getting our asses thoroughly whipped.
PICK YOURSELVES UP AND GET OUT THERE AND PLAY AS IF IT MEANT THE WORLD (because it just might - can you see is 3 points down after Sunday and Fergie having a coniption fit?).
April 11th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Yeah, it’s going to be bad. Man Utd 3, maybe 4,-0 Arsenal. And after that loss at Anfield, I can’t watch this game. I have never cried because of a sport, but I wanted to on Tuesday.
April 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I admit that my prediction is optimistic. Heck, I dont even believe it but I’m loathe to voice my pessimism out loud (mostly cowardice nothing to do with “power of positive thinking”).
Fortunately for me I just starting reading “Fever Pitch” and I guess it has helped me deal with all much better. Plus I watched the american version of the movie (I dont like baseball but there’s almost nothing I wont do for Arsenal) and perhaps the only phrase i remember from the movie is “They’ll break your heart”.
O well… the joys of been a gooner… at least as long they play Wengerball (hopefully long after Wenger leaves).
BTW, I’ve been thinking recently about if I’ll ever be able to support any team after (God forbid) Arsenal starts playing like Chel$ki or worse Spurs. I just cant see how I’ll ever be able to support another club ever again when its all said and done. Am I the only one or do you guys generally feel this way too?
April 11th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
2-0 United.
Hopefully Wenger will see the Trio of young star players on United, and have an epiphany.
He’ll see the few older players sprinkled in for experience in Giggs and Scholes… and say… OK, thats not a bad idea.
They also have Nani and Anderson … KIDS… just like ours…
We need to improve to play with United…or we will continue to be also rans for years… no trophies … in far far too long.
Pretty football. Yes. But at the end… just frustration.
No Super Star to lead the way. Where have you gone Thierry Henry?
Oh… Barcelona.
I hope Henry BURIES the winner against United… that would be sweet.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Judging by the way the team has played when they have had their backs to the wall ….i will go for a Arsenal win ..2-1 to Arsenal.
This is probably for the first time in years that the Arsenal team will approach a game against Man Utd with zero pressure…because no one is giving them a chance..and that could make the difference. Man Utd on the other hand have to win this one….anything less and that could spell real trouble for them.
Cheers,
Wayne
April 11th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Title Twister !!!!
0-0 until the 88th minute or so .. Arsenal will score a goal. Theo will either Assist or score that goal. Arsenal will win 1-0.
Will be second with only 3 points difference than Man U until Monday.
I feel that the CL exit will bring the Title back to us !!
Come yall Believe in your team …
Say I am Crazy !!!
April 11th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I think we will win. Cos that’s football. If football is decided by “opinion”, of course we probably should have saved ourselves a trip to Old Trafford.
but ppl love the game because it’s unpredictable. like after Theo scored Vs Liverpool, things could turn upside down within 30 seconds. and that Bolton away win, 0-2 by half time with one man down, who would have thought we could win it?
the fact that few ppl are giving us a prayer added to my belief that things may not be that striaghtforward tomorrow.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
whoever wins, it will still be tight. i think the chance of us getting pummeled is quite low.
i think 1-0 or 2-1 to either us or them.
if vidic isnt there and ferdinand is compromised we have a GOOD chance. but then wenger will probably play 4-5-1 and that would nullify ourself.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
wtf…. how can people predict 3-0 and 4-0…
in the fa cup two things happened:
1. we werent interested.. it hardly meant anything to us…
2. we had an amateur pair of full backs which manU exploited
for all those who have seen manU matches recently… i have.. they have been pretty lucky.. .now if teams send penalties to the stands then u need to agree that lady luck is on yr side…
anywayz … i tihink we are gonna outlplay them off the park again… iff ( if and only if ) gilberto dosent start…
we are going to put a minimum of two past them… and mostly we are going to win 2-1 or 2-0 in the second half…
adebayor hopefully will aggravate rio’s injury by making him run and sprint around… and as it is vidic is injured…
all the pressure is going to be on manU on monday… lets see how they handle it now…
jus cant see chelsea slipping till the end:
Monday, 14 April 2008 - Wigan (H)
Saturday, 19 April 2008 - Everton (A)
Saturday, 26 April 2008 - Man Utd (H)
Saturday, 03 May 2008 - Newcastle (A)
Sunday, 11 May 2008 - Bolton (H)
people… believe !!!
April 11th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Scorelines of 1-0 or 0-0 are unreaslitic to me.Come on,this is ManU vs Arsenal
and there will be goals.We are going to concede,no doubt but make no mistake,ManU are without Vidic and that adds to their vulnerability as well.Well,a loss doesnt bother me,coz the season is more or less over,as long as we put up a fight.A high scoring draw would be provide some entertainment with Arsenal again scoring the last gasp equalizer
I would be happy if we can kick some ManU a** at OT.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Saw this today. “Arsène Wenger intends to add just one experienced player in the summer”
April 11th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Ofcourse, thinking about Wenger’s words in the above article, that may have been a safe response. If he had said something else, then that might have caused certain players to not try hard on Sunday thinking if they are not there next year, why should they bother? This response alteast might give a decent signal to the current team. Who knows….I must stop over-thinking and counter-thinking everything now. Been a painful few weeks. And going to be a long 2 days before Sunday’s game.
Atleast there were these positive words from Wenger:
“When you are a winner you continue to fight when others give up,” said Arsène Wenger his press conference on Friday, “and that’s what we want to do.……“What is at stake on Sunday is the work of a whole year as long as we go there and don’t believe then it is over. But do you really think that we will go to Manchester United thinking that our season is over? That would be ridiculous. We have worked so hard since the first day of the season. We will fight until the last second of the Premier League.”
April 11th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
How can people predict ManU 3-0?
Are you kidding?
Based on how POORLY we have played the last THIRD of the season, and how WELL United have played… the fact that the game is important to them, and we need a miracle… the fact that we are banged up and injured, and they are not and they are deep… and they are HOME.
Those are all good reasons why people would/should/could predict a relatively easy United win.
How do you NOT see that?
Yes Andez. Football and most sport is funny.
Its not played on paper or a computer… you have to go out and play the games on the field… and strange things often happen. A red card, a bad call or a fluke goal, and everything changes in an instant.
GILBERTO is playing. He’ll probably play every game that Flamini is out.
You can cry in your soup about it, but its definite.
Enjoy. I’ll watch with interest… but I wouldn’t expect a win.
I’d love to see it, but from what I have seen the last DOZEN games we’ve played, were TOAST. We have been for a while.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Wenger says: “If we can add one player we will do it, not one in each department just one experienced player.”
Not in each department! Just one!
Well, let’s pray it’s a plug ugly, take no prisoners old-fashioned British CB.
