Arsenal

[Guest 70400]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...5/sfnhen115.xml

 

"You won't hold up the weather. But, hang on, isn't that precisely what Arsene Wenger is doing with his pounding young Gunners? What a manager he is! Having transformed the image of a club known for their grim, utilitarian football in 10 years of enchantment (and no little achievement), he is intent on building the team that may, in time, become his finest monument. Yet there are still dissenting voices, insisting that Arsenal should be "doing more" for the English game.

 

Should it bother us that so few members of the Arsenal side are available for England? Not much. They have, in fact, produced English-born players, like David Bentley and Matthew Upson, who were not considered good enough to become regular members of their first team, but who have prospered elsewhere, as well as Ashley Cole, who trundled his wheelbarrow stuffed with gold sovereigns from Highbury to Fulham Road.

 

No, let these birds fly. Like many others, this observer is happy to savour the most beautiful football we are likely to see from an English club side. Manchester United may have the slight edge in experience, and eventually 'old-head' their way to another Premier League title, but all lovers of the game, I'll warrant, will be cheering on the Gunners, and giving thanks to their extraordinary manager. If young men growing up in England do not think, when watching this side, "I want to play that way", then the jig really is up.

 

Is Wenger the finest club manager the English game has known? Possibly. To change the eclat of a club with such entrenched traditions, then to strengthen the team while losing seven key players amid the distraction of moving to a new stadium, verges on the miraculous. He is a modern Orpheus, charming every sentient being, and all beasts of the field, with his lyre. If Arsenal win the League this season it will be a significant victory for good taste. 'English' or not, their success can only enhance the English game."

 

 

Arsene invented sliced bread...

[Sion]

Steal the best young players from top european clubs

Pretend they brought them through their ranks - or at least the press pretend so

Very lucky to end up unbeaten after playing Untited and Liverpool.

They've been 'amazing' to quote so many people and yet they're hardly running away with the league are they

Wouldn't back them for the league

Injuries to key players (Toure, Fabregas, Hleb) and prolonged ACN involvement would mean they'll struggle

Will finish 3rd/4th

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

dirty f***ers who maximize the use of tactical fouling - i.e. being caught out of position & giving a little shirt-tug to concede a FK & get back into pos'n. But still better than the Mancs, who are odious c***s in every way imaginable & in others that aren't

[LondonLiverpoolFan]

Feckin hell lads give them some credit. They were superb against us and we were the ones lucky to come away from that game still unbeaten.

[Sion]

Feckin hell lads give them some credit. They were superb against us and we were the ones lucky to come away from that game still unbeaten.

They only managed to score when Alonso went off injured and Mascherano was crippled.

[LondonLiverpoolFan]

They only managed to score when Alonso went off injured and Mascherano was crippled.

 

And? That's football, you can only play what's in front of you. They got a late goal but also missed 2 absolute sitters.

 

We were at home and outplayed in almost all areas of the pitch. If we'd lost that game, not many of us could/would have complained.

[Guest Kaizer]

Feckin hell lads give them some credit. They were superb against us and we were the ones lucky to come away from that game still unbeaten.

 

At least they played a lot of passes in midfield, getting them nowhere.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

we actually created the better chances & forced more good saves, not just yer run-of-the-mill saves

[Raj]

We were at home and outplayed in almost all areas of the pitch. If we'd lost that game, not many of us could/would have complained.

 

Sorry Mike, but that's not true They were the better team, but the difference between the two teams was slight.

We wont keep the ball as well as they do, but we will play pragmatically and create as many chances as the teams we play against.

[muleskinner]

3 years without a trophy, pressures building.

[johngibo YPC]

Steal the best young players from top european clubs

Pretend they brought them through their ranks - or at least the press pretend so

Very lucky to end up unbeaten after playing Untited and Liverpool.

