It's taken me over an hour to begin this blog post. It's been almost impossible to know where to start after Sunday's demolition, humiliation and disgrace at Old Trafford. Losing 8-2 in any situation, in any match, at any level, is simply unacceptable by the high standards set by Arsenal Football Club. It's not like we have a divine right to not get thrashed as reputations in sport ultimately mean nothing, but no Premier League side should just accept losing 8-2 as a bad day at the office.
For Arsenal, the infrastructure of the club, the fans, the stadium, the reputation, the recent record in the league, the manager and some of the players are of an extremely high standard. However, such a defeat as we received on Sunday has been coming for a while. Despite playing well last Wednesday and raising optimism amongst fans, there are underlying issues at the club that need addressing, both in the squad and higher up the Arsenal hierarchy. It's tough for all fans to have to face the reality of the situation we're now in as a club, and we can only hope that this result is so embarrassing and humiliating for those inside the Arsenal, that those issues are now properly addressed.
It's easy to play the blame game and single out certain individuals. However that doesn't help in these situations. The club as a whole has to be looked at. It isn't the fault of the players that they're picked to play for Arsenal, that's down to the manager, the coaching staff and those who scout the players in the first place. However once on the pitch, the players should take some responsibility for it themselves. We've seen some of them do great things with a ball in the past, but for some, greatness is seen all too rarely.
Then there is the board level. I definitely prefer the way Arsenal are run compared to most clubs in the Premier League, and the manager is rightly given almost complete control of the squad. There is still a sense that Arsenal do things ‘the right way’, and I love that about the club. However, I think they’ve got caught up in the ‘Arsenal way’. As much as I respect the work the club do, I think they became complacent about always being in the top four and staying near the top of the Premier League. Whilst other clubs have been strengthening, we’ve gone backwards. I’ve got a sense that the board could have assumed that Arsene will just work some magic and therefore they wouldn’t have to engage in money wars with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
With the wage structure, I think it’s important that it exists at the club, although we’re effectively holding ourselves back against our rivals’ uncapped wages. We can’t compete from that point of view with those around us. Instead of demanding immediate and rash spending, should there be an evaluation of the wage structure? It’s all very well offering big amounts for players, but with big transfer fees usually comes big wages, and realistically that doesn’t fit into the Arsenal structure. Obviously the case of Fabregas was different due to his emotional attachment to Barcelona, but with others we aren’t seeing the benefit of our development of them due to higher wages being offered elsewhere. So as much as people will moan at Arsene Wenger, he can’t just alter the internal structure of the club on his own overnight, that has to come from those above him. Unfortunately, it seems like they haven’t been active enough in supporting Arsene to compete in the modern market.
In most football clubs though, the manager has to bear the brunt of fans’ anger towards the team. So far, Arsene Wenger hasn’t been active enough in improving the squad in the transfer market. Whether that’s solely down to him, only those inside the club will know. Ultimately though, he has the final say on who we do and don’t sign, and who is needed to improve the squad. There are two days to go before the window shuts, and the three key areas that need improvement haven’t been addressed. I don’t have any other strong memories of any other managers at Arsenal, so will always praise and respect Arsene Wenger for what he has done for the club, although everyone could see what was missing from the team at the end of last season. That has become even clearer during pre-season and into the start of the campaign following player sales. Why we’re leaving it this late to improve the squad, I don’t know.
Whether it’s the club not wanting to spend big, Wenger being too stubborn, or the manager believing too much in his young players, the fact is that Arsenal are being left behind in the Premier League. If we want to compete at the top of the league, we have to spend money. Wenger and the board may not like it, but the reality is that we can’t stay at the top without spending more. The Manchester United game was an all too graphic way of seeing this.
I’m not saying the manager should be sacked, not by any means, but he, along with the rest of the club, have let Arsenal fans down this summer. As much as we were optimistic after the Udinese game, a top class team like Manchester United were always likely to beat us. The manner of the defeat and the capitulation in the second half were disgraceful, and were it not so close to the transfer deadline that we couldn’t sell a lot of those players, they can count themselves lucky to ever get the chance to wear the cannon again; a cannon that means a lot to vast numbers of people, but clearly doesn’t mean a lot to some of them.
It’s hard to analyse the match in too much depth as there was so much that was wrong with it.
Manchester United did score some excellent goals, but all were avoidable defensively. Most teams would struggle to face Manchester United with three of their first choice back four missing, but they wouldn’t ship eight. Wojciech Szczesny in goal didn’t even have a bad game. Carl Jenkinson looked out of his depth, Armand Traore was frankly awful and the centre halves didn’t cover themselves in glory. Given they were our first choice pairing for most of last season, you wonder how we even finished in the top four.
Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin looked disinterested, Aaron Ramsey was swamped in midfield and Robin van Persie couldn’t hold the team up on his own, plus his penalty was poor. Theo Walcott, although he scored, didn’t get enough of the ball and make enough of an impression against Patrice Evra. One of the only men to come out with any credit was Francis Coquelin, and he was only there because of Song and Frimpong’s indiscipline.
As mentioned earlier, we should not be in a position that, with two days to go before the window shuts, we have no idea who will be in the Arsenal squad for the majority of the season. Nicklas Bendtner, Sebastien Squillaci, Manuel Almunia and Armand Traore could all go, meaning we need at least four players to sign in two days. It appears South Korean captain Park Chu Young is close to coming, along with left back Andre Santos from Fenerbahce. Whoever comes in must show like they want to be at Arsenal, and must improve the squad.
The Manchester United defeat was so bad, it appears to have kicked Arsene into action in the transfer market. As painful and horrific as it was, it could have been necessary to get the club moving forward again. If an 8-2 defeat isn’t a kick in the backside for the players, the manager and the board, then I don’t know what is.
Sunday showed all areas of the club need improving, bar one. The fans in the away end were fantastic. They were a credit to the club, and to Gooners everywhere. The offer of the club to pay for another away ticket was the correct one, as those there should be rewarded for their loyalty, and they’re the sort of people we want at away games in the future. If the players showed half the commitment that lot did, then there’s no way we’d have conceded eight. Those fans at Old Trafford should be examples to all of us as Arsenal fans, that no matter what the situation your team is in, you support the club. Criticise, analyse and scrutinise afterwards, but during the game, support the team and let them know how much you want those with a cannon on their chest, to succeed.
In a massive straw clutching exercise, and something that isn’t really a consolation after the weekend, but it does at least raise half a smile, a glance at the league table does at least show Tottenham below us and at the bottom. Relegation six pointer at White Hart Lane on the 2nd October? More performances like the Manchester United one and it’s a strong possibility.
We have two days to sort the squad out and make sure Arsene Wenger doesn’t come to an acrimonious end at Arsenal. Get on with it Arsene.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 30 Aug 11
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Arsenal find that money talks in battle to keep pace with the jet set
Arsenal have been swallowed up by the long shadow of that 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford. In addition to the immediate agony, the result raised questions as to whether the club can maintain its membership of the Premier League elite. The fees are exorbitant and Arsenal have come no higher than third since they were runners-up in 2005. Property development around the Emirates should be a boon eventually, but a sluggish economy causes delays.
Manchester United have no such worries and means could even be found for a splurge if necessary. The sport is usually dominated by the wealthy. If United's commercial operations are formidable, Chelsea and Manchester City, the expected challengers, are funded by indulgent proprietors. The public's mind is often taken off financial anxieties by the extravagance that still persists in football.