This current side will always get goals. The main priority is stop leaking them. Leaking them first. Leaking them immediately after we take the lead.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
The very, very minimum we NEED are TWO massive, massive players. Not one.
We need an winger/AM and we need a CB.
I doubt Wenger will sell Eboue. He will probably just return him to RB as backup to play against lower teams. OK. Sell Hoyte.
Buy one MASSIVE CB. Pair him with Gallas. Let Toure and Djorou fight for bench spot.
We neeeeed two for sure. “Sagna-type” levels of competence.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Thats all we need. It will probably be a multifunctional second striker/winger from North Antarctica. Kidding — we’re fine as it is. Just one player to replace Rosicky/Eboue — that is all we need.
Lastly does anyone else think David Dein is a sick guy for coming out now and blabbing right now. I hate that fat cunt Usmanov.
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1766_3411643,00.html
April 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
@Sachin15 ….Exactly what i’ve been saying all along …. I won’t be surprised if this experienced player is a Pacy Winger who can also do a job as Striker when required…add Vela and Barazite…and that’s all we will need to compete next season.
The defence is not all that bad as it is made out to be …A couple of glaring mistakes have cost Senderos again …before this match people were talking about how much he had improved…apart from Toure, Djourou and Senderos…we will see a lot more of Song next season. Sagna/Eboue ..Clichy/Traore as the full backs and we certainly do have adequate cover.
Wenger has come too far with this project to change his philosophy now. And how many of his experienced buys in past years have turned out to be legends at Arsenal?. Imagine if Rafa tried to follow Wenger’s policy of trying to uncover gems and not spending too much on players…Liverpool would probably not even be in the EPL….in the same way it’s just not Wenger’s style to spend big…he’s tried it a couple of times…and more or less they have been high profile failures or he just can’t work with their ego’s.
Unfortunately next year is his last chance to make this philosophy work. I say last chance…because if we don’t win anything next year ….i believe Wenger will leave himself no choice but to resign..not because he would think he’s failed..but because the cries for change will get too loud….and some of the folks here will finally get their wish of spending tons of money on new players with Usmanov/Dein finally taking over the club.
Would be a very sad day..but i’m hoping it won’t come to that
April 11th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
LDE, how exactly do you come to the conclusion we are fine as it is? We throw away the F.A Cup and the Carling Cup- hell we even tried in the carling cup and still came up way short- and people thought at least now we will be fresh for the run in. Yet we’ve still looked hopelessly lethargic and lightweight when competing in the only two competitions left available to us. Yet, you think we’re all set? I never thought I could find someone as deluded as Wayne but your coming close LDE.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
1-0 to Arsenal……….Common u gunners!!!
April 11th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Okay, this is going to make me look really stupid, but oh well I guess. I can’t figure out what the 88 in the story refers to. Would someone mind telling me?
April 11th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
ChicagoGooner, I am probably the only one who can answer that as I came up with it. In my mind 88 refers to two things:
1) The 8 games Arsenal have played against Liverpool (4), Man Utd (2) and Chelsea (2) this season. So 11 players * 8 = 88. All of these games have been tiring and not easy matches. The following lines refer to the Liverpool game:
>>Images of his 19 year old son flash before his eyes, and with the speed and >>agility of a young boy, he gets up and knocks out the 88th person. Victory is >>achieved. Or so the hero thinks.
This refers to the moment with Walcott rescued Arsenal.
>>As the Hero is limping away, one solitary opponent rises and delivers one >>final blow to the hero
This refers to Babel surprizing Arsenal with a cruel twist.
2) 88 also refers to the 88 ninjas that Uma Thurman’s character had to face in Kill Bill. After she was done with all the 88 ninjas, she still had to have the strength to face Lucy Liu’s character in a fight off. So I figured that after Arsenal have been bruised from all their previous battles, they now face their ultimate enemy.
Come on that was pretty cryptic right. How could anyone possibly have guessed that?
April 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Heads up to folks in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County, and Bel Air: You can watch the Arsenal vs Manchester United game live at:
Slainte Irish Pub in Fells Point: http://www.slaintepub.com/
and
Looneys Pub in Bel Air: http://looneyspubmd.com/bel_air_location.html
April 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Thanks for the explanation, Sachin. I thought it was something obvious that only I was missing.
As to what some people have suggested, that “Sir” Alex may rest players, I highly doubt this. He rested Ronaldo and Rooney on Wednesday for a reason, and that reason is Arsenal. He wouldn’t pass up a golden opportunity for a crucial win, especially with trips to Stamford Bridge and Nou Camp to still to come.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
If we do get only one experienced player as per Arsene, hopefully it will be a rugged, experienced and athletic CB to complement Gallas/Toure. If not, our experiences next season will certainly be similar to this year.
What is also puzzling is that very few people have commented on acquiring a seasoned veteran to back up Cesc in terms of injury. We have been lucky this year because Cesc has proved to be durable. However, that could all change with one bad tackle and I really don’t see Denilson as the answer just yet. Denilson needs to prove his worth next year in the Carling and FA Cups with spot duty mixed in against lesser EPL and CL opponents.
Based on Arsene’s formation methodology we may not see a “BIG” winger signing because he has Vela, Walcott, Hleib, Rosicky, Diaby, Eboue, Eduardo (when he returns) and even RVP in a pinch. Arsene also uses his wing backs as overlapping wingers to create width and while many may disagree with Arsene’s philosophy I doubt he will change at this time in his career.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
IF we do not buy a proper CB who is not a moron when the ball is in the air then we can as well then we will have NO chance next season.
Toure will NEVER change. He will NEVER be good in the air. It is a proven fact.
Senderos is distinctly mediocre and is not that great in the air anyway.
We need a CB. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
Before I was asking for at least two AMs/wingers. For now I will settle for just one. The new guy, plus Hleb, Rosicky, Vela, Merida. But the new guy needs to be a MASSIVE starting material type.
We do not need a backup for Fabregas. There is NO backup you can find who is better than Denilson who will happily sit on a bench. Anyway, young talented players might take sitting behind a veteran who is 30 years old. But I doubt a young, competent AM will sit behind a 20 year old starter - doesnt make sense.
I see no reason why against a lower league team - the likes of Diaby or Denilson will suffice - within the first team frame work. The most important is that wholesale changes are never made at once.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I have no idea how the Gunners will react to the game on Sunday. Will they come out loose yet determined now all the pressure is off and put in a mind boggling performance to defeat our mortal enemies or will Liverpool have crushed our spirit for the season and we get blown away by a superior opponent in another abysmal performance like the FA Cup?
It’s anyones guess at this time and I will be hoping for the former and not the latter.
With Flamini, Rosicky, Eduardo, Sagna, and Denilson out due to injury and Diaby (EPL suspension), Hoyte and Sendoros suffering from lack of confidence, Song, Djourou and RVP not totally match fit, Toure suffering from spastic twinkle feet and Eboue ailing with “lack of intelligence-itis”, we are clearly very squad thin and will be hard pressed to field a competitive team.
