Theo and RVP have 1 yr left on their contracts at the end of this season.
Twitter is going to go into meltdown...
Oxoboy "Good luck Feo4Mel [Theo Walcott] you taught me how to be the most overhyped pile of wank around"
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Theo and RVP have 1 yr left on their contracts at the end of this season.
Twitter is going to go into meltdown...
Oxoboy "Good luck Feo4Mel [Theo Walcott] you taught me how to be the most overhyped pile of wank around"
Senderos on Barton
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodi...rton-15311577/
roffle
:lol:
Big Phil. :bow:
cesc4official Cesc Fàbregas Soler
Tonight ill be watching Arsenal, my ex-team mates, friends and all the fans. I wish u all the best of luck cause u deserve to be in the CL.
3 hours ago
:bow: Fabregas el captain, come back all is forgiven, your still a cunt though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grebbo
Bullshit hes going to watch it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Grebbo
He said the same shit before the first leg and that day he "tweeted" something like "just finished training, off to eat and then an early night"
Fuck him, hes a cunt
Why did you marry him then?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ach
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-ne...his-principlesQuote:
Perry Groves has told Arsene Wenger to “relinquish his principles and go for a more British player,” as he attempts to replace Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
Wenger sold the two midfielders this summer, and sent Denilson on a season-long loan, leaving him short of options in midfield, especially with the recent three-game suspension of Alex Song.
Wenger is being linked with a move for Rennes power-house Yann M’Vila and Arsenal cult hero Groves believes the no-nonsense Frenchman would be the perfect antidote to the rot that has set in at the Emirates.
“I think after the Udinese game we will see more aggressive movement in the transfer market,” Groves told talkSPORT.
“I think it has been documented he is trying to sign M’Vila and I think that will be a big signing after I saw him play for France against England and thought he was an outstanding player.”
The Gunners are also being linked again with Bolton defender Gary Cahill but the player’s £17m price tag is thought to be deterring the frugal Frenchman.
“We need four or five players and if he buys the right four or five players who can go straight into the first team and help the young players, then they can go on and challenge Manchester United and City”Perry Groves
But Groves has told the Arsenal manager to abandon his cautious approach and splash the cash on up to five established stars.
“We need four or five players and if he buys the right four or five players, who can go straight into the first team and help the young players, then they can go on and challenge Manchester United and City," Groves said.
“If he doesn’t then you are going to get a lot of angry Arsenal fans because they have seen their season ticket prices go up by six per cent, which I think is the dearest in the world now. Fans don’t mind paying the money if they see investment on the pitch.
“Arsene is normally a good judge of player but I think it’s now time that he relinquished his principles and went for a more British type player to add to the creativity he already has."
Just seen Nasri's interview as city player on city website, can barely mask his contempt for Arsenal.....money grabbing little hermaphrodite.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...ene-wenger-butQuote:
Former Arsenal skipper Tony Adams has thrown his weight behind Gunners manager Arsene Wenger and has revealed that he still dreams of eventually managing his old club.
In an exclusive interview with Goal.com, Adams, who is currently coaching Gabala FC in Azerbaijan, gave Wenger a timely boost as the Frenchman prepares to face old adversary Sir Alex Ferguson when Arsenal take on Manchester United on Sunday with some Gunners supporters voicing doubts about his position.
The finger of blame has been pointed at Wenger for Arsenal’s failure to replace star midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri following their big-money moves to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, but Adams has no doubts about the Frenchman's ability to run the Premier League outfit.
In a glittering playing career, Adams captained Wenger's Arsenal to two Premier League and FA Cup doubles in 1997-98 and 2001-02 and he has insisted that he would one day fancy a crack at emulating those feats as a manager at the Emirates if asked to take on the challenge by chairman Peter Hill-Wood or owner Stan Kroenke.
“Arsenal are a great club, who have a great manager but if one day Peter [Hill-Wood, the chairman] – or Stan [Kroenke, the owner] - was to ask me to be manager, then given the right resources, I would love to win another trophy for the club but this time with me at the helm. Dreams are free,” Adams told Goal.com.
“I miss England, it is a beautiful country and I was very lucky to have been born there. The things I really miss are the food, the theatre, the Gloucestershire countryside and of course The Arsenal.
