- by Thera Reyes, writing from Manila, Philippines
The winners were 10 points behind the Spurs before their meeting last month but are now enjoying continuous victories and looks to capture 3rd place and automatically qualifying for a Champions League spot.
Hatem Ben Arfa put Newcastle in the lead in the 14th minute with a low finish. But skipper Robin Van Persie tied it less than a minute later, off a cross from Theo Walcott. Van Persie has now scored his 33rd goal of the season.
Arsenal are the first team to win four games in a row having to come from behind in Premier League history. The Gunners controlled much of the possession, especially in the second half, with Tomas Rosicky, who has been sensational in the last few weeks, directing a header against Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul. Alex Oxlade – Chamberlain almost got his chance a few moments later at the edge of the box.
Things got a little heated up when Van Persie confronted Krul of timewasting in the second half. Both players were booked.
As the clock continued to tick, the Gunners continued to be a threat to the Magpies. At the 94th minute, Thomas Vermaelen sweeps in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner thereby sealing the win for the Gunners.
Goals:
Ben Arfa 14’
Van Persie 15’
Vermaelen 94’
Troll Moment of the Day:
Van Persie telling Krul to “Take your time now!” for the latter’s alleged time-wasting.
Quotable Quote:
“Tottenham have got to be watching over their shoulders now.” – Theo Walcott
(I believe they can actually hear the Gunners breathing behind their necks.)
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal Goals | www.utakmice.net by sportsbett
- by Thera Reyes, writing from Manila, Philippines
Coming from their thrilling Carling Cup victory, the Reds charged in the first half making use of the visitors’ non-existent midfield. Stewart Downing, Luis Suarez and Dirk Kuyt made their plays but it would be Arsenal defender Koscielny who would score the lone goal for the Scousers when he sliced a right-wing cross from Jordan Henderson to his own net. It would have been two to nil if Kuyt’s feed to Henderson was not saved by Wojciech Sczczesny and Suarez’s rebound hit the post.
At the 30th minute, Arsenal comes out of nowhere. Bacary Sagna sends a beauty of a cross and Van Persie heads it home past keeper Pepe Reina. This would be Van Persie’s first EPL header of the season and first goal at Anfield.
A Henderson collision to Mikel Arteta found the Arsenal midfielder leave the field on a stretcher due to a concussion. Abou Diaby, hindered by injuries, would make a brief appearance before being hauled off. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in for the injured midfielder. Wasted chances were shown by the Reds when Suarez and Kuyt hit the posts, Martin Kelly bundled Kuyt’s cross and Downing found his volley wide.
They would pay for it dearly come injury time of 8 minutes; Alex Song finds Van Persie and the striker sends a volley past Reina at his near post. RVP has now scored 31 goals in 36 matches this season.
**
BAMF Moment of the Day: Szczesny’s double save from Dirk Kuyt’s penalty
Goal of the Day: RVP’s second
- by Fidel Leblanc, writing from Miami, FL
Its no surprise how badly we need an apt striker to partner or back up the absolutely amazing Robin van Persie. He has carried the goal-scoring burden willingly on his back, but there comes a point where one needs to rest with the confidence of your team-mates being able to carry on without you for a couple of games. Marouane Chamakh is bereft of any semblance of confidence when it comes to scoring goals and the fact that a 34-year old Thierry Henry was selected ahead of Park Chu-Young tells you all need to know about our striking options. Van Persie’s performance against Fulham was one which shows how badly in need of a rest he was.
There were many detractors and doubters about this loan move. There were those who said that it was a desperation move on Wenger’s part. Others said that it could tarnish Henry’s legacy if he were humiliatingly ineffective. He’s definitely on track to disprove that second one. In 11 minutes on the pitch, he showed that despite losing some of his physical attributes, namely his blistering pace, the man has still got it. His movement was more clever than Chamakh’s had been from the start. Leeds were forced to defend deeper because of a slower player than the one they had been facing until Henry came on. Such was the impact of the man’s presence.
This is a very smart move from Wenger, who has both solved a problem with depth, albeit temporarily, and galvanized the fans, players, and staff by bringing back a man who can be called nothing less than a true legend.
Welcome back, Thierry. Its like you never left.
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| photo by Mark Hammond |
- by Carlos Casias, writing from Los Alamos, NM
Simply put, there are two camps of Gooners tweeting about Henry's return. One camp is so excited and wet about his return that they probably think his two-month loan will put us in 4th place and secure Champions League football. They regard Henry as some sort of savior. They have called him King once again. They are willing to look past his 34-year-old legs. They hope he is the difference. And, of course, this same camp loves to go to work the day after a win and engage in the banter of my-team-is-better-than-yours. They've done so for years. And they hope that Henry's return gives them one last boast.