Only a curmudgeon could complain when City have David Silva and Sergio Agüero in the lineup as well as Edin Dzeko, scorer of four goals in the 5-1 rout at White Hart Lane. It was just last season that Tottenham Hotspur were in the Champions League, where they got to the quarter-finals before going out to Real Madrid.
Fans might look back on that campaign with disbelief. Access to the tournament appears, after all, as if it will be even more restricted in future. Money has often been critical to success in football but the materialism is unusually pronounced among most of England's elite at the present. The Glazers, proprietors of United, are exceptions of a sort since there is no requirement to subsidise the club from their own funds.
Elsewhere, owners bear regular losses. Since the start of 2011, Roman Abramovich, right, has approved outlay at Chelsea of well over £100m, in total, for Fernando Torres, David Luiz, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku, with the desire to sign Luka Modric still intense. The Stamford Bridge club, however, cannot face quite so many charges of gross materialism when indignation has to be kept in store for City.
While a club such as Liverpool have made great efforts to improve their squad, the arrival of Luis Suárez, Andy Carroll and others has been financed to a notable extent by the Torres sale. Cash is generated more easily by those who are already wealthy.
Sir Alex Ferguson's impact at Old Trafford has intensified the allure the club has held for generations. The craving of businesses to be associated with United verged on self-parody when DHL chose to sponsor the training kit for £10m a year.
Liverpool, aiming to achieve a better financial footing, have long contemplated a new stadium to be built in Stanley Park but such a project is taxing even to contemplate. Indeed the club has been pondering the scheme and striving to advance it since 2001.
Elsewhere these matters can barely be a consideration. While City may not own the ground at which they play, the naming rights to what is now the Etihad Stadium still brought them £400m, over a 10-year period, from the airline. City, of course, are owned by Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
There are dilemmas in all this. Efforts by individuals to spend their way to domination of football are nothing new and there is often comic effect when projects go badly wrong. No one in the public at large minds a fiasco of that sort, but money can obtain success, especially when it is spent with the sort of finesse that made Jack Walker's Blackburn Rovers champions of England in 1995.
There was a romance to that, all the more so since the club were not to repeat the achievement. The present-day situation is rather different, with owners aiming to put their club in a permanent elite dependent on means that others will never enjoy.
Manchester United cannot be put in that category and would most likely by overjoyed if financial fair play regulations encumbered their challengers. As it is, the spate of cash unleashed by City and Chelsea in particular sweeps the game along excitingly, despite the misgivings among the authorities.
Michel Platini, the president of Uefa, presses on with his financial fair play initiative and many clubs would be grateful if they were saved from their extravagant selves and forced to be prudent. A dilemma lies at the heart of all this. The spectacle of astonishing footballers holds us in thrall to such an extent that we avoid thinking of the way in which wealth warps the sport as a whole.
Ultimately, however, there would be an increased diversity and a greater element of surprise if clubs were denied "financial doping" and made to play clean. The perspective of an oligarch is one the rest of us can barely imagine but perhaps even they might come to value the element of surprise that is critical to sport.
Manchester United have no such worries and means could even be found for a splurge if necessary. The sport is usually dominated by the wealthy. If United's commercial operations are formidable, Chelsea and Manchester City, the expected challengers, are funded by indulgent proprietors. The public's mind is often taken off financial anxieties by the extravagance that still persists in football.
Only a curmudgeon could complain when City have David Silva and Sergio Agüero in the lineup as well as Edin Dzeko, scorer of four goals in the 5-1 rout at White Hart Lane. It was just last season that Tottenham Hotspur were in the Champions League, where they got to the quarter-finals before going out to Real Madrid.
Fans might look back on that campaign with disbelief. Access to the tournament appears, after all, as if it will be even more restricted in future. Money has often been critical to success in football but the materialism is unusually pronounced among most of England's elite at the present. The Glazers, proprietors of United, are exceptions of a sort since there is no requirement to subsidise the club from their own funds.
Elsewhere, owners bear regular losses. Since the start of 2011, Roman Abramovich, right, has approved outlay at Chelsea of well over £100m, in total, for Fernando Torres, David Luiz, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku, with the desire to sign Luka Modric still intense. The Stamford Bridge club, however, cannot face quite so many charges of gross materialism when indignation has to be kept in store for City.
While a club such as Liverpool have made great efforts to improve their squad, the arrival of Luis Suárez, Andy Carroll and others has been financed to a notable extent by the Torres sale. Cash is generated more easily by those who are already wealthy.
Sir Alex Ferguson's impact at Old Trafford has intensified the allure the club has held for generations. The craving of businesses to be associated with United verged on self-parody when DHL chose to sponsor the training kit for £10m a year.
Liverpool, aiming to achieve a better financial footing, have long contemplated a new stadium to be built in Stanley Park but such a project is taxing even to contemplate. Indeed the club has been pondering the scheme and striving to advance it since 2001.
Elsewhere these matters can barely be a consideration. While City may not own the ground at which they play, the naming rights to what is now the Etihad Stadium still brought them £400m, over a 10-year period, from the airline. City, of course, are owned by Sheikh Mansour, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.
There are dilemmas in all this. Efforts by individuals to spend their way to domination of football are nothing new and there is often comic effect when projects go badly wrong. No one in the public at large minds a fiasco of that sort, but money can obtain success, especially when it is spent with the sort of finesse that made Jack Walker's Blackburn Rovers champions of England in 1995.
There was a romance to that, all the more so since the club were not to repeat the achievement. The present-day situation is rather different, with owners aiming to put their club in a permanent elite dependent on means that others will never enjoy.
Manchester United cannot be put in that category and would most likely by overjoyed if financial fair play regulations encumbered their challengers. As it is, the spate of cash unleashed by City and Chelsea in particular sweeps the game along excitingly, despite the misgivings among the authorities.
Michel Platini, the president of Uefa, presses on with his financial fair play initiative and many clubs would be grateful if they were saved from their extravagant selves and forced to be prudent. A dilemma lies at the heart of all this. The spectacle of astonishing footballers holds us in thrall to such an extent that we avoid thinking of the way in which wealth warps the sport as a whole.
Ultimately, however, there would be an increased diversity and a greater element of surprise if clubs were denied "financial doping" and made to play clean. The perspective of an oligarch is one the rest of us can barely imagine but perhaps even they might come to value the element of surprise that is critical to sport.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 30 Aug 11
Shell-shocked Arsenal troops led by a general stripped of his virtue
If they were a regiment of soldiers, Arsenal would be swiftly withdrawn from the line. In their fifth game of a new season, they looked weary and shell-shocked. The general who led them to so many victories now stands stripped of his virtue, his plans dismantled by an old foe whose own troops looked fit for this or any other battle.
Arsène Wenger is a strong character – no one who survives at the helm of a Premier League side for a decade and a half could be anything else – but in the wake of this defeat, in which Arsenal conceded eight goals for the first time in more than a century, you had to wonder whether he will be able to summon the resilience needed to overcome such a catastrophe.
"You know me well," he said on Sunday night, from behind a dignified façade. "I think you should give me some time before you say I have got it completely wrong." But everything he has built with such loving care over 15 years had just come crashing down at the home of the club who have provided the reference point since his arrival in England and whom he once aspired to remove from the pinnacle of English football.
In effect, Sir Alex Ferguson had taken him on at his own game – the placing of trust in skill, enterprise and gilded youth – and triumphed in every conceivable dimension.
Back in 2002, after his side had just won the Double, Wenger spoke of "a shift in the balance of power". He was talking about disrupting United's hegemony on a permanent basis, and for a while he seemed to be making it come true. But this defeat came as the culmination of a sequence of events which have been building since their defeat in the European Cup final with a lacklustre performance against Barcelona in the spring of 2006.