“I see my next step as being a head coach of a top European team so I can get experience in challenging for league titles and going into the European competitions. In my brief tenure as manager, I enjoyed taking Portsmouth to play Wolfsburg in the Europa league and I think the game against AC Milan at Fratton Park was probably my top experience so far as a manager.
“I am nine years into my new chosen career and I am gathering experiences and learning a great deal as I go. I have managed and coached in all of the leagues in England except the Championship and I have coached at two clubs in Holland. I don’t know my next move but I do know that I don’t really want to take on any more projects like the one I have here at Gabala.”
Under pressure | Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been feeling the strain
For now, though, he is relishing the chance to develop his managerial career away from the spotlight and is just about to start his second season in charge of Gabala.
“The best thing about Azerbaijan is that I have time to develop and the freedom to practice and live,” the 45-year-old added.
“I am developing skills in all areas because of the nature of this project. I would say that my work here is 50 per cent technical director/chief scout, 25 per cent manager and 25 per cent coach.
“The football scene in Azerbaijan is very different from England and the level of media interest is nominal. It is not their national sport but I must say that, even in the 18 months I have been here, it is growing at a rapid pace.
“The Gabala supporters may not be as many as The Gooners but they have just as much passion and, like all supporters, they want their team to win.
“I think they can see that I am changing the team for the better and at the moment they are very behind me. I think the supporters can see the changes on and off the pitch and are very pleased that it is their special club that is being transformed. I think I have improved the team from last season and I would like to challenge for the Euro places this season.”
Away from football, Adams, who grew up in Essex, is also enjoying life as a whole in Azerbaijan as he watches the country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia flourish.
“Life is good in Azerbaijan,” he continued. “My family have settled well and I love the climate and scenery in the Gabala region. I came here with no expectations, just an open mind.
“Azerbaijan is unusual to me in many ways because I have had an English upbringing. In general and because of numerous circumstances I would say that the people in Azerbaijan have a different way of being to people living in England or English-born people.
“In fact, the whole country is developing astonishingly. The main problem we face from a football view is the standard of facilities and pitches. If they can improve the quality of surface on their pitches then I am sure it will become a more attractive spectacle for all.”
Next manager? Cant be any worse
We should sign him up to coach the kids about defending.Quote:
Sol Campbell: 'Wenger needs to find players who won't accept failure'
The former Arsenal defender is hopeful of playing for another year and says Arsène Wenger still knows best
After a 'difficult' season with Newcastle United Sol Campbell is keen to prove he can still cut it in the Premier League. Photograph: David Levene
Three months have passed since Sol Campbell was released by Newcastle following a "difficult" season at St James' Park for the defender, but on a sweltering August afternoon in west London there is little sign of him missing life in the spotlight.
Appearances can be deceptive. Relaxed he may be as he stretches back and sips a cappuccino in an Italian restaurant, but the 36-year-old is also restless, keen to prove that after a career stretching close to two decades he still has one more season left in him. And as Arsenal supporters head to Old Trafford on Sunday, lifted by their teams' midweek triumph over Udinese but still in crisis mode and pleading with their manager to add experience to a youthful squad, there comes an uplifting message from a player who helped shape Arsène Wenger's Invincibles.
"It would be nice to go back to Arsenal, for sure," says Campbell, who left the club in 2006 following five trophy-rich years only to return for a four-month cameo in January 2010. "I trained there for a month [after leaving Newcastle in May] and have been doing regular fitness work on my own since. We've just come back from a holiday in Portugal and I was even working out then. So I'm not too far behind, all I need is two or three games to regain my match fitness.
"Offers have come my way but after what happened at Newcastle [Campbell appeared just eight times for the club during an injury-hit campaign that also saw Chris Hughton, a close friend and the manager who signed him last summer, sacked in December and replaced by Alan Pardew], I want to make sure I'm truly wanted by a club and that they understand the value of having me; that I can pass on my vast reservoir of skill and knowledge to the youngsters who are there already while playing at the same time. I know a hell of a lot about football and feel I can contribute for another year."
As "sign me up" pleas go that sounds pretty definite, but Campbell insists that while he wants to get back playing he is not anxiously waiting for Wenger to beckon him for a third spell at Arsenal, nor despite remaining in contact with the Frenchman have the pair spoken about a return. But assistance is on hand to the man who helped define Campbell's career and who faces Manchester United tomorrow knowing a second defeat in three league games will see Arsenal, shorn of Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri, record their worst start to a campaign since the 1991-92 season.