Almunia
Toure, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy
Eboue, Silva, Cesc, Hleib
RVP, Adebayor
Bench: Lehmann, Song, Traore, Bendtner, Walcott
Will Arsene game and start Song and Walcott ahead of Silva and Eboue?
Will Arsene go with a 4-3-3 and hope we outscore Manu?
Having unsuccessfully and futilely trying to predict Arsene’s squad selections for the past few years I will not try to do so today. Just hope we put in a good performance and I will be rooting on the lads with a few brews for inspiration.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I guess the best way for Arsenal to break our hearts would be to win this game, perhaps with the maligned Gilberto and Senderos providing goals…then go on a mini-streak to get back in title winning position, only to lose to Keane and Sunderland in the last game and fall short LOL
April 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Fred, I was not thinking of someone who would just be a backup to Fab, but a midfielder like Diego or Deco who can play anywhere across the midfield as a starter but could fill in for Fab without us losing much if anything.
Those two may not necessarily be the ones we get, but someone in that mold who is currently an experienced and pressure type player. Personally, I would love to get Diego.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
For Cesc back-up:
Isn’t Diaby supposed to be central midfielder really?
And Denilson did a job against Newcastle in the CC earlier this year no?
April 11th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
CaribKid, yeah I thought about having a backup plan in case Cesc gets injured.
Like previously you could tell a difference in Arsenal when Bergkamp was playing and he was not. So one can see a difference in Arsenal when Cesc is fit and present as opposed to when he is not around. But I have not been watching too many non-Arsenal games right now, so I have no idea who could fit the mould. Although, I have some highlights of Diego but I have only seen him in his goal scoring form not seeing how he distributes the ball around. He looked good from what I saw.
In a way, it has been good that Cesc was good for most of the campaign. Even though the poor guy is tired, he still tries quite hard.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
yeah initially I thought Denilson was meant to be an under-study for Cesc but I believe he has been deployed in more than one position? Hope Denilson makes good progress as he could prove to be useful.
April 11th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
No problem ChicagoGooner. Glad you asked..
April 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Denilson won’t make it guys. No one knows what he is, and that’s a bad sign. Some say he is a defensive midfielder and some say he is a Cesc alternative. That tells you connoiseurs do not see one discernable quality he brings to the team, apart from a few sideways passes and the hollywood ball that goes out of play. He scored a goal against Newcastle at the start of the season but Lassana Diarra propelled us that night and he was in a different class to the Brazilian. Jamie O’Hara looks better than Denilson. That says it all.
Carlos Cuellar, Diego, Ben Arfa, Arshavin would make us a superb team. It’s a shame that the potential of this team looks never set to be realised because its manager cares more about his reputation than making us authentic contenders.
April 11th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Mancs to win 2-0, Arse too fragile at the moment! Lately Wenger and the players hav talked big b4 big games and haven’t backed it up with results so Sunday should not be any different! I wonder why is Wenger talking about adding experience when he hasn’t even sorted out the Flamini situation?
April 11th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
No Flamster is going to hurt us.
I think Ronaldo was pretty non existent in the match at the Emirates. The midfield did there job that day.
The guy who scares me on Man U. is Anderson. He is a whiny bitch, but he loves to shoot. Some of those shots are scary fast, and on key.
If our midfield can contain Ronaldo, then we will have a match. If not, then game over.
Goals from 11, and 25
2-2 is my verdict. It will be a valiant effort, but not enough.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
“We need a miracle” True…but this is Arsenal…any long time fan knows that we always need a miracle. It goes hand in hand with supporting this team…and on Sunday we’ll say “well there always next year” and next year is…. the 20th anniversary!!…Support your bloody team…Go Gunners!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Mazza, what position does Ben Arfa play in? I read that he was a striker but in some games for Lyon he appeared to be right midfield, sort of like a winger?
And what position does Keita play for Lyon? I have not seen him for Lyon but he was amazing at the African Cup of nations.
I read via Arseblog.com regarding Van Basten (next year’s Ajax coach) wanting a loan deal with Arsenal in that Ajax would take some of Arsenal’s players on loan. If so, I would like if Ajax could loan some players to Arsenal as well. Actually, it would be nice if Arsenal can work out some loan deal with both Lyon and Ajax. Lyon seem to produce some very good young players every year, only for other big teams to raid Lyon and take them away. If Arsenal loan some players out regularly, then is there a harm for Arsenal to take some young players on loan, use them for a few games (maybe Carling Cup) and assess their progress? That would satisfy Arsenal not having to spend money.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Sachin, Ben Arfa is a converted center forward who plays mainly as a left winger for Olympique Lyonnais under coach Alain Perrin..
Re Diego. I have watched him for a few years and he is the real thing. He has started quite a few games for Brazil but normally comes on as a substitute because of Kaka, Robhinho and Ronaldinho. Very Cesc like, also scores goals and is accustomed to top flight competition having represented Brazil at both Copa Americas which they won.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Thanks CaribKid. The Lyon-Rennes game is on tomorrow morning and I will try to watch that as there isn’t any worthy english game to watch on sat morning.
I know a while ago Diego was linked with Madrid but then again almost half a dozen players are linked usually with Real. I don’t know if it was a rumour or a transfer deadline joke (on Jan 31) but I had read that Man Utd wanted both Ben Arfa and Benzema. Although I believe Benzema is the more coveted of the two and he is a very calm finisher from the goal highlights I have seen.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Mazza. I tried to resist, but can’t help anymore.
I don’t expect you to love Arsenal, don’t expect you to support Arsenal neither. But for God’s sake, the next time when you talk about Arsenal, please talk about it with a bit of PRIDE. And a little bit of RESPECT.
RESPECT to OUR club, OUR players, OUR manager. Nobody is being forced to be a Gooner here. If watching our team play is so painful and brought out so much hatred from an individual, you can always stop.
Yet if you decide to continue to be a Gooner, start to take PRIDE that this is a great club you are supporting. That’s the basic stuff for being a SUPPORTER.
despite bottling for a thousand times themselves, I rarely seen any Spurs fans coming out and associated themselves with the world “bottlers”. Cos they have the PRIDE of themselves as well.
When u have ZERO faith towards the team you are supposed to be SUPPORTING, predicting 3-0 to Man U, game over after 20 mins, shame on you for calling yourselves a SUPPORTER.