United, of course, have lost two European Cup finals against the Catalans in recent years, giving a similarly unsatisfactory account of themselves on both occasions. But Ferguson reacted to those failures by ensuring that the club suffered no loss of self-esteem. The same cannot be said for Wenger and Arsenal.
Until this month, when he was forced to part with Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri, the Frenchman had a reputation for letting top players move elsewhere only when it suited Arsenal's purposes, or at least their finances. For a long time he pursued a policy of restocking his squad with promising young players whom he could rely on to accept his philosophy. Not enough of them have fulfilled his ambitions and not enough senior players of stature have been recruited to help bring them to maturity.
It would be easy enough to place the blame on the players in his patched-up team. For all the suspensions and injuries – three of one and five of the other – that afflicted the squad, there were still two or three senior figures wearing Arsenal shirts whom he would have been better off without. Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky, both of them experienced internationals, were among the side's most feckless performers.
Robin van Persie was another. When Fábregas left this month, Wenger transferred the captaincy to the Dutch striker – seemingly another in the line of star players to whom he has given the armband as a way of persuading them to stay at the club – rather than identifying a proper leader in the mould of Eddie Hapgood, Joe Mercer, Frank McLintock, Tony Adams or Patrick Vieira. On Sunday Van Persie rewarded him by hitting a penalty so poorly that David de Gea was able to make a good save.
It was the 27th minute, and the score was 1-0 to United. An equaliser might have changed the complexion of the contest. The failure knocked them back, and no group of players have more recent experience of such an occurrence than Arsenal, who so clearly benefited when Antonio Di Natale failed to score from the penalty spot in Italy last Wednesday night. Wojciech Szczesny's save invigorated Arsenal while deflating Udinese, and De Gea's success exerted precisely the same effect. A few seconds later Ashley Young scored the first of his two tremendous goals and the contest was over.
In his role as a curator of young talent, Wenger will be hoping that the nature of the defeat does not have a lasting effect on Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the two young debutants whom he found himself selecting here. Neither should have been exposed to such an ordeal.
When his side were invincible, Wenger was quite properly given the credit for his genius. Now failure must be laid at his door. And on Sunday night he suffered the additional humiliation of being patronised by his greatest rival.
"When you lose a few games the judge is out and we've seen managers go early in the season many, many times," Ferguson said. "It's unfair, but it keeps on going."
Wenger will buy a player or two before the transfer window closes on Wednesday night, the club's unhelpful wage structure permitting, although it may now be harder to persuade those who were watching on Sunday. He will get his missing players back. But it will be a long time before the scars of this extraordinary defeat are allowed to fade.
Source: Richard Williams, The Guardian on 28 Aug 11
Wayne Rooney hits hat-trick as Manchester United crush Arsenal
Distress was deeper still since this debacle came fast on the spirited victory away to Udinese in the Champions League. While United are a side of a different order to the Serie A club, it was extraordinary to witness an Arsenal line-up that could not protect itself in the second half. On the verge of the interval a Theo Walcott shot through the legs of the goalkeeper David de Gea had the visitors only 3-1 behind.
This, all the same, proved to be an Arsenal line-up without the faith in itself to mount a semblance of resistance. It was, of course, the most severe defeat of Arsène Wenger's 15 years with the club. Until now the talk had been of the need to make signings but a couple of arrivals in the next few days will scarcely suffice to restore the morale of supporters.
It will be difficult to persuade those fans that newcomers still on offer as the summer transfer period comes to an end will galvanise Arsenal. A title bid looked all but inconceivable and the first aim for the club should simply be to extend its run of Champions League appearances next season.
If they were unlucky at all, the misfortune was to be observed in the ravenous appetite for goals shared by United and their supporters. There was a type of compliment in that since it implied that Arsenal were still perceived as a club whose ranking was not really so distant from their own. That perception cannot survive among the Old Trafford crowd unless radical action is taken by Wenger.
He does have many injuries yet the manager would doubtless have argued beforehand that he had trust in his squad as a whole. At heart, of course, he will have appreciated how thin the means have become at the Emirates. Wenger would be justified in pointing to the excellence of the victors, although a paean to United will not soothe Arsenal fans.
For neutrals, though, it is essential to applaud what Ferguson has achieved in fairly recent days. Once more his defence was short of full strength but that calibre of stand-ins, if such they be, is impressive. A youngster such as Danny Welbeck opened the scoring here before picking up a hamstring injury.
If no mercy was shown to Arsenal it was not simply because United lusted for this rout of a fellow Champions League club. These are footballers who must be utterly sure they will be sidelined if they offer anything less to the club than every trace of ability they have within them. Arsenal, on the other hand, were eventually listless and confused. There was scarcely a basic structure to the side.
Carl Jenkinson escaped the scene but only by receiving a second caution when the score stood at 6-2. His team-mates might have envied him. It was, in particular, horrid for the teenager Francis Coquelin that he should make his Premier League debut on this day. All that remains for Arsenal is the notion that the action might have taken another direction.
Wenger's line-up inflicted pain on themselves when, with the score at 1-0 for United, De Gea dived to his right in the 27th minute and saved a penalty from Robin van Persie. It had been awarded following a Jonny Evans challenge on Theo Walcott. Within two minutes the lead was extended as Ashley Young bent a shot into the top-right corner.
The United opener had come when Anderson lifted a pass over the defence and Welbeck was too sharp for Johan Djourou as he headed home the bouncing ball from the edge of the six-yard box.
United's third, in the 41st minute, was bent into the top corner by Wayne Rooney after he had tapped a free-kick sideways to Young, who stopped it and left the forward with a better shooting angle.
Although Walcott trimmed the deficit on the verge of the interval, Arsenal could not really resist here. The second half was even more of a rout.
Further United goals followed with Rooney curling home an almost identical free-kick attempt to his first goal, Nani finishing stylishly from the Englishman's service, the substitute Park Ji-sung coming off the bench to strike and Rooney himself completing a hat-trick from the penalty spot after Walcott had pushed Patrice Evra.
In the midst of the barrage Van Persie had scored to reduce the deficit to 6-2. It was hardly the sort of resistance Arsenal had hoped to mount and the punishment was so relentless that Young struck an eighth goal for United in stoppage time, with another unstoppable curling shot into the top corner.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 28 Aug 11
Can’t Play, Won’t Spend: The Death Of Arsenal As A Big Club
I’ve been angry for a while now. Keeping Almunia as your first choice for three seasons and insisting he was a great keeper was the tipping point for me. I was at White Hart Lane for the game two years ago when he punched it out for Danny Rose to volley in ended 2-2, ended our title hopes. I was also at St Andrews when he punched into his own net, also ending our title hopes.
The false economy of the Arsenal board is clear, as yesterday’s disaster has shown us. If you don’t spend substantial money on players you don’t get the results that bring in the profits. If you come across overly thrifty in the transfer market you don’t get to play at the top table and you lose out on important income. I still think we’ll finish 6th this season and to be honest the Champions League is just a distraction which we’re never going to win. But it does send out a statement to be in it though and we need the money. Look at Manchester United; they win the league, they spend a heap of money, they win a double, the money comes pouring back in. It’s an effective business model.