The other camp, the camp I belong to, doesn't really care if he is at the Club again or not. This camp wants to move Forward and would prefer to see some strikers just signed, like Park. This camp prefers to leave Highbury behind and start a new chapter in Arsenal's history. They prefer to look ahead to brighter days with new faces and continued success. And this camp knows, and is deeply mired by the fact that Henry chose to leave Arsenal, not the other way around. Arsenal offered him top monies to stay until 2010; he signed, he declared his future to Arsenal, and then he went off to Barca to win. With Arsenal's money. The first camp choses to forget this fact.
Henry's departure is personal. It's personal because he was the first of two Arsenal players to ruin a birthday of mine. Henry made my day in 2006 by stating he would stay till 2010. And then later that same summer he was at Barcelona. Many cite his injury woes before and then after his departure as some sort of justification for letting him leave to our rivals. The rivals who just beat Arsenal in the Champions League final. Independent of football, who does that type of stuff? What type of man says one thing and does another? Not any sort of man I want anything to do with. Also, many cite his personal/relationship reasons for leaving England and going to Barca. Moreover, Henry's wages were very high and I'm sure the Club was happy to offload his salary; no worries he took ~5mil quid with him as he left. Good business. For him. Again, many look the other way or are new Gooners and don't even know about his theatrics...
At the end of the day, Henry had his time and deserves his recognition. Henry isn't the first footballer to say one thing and do another. But Henry was the first Arsenal player to make so many people happy and then disappoint them with his move to a rival. And, of course, Cesc did the same thing. Instead of citing relationship concerns, he used the homesick excuse. And that one worked, too. The first camp's view on Cesc waxes and wanes. Many chose to believe he left cuz he was truly homesick. Others feel betrayed and have thrown him under the bus. This same camp has forgot about Henry's move to Barca, or again, chose to forget about it.
But this is about Henry's return. Two months for him to come in and sit on the bench. Where he belongs. I don't want to see him play a minute if it means we don't get to see 'super quality' signings like Park. They say in football sometimes you have to go back to go forward. Is that what Wenger is trying to do here? Inspire the young guys into rising to a higher level by potentially playing a Club Legend again? And how does skipping Park for Henry help the team? Or help this young player gain confidence after he leaves again.
I really do think Henry will sit on the bench and only play if Robin gets injured or Park completely fails. If either or are crocked then Henry will get a shot. And if he plays I'll support him on the pitch. But the man who said one thing and did another is in the past. And I chose to move Forward.
Robin Van Persie
Arsenal vs Everton
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| photo by Ronnie Macdonald |
- by Fidel Leblanc, writing from Miami, FL
Arsenal are enjoying a great run of form at the moment, with 8 wins out of their last 9 matches in all competitions and that is no doubt attributed to Arsene Wenger, who is astute when it comes to master-minding unbeaten runs. The prime example is of course the 49 game unbeaten streak, his remarkable crowning achievement. However, over the past few seasons, he has shown that he can steady the ship when it begins to capsize, even if at the end of the season, it sinks completely. Aaron Ramsey sums it up best when he says “the team is finally starting to gel.” The aforementioned wins have not been remarkable, bar the heart-wrenching rollercoaster of a result at Stamford Bridge. However, they have obviously given the Arsenal players confidence, the confidence to learn about their new teammates and get results in an efficient manner.
The defense still looks shaky, and until a new coach is brought in to remedy that issue, it will continue to be suspect. However, with Thomas Vermaelen returning, the much needed stability at the back may finally come. Most would agree that this is the final piece of the jigsaw for Arsenal. No team plays more technically proficient football than Arsenal, although Spurs and City fans would like to pretend that their clubs do so. The problem has always been in the defence, whether it be flailing goalkeepers or center-backs missing key headers. Per Mertesacker was signed to add some much-needed height and experience to the back-line, and along with Vermaelen, could stabilize the Arsenal defence. There is also the question of Laurent Koscielny, who is a brilliant tackler, good in the air, and has the vision of seasoned Libero. Some may see it as a selection head-ache for Arsene Wenger; I’d like to think he sees it as having options.