"Arsène's going through a tough time, but the guy's got loads of experience and knows better than anyone that football is like the sea and occasionally you've got to ride through a storm," Campbell says. "It's mainly been plain sailing for him and now there's some rough waters, but Arsène's no quitter and he'll get the club through.
"Saying that, Arsenal definitely need a few players to come in and shake things up; guys who are really passionate about winning and won't accept failure. The fans want that too, they can see that Arsenal are close to being the best club in the world, they've got everything there, it just needs people to ruffle some feathers."
Occasional disharmony certainly appears crucial to the success Campbell enjoyed at Arsenal the first time around, arriving as a controversial free transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 before going on to win two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and score in a Champions League final – not to mention finishing the 2003-04 season unbeaten – before joining Portsmouth in August 2006.
"The blend was perfect," he says. "We had clever guys, quick guys, skillful guys, but we also had warriors who gave everything on and off the pitch. We'd have meetings after a bad result or a bad performance and no one would shirk away from criticising a team-mate if they had to. But no one got upset because we realised that had to be done if the team was going to be a success. That's maybe missing from Arsenal at the moment. They've got the footballers but not the warriors, guys like Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Patrick Vieira, guys who could play but who also had that never-say-die-attitude. Those sort of players are out there, Arsenal just need to find them."
A towering and still lean figure, Campbell could well be the warrior Wenger decides to call upon. In the meantime, the man who also has 73 England caps and one appearance for Notts County to his name, insists he has enough to be getting on with. Having married the interior designer Fiona Barratt last July the pair are now occupied with raising their 11-month old daughter, while Campbell also continues to support the Show Racism the Red Card campaign.
"I've been involved with it since 2000 and always help out when I can," says Campbell, who in May handed out commendations to children who had put together films promoting the work of the organisation. "The campaign has done a fantastic amount of work to try and eradicate racism from our game. When I first started playing [in 1992], you'd hear racist chanting at every ground you visited but because of the way 'Show Racism' has got players, clubs and fans to back their cause over the years, that is hardly the case any more, certainly in the Premier League. You still hear the odd chant lower down the leagues, but it's rare and mostly down to a small, brainless minority."
In Campbell's company it is impossible to discuss "brainless" chanting without referring to his toxic relationship with Tottenham supporters, the bulk of whom have still not forgiven him for leaving them to join the enemy a decade ago. Campbell has received a torrent of abuse whenever he has returned to White Hart Lane since and in September 2008, while playing against Spurs for Portsmouth at Fratton Park, was the victim of abuse so abhorrent it led to two supporters, one of whom was only 14, being found guilty of indecent chanting and punished with three-year banning orders.
"It's very sad," says Campbell. "When I left Spurs I was one of the best defenders in the world and had done so much for such a long time with ultimately little reward. I practically kept the club up on my own for two years. Given that, you'd think the Spurs fans would get off my back. I understand them having a problem with me moving to their rivals, but it was a purely professional decision. Arsenal had a ridiculously good team at the time and I knew I'd win trophies there. I have no regrets."
Can Campbell envisage a time when he could return to White Hart Lane and not be the subject of abuse? "Maybe in 50 years, maybe never. Who knows."
A return to the Emirates is more conceivable and, aware of Campbell's interest in coaching, Arsenal have already offered him the chance to help train the academy and reserve teams. "That definitely interests me and I'm giving serious consideration to doing it," he says. "In terms of playing for the first team again — you never know how life will work out. The club know where I am.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...nger-needs-to-Quote:
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has expressed his horror at the Gunners’ display against Manchester United and slated Arsene Wenger's tactical approach to the game.
The Red Devils were rampant at Old Trafford, astonishingly beating the visitors 8-2 after a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney and two goals from Ashley Young.
Merson, who spent 11 years as a player with Arsenal, said he was disgusted by what he had witnessed on the pitch.
“It is definitely the worst day for Arsene Wenger in charge and it is even the worst day for a long time in Arsenal’s history. Since I started there in 1984, I cannot remember much worse than what we have seen here. It was shocking, just shocking,” said the Sky Sports pundit.