Do not give me the stuffs like is Arsenal, AW, our players immune to criticism? Yet there’a a fine line between criticism and insult. I bet ppl can tell who’s the one really been criticsed the team when they played poorly, and geniuely feel great for them when they did well. And who’s the one just take every chance to knock our team down for the sake of it.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:41 am
@Mazza: Im hardly deluded though I cant help it if you think that way about me. I dont think we need more than the current squad. If we’d finished 4th again 20 points off the lead then maybe 2 or 3 players would need to be replaced. Thats hardly the case. The main reason we’ve goofed is because our main offensive players have been injured or have not stepped up. Plus the big hole at left midfield caused because nobody likes to play there and keep cutting in and giving Clichy too much work like in the CL tie.
A CB would be nice but it would mean one of the current crop getting sold/moving on. And I don’t know who AW will sell at all. My guess is nobody at all. He wont sell Kolo..WillyG might demand to leave; if he does then we need a new CB. He’s not going to sell Sendy either much as you want him to; after conveniently wearing the blinkers each time Gallas makes an “indirect” mistake which results in a goal. Anyway there was a time when you wanted Wenger out and 85% of the team to be sold or moved on…because they were crap. If you’ve come down to 4 or 5 players I guess its good then
April 12th, 2008 at 1:44 am
@andez: You’re here early …are you in South East Asia or late late late in the USA?
April 12th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Kader Keita is an all-round forward Sachin. He is quite similar to Baptista but more mobile. He is erratic though.
April 12th, 2008 at 7:52 am
LDE, that’s a good idea. Lets forget about direct mistakes and slaughter the guy who made ‘indirect mistake’. Would that indirect mistake be letting 6,7″ beanpole Peter Crouch flick the ball on? Well, newsflash LDE, that’s nigh on impossible to defend against. The idea is to have competant defenders to deal with the second ball. Something Man United and Chelsea do in their sleep against Liverpool. But no, lets blame our best defender by a country mile. It’s really all his fault, and not the perennial disaster that is Phil Senderos.
Andez, I take pride in Arsenal in general conversation in general life. I find typing that stuff down here completely pointless. Maybe it’s because I reside in area with lots of Arsenal fans. If I was living in town in the mid-west with no Arsenal fans then maybe it would be different. For me, this is the place where the cold, hard, rational analysis takes place. Where we cut out the niceities and get down to the cold hard facts. For some people, its slightly different.
Plus, I have a problem with our manager, not our club. He has done a great job, but this is Arsenal FC, not Arsene Wenger FC.
April 12th, 2008 at 8:30 am
but u gotta take other ppl’s feeling into consideration shouldn’t u? damn, we talk here almost in a daily basic. i m sure most of us don’t get to talk about Arsenal with real llife fren as often as with each other here.
as for the manager, i don’t know what’s ur problem with Wenger? let’s face it, with ur mind set, it really doesn’t matter who’s in charge, Mourinho or Ferguson or Capello or Lippi, you would still find something to not happy about sooner or later.
u talked about AW’s EGO. What ego exactly? He has his own belief of the game. And he sticks with it. He has the players he trusted, and he keep faith on them. So does it mean it’s a BAD THING? Or would u rather have someone like Steve McClaren who bowed into the media and just listening to whoever told them what to do? One day Beckham was useless. The next day he’s the saviour. One day let’s build our side based on youth. The next day, damn, things aren’g going to plan, let’s recall James, Sol, Beckham.
Now this is probably a manger without ego, and not being stubborn, you want someone like that to take charge of our club?
George Graham, Ferguson, Mourinho, Rafa, which one of those for not being “subborn”? Remember how the media slaughtered Rafa’s “rotation policy”? Had Rafa ever given in?
Also, The manager, unike fans, they think of the BIGGER PICTURE.
say, why didn’t he get rid of players fans believed are useless? cos he has put his faith in them, and told them all the while. it’s easy to get rid of some of them. yet think of the consequence, what it would do to the rest of players? Would they still BELIEVE in their manager’s words from then on?
and those who blamed AW didn’t buy in January. It’s easy to blame him now. yet back then how on earth AW was supposed to know Eduardo, Rosicky the likes were going to be out for the season?
had him added some new players, it might have upset the current team chemistry as well. Remember Keegan how he blew away Newcastle’s title challenge that season they finished 2nd? Because he unnecessary added Asprilla while the squad he had already been doing well enough.
those media experts are so damn good on HINDSIGHT. They blamed Keegan for buying Asprilla at that time, now they are pointing out AW for not buying. See, they are ALWAYS RIGHT. Cos sitting there to just nitpicking people is far more easier a job than actually doing it themselves. That’s why they only got a column to write about their INSIGHT, not exactly managing a team themselves.
These points i pointed out can u say it’s not RATIONAL ANALYSIS?
The positive analysis does not always = excuse. And the negative alanysis does not always mean it’s the FACT neither.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
It his ego Andez. Over the last few years he has been preaching about the devils of money and how spending big money is not the answer to a teams problems. He is also extremely proud and protective of his youth policy. If he goes out and spends £30m on two players or three players then he will be contradicting himself and also admitting these youngsters he selected are not up it. He won’t do that because his ego is HUGE. You call it faith, but the only faith I can call it is blind faith. He is chronic self denial mode. You can’t tell me an intelligent man like Wenger can’t see the Eboue experiment was a complete disaster. That piece of managment- having Eboue as right midfielder- was a disgrace and I said as much back in August. That’s nothing to do with hindsight or has anything else I’ve said. Because everything I said before the event has happened.
Trust me, if Arsene signs the players we need then I will be as happy as Larry next season and actually look forward to these ‘defining’ parts of our season. As it stands, I can’t enjoy somethiing that is doomed to failure. The ball is in Arsene’s court with topspin, and someone with his intelligence should be able to recify these problems. It’s up to him whether he wants to do anything about it. The likes of Cesc Fabregas won’t wait around forever.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:33 am
First, not everything u said before the event has happened. u got it wrong on far more occassions than u were right. i don’t wanna get into the nasty routine and dig the examples out. if u r honest enough, you would have to admit it yourselves.
because we have been chatting with each other in a regular basic, i can say NO ONE here has got their prediction right over 50%, let alone “always right”. that including u and me.
secondly, it’s far more EASIER for a manager to SPEND than NOT TO. Give me ONE SINGLE example an manager not preaching money to spend.
Regardless of AW wants to spend or not, the fact is Arsenal has NEVER been a big spending club, unless u go back to Chapman era. They said 70 mil in the bank. u think the board would really give them all for AW to spend if he asks?
I have followed Arsenal too long to not to understand how Arsenal board’s spending policy being.
The most significant point is - it’s exactly Wenger’s little spending policy that made the Emirates POSSIBLE. And it’s exactly this policy that gives us so much hope for the future. It will also be this policy for us to RESIST a takeover.
Bottom line is - if it was ANYONE ELSE, he could have left the club when Arsenal’s budget was tight up because of the stadium development the past few years. The fact that Wenger decided to stay with us the past few years we should have thankful enough.