A season that started so pessimistically is finally starting to garner some optimism within the Arsenal camp, and among the fans. It seems that instead of beginning the season with promise and watching it fade into the late-season, we’re huffing and puffing our way back to the top echelons of the league. This charge to the top is down to the managerial nous of Arsene Wenger and his ability to motivate his players to keep a run of results going. His speech at the Arsenal General Meeting wasn’t just for the concerned fans and frustrated shareholders; it was a rallying cry, a uniting team-talk outside the dressing room for his player. It seems to have worked.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
While undoubtedly of great potential, the simple reality is that the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong, Johan Djorou, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, and recently departed players like Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner wouldn’t feature nearly as much at Old Trafford, the San Siro, or the Bernabeu as they have at the Emirates. Ferguson and Villas-Boas have the likes of Berbatov and Anelka, or Carrick and Malouda, to call on, not Marouane Chamakh and Francis Coquelin. Even more worrying is the fact that the side so outplayed by Dortmund, who tallied 23 shots and 57% of possession, is perhaps the strongest one possible for the club in the near future given that Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere remain injured.
Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta add crucial experience and skill in the midfield, and Per Mertesacker should help to shore up a defence that has been criminal at times in recent years. Brazilian fullback Andre Santos will also provide competition for relatively untested Kieran Gibbs at left back. Wojciech Szczesny has solidified his place as the number one goalkeeper and will surely hold his position between the sticks for a long time, with the Polish stopper showing confidence far beyond his 21 years. But it seems the hallmark of champions is the ability to grind out results despite a lacklustre performance a la Inter’s heroic defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, or Manchester United’s unlikely comeback win over West Brom in Gary Neville’s last match, subpar performances that still yielded the needed result.
Arsenal finally looked a side capable of doing the business even on an off day, with Robin Van Persie’s strike a potential stepping stone to confidence and belief after a rough start to the campaign, with questions surrounding the team’s ability to finish in the top four and the manager’s grasp of the plot. But the disappointment of yet another late equalizer to throw away all three points has become a hallmark of the side in recent years, and it seems to suggest that Golden Generation Wenger has promised so long is simply not up to it, if not haunted, by the pressure of delivering trophies. Blow after blow to the collective psyche- the Carling Cup heartbreak, the Barcelona eliminations, the 4-4 draw with Newcastle, and the most recent thrashing at the hands of Sir Alex’s squad are the main highlights of a horror reel that seems to have put the attitude beyond repair. When it begins to go bad against Arsenal, it seems anything that can go wrong, will, and the players panic. The new additions will do their part to settle the side, and the youth injection may unearth future leaders in the way Wilshere and Szczesny have been able to contribute significantly immediately. But Wenger’s reluctance to address key issues in the past few seasons has weakened the squad to the point that the title returning to North London seems an outlandish dream, and the Champions League group stages even looked suspect at one point.
Progress from the group stages is surely possible, and only four matches into the season it is impossible to say that Arsenal will not have the quality to qualify for the Champions League for another consecutive year. But what once seemed an string of unlucky coincidences has transformed into a clear pattern of failures when it matters most, with no end in sight.
Ashely Young
Manchester United vs Arsenal
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| photo by wonker |
- by Fidel Leblanc, writing from Miami, FL
How the times have changed though. Six years without a trophy (as if we haven’t heard this enough from the commentators on television) is starting to take its toll on the club, both on the pitch and in the stands. Fans have turned against each other, against the manager, and against certain players and its sad to know that Arsenal arguably have the worst home fans in the league. Constant booing, quiet tension, audible groans of discontent rather than simple disappointment at a faltering passing move have most definitely had an effect on the football side of things; its not coincidence that the Emirates was far from a fortress for this football club.
Many supporters have completely turned on the manager, forming a “Wenger Out” brigade of sorts. Now we all have our frustrations with Le Boss. Even I, one of his most faithful followers, find myself doubting him at times. Doubting his ideology, his philosophy, his stubbornness, and it makes me feel ungrateful and fickle. When one stops to think of what this man has achieved at this football club, it really is quite incredible. I don’t even have to name all the credentials and platitudes he has won in his time at the club; a simple “49” would do. Greater still, perhaps, is what he has set in motion at Arsenal. The move from sacred Highbury to the hallowed Emirates was the crux of his long-term (too long-term for certain fans) plan for the club. We’ve found ourselves prioritizing the payments on the stadium over the football side of things (no matter how much Wenger, Ivan Gazidis, or Peter Hill-Wood try to deny it) and its definitely showing. However, I don’t think many fans understand the scope of what will happen once the Emirates Stadium is paid off. Arsenal Football Club will become the most financially powerful self-sustained football club in Europe. Obviously, there will be the Manchester Cities and Malagas of the world, the Chelseas and the Paris Saint-Germains; the sugar daddy clubs. While those clubs will depend on their tycoons, Arsenal will depend on no one but itself. That’s such a frighteningly delighting concept. Who’s plan, who’s actions, who’s philosophy has set this in motion? Monsieur Arsene Wenger.