“There are much lesser teams with much less talent than Arsenal who will come to Old Trafford this season and make it doubly as difficult as they did today.
“You have got to have tactics - you can’t just have a Plan A, you have to have a plan B. The way Wenger set up wasn’t good enough. You can’t put teams out all the time and just say ‘go and play the Arsenal way’ – that isn’t fair on the players.
“Don’t put those kinds of players on the pitch and make them like lambs to the slaughter – it’s not good enough. You have got to start looking at the manager now and asking questions.
“What is he thinking? I’m not joking, but a League Two could come here next Saturday and make it much more difficult for United than that.”
Merson was clearly infuriated by the display he had witnessed and said there was currently an extremely big gap between the two teams that is continuing to grow, rather than shorten, each year.
“I don’t know where we go from here,” he added. “You can sit here and talk about players who have to come back, Vermaelen, Song, Gervinho – you can name all the players but none of them would get in the United team, so how far are Arsenal now away from United? The gap is getting bigger and bigger.
“I always look at games and judge teams when you get the teamsheets and look at who would get in the other side. Today, Robin van Persie would probably get a game for United and maybe on his day Theo Walcott, but bar that I don’t see anyone, including the players who are out.
“You can’t keep on having wingers running at the full backs time after time with no protection, not to set up with protection for the young, inexperienced full-backs and to allow United just to open the game up was unbelievable.
“You are talking here about one of the best managers in world football, but I’m not quite seeing what many other people are seeing when it comes to that.
“The poor lad who got sent off, Jenkinson, at least he never hid and he was going all the time, but you can’t play a team like that and say to the opponents ‘you have a go then we’ll have a go’, because that’s what happens, it got really messy out there.
“I still wouldn’t sack Arsene Wenger, but now just to be competitive he has got to sign one, probably two centre-backs, a central midfielder and then another forward, which is so worrying as that’s the whole spine of the team and his recent tactics have to be questioned.”
I couldn't work who was more pissed off today with our performance - Merse or Gary Neville.
Gary Neville has impressed me with his punditry tbh.
Merson finally has his day. All those years of 'I worry for Arsenal' that we'll drop out the top 4, finally it really looks like it might happen
Fat, drunk, cokehead
Merse was absolutely fuming, wasn't he! He basically intimated Wenger should be sacked immediately after the final whistle, though he backtracked a bit when he calmed down. Good to see that he still really cares about the club.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
What did Neville say? :coffee:Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Romford, yeah my mate and I think that Ed Chamberlain was quickly told to go to the adverts Merse was that annoyed with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by milla
Milla, Neville said U9's, 10's, U11's would know how to defend better than that (the basics). Berated Djourou for the incident leading up to Jenkinson being sent off, probably looking after his fullback kind! I think it was the standard of the defending that got to Neville; he said is used to Arsenal coming here and making it a hard game.
He was right about the defense then, Djourou was poor poor unbelievably poor. :coffee:Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Like he'd never played at the top level before. Like it was his first match. He played totally independently of Kos and left Jenkinson totally isolated. We might not have the best (or even any) defensive coaches but there's no way he has been taught to play like that. He must have taken it on himself to put in such a shit performance. Whatever, he can't be allowed to play again. That's three absolute untouchables we have in the squad, him, Squid and nobody up front.Quote:
Originally Posted by milla
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-ne...ys-are-crucialQuote:
Kenny Sansom has told talkSPORT Arsenal have to buy before the end of the transfer window.
The Gunners were hammered 8-2 by Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, their worst defeat for more than 100 years.
And the calls are now growing for Arsene Wenger to splash the cash to put things right.
“Wenger’s got to buy. The next three days are very important for Arsenal”Kenny Sansom
Sansom told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “He’s got to buy. The next three days are very important for Arsenal. If he doesn’t sign players it will be a long tough season. The fans are arguing about whether Wenger should stay or go and you don’t want that.
“If he’s got money to spend, let the club make a statement to say that. Everyone knew Nasri and Fabregsas were going to go, so buy before they go. Once you let them go, who’s going to want to come?
“Arsenal need a leader. The youngsters need some experience around them.”
Finally, Kenny chips in. That's everyone ever connected with the club, then. All stating the obvious, saying the same thing. Except Wenger and the board.
