Who’s Having The Last Laugh Now Arsene?

Posted on by
48
 

I’m sure you’ve all read the so called interview with Arsene Wenger, where he states that he intends to continue selling Arsenal’s prized assets in order to make a profit in the transfer market. This is apparently because of the costs involved in the Emirates Stadium.

While it’s highly unlikely Arsene actually said these things, it would be fair to say that Wenger’s policy in the transfer market much more prudent that most, especially when we’re talking about the top four clubs in the Premier League.

Every single summer we’re linked to players who are valued at over £20 million plus, but the real Arsenal fans know these rumours are just hot air. Partly because of our specific transfer policy and also because Arsene has always said it’s better to work with players who are hungry for success and have something to prove.

We say it time and time again but look at Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva et al – when Arsene introduced these players to the first team they had won nothing (except World Cup Winners Gilberto and Titi).

The policy never changes.

And the players that have come in afterwards are of the same ilk. Alexander Hleb, Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Theo Walcott – quality players with massive potential who have yet to win any major honours.

And now we’ve got Samir Nasri.

But after 4 seasons in the Premier League wilderness the big question now is are we being left behind?

It does seem like the transfer policy gets tighter and tigher as the seasons and years go by.

When Arsene first arrived he brought in players like Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit to lift the team to another level and we achieved the double in that season. He then brought in Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg to strengthen the side even further the season after.

Don’t forget an injury-prone Overmars was £5.5 million and Henry was £10.5 million, which 10 years ago was a significant sum of money. Especially when you consider in roughly the same period Manchester United bought Andy Cole for £7 million, Dwight York for £12.6 million and Teddy Sheringham for £3.5 million, while Chelsea purchased Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Di Matteo for £4.5 million and £7 million respectively.

So it wasn’t as if we couldn’t compete on a similar level.

But today it seems like the gap is bigger than ever.

Manchester United spent a staggering £33 million on Rio Ferdinand in 2002, and only last year spent a combined £31 million on Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick. We know what Chelsea’s transfer budget is like and Liverpool spend big amounts too, like they did for Fernando Torres who was £20 million.

Arsenal just can’t compete with that.

We always point to how players who have left the club never reach the same levels of success they did with Arsenal. Vieira, Pires, Henry, Freddie and Edu are just a few examples of ex-players who fit that mould.

But is that really the case?

Because since they’ve departed we’ve hardly been racking up the trophies.

So when Myles says Arsene Wenger is the greatest spin-doctor football has ever seen you can’t really disagree with that. He has been selling us the future for the last 4 seasons and the bottom line is we have to yet again qualify for the Champions League.

It’s funny, because over the last few years I’ve always said that Liverpool don’t have a chance in hell of winning the Premier League. They rotate too much, drop to many points against the lower sides and play one-dimensional football. Don’t get me wrong, they are a decent side but when compared too Manchester United or Chelsea they don’t seem to have that something extra.

And I used to think Liverpool fans were delusional when they said they could win the league.

But maybe I’m the delusional one.

We would slate football pundits like Alan Hansen for writing off Arsenal’s title credentials but he wasn’t wrong in the end. It’s easy to see Arsenal through Wenger’s reality but the fact is my belief and hope is wearing thin.

I wrote a piece in April which expressed the soul crushing end to the season with a month of football to play. It talked about the massive desire from the team, the run of bad luck since Eduardo’s injury and Wenger’s unique vision on how football should be played.

I painted Arsene and Arsenal as some kind of victim and that’s how I felt at the time. It was as if we couldn’t have done anything to prevent the demise of our title challenge but looking back on it all the bottom line is Arsene could have – brining in some experience in the January transfer window could have made all the difference. It’s obviously easy to look at things in hindsight but a complete squad is essential in today’s game.

And ours just isn’t good enough right now.

A youth policy like Arsene’s used to have a future years ago but nowadays with big clubs buying established and experienced world-class talent the gap is just going to get bigger ang bigger.

Chelsea have brought in Deco, who despite his age is such a quality player. And what if they manage to prise Kaka away from AC Milan? No amount of youngsters in the world could compete against that team.

Congratulations Cesc Fabregas

Posted on by
17
 

Well it’s over.

Spain have deservedly won Euro 2008 by playing some fantastic football and although the score was only 1-0 in the final against Germany in truth they cruised through the game once Fernando Torres scored that decisive goal.

But credit to Germany, even though they have an average side to get to another major final is quite an accomplishment. Hope for England in the future if anything else.