Despite faltering on the senior side of things in terms of football, Wenger must also be given credit for the work he has done in raising youth prospects from the Arsenal academy in his own vision, in his own mould. There is no better example than young Jack Wilshere, the boy with shoulders on which the hopes and ambitions of Arsenal are built upon. Wilshere is not your archetypical English midfielder either. While he does possess the grit, determination, and fight that typifies English footballers, he is also gifted with supreme technique, control, skill; whatever you want to call it, everyone saw what this player was capable when he went toe-to-toe (and arguably bested) Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets during the Arsenal-Barcelona match in the knock-out rounds of the Champions League. This player is the epitome of Arsene Wenger’s vision and, having been at the club since he was nine years old, was nurtured under Wenger’s watchful eye. We cannot neglect academy products such as Emmanuel Frimpong, Kieran Gibbs, and Henri Lansbury. All of them have been brought up in the Arsenal way, and their technique (even in bruiser Frimpong) is greater than that of most other English youngsters.
Arsene Wenger has made history in England with his revolutionary vision and he will leave history in his wake once the inevitable time comes where he decides to step down from the club he so loves. Obviously, fans are allowed to be discontent, and to show their discontent at times but it would be much more productive to show support to Wenger, the players, and the club. Think about the long-term benefits of what Wenger is doing and Arsenal’s future successes will be that much sweeter.
We as supporters need to stick together. Remember the club motto: Victory Through Harmony.
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| Add caption |
The Fabregas Saga has finall come to an end. Arsenal has announced that they have reached an agreement with Barcelona for midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
"We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case." Manager Arsene Wenger said "However, we understand Cesc's desire to move to his home town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona. We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."
Fabregas spent eight years with Arsenal, scoring 35 goals in 212 appearances.
Source: Arsenal.com
- by Carlos Casias, writing from Los Alamos, NM
Just gonna say it: sell him. You’ve already rolled your eyes and thought to yourself, ‘this guy doesn’t know what he is saying’. Yes, you’re gonna go to Google and cite statistics over the last, well, 8 years. I get it. He’s good. Would Arsenal be better with Cesc in the side? Sure. In some cases. But will Arsenal win silverware with Cesc in the side? Well, the last 6 years is support enough of that not being a factor in bringing home silverware. The statistical citations fall apart when you break it down to the simple fact that Cesc has been ‘one of the top midfielders in the World’ but Arsenal have won noooooooooothing. ‘Oh, this guy should go support the Yids! The f**king w**ker!’, you just recited in your Gooner-drenched brain matter. Nah, there’s only one team in London.
And now the Arsenal fan has had to endure the saga of Nasri not signing another long-term contract. Well, the same message goes to him. We haven’t won anything with Nasri in the side so what makes him think that he is so important to the team and irreplaceable? These guys. Their egos. Arsenal has such a good talent pool, scouts across the world, and some of these characters think they can hold the Club to ransom. Fools. Best of luck to Nasri, too. If he doesn’t want to sign, get some big money, and sell him. But, please, not to Citi.
So, instead of focusing on the want-aways, i’d prefer to comment on the rather-stays. If Cesc and Nasri want to re-up and come back to the team, that’s fine. I don’t need the commentary, show it on the pitch. If you’re in it, be in it to win it. Cliche, I know, but not to be confused with Clichy. He’s shit [now].
The pre-season has been inconsistent. That’s nothing new. Perhaps, just perhaps Arsenal are getting the inconsistencies out before the season instead of the second half. I prefer to think that’s the case. I dont’ really care much for the results whilst they were on travel to Asia. It was hot and humid and their bodies had no time to adjust to the time difference and jet lag. Whatever. And then Arsenal played in Germany, another stretching of the legs; lastly, had a run at the famed and illustrious Emirates Cup. We lost it? oh, man…guess the season is over. and, of course, to top it all off Arsenal lost the final pre-season match to Benfica. A poor pre-season? Hardly. It’s all about getting the legs back, bonding and playing with your teammates, ya know, getting your football hat back on. Results don’t matter. I wish we had won them all because I don’t like to lose but we didn’t, I’m over it.
In the final match of the pre-season I found a lot to look forward to. The starting XI was quite good, very lively. Arsenal did well against a very enthusiastic and lively Benfica. It did take a minute for some of the old and new to adjust to the pace of a competitive match. Eventually, Arsenal settled and began to string together passes in our very familiar Arsenal way. How nice was the Arsenal goal? It was incisive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBP_bJZEubY So, really, I’m not worried. The first XI had the ball on a string and did so against a high-pressure defense. And, let’s be honest, England defenses are not that pressuring with their lumbering oafs in the back. But more importantly the players who did start looked to have improved.