Fuck experiance tbh. All of our experianced players where shit yesterday. Nor did united have much of it on the pitch. We're lacking quality.
Said to my mate if we didn't know any better, these might as well have been players that we rounded up from the park earlier. It didn't even look like Welbeck was fighting to hold Djourou off as he nipped in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
Real pub team stuff and I'm sure it won't be the last we see of things like that.
Smudgers article in the Telegraph Todayl
He does make for some good points
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...de-a-month-agoQuote:
Former Arsenal manager George Graham has questioned why it took Arsene Wenger until deadline day to bring in reinforcements.
The Gunners lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri earlier in the transfer window as the pair left for Barcelona and Manchester City, respectively. The north London club were also subjected to a humiliating 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford, and only after that did the Frenchman bring in Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos - on deadline day.
"If you take Arsenal, they have signed three good internationals in Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun," said Graham, according to The Sunday Mirror.
"But Arsenal fans must wonder why these players were not bought way before the transfer window closed.
"I am not criticising Arsene Wenger. Not at all. I am just curious as to why it was left so late. That applies to all managers – not just Arsene.
"Everyone knew their first three fixtures ahead of the start of the season back at the beginning of July.
"You just wonder why the signings weren’t made a month ago.
"Maybe, in the case of Arsene, he was able to take his pick of unknown players when he first arrived here because of his knowledge of the world game.
"Patrick Vieira – who had heard of him at AC Milan?
"Thierry Henry was having a bad time at Juventus. Arsene made them both world-class performers.
"But people have now caught up and maybe that has *hindered him.
"All I am saying is that those three players must have been available two months ago and yet nothing happened.
"Instead, Arsenal had to go to Old Trafford with a really weak team."
Arteta isn't an international player, George.
And to me it's fairly easy to work out why; we weren't definitely in the Champions League a month ago.
I wouldn't say it like that. It looked like we panicked to be fair. I don't think we've bought the type of players that would only insist on a move until we've qualified for the Champs League.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Yep, I guess there's an element of panic buying, although not in the truest sense of buying for the sake of it, as we got in players we know about with the attributes we needed; we were after other targets (i think bids for Mvila and Goetze have been confirmed) although I still don't know why the fuck we had to wait until we were humiliated to get some action going.
Well I don't know about the others but Arteta said himself the lure of the Champions League was the big thing for him joining. However, I am not suggesting we went in for these players before hand and were told, wait until you qualify. I'm more getting at the cautiousness from on our side! We might have panicked, I don't know but I feel the reason we got ourselves in to that situation where we might have needed to panic, for me, is that of the Champions League. I'm not excusing us from the fact we left until the very last day but the situation we were in then (after qualiifying) is different to the situation we were in a month ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Also, all the players we bought could not otherwise play in Europe, obviously that came quite late in Fenerbahce's case!
You'd think then they might have signed players to guarantee our CL spot at the end of this season too? I'm not sure we've done that with what we have signed. So this is most likely a band-aid. I really think we had our business done fairly early with Gerv, Ox and Jenks and Wenger thought he had enough. I don't think any of the latecomers would be here if we'd have grabbed an unlikely draw with Utd or maybe gone down by one or two goals. Then the missing players could be used as a credible excuse. But 8-2? There's a lot more going on than missing players when the reserves that are supposedly going to see you through a typical season of injuries and suspensions get hammered like that. Panic stations and maybe even a note from above to stop tarnishing the brand.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
I think the majority of players want definite assurances - the Champions League is such a big deal now they won't often take the risk on going to a club who might miss out on making it especially if they are already at a club that definitely are in it, unless huge money is involved (say Falcao). Look at Tottenham last year, it wasn't until after they had qualified they bought anyone of any note although even then it was hardly a flood of players. I don't believe Wenger had thought he had enough, even when we have lost players they have been replaced in that position with others. Sure they might not have turned out to be as good but in terms of one in, one out, that has generally been done - like when Henry was sold and we got Eduardo in soon after.Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn
I think that behaviour of players filters down (or up) and rightly or wrongly influences managerial decisions.