I’ve tried to be positive over the last few months – actually I haven’t that’s a total fabrication, I’ve been apocalyptically cynical and painted an unremittingly bleak picture of what is happening at Arsenal - but I’ve been massively impressed with how a) mental b) buff and c) good at swearing Emmanuel Frimpong is. The man is an Arsenal legend in the making and along with little Jackie Wilshere alongside him there are finally two genuinely talented, genuinely passionate home grown players to get excited about. I’m glad we’ve got rid of the wantaways albeit totally flabbergasted that they were sold in late August not early June. But my biggest fear is that the new breed will end up wanting away too. As my Spurs mate put it last week: Frimpong will be the new Yaya Toure (in the City midfield).
It’s beginning to feel increasingly like we’re a feeder club for City. And while money does not equal a big club we’ve now had many examples to suggest that money does, sadly, buy success. The way they tore spurs to pieces yesterday was further evidence of that. Besides Chelsea and Manchester City in the last decade we’ve seen Lazio do it in Italy, Deportivo La Coruna do it in Spain and Wolfsburg do it in Germany.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not advocating a silly splurge. When I hear of Tevez on £160k basic weekly salary it makes me so sick I want to turn my back on football all together and follow a decent sport. Like bowls. But Wenger has had money to spend and there have been genuinely affordable targets that he has turned his nose up at in favour of s**t bargain basement options like Marouane Chamakh.
The time has come for the Arsenal fans to demand that Wenger spends properly on experienced, proven Premiership quality players or hand over the reins to somebody who is prepared to do so. Keeping us at bay with the promise that this new batch of youngsters are “top quality” will no longer wash.
We want Gary Cahill, Scott Parker and ok, I’ll even let him have Eden Hazard… and we want them now. It’s just a shame that if we do get them they’ve got to arrive at a club mired in negativity.
All of this, and Wenger’s frankly bizarre post-match interview at Old Trafford yesterday prove that he’s lost it, it’s sad but it’s probably time he went before he spoils everything he did previously. It’s about a 50/50 split between pro and anti Wenger fans at Arsenal at the minute but if we are 8th or 9th at Christmas as I predict then the tide will turn. Even the anti Wenger fans don’t want to be anti Wenger but he’s leaving us with no choice. He’s absolutely infuriating and just seeing his voice and hearing him speak these days is enough to get me angry.
Up the A**e.
Source: Josh Surtees, The Sabotage Times on 29 Aug 11
Fergie's kids give Wenger boys a lesson
Defeated, depleted and demoralised, it seemed both the statistical and emotional low of Wenger's career. "You do not compare your pain," he said. "It is terribly painful. It is humiliating." His was a dignified response to an elegant annihilation of a team - and some would say annihilation of an entire ideology, though that would ignore the duff hand fate has dealt the Frenchman. "When you lose 8-2, it is better you don't talk too much because it hurts and it looks as though you are looking for excuses," he said, seeking few. He will not quit, and nor should he, but too many of his charges lack their manager's obstinacy and obduracy.
When put into practice properly, his ethos is a wondrous sight. With searing pace and incessant movement, with youthful verve and precocious assurance, with collective confidence and individual excellence, his principles were writ large at Old Trafford. Just not by his team. United were in stylish superiority, Arsenal their unwilling victims.
An afternoon of stunning statistics and barely credible football brought ten goals, a penalty save and a red card. Arsenal could count the cost of their absentees - with strange symmetry, while eight players were missing, eight goals were sieved - but it is scarcely an exaggeration to say eight could have been 18. Blameless on each occasion he was defeated, defiant when his defence was dreadful, Wojciech Szczesny was his side's finest player.
Ahead of him was a back four consisting of the untried, the unconvincing and the frankly unacceptable. Carl Jenkinson, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny and Armand Traore were engaged in a private contest of incompetence. Any would have been a worthy winner.
If Highbury was the spiritual home of the offside trap during George Graham's days, the United attackers were rarely ensnared at Old Trafford. Three goals were at least partially attributable to Arsenal's inability to play offside; three, for Wayne Rooney's hat-trick, were set-pieces resulting from mistimed challenges. Traore's terrible header pre-empted the first of two terrific curlers by Ashley Young. Terrific as United were, this was death by a thousand cuts, all of them self-inflicted.
Ahead of the infamous four, a midfield went missing. With Francis Coquelin, a 20-year-old Premier League debutant, nominally patrolling the ground in front of the defence, runners went untracked, as Nani and Park Ji-Sung could testify when both scored within four minutes. Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin, predictably, offered negligible assistance. Even Neil Armstrong hasn't seen as much space as the United raiders were granted.
It still has to be exploited, something United did with relish. "We scored a fantastic selection of goals," Ferguson said. Danny Welbeck got the first, heading in after Anderson, as though mimicking a golfer in a bunker, managed a sand wedge of a chip over the defence that Welbeck headed in.
Young doubled the lead before the first of two beautifully precise free-kicks from Rooney. Following the second, Nani's deft chip and Park's low finish preceded a spot-kick from Rooney and a delightful second from Young.
For Arsenal, Robin van Persie had a first-half penalty saved and mustered a rather meaningless second-half goal. It was more telling that Theo Walcott, scorer of Arsenal's first goal, ended his afternoon at right-back, where he conceded the penalty Rooney converted to complete his hat-trick. His unexpected move into defence came after the hopeless, hapless Jenkinson had collected a second caution.
Then the anguish of defeat was compounded by the torment of Ferguson's pity. "Arsene has been a big adversary for me and will continue to be so when he gets his players back," the United manager said. "The criticism is unfair but we live in a terrible, cynical world now and when you lose a few games the jury is out. Of course I feel sympathy for him. He is a great football man. I think the job he has done for Arsenal over the years, by keeping his philosophy, has given the team some fantastic players."
Wenger's beliefs are an increasing issue. He may be considered the ultimate idealist, whereas Ferguson has always been a purist and a pragmatist rolled into one. This was a day when he could be the proponent of free-flowing, attacking football, casting aside his usual blueprint of packing the midfield against Arsenal in favour of storming at a second-string defence. His side showed their manager's ruthlessness; Wenger's illustrated his failings.
After the embarrassment comes the opportunity. A reluctant spender has three days to sign four players. He needs them.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Wayne Rooney
His treble took him to 152 United goals, more than Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy, and suggested Sir Bobby Charlton's overall record may well be under threat. In the more immediate future, he and Edin Dzeko seem to be going head to head for the Golden Boot.
MANCHESTER UNITED VERDICT
De Gea's penalty save was his first meaningful contribution to the United cause and an indication of why Ferguson has so much faith in him. His supposed protectors, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones, doubled up as playmakers, so fine was some of their passing. That Michael Carrick was not even on the bench bodes badly for him while Park, though a fixture in big games, faces a real task to displace Young. Javier Hernandez should be back in the team sooner as Welbeck has a hamstring injury.
ARSENAL VERDICT
Minus Jack Wilshere, there is a need for a personality in the midfield, while the loss of Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna was cruelly timed. Their absence highlighted the lack of authority the other defenders possess. Frequently out of position, Jenkinson seemed to think he was more wing-back than full-back and his dismissal was their third in as many games. Just above the relegation zone in the table, Arsenal must be propping up the Fair Play League.
Source: Richard Jolly, ESPN Soccernet on 28 Aug 11
Wenger's greatest humiliation
Wenger still has aspirations to win titles and revisiting one of the great Premier League managerial rivalries - a fanciful notion after Manchester United became the first team to score eight goals against Arsenal since Loughborough in 1896.
So to hear Ferguson expressing genuine sympathy bordering on sorrow for Wenger at Old Trafford, the place where Arsenal once triumphantly confirmed the league and FA Cup double, after an 8-2 mauling only added a further layer of embarrassment to his obvious suffering.