Notable movement came from Arshavin, who as you know I am always getting on for his poor efforts; he moved, he moved off the ball and he looked focused. That’s new. Little meerkat was instrumental in setting Gibbs free from a Cesc-like position. Hell, Arshavin can play in that CAM role…if Wenger ever gives him a chance.
And then we had Rosicky, who actually got a pre-season in free of injury. Many don’t know, or don’t care to accept that Rosicky arrived in 2006 and has been injured since. Even when he finally had his freak injury diagnosed he missed pre-season for reoccurring compensation injury. Rosicky is THE example of Wenger’s ‘like a new signing’. I had struggled to figure out who should take over for Cesc when he departs. I named Ramsey as his successor. I did so prematurely. I think, if fit and in-form, Rosicky will lead from Center Attacking Mid. ‘This guy, my God, he’s freaking looney’ Yes, yes I am. But really, Rosicky has the experience, maturity, and technical quality and vision to take over from Cesc, his very good mate. It seems almost appropriate that the Phoenix of the squad be Rosicky. Dude has suffered. And all he wants to do is play football. That’s the type of player you want and need in a squad and we have him. I can’t name a better player to epitomize the rebirth of Arsenal. Unless you’re thinking of Vermaelen.
I am so stoked to have Verm back into the squad. My wife and I saw one of his early matches vs Wigan, ya know, the one where he scores and makes it look too easy. Yeah, that one. A sweet left-footed curler, top-corner. World Class. From a defender. And that’s what we’ve missed. You look at who we started at CB last year and it’s simply incredible that Arsenal even finished 4th. And even more amazing is that the mix-mash of CB pairings nearly won 4 different trophies, too. And, now we have Vermaelen back. I honestly believe he is the difference of winning a trophy or not. And it doesn’t matter if Cesc or Nasri are in the team. What matters, to me, is that Verm stays healthy. He’s got that very special leadership quality. The kind of leadership that is there whether or not he dawns the Captain band. Vermaelen has worn the band for Ajax, wears it for Belgium, but understands that it doesn’t matter if it’s on or not, what matters is that leadership, vocally or by example, is bigger than him. And he knows that he has to get the best out of the team. It’s that willingness to martyr himself for the sake of the team that is really going to be our biggest signing this summer.
And with Vermaelen’s presence in the back, a cheeky signing of Gervinho and the usual suspects returning I think Arsenal have another good nucleus. Every summer we hear about how we need a new holding mid and center back. Admittedly, I have my own wishlist but I’m not convinced that even big, calculated buys will yield trophies. And since I don’t have any control over them I won’t go into it. If we get a few new faces to add to the depth of the squad I’d be very appreciative as I think the squad is a bit thin. But hey, I don’t have any control over it. And never will.
So, Arsenal start the season with less optimism than in year’s past because we’ll likely lose Cesc and Nasri. That’s fine, let’s get over it. They don’t want to see out another trophyless season and that’s their choice. And that’s the fact. Arsenal may not win anything this year. For the last three years I have been completely convinced that this team would win the Premiership. So, this year, I’ll just support them. I won’t overanalyze it but support who is picked every week. If a player is shit and didn’t work hard enough during the match, I’ll have to say something about it. It would be wrong to pretend like everything is okay. But what I won’t ever do is criticize effort. At least I know the player is trying and giving his all. That’s all I ask.
I just want to see high effort and a real commitment to the badge. I think this year we’ve got a few qualitative elements that you won’t read on Sky or hear on Fox Soccer Report. And the usual pundits won’t hint at it cuz they’re statistical know-it-alls. So, even without anymore signings, the loss of a few stars, and a feeling of pessimism I think Arsenal can still put up a fight. Mikey said it best.
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| photo by Ronnie Macdonald |
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
Perhaps keeping in mind the difficulty in bringing the Arsenal captain back to Catalonia, Pep Guardiola’s side have sold three promising young players to major European clubs- Bojan Krkic to Roma, Oriol Romeu to Chelsea, Jeffren Suarez to Sporting Lisbpm- but with inserted buyback clauses that give the club the right to purchase the player back after a certain amount of time. This clause was also mentioned in Thiago Alcantra’s rumored move to Arsenal as a makeweight for Fabregas, and represents an interesting and different approach to youth talent in a roster stocked with seasoned talent.
Barcelona are so successful on two fronts, current squad and youth development, that it is actually creating problems as there can only be eleven men on the pitch. The European Champions’ squad simply doesn’t have room for the younger players coming through the ranks, with many senior contributors like Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, and Pique still at the top of their game. By selling the players to competitive clubs like Chelsea and Roma, Barcelona are gaining money in the short term, and have the ability to wait and see if the player thrives with first team football in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. In essence, this can almost be thought of as an advanced sort of loan deal, and may catch on at other clubs in the future.