With our record in the Champs League, even with the qualification round, I think most players would have jumped on board to play for us. Mertesaker is an Arsenal fan right? Or always had dreams of playing in England. We could have signed him last summer or back in January. Instead we signed Kosienly and Squallaci and we knew Verms was out for the season but we chose not to buy. Why buy him now? I'd say it's the Man U game.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
Arteta would say the Champs League is a big draw, but I'm sure he'd be happy to come on board to play in the qualification rounds to help us through. He plays for Everton. No disrespect to his club, but it's not like he plays for Real Madrid or AC Milan and he's moving to club like Tottenham or Man City that has no history of Champions League football.
The Man U game changed things. To be fair to Wenger, he did say he wanted to sign three more players before the Man U game, but that game changed things. At one point he said Traore could play as left back and the next day he's sold and we buy Santos.
I'm not sure players look out for anything other than cold, hard facts but anyway:Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Well our record in the Champions League qualification has been very good, that is very true but how many times had we come in to the season being almost universally written off, along with losing our two best players and at that point had no replacements for them, well, not any bought ones anyway.
You mention Squillaci but he didn't play in the Man Utd game. For whatever reason it might be that did we get Mertesacker, Squillaci can't be a consideration based solely on what happened in that game, unless Wenger imagined it'd be much worse with him there instead, perhaps. Also, we bought Koscielny before Vermaelen's injury - was Squillaci just after?
Maybe if we had tried to get Arteta earlier on, in that case Everton might have wanted it drag on and on, hoping they can get more for him (certainly Everton need it). And If Arteta had expressed a desire to leave after this supposed offer from us in early August, what would you do as Moyes/Kenwright in that situation?
I've already said I am not excusing us from doing all the work on the final two days but the fact it happened so quickly (compared with us in the summer), when we didn't even overpay particularly, suggests that the circumstances we were in post-Udinese did help to speed things up quite considerably.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...anager-arsene-Quote:
Former Arsenal player and icon Robert Pires has come out in support of under-fire manager Arsene Wenger, but he admits that his compatriot should change his ways having not won anything since 2005.
The winger played for the north London club between 2000 and 20006 before joining Villarreal.
Although he won the Premier League twice and the FA Cup three times under Wenger, his time there was not all plain sailing, and included a humiliating defeat to Manchester United – just as the current crop of players experienced an embarrassing 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford in their last domestic outing.
“I remember when we were beaten 6-1 at Old Trafford. Immediately afterwards, the president [David Dein] publicly supported Arsene and the team,” Pires told France Football. “It had an effect – the next game we slammed West Ham 3-0.
“At the moment, Arsenal will struggle to compete with the big teams and that's what scares me. The current team – that was good last season – is missing parts.
“Losing at Old Trafford happens to everyone. But when you let in three, four, five goals you have to stick together. Letting in eight? That is not normal.”
Some fans haved called for Wenger’s resignation but Pires believes firing the manager would be premature, although he admits his compatriot should consider changing his methods.
He said: “We must allow time for Arsene, to trust him. I respect his philosophy. But is it good? I would suggest not in relation to statistics.
“He has not won anything since he took that direction, so he will perhaps have to change his tune. I know what Arsene is capable of, but he must have the backing of the owner.
“Arsene is caught in a storm and I will be the first to support him because I love the man and the coach. And that team continues to play good football.
“Arsene must build his team as he has always wanted, with players who like the ball but also with warriors.
“You can't start a young team like that and say 'we must win the championship'. [Sir Alex] Ferguson is getting it right now. He built on his team – he bought Ashley Young when he already had Nani and [Antonio] Valencia.
“When we went from Highbury to the Emirates, there was a change. At Highbury there was an atmosphere, people were close to you, it was a stage.
“Arsenal chose to move for business reasons. It's part of the life of a club, but we lost something [as a result]."
Wenger was criticised heavily in some quarters for his complacency in the transfer window that led to a frantic rush for players on deadline day.
The French coach finalised deals for left-back Andre Santos from Fenerbahce, centre-back Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen, Yossi Benayoun on loan from Chelsea, and midfielder Mikel Arteta from Everton.
Pires revealed this method of transfer dealings from the north London club came as no surprise to him as it is simply Wenger’s way.
“I'm not surprised he has not brought in players before [the end of August]. It's totally Arsene, all is well, but at some point, when you take the opposite view and it's late August, you have to do something."
How much more time should Wenger have?