If he’s a manager only cares about his EGO, his REPUTATION, he sure hell would be off to somewhere else, a Real Madrid, a Barcelona. With lot of $$ to spend, surely would have made his life far more easier than managing Arsenal with little budget to build his team the past few years.
It will be a SIN itself now we are going back to knock on his spending policy.
Whether the likes Eboue is good enough or not is subjected to individual OPINION. Just because some of us here do not rate him does not necessary make him an useless player.
cos let’s face it, if a player only good enough when on one got on his back ever, the current Arsenal squad would have NO ONE left. Period.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Anybody that says arsenal failed this year is a dumb jock IMHO, is this not almost the same team that finished 20 points off the pace in the last season? I have seen some of the best football played anywhere ever played by this arsenal team this season and YES progress too. If we were 4th the last 2 seasons and were out of the title race by december and now we have 5 games left with still a fighting chance at the title!!!!!! I see that as progress.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Andez, the fact you are being so pedantic about my predictions means your ego yourself has been bruised. You go on about only caring about Arsenal winning but you like, a few others, rationalised why Arsenal WOULD win the league, so you are loathe to accept I was right all along and you were essentially wrong. I’m not the only one with the ego.
The point I am trying to make is, I’m not being negative and pessimistic, I am saying what I see. The fact that this season has unravelled- in general- the way I predicted surely lends credence to the theory that I am not just being pessimistic for pessimistic sake. If I thought Arsenal were capable of winning things I would say it.
I saw things during that second half verus Villa that no one else saw. I urge you to take a look back at that thread if you want your memory refreshed. My comments created a furoure that went on for four days. You may not like my opinion, but history has shown that it is an educated one.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
My ego has been bruised?
Let’s get back to the points I MADE man. And dont try to deflect it and make it into a personal words of war. I m not interested in that soft of stuffs.
Just answer me: when i said NOBODY (noticed, i did not exlusive myself neither. and i don’t remember telling ppl how i am right all the time) got his prediction 50% right, do you AGREE or DISAGREE?
And of all those Arsene Wenger spending policy, do you think I was talking about NONSENSE or had a POINT?
Yes or No. Simple as that.
Oh, one last note - when I INSISTED Arsenal will win the league, that’s because i BELIEVE it that way. If I am the one who only keen on boost my EGO, and intend to get all my PREDICTION right, I would opt for the easy way out. As I said - 20 teams in the league, the chance we win it is FIVE%. that means when i said i believe we will win it, i KNEW it crystal clear I would have a 95% chance to be proven WRONG. So much so of EGO.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:26 am
@Mazza: You look at the way how WillyG jumps each and every time. Look at the angle he jumps at..its almost the same way Clichy gets in front to intercept the ball on the ground except its in the air this time. Peter Crouch is not the first time he has ever misjudged a ball in the air…I can point out numerous numerous gaffes he has made as have all our other CB’s and high flying playmakers made. My only point is…you will not have been that kind if it had been say ; a player that you did not rate been marking Crouch. You want hard rational analysis with cold facts…thats it. If Sendy, DIaby, Denilson, Clichy or hell even Ade had been marking Crouch and lost in the air you would’ve pointed to that as an example for sure about why they should have been sold. You’ve wanted Arsene out for a long time now…its just that till March they shut all of us up hence you’ve had no chance to regurgitate that old argument. Just that now at the business end of the season if I may use a cliche again
we’re faltering ..not by much mind you..but just by a bit because margins are so so tight in the EPL these days; that you feel there’s such a gulf between us and Man United. I dont believe it that way and will point to injuries yet again(not as an excuse) but as what didnt help us in any way for the title. You’re telling me if we hadn’t had three of our most direct players out for so long that we would still be 6 points back? After that start and leading till March we have no quality, balls or bottle?? I ain’t believing that for one instant. Lack of bottle has lost us very few games this season…its either complacency, attitude problems or tiredness that has lost us more games than bottle. Hell the great invincible squad couldn’t cope with that Rooney dive and lost four on the trot in shock. Henry, Viera, Pires, Bergkamp, Freddie, Gilberto, Campbell, Keown…legends couldn’t cope with it and you expect this side who has WON NOTHING to cope with it and show bottle and trot out game after game of razor sharp …one touch Wengerball. I’d love it as much as you if it worked that way but players are not machines…you know and you’re definitely intelligent enough to understand that we can’t do that all along or win every game that we play even by 1-0. Why then have Chelsea and ManU not pulled away and be on 99 points instead of 76 and 74? The gulf is not as wide as you think nor do 85% of the guys who have vacuous brains in your words deserve to be sacked as you said sometime last year after Titi left. We’ve all screwed up on our predictions a lot like Andez says and no one knows more …again…about this squad than AW or the next manager with “tactical acumen” who will eventually replace AW…Until you know all the facts..we are just observers and offer our own insight to games…Period.
The truth actually is somewhere inbetween…and I posted this on Jan14 (http://www.arsenalamerica.com/2008/01/14/the-final-hurdle/) well before March and our run…not for showing that I knew all along…but this is all it is IMHO….and all we need. Here’s the excerpt…tell me I’m wrong…with a justification.
I think this is the first hurdle for the kids…as in..
– Physical opposition — OK
– Coming back in the last 10? — OK
– Lead at new year after being tipped to come fifth — OK
– North England — OK
– Big Teams — OK
– Small teams — OK
– Average teams — OK
– Emirates adjusting — OK
– Loss of big players — OK
– Being in a comfort zone and keeping a run up ??? — NOPE
The day we do that..mebbe this year if ManU slip up(Please …
) or next year without addition of 5 players; we will win the EPL. Peace 
April 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am
@Mazza: You look at the way how WillyG jumps each and every time. Look at the angle he jumps at..its almost the same way Clichy gets in front to intercept the ball on the ground except its in the air this time. Peter Crouch is not the first time he has ever misjudged a ball in the air…I can point out numerous numerous gaffes he has made as have all our other CB’s and high flying playmakers made. My only point is…you will not have been that kind if it had been say ; a player that you did not rate been marking Crouch. You want hard rational analysis with cold facts…thats it. If Sendy, DIaby, Denilson, Clichy or hell even Ade had been marking Crouch and lost in the air you would’ve pointed to that as an example for sure about why they should have been sold. You’ve wanted Arsene out for a long time now…its just that till March they shut all of us up hence you’ve had no chance to regurgitate that old argument. Just that now at the business end of the season if I may use a cliche again
we’re faltering ..not by much mind you..but just by a bit because margins are so so tight in the EPL these days; that you feel there’s such a gulf between us and Man United. I dont believe it that way and will point to injuries yet again(not as an excuse) but as what didnt help us in any way for the title. You’re telling me if we hadn’t had three of our most direct players out for so long that we would still be 6 points back? After that start and leading till March we have no quality, balls or bottle?? I ain’t believing that for one instant. Lack of bottle has lost us very few games this season…its either complacency, attitude problems or tiredness that has lost us more games than bottle. Hell the great invincible squad couldn’t cope with that Rooney dive and lost four on the trot in shock. Henry, Viera, Pires, Bergkamp, Freddie, Gilberto, Campbell, Keown…legends couldn’t cope with it and you expect this side who has WON NOTHING to cope with it and show bottle and trot out game after game of razor sharp …one touch Wengerball. I’d love it as much as you if it worked that way but players are not machines…you know and you’re definitely intelligent enough to understand that we can’t do that all along or win every game that we play even by 1-0. Why then have Chelsea and ManU not pulled away and be on 99 points instead of 76 and 74? The gulf is not as wide as you think nor do 85% of the guys who have vacuous brains in your words deserve to be sacked as you said sometime last year after Titi left. We’ve all screwed up on our predictions a lot like Andez says and no one knows more …again…about this squad than AW or the next manager with “tactical acumen” who will eventually replace AW…Until you know all the facts..we are just observers and offer our own insight to games…Period.
