Former Players Views

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Overmars open to Arsenal role in the future

The 39-year-old, who is currently working as a technical director at Ajax, says he "wouldn't be surprised" if the Gunners approached him about taking up a position

Former Arsenal star Marc Overmars has revealed that he views taking a role with the club in the future as a distinct "possibility".

The 39-year-old scored 41 goals in 142 appearances for the Gunners during a three-year spell which saw him lift the Premier League and FA Cup prior to a £25 million move to Barcelona.

And the Dutchman, who currently serves as Ajax's technical director, stated he would be open to returning to the English club, but ruled out going into management.

He told Standard Sport: “When you get older as a player, you work out what your qualities are for the future. I was quite fast to realise being a manager was not my job.

“The way I work with Ajax, I do the transfers, the contracts and organise the scouting, so it suits me. It wouldn’t surprise me if I work in the future at Arsenal — it could be a possibility.

“I’ve never discussed it with Arsene Wenger. But if the board think about the future and make a list of people to work at the club, it wouldn’t surprise me if I am on the list of people. However, at this moment, I want to stay at Ajax.”

Wenger's men currently face a battle to qualify for next year's Champions League and, barring a miraculous second-leg comeback against Bayern Munich, are set for an eighth season without a trophy.

And Overmars cited the club's move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium as a possible factor in their recent decline.

“I went back to Highbury to look around that area and still felt such a power there," he added. “When we were playing at home, we were unbeatable. That’s how we felt. But that’s the problem with a bigger stadium, often you lose that aura.

“It used to be intimidating at Highbury — that is the difference between the new stadium and the old one. When you build a new stadium, you must try to get the people as close as possible to the pitch.

“I was playing with Ajax in the old stadium and then the new stadium and we had the same problem. All the opponents wanted to play in this nice stadium so you lose that home advantage."

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Moving to the Emirates has been a glorious failure

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Marc Overmars says Arsenal must beat Tottenham on Sunday – or their season is finished.
The Gunners are sitting fifth in the Premier League going into the north London derby at White Hart Lane, four points adrift of third-placed Spurs.
And Overmars has warned his former club they cannot afford to drop any points against their fierce rivals if they are to have any hope of finishing in the top four come the end of the season.
“Sunday is crucial for them,” said the Dutchman, who scored 41 goals in 142 appearances for Arsenal between 1997-2000.
“At this moment in the Premier League, it is very difficult for Arsenal. They have to win the match. If they don’t, the season is over.”
A negative result this weekend will heap further pressure on Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has faced calls to quit with the club seemingly certain to end an eighth straight season without any silverware.
They have to win the match. If they don’t, the season is over
— Marc Overmars
But Overmars, who won a host of trophies under Wenger during his three-year spell in north London, has told supporters to trust the Frenchman.
“They have to keep faith in Mr Wenger and the board,” he said.
“The problem is football has changed a lot in the last ten years. With all clubs having private investors or owners, it makes it more difficult.
"In my period, we had seven or eight English players in the team and three foreigners. These days it is the opposite. So it makes it more complicated to get the right player into your team."


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Pretty much

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Ray Parlour believes the north London derby has regained its position as Arsenal’s most important fixture – because of Tottenham’s renaissance in recent years.
The Gunners legend played during an era where matches with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea made up the biggest games of the season.
But, ahead of the Premier League fixture between the pair this Sunday, Parlour claims the match against Spurs is all-important for Arsene Wenger’s men.
During my time as a player Tottenham wasn’t our big game, it was always the matches against Manchester United
— Ray Parlour
“During my time as a player Tottenham wasn’t our big game, it was always the matches against Manchester United,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “But now Arsenal v Tottenham has become a massive game because of how well Spurs are doing.
“They are trying to finish above Arsenal so it’s a massive game for both sides.
“It’s bigger for Arsenal than it is for Spurs. Tottenham will be happy to get a point. If you look at the league they’re four points clear. If they can keep that gap going towards the end of the season, then they’ll be delighted.”




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has it become a big game again cos Spuds are doing well or cos we are a bit shit?

Both. It's big again because Spurs have improved and we've declined, meaning both sides are fairly evenly matched.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Both. It's big again because Spurs have improved and we've declined, meaning both sides are fairly evenly matched.

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Aye.