I mention Squillaci because Wenger chose to sign him and Kosienly instead of Mertesaker last year. He didn't play against Man U, but Wenger already knows he's struggling for confidence so he didn't need to.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
All summer, Wenger has been talking about not being able to find the right quality for the right price but we've always known Mertesaker was an option. He could have done with him last winter when Verms was out and when it was obvious that our defenders were struggling. He's not a surprise signing.
I don't think the Champs League qualification was that important. Look to our past record. It's not the first time we've had to qualify for the Champs League and usually, our main players feature in the games. Vermaelen played in his debut season, the same goes for Nasri and Sagna. We usually get our main players in early so they can help us qualify. I suspect we've had our eye on Gervinho for quite a while and we tied up his deal before we qualified. It's never been a problem in the past.
The seasons you mentioned are not seasons where we had sold our two best players. Not only could that on its own be enough for players to be a bit circumspect in joining, I guess the fact selling Nasri and Fabregas took so long didn't help either. Like you suggest, our replacements have come in early in the past but generally after we have sold players. You mention what Wenger said which is fine, you're probably right there but don't forget he also said you cannot convince people you are a big club should you sell your best two players.Quote:
Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory
Our main players now are the ones that have come in! Again I'll repeat, you say we have brought players in early - that is the norm. So why is it that we acted so late this time? If we're making the distinction between this summer and previous ones then it's probably logical there was something else that was a contributing factor. And that's what you're leaving out in your responses to me - I said in previous posts, for me, it's the combination of both losing our best two players and not definitely being in the Champions League. However being in the Champions League for sure, will help.
We've always been the underdog and sold off key players each season. We've always been the team in danger of losing our Champs League spot. If we were having trouble signing players like Kaka and Mata because they wanted Champs League football, then I'd understand that position. But besides Mertesaker, these guys are nobodies. We're a step up to their previous clubs and that includes Mertesakers. I can't imagine any of them acting like divas.Quote:
Originally Posted by McNamara That Ghost...
When we signed Arshavin, we were close to losing our Champions League spot, we sold off two of our main players that performed well last season but he still joined us and at a point where he knew he was eligible for the Champs League football and where there was a danger of us not qualifying.
Taking so long to sell off Nasri and Cesc was probably a factor but we went out and bought a left back and CB when we've known all summer that we needed players for those positions. I actually think Wenger was willing to take a risk and go into the season with the players we had. It's not the first time he's said we'll buy and has gone back on what he originally said. Also, after the Newcastle game, he praised our defence and started to mock journalists and all those that kept on going on at him about buying defenders. It's been a poor start to the season but if we'd have picked up more points I doubt we'd have seen so many last minute moves.
You ask why have we acted so late...ask yourself that. What's so different about this season compared to previous seasons? It's not the first time we've lost main players and it's not the first time we've had to qualify for the Champions League. Cesc and Nasri are big players, but Henry is even bigger. We lost him but didn't go crazy in the transfer window because the squad was looking good and ready for the challenge ahead. We were playing better and got off to a flyer. It's the complete opposite this season.
Arshavin's alternative was to stay at Zenit and they had already been knocked out of the Champions League. Plus, their domestic season had already finished (they did not qualify for the Champions League 09/10).
I'm not sure why you're talking about players being divas because I certainly am not. Arteta a nobody? That's pretty odd for somebody suggesting players might be acting with ideas above their station. Is he on the level of Mata (Kaka is gone)? No, obviously not, we all know him though (!) but that's an irrelevance anyway.
I'm asking you why you think we acted so late - this whole back and forth started by me expressing (vicariously) to GG why I think we did. You can ask me what's so different but the fact is and you've already conceded this, we have done things differently this year to other ones. There has to be a reason for that surely? If Wenger comes out of his own volition and says that you cannot say you're not a big club anymore if you sell your two best players, is it not possible that level of thinking is transmitted and influenced throughout the board and their combined decisions? I don't remember him saying that after Henry had left, probably because we hadn't lost him during his prime years. We also sold Henry fairly early on, late June, possibly? Plus one of those players went to a club we are supposed to be competing with.
Maybe the only way we'll sift through all this is if we think as what kind of club you would join (or hope to join) if you were a player of, on say the same level as Arteta? And would you have taken stock of all the things that have been at happening at those clubs you might possibly join? I know I would but I guess I haven't been in that football environment of an early age, so if I was, maybe my mentality would be different.