The truth actually is somewhere inbetween…and I posted this on Jan14 (http://www.arsenalamerica.com/2008/01/14/the-final-hurdle/) well before March and our run…not for showing that I knew all along…but this is all it is IMHO….and all we need. Here’s the excerpt…tell me I’m wrong…with a justification.
I think this is the first hurdle for the kids…as in..
– Physical opposition — OK
– Coming back in the last 10? — OK
– Lead at new year after being tipped to come fifth — OK
– North England — OK
– Big Teams — OK
– Small teams — OK
– Average teams — OK
– Emirates adjusting — OK
– Loss of big players — OK
– Being in a comfort zone and keeping a run up ??? — NOPE
The day we do that..mebbe this year if ManU slip up(Please …
) or next year without addition of 5 players; we will win the EPL. Peace 
April 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
@Mazza: You look at the way how WillyG jumps each and every time. Look at the angle he jumps at..its almost the same way Clichy gets in front to intercept the ball on the ground except its in the air this time. Peter Crouch is not the first time he has ever misjudged a ball in the air…I can point out numerous numerous gaffes he has made as have all our other CB’s and high flying playmakers made. My only point is…you will not have been that kind if it had been say ; a player that you did not rate been marking Crouch. You want hard rational analysis with cold facts…thats it. If Sendy, DIaby, Denilson, Clichy or hell even Ade had
we’re faltering ..not by much mind you..but just by a bit because margins are so so tight in the EPL these days; that you feel there’s such a gulf between us and Man United. I dont
been marking Crouch and lost in the air you would’ve pointed to that as an example for sure about why they should have been sold. You’ve wanted Arsene out for a long time now…its just that till March they shut all of us up hence you’ve had no chance to regurgitate that old argument. Just that now at the business end of the season if I may use a cliche again
believe it that way and will point to injuries yet again(not as an excuse) but as what didnt help us in any way for the title. You’re telling me if we hadn’t had three of our most direct players out for so long that we would still be 6 points back? After that start and leading till March we have no quality, balls or bottle?? I ain’t believing that for one instant. Lack of bottle has lost us very few games this season…its either complacency, attitude problems or tiredness that has lost us more games than bottle. Hell the great invincible squad couldn’t cope with that Rooney dive and lost four on the trot in shock. Henry, Viera, Pires, Bergkamp, Freddie, Gilberto, Campbell, Keown…legends couldn’t cope
with it and you expect this side who has WON NOTHING to cope with it and show bottle and trot out game after game of razor sharp …one touch Wengerball. I’d love it as much as you if it worked that way but players are not machines…you know and you’re definitely intelligent enough to understand that we can’t do that all along or win every game that we play even by 1-0. Why then have Chelsea and ManU not pulled away and be on 99 points instead of 76 and 74? The gulf is not as wide as you think nor do 85% of the guys who have vacuous brains in your words deserve to be sacked as you said sometime last year after Titi left. We’ve all screwed up on our predictions a lot like Andez says and no one knows more …again…about this squad than AW or the next manager with “tactical acumen” who will eventually replace AW…Until you know all the facts..we are just observers and offer our own insight to games…Period.
The truth actually is somewhere inbetween…and I posted this on Jan14
(http://www.arsenalamerica.com/2008/01/14/the-final-hurdle/) well before March and our run…not for showing that I knew all along…but this is all it is IMHO….and all we need. Here’s the excerpt…tell me I’m wrong…with a justification. I think this is the first hurdle for the kids…as in..
– Physical opposition — OK
– Coming back in the last 10? — OK
– Lead at new year after being tipped to come fifth — OK
– North England — OK
– Big Teams — OK
– Small teams — OK
– Average teams — OK
– Emirates adjusting — OK
– Loss of big players — OK
– Being in a comfort zone and keeping a run up ??? — NOPE
The day we do that..mebbe this year if ManU slip up(Please …
) or next year without addition of 5 players; we will win the EPL. Peace 
April 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
but maybe u can call me STUPID. I had a 95% chance to prove that I am right by predicting Aresnal to FAIL (winning the league), why didn’t I do so? damn.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:30 am
@Mazza: You look at the way how WillyG jumps each and every time. Look at the angle he jumps
at..its almost the same way Clichy gets in front to intercept the ball on the ground except
its in the air this time. Peter Crouch is not the first time he has ever misjudged a ball in
the air…I can point out numerous numerous gaffes he has made as have all our other CB’s
and high flying playmakers made. My only point is…you will not have been that kind if it
had been say ; a player that you did not rate been marking Crouch. You want hard rational
analysis with cold facts…thats it. If Sendy, DIaby, Denilson, Clichy or hell even Ade had
been marking Crouch and lost in the air you would’ve pointed to that as an example for sure
about why they should have been sold. You’ve wanted Arsene out for a long time now…its
just that till March they shut all of us up hence you’ve had no chance to regurgitate that
old argument. Just that now at the business end of the season if I may use a cliche again
we’re faltering ..not by much mind you..but just by a bit because margins are so so tight in
the EPL these days; that you feel there’s such a gulf between us and Man United. I dont
believe it that way and will point to injuries yet again(not as an excuse) but as what didnt
help us in any way for the title. You’re telling me if we hadn’t had three of our most
direct players out for so long that we would still be 6 points back? After that start and
leading till March we have no quality, balls or bottle?? I ain’t believing that for one
instant. Lack of bottle has lost us very few games this season…its either complacency,
attitude problems or tiredness that has lost us more games than bottle. Hell the great
invincible squad couldn’t cope with that Rooney dive and lost four on the trot in shock.