The manner in which United graphically, horrifically in an Arsenal context, illustrated the gulf between the two sides marks down this remarkable Old Trafford match as a watershed moment.
For Wenger it was a performance, or lack of one, that proved the folly of his summer of transfer inaction and for United it confirmed the seeds of their next title-winning side have been successfully sown by Ferguson.
United took to the pitch with a resounding message echoing in their ears from "noisy neighbours" Manchester City after their 5-1 win at Tottenham and answered back with irresistible force to wipe out Arsenal and return to the top of the table on goal difference.
Wayne Rooney's hat-trick took him past 150 goals for the club, Ashley Young scored two stunning strikes and United could have raced into double figures and beyond but for their own carelessness.
With an average age 23, United were youthful, vibrant and laced with pace and power in all parts of the pitch - in other words the template Wenger always craves for his teams.
If Manchester City are going to pose a massive threat, as seems certain, then United look in shape to meet the challenge. They have emerging stars in defence in Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and attacking options to burn - at times they treated Arsenal with merciless contempt.
Wenger cut a despairing figure still locked in various stages of denial in his post-match inquest, flailing against reality by reeling off a list of absentees and how this was only early days. True enough, but Arsenal have made the sort of false start that would make Usain Bolt blush and absenteeism was no excuse for the debacle that unfolded at Old Trafford.
One hesitates to use the word, but there was something rather sad about some of Arsenal's efforts and in Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin they had two prime culprits. Youngsters like Carl Jenkinson, sent off in the second half, and Francis Coquelin were promoted above their rank through necessity so can be excused, but Rosicky and Arshavin were so poor it almost defied belief.
And then we come to Wenger. A man so admired for his philosophies and past successes, he has bluntly failed to address the serious problems that faced his team after last season imploded on Arsenal.
To hear him talk about how he would like a midfield player and a defender with three days to go before the transfer window closes begged the question why he had not tackled this earlier in the summer when it was clear this was Arsenal's Achilles heel and the world knew Cesc Fabregas would be leaving, followed by Samir Nasri.
The grim evidence that unfolded at Old Trafford was mere confirmation of the holes in the Londoners' side and why Wenger has erred in being reduced to scouring the transfer market at the last minute for quality reinforcements.
Wenger had a valid point when he stressed that the Gunners were without eight players, but Manchester United had men of their own missing - the difference is Ferguson found solutions and strengthened quickly while his counterpart has seemingly prevaricated.
Arsenal's substitutes were more a "Who's He?" than a "Who's Who" - Oguzhan Ozyakup and Gilles Sunu for instance - and for this Wenger must accept responsibility for how he has allowed his squad to thin out.
Many Arsenal supporters, and to a man and woman they were magnificent in the support they gave their battered players at Old Trafford, question the support Wenger is receiving financially from his board.
Suspicions have been raised by offers for Everton's Phil Jagielka and Bolton's Gary Cahill that were never going to be accepted but Wenger insisted at Old Trafford that he has money. The mystery is why it has not been spent earlier.
Liverpool faced accusations that they had paid above the market rate for players such as Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. This may be true but they got deals done, beefed up their squad significantly and the benefits are seen in early season results.
The suggestion that Wenger should pay for the current malaise with his job, or that his future is uncertain, is clearly a nonsense. He has earned every right to solve Arsenal's problems but the scale of this loss proved the time for action has arrived - indeed it arrived at the end of last season.
Wenger will have known few darker days - trounced by the team he once toppled with such relish - and he must act swiftly to shed some light on Arsenal's season.
For Wenger it was a performance, or lack of one, that proved the folly of his summer of transfer inaction and for United it confirmed the seeds of their next title-winning side have been successfully sown by Ferguson.
United took to the pitch with a resounding message echoing in their ears from "noisy neighbours" Manchester City after their 5-1 win at Tottenham and answered back with irresistible force to wipe out Arsenal and return to the top of the table on goal difference.
Wayne Rooney's hat-trick took him past 150 goals for the club, Ashley Young scored two stunning strikes and United could have raced into double figures and beyond but for their own carelessness.
With an average age 23, United were youthful, vibrant and laced with pace and power in all parts of the pitch - in other words the template Wenger always craves for his teams.
If Manchester City are going to pose a massive threat, as seems certain, then United look in shape to meet the challenge. They have emerging stars in defence in Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and attacking options to burn - at times they treated Arsenal with merciless contempt.
Wenger cut a despairing figure still locked in various stages of denial in his post-match inquest, flailing against reality by reeling off a list of absentees and how this was only early days. True enough, but Arsenal have made the sort of false start that would make Usain Bolt blush and absenteeism was no excuse for the debacle that unfolded at Old Trafford.
One hesitates to use the word, but there was something rather sad about some of Arsenal's efforts and in Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin they had two prime culprits. Youngsters like Carl Jenkinson, sent off in the second half, and Francis Coquelin were promoted above their rank through necessity so can be excused, but Rosicky and Arshavin were so poor it almost defied belief.
And then we come to Wenger. A man so admired for his philosophies and past successes, he has bluntly failed to address the serious problems that faced his team after last season imploded on Arsenal.
To hear him talk about how he would like a midfield player and a defender with three days to go before the transfer window closes begged the question why he had not tackled this earlier in the summer when it was clear this was Arsenal's Achilles heel and the world knew Cesc Fabregas would be leaving, followed by Samir Nasri.
The grim evidence that unfolded at Old Trafford was mere confirmation of the holes in the Londoners' side and why Wenger has erred in being reduced to scouring the transfer market at the last minute for quality reinforcements.
Wenger had a valid point when he stressed that the Gunners were without eight players, but Manchester United had men of their own missing - the difference is Ferguson found solutions and strengthened quickly while his counterpart has seemingly prevaricated.
Arsenal's substitutes were more a "Who's He?" than a "Who's Who" - Oguzhan Ozyakup and Gilles Sunu for instance - and for this Wenger must accept responsibility for how he has allowed his squad to thin out.
Many Arsenal supporters, and to a man and woman they were magnificent in the support they gave their battered players at Old Trafford, question the support Wenger is receiving financially from his board.
Suspicions have been raised by offers for Everton's Phil Jagielka and Bolton's Gary Cahill that were never going to be accepted but Wenger insisted at Old Trafford that he has money. The mystery is why it has not been spent earlier.
Liverpool faced accusations that they had paid above the market rate for players such as Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson. This may be true but they got deals done, beefed up their squad significantly and the benefits are seen in early season results.
The suggestion that Wenger should pay for the current malaise with his job, or that his future is uncertain, is clearly a nonsense. He has earned every right to solve Arsenal's problems but the scale of this loss proved the time for action has arrived - indeed it arrived at the end of last season.
Wenger will have known few darker days - trounced by the team he once toppled with such relish - and he must act swiftly to shed some light on Arsenal's season.
Source: Phil McNulty, BBC Sport on 29 Aug 11
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Wenger's reaction to the Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal match
You don’t think like that after a game like this. It is terribly painful but you do not compare your pain. You have pain and that is it. I feel it was under very special circumstances. We have played three games in the Premier League and two Champions League games. It is not a time to make a balance of the whole season.