They've been 'amazing' to quote so many people and yet they're hardly running away with the league are they

Wouldn't back them for the league

Injuries to key players (Toure, Fabregas, Hleb) and prolonged ACN involvement would mean they'll struggle

Will finish 3rd/4th

 

If its that easy why don't we do it

I don't think they do

Deserved a draw in both

Noone runs away with the league in Novemeber. They are top though

I'd back them ahead of us

Injuries to key players hurt any side. They could replace Hleb fairly easily. And the ACN won't hurt them that much

We'll see

 

I think they are a great club

[Raj]

If young men growing up in England do not think, when watching this side, "I want to play that way", then the jig really is up.

 

Well, they have the incorrect mentality.

Sportsmen play to win. You are remembered for winning trophies/medals.

Everything else is b******s.

[Sion]

If its that easy why don't we do it

I don't think they do

Deserved a draw in both

Noone runs away with the league in Novemeber. They are top though

I'd back them ahead of us

Injuries to key players hurt any side. They could replace Hleb fairly easily. And the ACN won't hurt them that much

We'll see

 

I think they are a great club

 

We're starting to - Bruna/Pachecho etc..

Yes they do, i'm sick to death of 'Arsenal's wonderful youngsters' - that they poach at 16/17 from other clubs for millions of pounds. but shhh

Doesn't make them not lucky to only get two points - two late equalisers in both games, both could be said to be in fortunate circumstances

The press would have you believe it's a two horse race already. For all our crap football we're only six behind

That's nice

Hleb has been their best player this season. They'll lose Toure - their best CB for the ACN, and Eboue and probably others i'm forgetting

yes we will

[Raj]

I'd back them ahead of us

 

Injuries to key players hurt any side. They could replace Hleb fairly easily. And the ACN won't hurt them that much

We'll see

 

I think they are a great club

 

 

I don't. I still think that there is not much between us

 

Hleb is not eay to replace and has to be a candidate for player of the year on current form. ACN may affect them, although I think that Toure and Eboue will be off. Pretty sure that Adebayor wont be though

 

They are a great club.

Edited November 16, 2007 by roegahnn

[Zoob]

3 years without a trophy, pressures building.

 

If they win nothing this season, it will be 3 seasons without a trophy.

 

Sure, the press get carried away with Arsenal sometimes (and it's not Arsenal's fault if they poach tallent from abroad (as we're now doing at last) have the guts to play them in their first team and then get written about as if they've produced the talent).

 

They went through an entire league season unbeaten a few years back - which is just amazing, and they do play some fantastic football, the kind I like to watch (unless they're playing us). They play football as if all their players actually enjoy the game - I wish more of our players looked like that more regularly. Other than Eboue, I can't think of any other Arsenal players who make me angry (Lehman is just funny) - they certainly don't have the same level of diving cheating dirty scum that the Mancs and Chelsea have.

 

Wenger has managed to win trophies while having a net spend significantly less than the other top 3 (he's probably made a profit overall) , and as a club, they and their supporters are infinitely more classy than Utd and Chelsea. I find it funny how bitter Man U and Chelsea fans are towards Arsenal.

[LondonLiverpoolFan]

Sorry Mike, but that's not true They were the better team, but the difference between the two teams was slight.

We wont keep the ball as well as they do, but we will play pragmatically and create as many chances as the teams we play against.

 

I see your point and agree we created some good chances however I'm still of the opinion that they created the more clear cut opportunities. That may just be me forgetting some of ours from the game!

 

As the home team we saw very little of the ball, and played more of an 'away' game than they did. More direct etc.... At Anfield we should have the majority of the play against anyone.

 

The way Arsenal kept hold of the ball was superb as was some of their sweeping one touch passing. We are capable of that but only seem to turn it on when we are coasting in games (as seen against Besiktas). Arsenal tend to play like that from the kick off, home and away.

 

The only times I can remember teams having that much of the ball against us at Anfield were the Barca and Valencia games during Ged's management.