When we were involved in title races and Spurs were mid-table laughing-stocks the NLD was an annoying distraction, the real big games were against Utd and latterly Chelsea.
For Spurs it was their Cup Final, the one thing that might just give them brief bragging rights - never did of course 'cos we were a much better side.

Now the sides are evenly matched, all we have to play for is the Fourth Place Trophy and as Spurs are in the race for it too it's suddenly a big game again. It always was a big game in its way of course because it's a Derby but now it's vital.

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Originally Posted by Letters

Aye.

When we were involved in title races and Spurs were mid-table laughing-stocks the NLD was an annoying distraction, the real big games were against Utd and latterly Chelsea.
For Spurs it was their Cup Final, the one thing that might just give them brief bragging rights - never did of course 'cos we were a much better side.

Now the sides are evenly matched, all we have to play for is the Fourth Place Trophy and as Spurs are in the race for it too it's suddenly a big game again. It always was a big game in its way of course because it's a Derby but now it's vital.

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Spot on.

Was always a big game....only for different reasons now.

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Arsenal lack a player like Villa, says former Gunner Lauren

The Barcelona striker has struggled to force his way back into the team since recovering from injury, but the Cameroonian believes he would be perfect for Arsene Wenger's side

Arsenal are lacking a player like Barcelona striker David Villa, according to former Gunners defender Lauren.

The majority of Arsenal's goals this season have been split between Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, but none of them have surpassed 11 goals so far in the Premier League.

Podolski has managed eight goals in 24 appearances, while Giroud has nine in 26, and Lauren clearly feels they need more in attack as he highlights Villa as an ideal summer signing.

He told La Xarxa: "Arsenal need a striker like Villa. They need that sort of player.

"Villa can get you 15, 20, 25 goals in a season, and that's what Arsenal need at the moment. Villa has a lot of talent, scores a lot of goals.

"He would do brilliantly at Arsenal. He'd combine well with Monreal, Cazorla and Arteta. He'd fit in with the Spaniards in the dressing room, and the adaptation period would be very quick."

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has attracted criticism this season, but Lauren is unsure of whether Arsene Wenger will move for Victor Valdes, who has recently confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of his current contract in 2014.

He continued: "[Valdes] would fit in well in any league in the world. Wenger has a lot of confidence in Szczesny, I don't know if he'll go for Valdes."

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Villa I'd take. Valdes not

Valdes is still twice the keeper Schzz is but there are better keepers than Valdes around at half the money

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Sol Campbell urges Wenger to change Arsenal's transfer policy

The former Gunners defender cites Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to play £24 million for Robin van Persie as evidence of a bold and highly successful move in the market

Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell believes Arsene Wenger must change his transfer policy if the club are to be a force in Europe once again.

The Gunners look likely to finish the season without a trophy for the eighth year in a row after losses to lower-league opposition Bradford City in the Capital One Cup and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, while a heavy 3-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich leaves their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

Arsenal lost key player Robin van Persie to Premier League leaders Manchester United last summer in a £24 million deal, and Campbell - after seeing the impact the 29-year-old has made at Old Trafford - feels similar bold moves in the transfer market could help the Gunners progress.

"You have to give him immense credit for what he has done and it has been overlooked that while they have not done well in the cups, they have been consistent in the league," Campbell told The Mirror.

"But maybe there has to be a change regarding transfers. It should be done on a more case-by-case fashion. I think the fans deserve that.

"Sir Alex Ferguson clearly looked at what United could win if they had Van Persie and decided that if they succeed, that would justify the fee.”

Arsenal visit Tottenham - another of Campbell’s previous clubs - in the north London derby on Sunday, and the former centre-back has warned the more inexperienced players to be extra vigilant during the occasion.

"It will be a test for Arsenal at Tottenham, no question. Players like Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, who are playing at Tottenham for the first time, will need to be ready for that first 20 minutes which can be so intense.

"You have to be ready for that or you can be one or two goals down. You have to do your homework.

"Gareth Bale has been in great form and Arsenal need to be alert to that. They have to be ready, take him to areas where he can do no damage, and they will be aware of the threat posed on the other wing by Aaron Lennon.

"Tottenham will need to be focused and switched on as much as Arsenal and I feel the match could well be decided in the last 20 minutes. It is vital that both teams maintain their levels of concentration."

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http://www.goal.com/en/news/article?contentId=3794113

http://www.goal.com/en/news/article?contentId=3793110

Overmars seems to be talking a lot these days