Of course it hurts, it’s humiliating, but you could see that we had not recovered physically in the second half from Wednesday night. We were short in some areas, that is for sure. They have class and they punished us. It was 3-1 at half-time and I think that was harsh against us. We missed a penalty, we had a chance to get back to 3-2. We tried desperately to get back but we opened ourselves up and were punished. Their finishing was great today.
on planning for reinforcements…
I am very open if we can find the right players. We have the money to sign players. If we find players who can strengthen our team then we will do it. But I am not the only one to work on the case, we have 20 people who are working on that. If we do not do it, it is because we don’t find them. We have plenty of players out today, too many players missing. We do not have the squad to compete when we have this many players out. At the moment, we have not found the solutions to our problems outside. When you look at today, you cannot predict how many players we have out. We did not expect to have Wilshere out, Diaby out, Gervinho out, Vermaelen out and Gibbs out.
on the wage structure at the Club…
It is difficult to find excuses after a game like that. Wages-wise, of course we are behind the other teams.
on whether he is close to bringing anyone in…
We are close to signing a striker at the moment but we are still looking for a midfielder and a defender.
on whether there is truth in links with a move with Mikel Arteta…
No.
on whether experience is needed…
Yes but it is difficult when you lose 8-2. It is better when you don’t talk as much but it hurts and it looks like you are looking for excuses. We have to sort out our problems that we have in the squad.
on criticism directed at him…
I am in a public job and I have to accept that. I try to make the right decisions for the Club and I will continue to do that. The players we have sold are players I brought to the Club. If you look at the 15 years I have been at the Club, I have brought in some good players. We have played three games in the Premier League, give me more time before saying that I have got it completely wrong. There were patches in the game where we had quality. I feel we collapsed physically more than anything else today.
Source: Arsenal.com on 28 Aug 11
28 August 2011: Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal, Old Trafford
Arsène Wenger took his side to Old Trafford troubled by suspensions and injuries. And they would take their toll as the visitors were overwhelmed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s team on a difficult afternoon for everyone associated with the red-and-white half of North London.
Danny Welbeck started the scoring then, after Robin van Persie’s penalty was saved, Ashley Young contributed the first of two cracking curlers. Wayne Rooney grabbed a dead-ball hat-trick (two free-kicks and a penalty). Between that treble, Ji-Sung Park and Nani added goals while Theo Walcott and Van Persie briefly reduced the arrears.
This was a blow for Arsenal’s aspirations this term but, despite the flak that will come the team’s way, after three games nothing should be written off.
Certainly the constant songs from the travelling supporters throughout the second half suggests they still have faith in their side despite this difficult, difficult afternoon.
Arsenal had been hit hard ahead of the toughest trip of their domestic campaign. Gervinho, Alex Song and Emmanuel Frimpong were all banned. Meanwhile, following that rousing victory at Udinese in midweek, Thomas Vermaelen had picked up a thigh injury while Bacary Sagna had fallen ill.
Wenger had had given Premier League debuts to teenagers Carl Jenkinson, Frimpong and Ignasi Miquel in their opening two games.
This afternoon, Francis Coquelin, 20, was given his top-flight bow in central midfield. In addition, left-back Armand Traore started his first Premier League game for Arsenal since May 2010.
In all, there were six players 22 or younger in the Arsenal team. The average age of Manchester United side was, in fact, younger but they had considerably more experience.
On paper this was going to a huge test for Wenger’s side and Manchester United started like they meant business.
In the opening minutes, Chris Smalling got beyond Traore on the right and cut the ball back for Tom Cleverley who cracked a shot wide.
Then Young’s ball sent Welbeck clear and he drifted his shot wide when he should have hit the target.
The home side were in control but their failure to convert early opportunities saw Arsenal grow in confidence. But the best the visitors had to show for it was a drive from Tomas Rosicky, which was deflected wide.
However, it must be said that by the time Manchester United took the lead, they had taken on an ominous quality. They were finding space all too easily around the Arsenal area and attacking with incisiveness.
In the 21st minute, one such move broke down and the ball fell to Anderson outside the area. The Brazilian lifted a pass over the Arsenal backline and, as the visitors retreated, Welbeck stole in to nudge home a header.
Arsenal needed an immediate response and should have got one when Jonny Evans needlessly hauled back Walcott when he was going nowhere in the area.
Referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot but Van Persie’s spot-kick was not his best. David De Gea dived low to his right to turn the ball aside.
Within seconds, Manchester United would make Arsenal pay. Young picked up the ball in the left-hand channel with little on but produced a sumptuous curling effort that found the net via the inside of the far post with Szczesny left groping the air.
It would be a long way back from here.
On the half-hour Andrey Arshavin started the journey by drilling a low shot towards goal. De Gea was down late and pushed the ball out to Van Persie on the left. The Dutchman drove in a first-time shot but the keeper diverted the ball away.
Welbeck sent a diving header wide from Rooney’s deep cross to the far post and, four minutes from the break, the home side got their third. Jenkinson clumsily brought down Young a couple of yards outside the area on the left-hand side. Rooney stepped up to take it and curled a right-footed effort into the top corner. A wonderful finish.
Arsenal needed something. Anything. And Walcott provided it in injury time by latching onto Rosicky’s cute throughball and drilling a shot through De Gea.
The goal changed the equation just a little and, even though Young might have ended the argument in the opening moments of the second half, the visitors were the better team after the restart.
Rosicky drifted a pass to Van Persie on the edge of the area. His volley was finding the corner before De Gea thrust out his left-hand to make an excellent save.
Then Arshavin muscled his way past Phil Jones to go clear momentarily. But the Russian dragged his shot when he should have hit the target at least.
However those efforts only seemed to spur on Manchester United. Szczesny saved point-blank from Young on two occasions then Cleverley played a one-two only to scuff his effort straight into the arms of the keeper.
And, in the 64th minute, the home side grabbed a fourth when Rooney curled home a free-kick with Szczesny, this time, flat-footed.
Their resistance broken, Manchester United added a couple in quick succession. Rooney fed Nani, who beat the offside trap and chipped his shot over the keeper.
The game won, Ferguson brought on Ryan Giggs and Park, two players who have hurt Arsenal in the past. The Korean immediately got involved by trickling a low shot in to the far corner.
Arsenal were now playing for pride and a little was restored when Jenkinson’s header found Van Persie at the far post. The Dutchman drove the ball high past De Gea.
With 13 minutes left, Jenkinson bundled over Javier Hernandez as the Mexican went clear. Having been booked already the Englishman’s dismissal was sadly inevitable.
This time Rooney’s free-kick wandered just wide.
However the Englishman’s hat-trick was not far away. Walcott was adjudged to have brought down Patrice Evra in the area and Rooney completed a dead-ball treble.
Ramsey curled an effort just wide and Hernandez nearly turned in Park’s low cross at the near post.
In injury time, Young completed the scoring with a carbon copy of his first.
It was the final act of a sobering day for Arsenal.
* A word for the travelling fans, who sang throughout the second half when their side were struggling. They did their Club proud.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 28 Aug 11
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Fountains of Youth
Wayne Rooney wanted to go to Manchester City. The club seemingly didn't want to sign premium-level new players. But, after the late October win over Bursaspor, Alex Ferguson wanted to send a message.
"I had a player once who said to me that Rooney and [Cristiano] Ronaldo weren't good enough and he was not prepared to wait until they were good enough. But that's the trouble with potential. People don't identify potential. They're very poor at it. I've identified all my life the potential in young people. I know potential. I know how to develop and have faith in it. And young people surprise you when given the opportunity. That's what this club is all about."
Considering the events of the time, as well as Rooney's apparent criticism of what the club had come to be about, Ferguson's words seemed no more than an admirable - but ultimately empty - statement of defiance. The average age of the first XI was touching 30 and their performances were barely getting past patchy. With the Glazers seemingly refusing to invest, Rooney's complaints appeared justified.