[Guz]

Arsenal play fantastic football and have a great squad playing very well. But truth be told, from a 100% objective stance I think the mancs played better football last year. Much less f***ing about in the first 2/3 of the pitch, more pace and direct football down the wings, Scholes back to his best, scored bags of goals and didnt conceed much more than supposed stronger defences in Chelsea and ourselves. Hate to say it and will probably go and take a shower now but I suppose it depends on what you like.

 

What is very impressive about Arsenal is their ability to keep hold of the ball under pressure. And thats individually, resulting in collective posession of the ball. Mind you, our goal against them came from Gerrard presurising Fabregas high up the pitch leading to a free kick so it's not unbeatable by any means .

[Stevie H]

arsene wenger is an outstanding manager and deserves the utmost respect from all football fans. top man.

[Guest Kaizer]

arsene wenger is an outstanding manager and deserves the utmost respect from all football fans. top man.

 

Arsene Wenger is a moaning hypocrite that only thinks about himself and his own dirty moaning cheating players, why on earth should someone respect this tool, he changes his oipinions whenever it suits him, if that is something you think earns respect thats up to you.

 

Personally I have another standard, I cant stand Wenger and his hypocrisy, I`d rather pay my respect to a dirty rat than this f***er.

[John am Rhein]

Feckin hell lads give them some credit. They were superb against us and we were the ones lucky to come away from that game still unbeaten.

 

Could have gone either way that - they came close to winning, but so did we

[Raj]

As the home team we saw very little of the ball, and played more of an 'away' game than they did. More direct etc.... At Anfield we should have the majority of the play against anyone.

 

The way Arsenal kept hold of the ball was superb as was some of their sweeping one touch passing. We are capable of that but only seem to turn it on when we are coasting in games (as seen against Besiktas).

 

But we have to look at the context of the performances too. Arsenal were flying and playing with confidence high, and we were struggling to play with any rhythm for a few matches before. I am sure if the game had been played in August, both performances would have been different.

 

I'm not trying to take anything away from Arsenal, who were very good that day, but the difference in performance was not that great, taking all other factors into consideration

[Sion]

Arsene Wenger is a moaning hypocrite that only thinks about himself and his own dirty moaning cheating players, why on earth should someone respect this tool, he changes his oipinions whenever it suits him, if that is something you think earns respect thats up to you.

 

Personally I have another standard, I cant stand Wenger and his hypocrisy, I`d rather pay my respect to a dirty rat than this f***er.

Bit OTT but I agree. His whole 'I didn't see it' when it's his players, but constant moaning about opposition players in similar positions is pathetic.

 

On another similar note, johngibo, example of what i'm talking about when i say they pretend they bring players through their ranks...

 

Gunners boss Wenger said: "You complain you don't have many strikers and accuse Arsenal of not producing enough England players - Theo is one of them.

 

Last time i looked Arsene, Walcott was playing regularly for Soton, you came along, paid upwards of £12m and now claim you produced him.

[NWR]

arsene wenger is an outstanding manager and deserves the utmost respect from all football fans. top man.

 

I agree with this. I know he does spend a lot of money, but some of the best players he has had he got cheap. They always play good entertaining football. Last season, most of the games they lost or drew they battered the opposition without scoring the goals they needed. It was great to watch as a neutral, if any of us can be classed as neutral that is.

Top Manager.

[McBain]

Steal the best young players from top european clubs

Pretend they brought them through their ranks - or at least the press pretend so

Very lucky to end up unbeaten after playing Untited and Liverpool.

They've been 'amazing' to quote so many people and yet they're hardly running away with the league are they

Wouldn't back them for the league

Injuries to key players (Toure, Fabregas, Hleb) and prolonged ACN involvement would mean they'll struggle

Will finish 3rd/4th

 

[Ronnie Whelan]

Tremendous manager, but probably not a very nice bloke. He has built three good sides with the Arsenal at this stage and that in itself is an excellent achievement. IMO he has started a legacy at Arsenal that subsequent managers will find very hard to live up to.