Henry, Viera, Pires, Bergkamp, Freddie, Gilberto, Campbell, Keown…legends couldn’t cope
with it and you expect this side who has WON NOTHING to cope with it and show bottle and
trot out game after game of razor sharp …one touch Wengerball. I’d love it as much as you
if it worked that way but players are not machines…you know and you’re definitely
intelligent enough to understand that we can’t do that all along or win every game that we
play even by 1-0. Why then have Chelsea and ManU not pulled away and be on 99 points instead
of 76 and 74? The gulf is not as wide as you think nor do 85% of the guys who have vacuous
brains in your words deserve to be sacked as you said sometime last year after Titi left.
We’ve all screwed up on our predictions a lot like Andez says and no one knows more
…again…about this squad than AW or the next manager with “tactical acumen” who will
eventually replace AW…Until you know all the facts..we are just observers and offer our
own insight to games…Period.
The truth actually is somewhere inbetween…and I posted this on Jan14
(http://www.arsenalamerica.com/2008/01/14/the-final-hurdle/) well before March and our
run…not for showing that I knew all along…but this is all it is IMHO….and all we need.
Here’s the excerpt…tell me I’m wrong…with a justification. I think this is the first
hurdle for the kids…as in..
– Physical opposition — OK
– Coming back in the last 10? — OK
– Lead at new year after being tipped to come fifth — OK
– North England — OK
– Big Teams — OK
– Small teams — OK
– Average teams — OK
– Emirates adjusting — OK
– Loss of big players — OK
– Being in a comfort zone and keeping a run up ??? — NOPE
The day we do that..mebbe this year if ManU slip up(Please …
) or next year without
addition of 5 players; we will win the EPL. Peace
April 12th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Shit…how did that happen….I apologize guys…bigtime…the software misbehaved
and I reposted 4 times…
April 12th, 2008 at 10:32 am
LDE haha, i bet ur internet connection must be jammed right?
April 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Keep telling yourself that mazza
April 12th, 2008 at 10:35 am
LDE, just to correct u one thing, next year we WILL BEAT them (Man U), don’t need them to slip up! damn, i never learned my lesson! : ) 5 Vs 95%, but i love against the odds!
April 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I don’t think anyone can say we have failed this year if we take into consideration our preseason expectations. Having said that, I do agree with Mazza that Arsene is stubborn as it is with Ferguson, Raffa and most other great managers. It is the stubbornness to follow their beliefs which makes them successful.
Arsene admitted yesterday he made a mistake but went on to say that everyone makes mistakes and he will continue to make mistakes. I have to agree with Arsene on that point and the final judgement of anyones’s career is defined by the ratio of success to failure.
Very well written article on Arsene in the Daily Telegraph yesterday which is good reading and food for thought. In the report, arsene defends his dedisions and reiterates position on Arsenal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/04/12/sfnwin112.xml
The only disturbing signs for me is his reluctance to add more than one significant player and with him confirming the FA Cup was not a priority. As a business professional I would have a difficult time telling my team a particular endeavor was worthless but we are going to enter the competitition anyway. Firstly, this literally ensures your team will fail, as we did so terribly against Manu but it also takes the notion of “sucess breeds sucess” out of the equation. Even if I knew a competition was not my priority that thought would be in my mind only and not transferred to the press and therefore to the team. Arsene’s philosophy in that respect is something we will never agree upon.
Mazza was also correct in stating Arsene tends to react very slowly to failed experiments ala Eboue as right midfielder, Gilberto as DMF in a 4-4-2, , Diaby as left winger and the Ade Bendtner pairing in a 4-4-2. Maybe it’s his deep convictions about the abilities of his players to perform under any circumstances and his desire to give them sufficient chances to prove themselves. Having said that, this is probably the most important reason which enables us to attract the top young talents in the world as they are convinced they will be given a chance.
Another observation is that the “EPL bar has been raised” following Abramovich’s takeover of Chelsea’s and spending of over 250 Million on transfers in 4 years. Previously, all teams were flawed and could win the title with a little luck, sound talent and perseverance. Now it’s hire the best Manager available for megabucks and surround them with the top players money can buy. Manu and Ferguson has adjusted to the new game rather quickly and Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City have all taken up the “Chelsea” methodology. This may not be prudent in the long run as it could result in only the elite “Billionaire” subsidized clubs having a chance at trophies.
Previously, Arsenal were unable to compete in that manner and Arsene miraculously fashioned a way for us to be competitive, play a great brand of football and be fiscally sound at the same time. Arsene has received numerous plaudits for his ability to extract blood from stone during this period and they have been totally justified. However, with the bar raised in a fashion which is “Anti Arsene” will he and the Arsenal Board adjust to the new “GAME” or will we be a mirror image of the imfamous Dutch team of the 70’s which was the best team never to win a major championship.
We all have our feelings on the matter whether positive or negative, but only this time next year will decide whether he has gotten it right for the third time in building a championship team and will certainly define his so far formidable career one way or the other.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:08 am
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2273086,00.html
As if we didn’t have to deal with this weekend…
Almunia comes to terms with Lehmann’s ‘hate’
April 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Carib @64…what a terrific post. Balanced, free of hyperbole…hard to believe the server allowed it to be uploaded here.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
LDE, if you believe we don’t need any body coming in to the team in order to win ANYTHING next year… I would have to say you are deluded!!!
yes. Sorry. but thats fact. Embrace your delusion.
We will have changes this off-season… or we won’t win shite, again.
Its a matter of who and how many.
Depth and Talent are needed in key positions.
We didn’t have enough to get to the finish line this season, and we didn’t have that star or hero to push us over the finish line when the opportunities presented itself.
Maybe they’ll show up tomorrow and surprise… and we’ll win or draw, but we aren’t winning the league regardless… and its a 38 game marathon… that we are NOT able to endure. Not enough. Not good enough.
How long has it been since we secured a trophy?
We have the money… the new stadium… and the core of players to win. There are missing pieces and ingredients.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
CaribKid, I also thought of that brilliant Dutch team of the 70’s. They played the best football but were unlucky to lose in two finals, in 1978 they hit a post in the final minute, otherwise they would have won it. What was worrying was after 78, the team disappeared for a decade when they remerged again, with Rinus Michels once again leading the next wave of Dutch talent.
Although from what I read, that Dutch team of Michels and Cruyff adjusted its play slightly as per the conditions. So if it was going to rain, then Cryuff and players decided to use the changed pitch to their advantage. With Arsenal, a bad pitch hampers their game.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
@Stag: You said that when Titi left as well and when Paddy left as well. You didnt even believe we’d challenge for 8th place last season. Credit to you for coming back and giving people their due..but still I stick by my point. One left/right winger and we’re set. That too..if Rosicky stays fit for 80% of the season we wont need..but that wont happen hence we need one. Plus Theo will play CF next year and have a breakout year like Adebayor did this season - You heard it here.
@Mazza: How about a reply?