As the final whistle went and the cameras panned out to players like Jens Lehmann and Michael Ballack, you wondered about the fortunes of different players. Michael Ballack marginally missed out on this years Champions League, Premier League and now European Championships. He also missed out on the World Cup Final in 2002 after single-handedly getting them there. He might be German and he might play for Chelsea but there’s no doubt that Ballack is a fantastic player. Could Lampard do what he’s done? Exactly.

And how about Jens. He’s now moved on to Stuttgart but he has been an excellent servant for the club, and after also losing the Champions League Final a few years ago he’s also just missed out on another major European trophy.

But tonight was a great night for Cesc Fabregas, and you can’t help but be pleased for him.

He’s only just turned 21 but he has been such a massive part of Arsenal and been through the highs and lows of recent times. He won the FA Cup in his first full season at the club but since then has lost a Champions League Final and been through a rollercoaster season this year.

So it’s great that he started tonight’s final and managed to come out a European Champion.

He is such an example to everyone and his conduct since being at Arsenal has been truly exemplary. You see players like Adebayor and Hleb touting themselves out and quite frankly behaving disrespectfully towards the club and manager but Cesc is just fantastic.

That’s why we love him.

Well done Cesc and we’ll see you leading out Arsenal once again next season.

Andrei Arsharvin? I’d Rather Have Cesc Fabregas!

Posted on by
15
 

All the build up to the Spain v Russia game was about Andrei Arshavin but it was our very own Cesc Fabregas who lit up the semi-final with a sensational display, alongside an in form Spanish side.

Barcelona target Arshavin was the man people looked to before the match started to make something happen but it would be fair to say he was completely anonymous tonight. He’s also been linked to Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League but to be honest if he was any good Arsene would have snapped him up years ago. He does seem to have a temperament problem too, and was sent off in the qualifying campaign against Andorra which was the reason why he was suspended for the first two games of this summers championships.

Two good games? Barcelona can have him. Along with Hleb.

Fabregas was only introduced tonight as a substitute, after David Villa had to come off with an injury on 34 minutes. Since he came on though he changed the game and put in a real Man of the Match performance.

After coolly sending home the World Champions in the last round with a pressure penalty Fabregas was instrumental in sending Spain into the final to face the Germans. To be fair Spain were excellent all over the pitch and Cesc was a star amongst stars. But playing almost as a second striker he adapted well and linked up play sensationally. You couldn’t have asked any more of the kid.

Spain looked so confident tonight and will give the Germans a run for their money on Sunday evening, which is all you can ask for in a major final. The Spaniards opened the scoring on 50 minutes and were in cruise control from then on. A shot from Iniesta from the left side came into the path of Xavi, who slotted in from 5 yards. As Russia opened up Spain just passed circles around them and Fabregas was literally running the show. His sumptuous pass for Daniel Guiza made it 2-0 and he also rounded off a fantastic display with the assist for David Silva’s goal and Spain’s third with only 7 minutes remaining.

So the big question is will Cesc start the final?

Well in every game so far Spain have started with Torres and Villa up front, with a midfield of Silva, Senna and the Barcelona boys Xavi and Iniesta in the centre. Will Aragones break up the Barca link?

The problem is it seems that although Fabregas played alongside Xavi and Iniesta tonight, it was at the expense of David Villa. We don’t know how serious his injury is but if he’s fit for the final or Aragones wants to play with two strikers then there’s only room for two from Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas. Senna is the holding midfielder and David Silva is the playmaker so they are certain to start.

Even when Fabregas has been introduced into the action throughout this tournament (except for tonight) it has been at the expense of Xavi and Iniesta. Cesc has usually come on with another midfielder (Xabi Alonso or Santi Cazorla for instance) replacing both Xavi and Iniesta.

Clearly Aragones doesn’t think Fabregas can play alongside Xavi or Iniesta, or just doesn’t want to seperate the Barcelona midfielders.

Luckily though tonight Spain showed that all three are more than capable of playing well with each other in an effective midfield.

I personally don’t think Cesc will start the final even though he probably derserves to. Politics and player power is more and more influential these days and with 10 of tonight’s starting 11 playing their football in Spain (Torres being the exception) I just can’t see Fabregas cracking into that alliance. Can you imagine what the Spanish press would say if Iniesta or Xavi didn’t start despite starting all of the games so far?

I can’t see it happening.

Cesc will have to make do with being on the bench for the final but will more likely than not be the first substitute Spain will use. I would be shocked if he didn’t make some kind of appearance in the game.