It is easy to see, for example, Manchester United use a system like this with current players like Federico Macheda and Tom Cleverley, or Chelsea with Daniel Sturridge, although the buying club may not be willing to lose a successful acquisition once the selling club change their mind. The merits of this system remain to be seen.
Manchester City have acquired by Gaël Clichy, who was entering the final year of his contract with Arsenal, for a reported fee of £7 million today.
“We would like to thank Gael for eight years of terrific service to Arsenal, during which time he gave absolutely everything for the Club." Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger said. "He has grown and developed so much since joining us in 2003, and has been a crucial part of the team over recent seasons. Gael leaves with our respect and best wishes. We wish him the very best for his future career.”
“I have had eight fantastic years at Arsenal and made many friends." Clichy said. "I have so many great memories from my time at Highbury and Emirates Stadium. I would like to say thank you to everyone at Arsenal for all of their support and friendship. I also want to send a big thank you to all the Arsenal supporters, who have always been so good to me.”
Clichy will play with some familiar face. Patrick Vieira and Kolo Toure were his teammates at Arsenal. "I can't wait to get started and I think anything is possible with this team," Clichy said. "When I first came to England, it was Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira who took me under their wing and really looked after me."
Sources: ESPNSoccernet.com, Arsenal.com, USAToday.com
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| photo by Ronnie Macdonald |
- by Adam Huntington, writing from Dundee, Scotland
The disappointment of losing Fabregas could be somewhat magnified if the reports of Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy moving to Manchester City are true. I'll be surprised if Clichy is allowed to leave without a struggle, as he's been a very consistent player in a somewhat shaky defence. The departure would probably see a cheap replacement bought in and Gibbs promoted to first choice left back, where he seems capable, but not yet as strong and assured as Clichy is. Other players likely to leave are Bendtner, Almunia and Denilson, three players who's attitudes basically confirmed their sales. So who will Wenger bring in as replacements, or even new first team names?
Lille forward Gervinho has been heavily linked, and reports have surfaced today that he's set to sign for them ahead of north London rivals Tottenham. Relatively unknown to the Arsenal fans, he could immediately fight for a starting place in the team, as either a striker or a winger, challenging the likes of Walcott and Arshavin. Having had a great season, French Champions Lille have inadvertently placed all of there players in the shop window. Unfortunately for Lille, most of there star players seem ready to accept a new challenge in a different league. Yohan Cabaye has already left to join Newcastle, Gervinho looks set to join him on English shores, and perhaps most talked about is young Belgian prodigy, Eden Hazard. His wonderful performances last season resulted in a wealth of big European teams voicing their interest in him. Arsenal are included in this list, and some would think that his style would fit in perfectly with Wenger's; fast, attacking and confident in possession. However it remains to be seen if the Arsenal manager is willing to pay his fee, history says he won't.
Should Fabregas leave, he needs to be replaced by either an equal, or great prospective talent. Hazard could easily be both. However given Arsenal's faltering performance in the league last year, the Belgian might not too interested in joining. One player that seems to be interested in joining though is Bolton's Gary Cahill. Perhaps not a particularly aspirational signing for Wenger, but certainly a steady one, looking to strengthen his somewhat inconsistent defence. That move sums up Wenger's usual transfer policy; cautious and sensible. For a long time in his early Arsenal career, that policy worked a treat; signing Henry, Bergkamp, Viera, Overmars and Petit to name a few, all for very reasonable prices. However of late it's not really worked, Rosicky has yet to play to his quoted potentional, and Arshavin has looked like a shadow of his 2008 European Championship self. I would love to see Arsene finally buck the trend and spend big, perhaps signalling some ambition.
To summarise, Wenger has two options. He can either fight tooth and nail to keep Fabregas, Nasri and his other top players, then add to his squad cautiously but considerately. Or, he can sell Fabregas quickly and receive a lot of time and money to replace him, with a possibility of using left over money to also add to other areas. After a poor season which had some fans calling for his sacking, he simply cannot afford to lose Fabregas late in the window and not replace him with the money received.
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| [photo by Tim Boyd] |
- by Carlos Casias, writing from Los Alamos, NM
But will Arsenal really have a busy transfer season?
In first is some young kid from League One named Jenkinson. I mentioned him, that’s enough. He’ll deputize behind the regular defenders and will probably get a few run-outs throughout the season. As a defender it’s hard to see him breaking in as a starting regular this season, and probably the next. One for the future.