April 12th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
@Stag: Secondly..I’ve answered every one of your questions in that post or posts
.. I’d be glad to debate why you think I’m deluded because experienced players aren’t needed. I said debate..just saying FACT is not debate…that is your OPINION.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
@Andez: I kept getting some funny database errors and thought it wasnt posted. Then I stopped and came back to look at the main page and boom..it was there 4 times..lol. You’re never online though on Gmail…do you ever come online at all?
April 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Sachin, good points about the Dutch 1970’s Total Football team. Also, they were extremely unlucky in that they came up against the host nation in both finals they made it too. How unlucky is that? I also think the fact that Cruyff did not play in ‘78 shows the incredible adaptability of the team. They were able to replicate thier success of 4 years earlier without their best player (one who was the best in the world for a long time and one of the greatest ever).
April 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
LDE, I am not sure what you want me to reply to but I’ll try.
The problem I have had all along is Wenger’s refusal to strengthen the squad and the mentality of this team. I said all last year the squad wasn’t strong enough to cope with injuries. You said it was. So, you ask how should Arsenal cope with injuries to three or four direct players? Well, this may sound a bit radical, but how about buying players? All I wanted was back up to Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb, and with Rosicky’s injury record, Wenger should have addressed that. But he didn’t. That’s the job of a manager, planning for injuries. For the love of god, we have had an absolutes shedload for the last three years so how Wenger can act surprised at injuries is beyond me.
Then there is the question of bottle. We have too many players who fall apart when we take the lead. We cannot string one intelligent passage of play together when we take a lead in a tense game. If we had stocked up on intelligent ball players like Hleb and Rosicky- who also have composure on the ball- these mental frailties would not have been exposed as much. Possession is nine tenths of the law.
The team reflects the manager. Wenger gets complacent. They get complacent.
As for list at the bottom, I don’t look break the season down into checklists. That’s a criteria you have deemed as important. I don’t. I mean, when was the last time we won at the Emirates? Feb 16th? Does that mean we have gone from adjusting to the Emirates back to not adjusting? No it doesn’t. It’s down to tiredness, lack of temperament, and squad depth. The check list means nothing I am afraid.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
LDE, sorry i haven’t been used gmail much, i normally online on and off, rarely stay for a lengthy period of time. only good enough to drop a post here every now and then!
they used to have that private messenging here at AA, don’t know why they took it off. i think Stag, or Danny has once asked the admin to resume the private msg option. but i guess the admin been quite busy these days.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Andez, how do you work out 95%? That would be dependant on every team having the same ability.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Injuries: How many injuries did ManU have to key players last season and this? How many have we had? What number of ball players should Arsenal have? What gurantees of success? What if they dont succeed?
Directness: How many more ball players can you add? You think Hleb clone part 2 would be happy farting on the bench waiting for Hleb part 1 to get injured? Like Jens Lehmann.
Posession: Absolutely. I agree. 9/10ths?? How did you measure that? We’ve had loads and loads of posession in numerous games and dropped points. Not just this season but the previous 2 years as well.
Complacency: AW gets complacent. Why would he? He’s not a moron. He won the title at Old Trafford with a Wiltord goal in the penultimate game. He’s won loads of trophies. You think he would get complacent…with a “young” squad? What do you think he tells them? Go out boys ..You’re so good that you can play one touch football even if it was on sand dunes? What kind of complacency are you talking about?
Checklists: Obviously I was talking about the trend as a whole of not winning in the North and beating mediocre teams. Not a blip .. or a single stat like Feb16.
Plus you havent yet answered about William Gallas. Plus you havent yet answered my point about “The senior players being the ones to let teh team down” 3 seasons in a row. NOT the kids.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Mazza, the POINT is simple - tell me to predict a team winning the league is easier or to predict them losing it?
remember, i didn’t just BELIEVE the team would win it when they were 5 points clear. I still BELIEVING after Man Utd retaken the lead. In fact, even now, no matter how unlikely it is, I still haven’t ruled our chance out YET.
Personally, I am in no mood to play Alan Hansen or any other plundit here at an Arsenal site. I am a fan. Not a plundit / football analysis / and sure hell not an expert.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Yeah Mazza, i almost forgot as well - u haven’t answered me my call “Nobody has proven to be right with more than 50% of their prediciton” on this site.
Agree or Disagree?
If you disagree, tell me WHO do u think have made more than 50% of right prediction here on this site. Name the guy.
I know i didn’t.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Well, the point remains, the checklist is total nonsense. Last year we beat United twice and finished twenty points behind them. Even West Ham beat them twice to tick off the old ‘top 4′ argument. At the end of the day, you said ‘WE WILL WIN THE LEAGUE’ every other week since December so you can’t really trawl back some random post to detract away from that fact.
United have had Scholes, Neville, and Saha missing for most of the season. Neville is an outstanding full back. Scholes is Scholes, and Saha was a massive part of United’s league success last season, running behind defence and actually controlling balls over the top. I don’t see them complaining.
We’ve had injuries but have been very lucky that Fabregas has only missed about two or three league games, and Hleb as well. Those two have saved our asses all season. Without them every game would be like Middlesbrough away. Not a pretty sight.
How do you work out the senior players have the let the team down? Another complete fabrication to somehow manipulate the overriding obvious conclusion that are youngsters are shite.
@78, what are you going about? I said we would finish ten points behind Man United back in January. Of course, that was ridiculous according to some such as yourself. I think that carries more weight than predicting Arsenal-Wigan. Get a calculator and look back if you care so much.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Arsenal could win next year with the current squad if:
1. RVP, Rosicky, Cesc and the major contributors remain injury free
2. Bendtner becomes a bona fide striking force
3. Eduardo returns to pre-injury form
4. Vela acclimatizes quickly to the English game
5. Song, Traore, Denilson, Diaby and Djourou comes of age
6. Walcott and Adebayor continue to improve on this season’s performances
7. Toure returns to pre ANC form
8. Senderos magically gets quickness from the footballing Genie
Rather than hope for the “Perfect Season” there are just too many IF’S not to make mitigating changes to reduce the risk.
There’s an old saying my Grandpa incessantly preached, “Those who live in hope often die in vain”. In other words, although we can never predict future problems, based on history we can ensure we do everything possible to correct known issues and certain variables.
The squad does not need to be revamped but it does need quite a bit of tweaking without upsetting continuity.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
“Get a calculator and look back if you care so much.”
haha, u r really good on that! check it back dude. what was my INITIAL post talk about? I was talking about the PRIDE as a FAN. Then out of the blue u threw me that “Because everything I said before the event has happened.” “I TOLD YOU SO” routine.
now all a sudden it became I CARE so much??!!
check post 51, i spent an effort making many POINTS. What did u reply me? “My ego was bruised?”
bruised? by who? you?
when i wrote points, i expected points to be countered. not personal attack.