Typically, though, it was Ferguson who would eventually be vindicated.
A 22-year-old in Javier Hernandez would transform from an impact sub into a Champions League match-winner. The 20-year-old Chris Smalling would mature into a modern defender. Nani would continue his progress from one of the most wasteful players in the Premier League to the most productive and a forgotten Fabio would overtake his twin brother Rafael. At Sunderland, Danny Welbeck was building up the confidence he needed to receive a chance at United while Tom Cleverley was doing the same at Wigan.
One of the results - beyond last season's title and Champions League final appearance - was a thrilling 3-0 win over Tottenham delivered by a team with an average age of 23. United have been, quite literally, rejuvenated.
Amid all the praise for Ferguson's faith in potential, though, it's been overlooked that the average age of Arsenal's team last weekend was also 23.
Or, if not quite overlooked, then predictably viewed through an entirely different prism. Whereas belief in youth has brightened United, it continues to slowly bring Arsenal down from the position they were in seven years ago.
To a degree, the issue seems to define the differences between the two managers. Indeed, two phrases that have been repeated a lot around the Emirates and Old Trafford over the last while are particularly pointed.
In Manchester: "Wenger talks about youth. Fergie just goes and does it."
In London: "We don't need a change in manager, we just need the manager to change."
Either way, both men have always seen investment in youth as their defining managerial traits. And, given that the issue fundamentally boils down to numbers, it's interesting to directly compare their records.
In 25 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson has given 103 young players their debut (for the purposes of clarity, we've included both academy graduates and those signed before the age of 20): that's 4.1 a season. In 15 years at the Emirates, meanwhile, Wenger has blooded 84: that's 5.6 a season.
From those numbers:
• 23% of Ferguson's graduates have played over 30 games for his club; 31% of Wenger's have
• 12% of Ferguson's graduates have played over 100 games for his club; 15% of Wenger's have
• 10% of Ferguson's graduates have played over 200 games for his club; 5% of Wenger's have
• 23% of Ferguson's graduates have succeeded elsewhere in the Premier League or another elite European top flight; 26% of Wenger's have
• 1% of Ferguson's graduates have been sold to a club at Manchester United's level; 7% of Arsenal's have been sold to a club at Arsenal's level
And, perhaps most tellingly:
• 23% of Ferguson's graduates have won medals with his club; 13% of Wenger's have
To a degree, the numbers prove what we already know: Wenger is more likely to initially flood young players into his squad, Ferguson is better at finishing the job - in a few senses. But that also perhaps raises issues about both men's clubs as actual breeding grounds beyond the academies.
When Wenger first arrived at Arsenal, for example, he could neither introduce a nucleus of readymade graduates nor immediately enforce his ideals. Rather, he had to adapt around the existing qualities of that old Highbury core. In the process, though, they all became better players.
The success that mix brought entrusted Wenger with almost total control of the club's playing structure. But it has also meant that, since then, he has altered it so his youth system only produces particular types of players. Famously, Wenger has physical and technical ideals for every position. And the result, effectively, is that Arsenal release a stream of similar prototypes.
Contrast that with Manchester United, where there has always been a huge variety of player styles produced - most notably in this crop. But Ferguson also tends to get the timing of their introduction right. Unlike Arsenal, there's always been a blend of proven winners and potential brilliance - right back to the Double-winning 1995-96 team. Wenger began to forego that complementary mix in 2004. Admittedly, as we've seen with Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, not always by choice.
But then that also raises questions over whether Wenger has created a damaging cycle for himself. Indeed, one of those proven winners - Tony Adams - relays an enlightening story about Wenger's treatment of Lilian Thuram at Monaco. Despite the reputation the defender eventually forged, at first he offered up regular errors.
"It cost them game after game. But he kept him on... and encouraged him and encouraged him. Great for the player. No good for [Wenger] and the team."
History has clearly repeated itself.
But not in every sense. Sunday's match at Old Trafford is likely to be a far cry from the testosterone-fuelled face-offs between men like Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane. Another difference, however, is that - on the evidence of the past seven years, let alone the last 10 months - only one of the teams is likely to reach the kind of level those forerunners once did.
Source: Miguel Delaney, ESPN Soccernet on 27 Aug 11
Arsenal's backroom flaws leave £70m hole in Arsène Wenger's plans
"Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home." It's a resonant old line. Perhaps the pick of Arsène Wenger's classics. It evokes an era when he was at the peak of what seemed at the time to be manifold powers. Arsenal were Double winners with a team who welded the might of Sol Campbell, Martin Keown and Patrick Vieira with the marvels of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.
Sir Alex Ferguson, suffering the ignominy of watching the enemy win the title at Old Trafford in the summer of 2002, was not at his most generous. "They are scrappers who rely on belligerence – we are the better team," he scoffed, inspiring Wenger to respond with a flash of wit, throwing the media a juicy bone on which to feast in its insatiable analysis of the Ferguson-Wenger feud. At its height, they traded quips, insults and honours like two heavyweights.
If it seems like ages ago that they were arch-competitors, that is because it is. Almost a decade has passed since then, and although the barbs continued for a while, with each passing year the colour has faded, the spikiness has softened, as one of the fighters has evidently struggled to make his weight.
When Arsenal defeated Manchester United 1-0 at the Emirates during last season's title run-in, it was a rare success. United's dominance of this fixture – sometimes to the point of doling out humiliation – has become almost routine. It has reached the point where Ferguson feels a degree of compassion for the Arsenal manager. That has to be as clear a sign as any that Wenger's touch has gone awry. Nobody who lives in football's extreme world of winners and losers wants the sympathy vote. Nobody welcomes pity. Has it really come to this?
Wenger's image has taken such a pummelling since the start of the season, even people who would normally relish the schadenfreude have confessed to feeling sorry for him. Some critics felt moved to congratulate him on his team's safe passage into the Champions League at Udinese, as if they were relieved to see that he had found some refuge from the relentless pounding. "Well done Arsenal!" hurrahed the opening line from the Sun's match report, in all seriousness. Yet another clanging sign that things ain't what they ought to be.
Gutsy though their Champions League recovery was, and critical as it is to the club's profile, it would be foolish to allow a 90-minute shot-in-the-arm to paper over the cracks. Arsenal head to Old Trafford on Sunday with a thin squad stripped to the bone, still overloaded with problems that scream out for solutions.
But should all of them pile up at Wenger's door? While he bears a lot of the responsibility for their dysfunctional summer, others, too, should share the burden. Wenger needed help during this close season from other departments within Arsenal, but that help has not materialised. The scouting network, and the transfer negotiators, have never looked so weak. The board, which should have either backed him or forced him to shake things up before the Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri sagas took their toll, have sat back.
It is a myth that Wenger is the man who controls all transfer activity. First, he is dependent on his scouts for identifying and researching potential recruits. Apart from the obvious exceptions – Henry, Vieira and Nicolas Anelka were clearly well known to Wenger – in the main, the names and reports that are brought to him by the chief scout, Steve Rowley, are what persuade him to make a move for, say, a teenaged Fábregas. Or for that matter a Manuel Almunia, Denílson, or Igor Stepanovs. It is unusual for Wenger to watch much of little-known players in the flesh before they sign.
It appears that the scouts have not come up with a useful enough list of targets to work from this summer. Given that they knew they would in all likelihood lose a number of players, it was obvious they would need to do a fair bit of shopping. Considering most of the "shops" operate with a hint of poker school, and that agents block the shop front with all the charm of burly bouncers, it would have made sense to have numerous options to consider and to hit the stores quickly.
