Former Players Views

[Cripps_orig]

Ray Parlour believes Arsene Wenger played Andrey Arshavin in the wrong position – and admits his Arsenal career is far from secure.

The midfield playmaker was in superb form on Friday night as Russia got their Euro 2012 campaign off a great start with a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic in Group A.
Arshavin, 31, has suffered a largely torrid time at the Emirates following his £16million move from Zenit St Petersburg in 2009, and he spent the last six months on loan at his former side after failing to secure a spot in Arsene Wenger’s first team.
But former Gunners favourite Parlour claims the Russian might not be completely to blame for his mixed fortunes in the Premier League.
“You could say that he was played in the wrong position at Arsenal,” Parlour told the Weekend Sports Breakfast. “Arsene Wenger’s always played him on the left hand side and he’s more of a central player.
“I’m sure Arsene will be watching and wondering why he couldn’t do that for Arsenal. He never played like that which is frustrating for the fans, Arsene Wenger and the players.”
Arshavin looked set to leave Arsenal this summer following his successful loan return to his homeland and Parlour admits his future is far from clear.
“Let’s see what happens with him,” he said. “I’m not sure whether he’ll go back to Arsenal or they’ll try and sell him.”

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-ne...failure-173991

As expected, Wenger to blame

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal are desperate for him to stay and have lost too many players in the past,” he said at a Carlsberg pub football event.

Euro 2012

[Cripps_orig]

Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg has told his former club to open their wallets if they are to hold onto Robin Van Persie.

Ljungberg believes that a couple of top class players could persuade the Netherlands striker to sign a new deal with the club, rather than leave for pastures new.

The former Sweden International feels that the Gunners can compete for trophies again, but keeping the Dutch international will be vital to any future success.

"I think there's nothing to advise Robin, I think it's more that you have to advise Arsenal," Ljungberg told Goal.com.

"When Robin came to Arsenal we were a good team and we were winning trophies.

"I think that's what he wants to do, and I think that Arsenal maybe have to open their wallet a little bit and buy maybe two or three top, top players… not just players for the squad.

"I think that will win Robin over on whether he will stay or not, and as a fan I hope that's what he is going to do because I want to see Arsenal lift trophies again."

Ljungberg stated that the building of the Emirates Stadium prevented the Gunners from spending big in the transfer market, but believes that the club is now in a healthy financial position and should look to bring new players in.

"I know that when they built the new stadium, that took a toll on their economy and they couldn't show their muscle so much in the transfer market, so yes I think they have to [spend more] now.

"It's about competition, and a big club in a healthy situation, as they are, need to not lose players and get players in.

"That's what we did in the past when we were at Highbury and I hope we can do it again."

In recent seasons Arsenal have lost key players like Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and the 35-year-old hopes that the North London club can hold onto key players in the future.

"In your head when a Nasri or Fabregas leave, maybe your two leading players, you don't want to see that in a club like Arsenal, you want to know your best players are definitely staying.

"If there's somebody who doesn't make the team, then they might be leaving, but not the top players. I want to get back to those ways."

When asked about coach Arsene Wenger, Ljungberg openly admitted that he is unsure of how much backing in the transfer market he has from the club's board.

And he believes that what Wenger has done with a young squad should be applauded and if money is available then experienced players should be brought in.

"I would like to hear the owners talk openly," Ljungberg continued. "Because I'm not sure he gets the money that has been talked about in the media. If he is not able to get the money to buy players, Arsene has done wonders.

"It's amazing to do what he's done with a young squad, so I don't think that should fall on him at all when he's criticised.

"If we don't know if the money is there, and the board hasn't said anything, then he has done wonders.

"But if the money will be there this summer I think it will be a good thing to get some players that will lead the young ones and who have actually won things before to be able to get that winning mentality back."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...-class-players

[Boss]

Freddie

[Cripps_orig]

Thierry Henry admitted that he might not go into football management once he hangs up his boots, despite previously expressing a desire to become a coach one day.

The New York Red Bulls star and Arsenal legend spoke with Goal.com about his future during PUMA's evoSpeed boot launch event in New York on Sunday, and although he is eager to remain in football, he has ruled out the possibility of coaching a team at present.

"The more I think about it, it's pretty difficult," Henry explained to Goal.com. "You don't think about it but you need to be a teacher [as a coach/manager]. Teaching isn't easy. Sometimes you see things yourself but how do you pass it on?

"When you know something and you're talking to someone who just doesn't get it ... that must be hard."

Last year, Henry told reporters that his dream would be to take over Arsenal after current manager Arsene Wenger retires. While he declined to specifically pinpoint what changed his mind, he stated that the daily challenges that a manager faces would be too overwhelming for him.

"It's like if I only talk to you as a boss, it's [one thing]. But you have to teach 30 players. Going through all of their temper, their character and dealing with big players ... wow," he said.

The 34-year-old Henry maintained, however, that he will pursue opportunities within the sport after he ends his playing career, but he is currently undecided on what that will be.

"Don't get me wrong, I will eventually end up coming back to the game but I don't know how," he admitted.

Henry also touched on his former France team-mate Nicolas Anelka and his decision to head to China as opposed to MLS. While Didier Drogba appears to be following Anelka to Shanghai Shenhua, Henry doesn't believe that it was necessarily a rejection of football in the United States.

"You have to respect the decision of some of the guys," said Henry. "Some of the guys that you are talking about, they've been there and done that. I don't know if you can put it down to a 'no' to MLS, I think it was just more of a choice. Nicolas, I'm sure, felt like he was more into being in China."

Henry would not speculate on Drogba's future but he claims that there are still several top players who want to join the league. He also was adamant that if he was offered a deal similar to Anelka, he would still pick New York.

"Right from the start, since I was 16, I wanted to play in New York," Henry revealed. "I called in and offered myself."

"I wanted to come here and I know a lot of players who want to come here," he added.

The all-time leading scorer for the French national team also touched briefly on his time at Arsenal.

"The experience was kind of weird," he said. "When I went there, it was like I never left."

"When I was there I played six games off the bench. It wasn't like wow or anything," he continued. "I did what I had to do which was at the time was helping them. But it was a great experience."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3284/...nager-when-his

Wonder if hes realised how hated Wenger is now amongst true gooners and thats why hes changed his mind

[Coney]

Wonder if hes realised how hated Wenger is now amongst true gooners and thats why hes changed his mind

Sort yourself out, mate. You used to be a good poster.

[GP]

Sort yourself out, mate. You used to be a good poster.

Nah

[Cripps_orig]

Fair enough. I do wonder what has changed his mind though.

Seeing the tide turning against Wenger over the last 18 months or so might have played a part.

[Coney]

Fair enough. I do wonder what has changed his mind though.

Seeing the tide turning against Wenger over the last 18 months or so might have played a part.

That, or else he is finally accepting that his project has not worked out and so he needs to lose the bad parts and change the approach.

Like winning trophies.

[Kano]

Fair enough. I do wonder what has changed his mind though.

Seeing the tide turning against Wenger over the last 18 months or so might have played a part.

or he has just realised that he would be a useless manager.