Rumors flying about a double-swoop for Gervinho and Hazard. I admit, I know absolutely nothing about Gervinho except that he is a striker who has scored some nice goals and also had some assists. I think of him as a mix between Vela and Eduardo. And we all know how that has worked out. An immediate issue is this guy is from Ivory Coast and would miss the January period for African Cup of Nations. Another Kanu, another Toure. When will Wenger learn to just leave Africa alone? Good players but in the most competitive league in the world you need your players available for the whole season.
For many years fans have talked about attaining a holding mid. Of all the positions that must be addressed this summer it has to be this void in the middle. Song has improved but is not world class. Add Diaby in that position and you’re guaranteed an injury; Jack will play himself ragged, needs rotation; Denilson will be in Siberia; Ramsey may be too affected by his injury to really get stuck in on challenges. And let’s be honest, all mentioned above don’t have a bit of crazy in them. And that is what is needed most.
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| [photo by Tsutomu Takasu] |
So, who? Who is good enough and does not demand outrageous wages? There aren’t that many. Of course, Wenger looks to youth but in youth one lacks experience. And, once again, this team of youngsters showed their lack of experience and bottled the term. Arsenal need an older holding mid with some desperation, and that man is Felipe Melo.
Felipe Melo has had a wild ride at Juventus and most recently stated that he thinks the Club has been using him to prop up other transfer adventures. That must get old. Melo is now 27, nearly at his peak of 28 and I believe he would provide an immediate spark to the team. Imagine the guy getting a start with Jack…both of these two busy bodies blitzing the opposition. Plus, Arsenal would finally get their replacement for Gilberto, another Brazilian. I really do feel that Melo has learned to control his temper and outrageous tackles. I think the guy needs a challenge and with some guidance by Wenger could be our answer to our holding mid debacle. Let’s be honest, Song needs some competition for further improvement and he is not getting that from Denilson, Diaby, or Ramsey. Melo is a blend of decent wages, experience, and desire to win for Club and country. I know he wants to be a Brazil regular but he needs to exhibit control of his temper as well as perform in the best league in the world. Melo also needs this move.
In addition to Melo, Arsenal should consider some low-wage back-up such as Michael Bradley or Jermaine Jones. Both are full American internationals and could surely provide decent back-up for the inevitable loss of holding mid, Denilson. Not only would having a few Americans boost the Arsenal profile in the States but also allow the players to learn from Wenger, ultimately helping their national team influence. And both are better than Denilson. Again, better than Denilson.
At the end of the day, buying a holding mid and/or CB is always a pressing need that Wenger may or may not address. Fortunately, I don’t think he has a choice to ignore this buy this summer as next summer the Financial Fair Play rules go into effect and many won’t be able to break bank for top talent. I really do think Wenger will make some buys but the purchases of new talent are only a small piece to the bigger problems at the Arsenal.
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| [photo by Ronnie Macdonald] |
I would also release Almunia, Denilson, & Bendtner. All can be sold for decent transfer funds. These funds, plus Cesc’s transfer, could potentially be used to buy Hazard, Gervinho, Melo, Sakho, Jones, or Bradley. I would allow for Rosicky, Arshavin, & Eboue to stay and simply see their contracts dwindle down and then try to sell them off before they can leave for free. Either that route or just let them expire. I don’t think the fans would complain if they were sold straight-up, though.
So, my idea for what has to be done involves, well, a lot of crazy. And Arsenal need crazy to move Forward. It’s crazy to think about selling our “best player” Cesc, but it’s also crazy to keep a want-away Captain in place. It’s crazy to continue to think that Song is a top, world class player when he is not. Sure, he is much improved but not the top player a team like Arsenal require. And, ultimately, it’s crazy to rely on so many young players to perform without a leader or experience in the side. So, let’s get crazy! Wenger needs to make some very hard decisions about the future of the Club and needs to do this immediately. As supporters we lack any sort of influence on his decision so let’s hope he shows some creativity to lift the Arsenal out of this rut and deliver trophies season 2011-12. It’s completely mad to think Arsenal have gone this long without winning anything but this summer and subsequent season will tell us where this Club is headed. Forward.