P.S. I’ve just realised I spelt ‘Arshavin’ wrong in the title of this piece, but it can’t be changed now for the anally retentive among us.

How The Hell Did Germany Beat The Turks?!

Posted on by
23
 

What an amazing game.

How on earth did the Germans reach the final? I am completely flabbergasted. Only one team was playing good football and Turkey deserved much more from the game tonight.

In the first half, it was all Turkey’s and they hit the bar twice and scored the opening goal which was thoroughly deserved. The only problem was for all their attacking play they didn’t capitalise on it and find the crucial second goal which could have really killed the game.

Did Germany have 3 shots all evening?

Before the game I was reading various preview write ups and some people were talking about a massive German-bias, with a Franco-German UEFA with its Franco-German Axis apparently like the EU. Some points were made about how Turkey’s suspended goalkeeper Volkan received a two-match ban and Schweinsteiger only got a one-game ban for a very similar offense.

Although I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the said offenses happening in the Group Stages and Knockout Rounds and therefore hold different punishments?

Then people pointed out that in Euro 96′ Germany were granted special dispensation after having a similar injury crisis to Turkey in this years Championships. I personally can’t remember any of that, although the only real thing I remember was Gareth Southgate f*cking up that penalty. And that Pizza Hut advert.

I’m sure all conspiracy theories, but interesting going into the game.

Because I saw some dodgy refereeing tonight. How some of the Germans didn’t get yellow cards was pretty shocking, and when Senturk made a forwards tackle he got a booking when Germany had committed far worse fouls throughout the match!

And no, I didn’t forget the tackle on Lahm – and replays showed that initial contact was outside the penalty area anyway.

Yet again in this competition Turkey were excellent and deserved much better fortunes tonight. Even at 2-1 down you know they might do something and on 87 minutes Senturk scored a well-earned equaliser which looked to take the game into extra time.

But then the Germans nicked it. Literally.

On the luck-o-meter this result was one the luckiest I have ever seen. They played so badly and only fashioned 3 real chances and scored them all. What a shame that Rustu is such a sh*te goalkeeper, because the mistake for the Klose goal was shocking.

Think I’ll be cheering on Spain or Russia on Sunday night.

Sell Adebayor? Only If We Get Kaka’ In Return…

Posted on by
9
 

Last week I asked if any Arsenal fan wanted to see Hleb in an Arsenal shirt again.

The response was surprising really, with the majority saying they would like to see Hleb next season. I found that confusing because while I have been one of his biggest fans over the last 3 seasons (and would always back him when others would slate him) the shenanigans he and his agent are getting up to are just completely unacceptable. His agent is obviously hoping to cash in on Hleb’s last big money move and the player himself is doing nothing to stop it. Which to me is as good as sticking two fingers up to Arsene Wenger, the man who put Hleb in the spotlight.

What happened to players like Bobby, Henry and Dennis eh? Obviously you can’t buy loyalty these days.

And now we come to Emmanuel Adebayor.

AC Milan have officially confirmed that Adebayor is their sole transfer target this summer, and if they can’t get him then they won’t be bringing anyone in at all. I find statement complete b*llocks to be honest but whatever.

Arsenal have been quoted as “unwilling to sell” but with Milan making it official and public like they did a few weeks ago then obviously they just want to unsettle the player and see if Adebayor makes any favourable comments towards them. To his credit though, the Togan has always committed his future to Arsenal.

But you wonder what’s going on with all the speculation around Adebayor and Hleb. It’s been going on for months and the fact is you just feel something might happen. Why aren’t big players from other clubs being speculated about? Is there smoke without fire? I’m not sure.

Would selling Adebayor be that much of a loss for Arsenal?

He’s had one good season and if AC Milan offer a fantastic price then I’m not sure if Arsenal would turn it down. But at the moment although there seems to be some sort of conversation between the Italian club and Adebayor then obviously the offer from Milan is far too low.

Why don’t we ask for Kaka’ in return?

He’ll want to play Champions League football, he obviously likes playing at the Emirates (remember that awesome goal for Brazil against Argentina?) and Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches in the world to play under. We also play the beautiful game like it’s meant to be played and the Premier League is far more exciting that Serie A.

Thinking about it, we should start some rumours of our own for a change instead of always having our players being linked to other clubs!

We should also swap Hleb for Ronaldinho. If anyone can get the best out of him again it’s Arsene.

Although a player who will be with us next season is Samir Nasri, but you already knew that.