Also found on: arse505.footballunited.com
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| [photo by Ronnie Macdonald] |
- by Adam Huntington, writing from Dundee, Scotland
After a season that petered out rather disappointingly, Fabregas will relish the fresh start that Barcelona can offer. He'll be adored by his teammates, specifically Pique, who controversially forced a Barcelona top over his shoulders after Spain's World Cup triumph. Since that moment, many have said Fabregas has been a want-away, forlorn figure in the heart of Arsenal's midfield. Despite being out-shone by Wilshere though, he's still been a good player for the Gunners this season, but nothing like his fans have come to expect. Captain for two years, Arsenal fans have always looked to Fabregas with quiet awe. Upon his arrived he effortlessly fitted into Wenger's style of play and set about improving it. For a long time he's been rightfully hailed as Arsenal's best player, an accolade that amazingly has been slipping away from him due to both his midfield partner Wilshere and his lagging performances. Along with his form, he's seen his popularity fall, specifically for his behaviour on the last day of the season. Away to Fulham, Arsenal's injured skipper was no where near Craven Cottage, opting instead to attend the Spanish GP, in a move that left a bitter taste in the mouths of the fans. This single act of truancy summed up Cesc's entire season, surely signalling the end of his tenure at Arsenal.
The problem is that I don't feel Fabregas is the right player for Barcelona. He rarely starts for Spain, being held out of the team by Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Xabi Alonso and it's not unknown that three of those players are Barca's starting midfield trio. With the Catalan club playing so well this season, especially in midfield, it's hard to see who Fabregas is capable of replacing in the team. Xavi and Iniesta are unbelievably accomplished and Guardiola would never dream of separating them, but Busquets isn't exactly the weak link. He's not only brilliant on the ball and a commanding presence, he's also two years younger than Fabregas. Given that he can be played in a more advanced role, it's entirely feasible that Fabregas could fit into Barca's front three. However, that trio already contains Messi, Villa and Pedro: the world's current best player and two World Cup winners.
Purely based on form, it wouldn't be wise for Barcelona to sign Fabregas. This season, despite scoring nine in all competitions, he wasn't even the best midfielder for Arsenal, never mind the Premier League. Wilshere climbed above him, Nasri looked to be playing well until a huge dip in form, and even in his seven appearances, Aaron Ramsey looked almost back to his promising best. If Barcelona were looking into the Premier League for players based purely on their performance over the course of the season, Luka Modric would surely be snapped up. Confident in all roles of midfield, Modric offered a calm head, exquisite vision and was leaps and bounds, in technically ability, ahead of both his teammates and his opponents in the league.
All of their successes and plaudits this season have made the current Barca team one of the best in history. With this accolade stuck to them, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to improve and bring in players with the required quality. Not only that, these players have to play with the same style as Barcelona do; peerless in possession and tireless without it. It's then much easier to see why they would approach Fabregas, a former pupil at La Masia, Barcelona's youth academy. He knows their game well and knows the players as friends, this places him much higher in the pecking order, despite his disappointing lull in form. I won't be surprised if he signs, but I would expect he'll find himself on the bench more often than he's used to.
- by Sabrina Blanks, writing from Charlotte
Manchester United have won 5 of the last 6 league meetings between the two sides, however, Arsenal are on a run of good form, having won 5 of their last 6 league games, losing to Newcastle. United have won 4 and drawn 2 of their last 6 league games, and both clubs had success in the group stage of Champions League, advancing to the round of 16. Arsenal are also still in the running for the Carling Cup, but Manchester United were knocked out in the quarterfinal round by West Ham United.
Fitness for Match
Arsenal
- Out: Gibbs, Diaby, Vermaelen
- Doubt: Fabregas
- Probable: Djourou, Clichy
United
- Out: Owen, Hargreaves, Fletcher, Gibson
- Probable: Evra, Scholes, Ferdinand
Key points to consider
- Arsenal strikers are scoring when given the opportunity lately. United's strikers are not scoring as much lately, even when the opportunities come; several recent United goals have come from less traditional scorers, the main exception being Berbatov's 5 goals against Blackburn.
- Injuries to key players/positions could make a difference. Less goals are scored against United when defensive pair Vidic and Ferdinand are together on the field, and Ferdinand only recently passed a fitness test after suffering from a tight hamstring in the December 7th Champions League fixture. Paul Scholes is ready to return after the groin injury he sustained in the November 24th Champions League match, providing some needed midfield creativity for United. Arsenal have just seen Robin van Persie return to fitness, and Cesc Fabregas is likely to still be out for Monday's match. Kieran Gibbs, performing well lately, sustained an ankle injury in Wednesday's Champions League match and the defender is likely to be out for around three weeks.
- Howard Webb is (unsurprisingly) our referee for this big fixture. He tends to let game play continue in many cases, unless frustrations start breaking through and affecting player reactions, in which case, the bookings will likely start and continue.
- Home field advantage? Old Trafford is likely to host many enthusiastic supporters, perhaps a bit intimidating to visiting clubs.
- The element of surprise: think Nasri's physics-defying goal line goal last week or Evra's recent goal after 3 years without scoring. That's just one more reason we all keep watching, the feeling that anything can happen, especially in these fixtures involving "big four" clubs.