Yet Arsenal find themselves scrabbling about in the dwindling days of the sale, hunting for bargains where few remain on display. The experience of last summer with Mark Schwarzer, when they thought that if they hung on to the last moment Fulham would have to cave in (they did not), should have been a salutary lesson. That trick used to work. Not any more. The scene has changed since David Dein could pull transfer strings with the best of them and most players were instantly attracted to joining a winning team comprising the likes of Henry and Vieira.
It has been a tough summer for Dick Law, currently the chief deal maker, who has struggled to see through interest in a handful of major targets that were on the radar. Chelsea rang rings around him for Juan Mata; Bolton have played tough over Gary Cahill, rejecting Arsenal's latest bid on Friday; the Gunners did not even appear to make much of a play for José Enrique – available for less than Gaël Clichy and a real no-brainer purchase who instead went to Liverpool. Law lacks the global football contacts who packed Dein's address book, not to mention the ability to engage in smooth talk or hardball if appropriate.
Dein remembers how the atmosphere around the place could be exhilarated by a flurry of signings. In the summer of 2006, just after leaving Highbury, six deals bubbled along right until the 11th hour of deadline day. "Arsène has a lovely expression: You need some salt and pepper in the soup. You need to spice it up. This is not a perfect science," he says. "If we all knew the formula of Coca-Cola we'd all be multimillionaires."
Arsenal have a transfer budget of around £70m just from their summer sales. They are chasing an assortment of players, but it all feels worryingly late in the day and, so cack-handedly have they been functioning during this window, the Emirates crowd would be amazed to see the handful of needed signings arriving. Which brings us to the great unanswered question of life at Arsenal: Who really calls the shots when it comes to money available for players?
Depending on who you believe, either the board actively encourage Wenger to spend and feel frustrated at his reluctance, or Wenger does a good job in taking the flak and shielding the board from a financial reality that is much more sobering than they would like to admit.
The economics at Arsenal remain puzzling. And while the boardroom situation remains uncomfortable, with Alisher Usmanov's stake undermining Stan Kroenke's majority shareholding, nobody can put forward a clear message about how the club intend to be ambitious.
And so Wenger heads for Old Trafford, to take on his old nemesis at a time when United have just demonstrated that the youth project that has obsessed him can work wonders. Seventy million pounds for his thoughts as he scans the callow faces in the away dressing room and prepares them to do their best.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 27 Aug 11
Friday, August 26, 2011
Resolute Gunners get through
Arsenal avoided the unthinkable as they began the process of getting over their shattering start to the season by qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
Arsene Wenger's fortnight from hell was in danger of reaching a new low when Antonio Di Natale levelled the play-off with Udinese in the first half of this evening's second leg.
Yet, the Gunners showed the kind of character Wenger has always insisted was present - but which has so often been lacking - to turn the game on its head thanks to goals from new captain Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott and a brilliant Wojciech Szczesny penalty save.
The win eased the pressure on a beleaguered Wenger, who was spared the inevitable questions about his future which would have arisen had Arsenal failed to reach the lucrative Champions League proper for the first time in 14 years.
Tonight's game was therefore a defining moment in the club's season and possibly the career of their manager, who has endured one of the worst fortnights of his near 15-year reign.
The Frenchman has now lost both his star players and has had to contend with a raft of injuries, suspensions and charges from the game's governing bodies.
He was at least given a stay of execution from his latest touchline ban and was in the dugout tonight in what was 31-degree heat in the Italian north-east.
There were even rumours before kick-off, following Fenerbahce's expulsion from the competition, that Arsenal might be reinstated should they be eliminated.
But UEFA put paid to those by confirming during the game that Trabzonspor would replace their fellow Turks.
Arsenal did not start like a side uncertain of their fate, Walcott going close after skipping past Neuton and seeing a shot beaten away.
The game was wide open and Di Natale saw his first-time half-volley rightly ruled out for offside.
Arsenal continued to look a threat but they almost paid for giving Di Natale far too much room, Pablo Armero unable to get a clean header on the striker's cross.
Udinese should have been ahead midway through the half, Di Natale turning Mauricio Isla's cross onto the post from four yards.
But it was Walcott who wasted the chance of the half in the 33rd minute, Gervinho putting the ball on a plate for the first-leg matchwinner, who somehow shot straight at Samir Handanovic, the goalkeeper also blocking Van Persie's rebound.
Di Natale then tested Szczesny from the tightest of angles but the keeper could do nothing to stop the veteran striker six minutes before the break, the 33-year-old looping a brilliant header from Giampiero Pinzi's cross in off the post.
The restart saw Wenger take a chance on the fitness of Tomas Rosicky, replacing Emmanuel Frimpong, who himself had been a bold selection following his sending-off against Liverpool on Saturday.
Arsenal's surprisingly sparse away following did their best to gee up the visitors, who became involved in some needless handbags that saw Isla booked for dissent.
And they silenced the home fans completely 10 minutes in when Gervinho got the better of Medhi Benatia and squared for Van Persie to slot home from six yards.
Two minutes later, disaster appeared to strike again when Thomas Vermaelen was adjudged to have handled Di Natale's corner and Olegario Benquerenca pointed to the spot.
But Szczesny produced a wondrous one-handed save to tip the striker's penalty over the crossbar.
Udinese went for broke, allowing more space for the excellent Gervinho, who was showing just how much Arsenal will miss him when his domestic ban resumes at Manchester United on Sunday.
But it was, fittingly, Walcott who killed the contest in the 69th minute after outpacing the hapless Benatia and slotting past Handanovic.
Bacary Sagna was booked, as were Benatia, Walcott and Carl Jenkinson as tempers frayed amid the enormity of what was at stake.
Di Natale dragged wide trying to salvage some pride for the home side and also stung the palms of Szczesny with a free-kick from a tight angle after Isla was withdrawn for German Dernis.
The home fans immediately began to flock for the exit, with more than five minutes remaining, their misery compounded when Benatia was carried off on a stretcher.
Arsenal ran down the clock and they almost added a third goal when Van Persie and substitute Armand Traore both shot straight at Handanovic.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 24 Aug 11
Arsene Wenger's fortnight from hell was in danger of reaching a new low when Antonio Di Natale levelled the play-off with Udinese in the first half of this evening's second leg.
Yet, the Gunners showed the kind of character Wenger has always insisted was present - but which has so often been lacking - to turn the game on its head thanks to goals from new captain Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott and a brilliant Wojciech Szczesny penalty save.
The win eased the pressure on a beleaguered Wenger, who was spared the inevitable questions about his future which would have arisen had Arsenal failed to reach the lucrative Champions League proper for the first time in 14 years.
Tonight's game was therefore a defining moment in the club's season and possibly the career of their manager, who has endured one of the worst fortnights of his near 15-year reign.
The Frenchman has now lost both his star players and has had to contend with a raft of injuries, suspensions and charges from the game's governing bodies.
He was at least given a stay of execution from his latest touchline ban and was in the dugout tonight in what was 31-degree heat in the Italian north-east.
There were even rumours before kick-off, following Fenerbahce's expulsion from the competition, that Arsenal might be reinstated should they be eliminated.
But UEFA put paid to those by confirming during the game that Trabzonspor would replace their fellow Turks.
Arsenal did not start like a side uncertain of their fate, Walcott going close after skipping past Neuton and seeing a shot beaten away.
The game was wide open and Di Natale saw his first-time half-volley rightly ruled out for offside.
Arsenal continued to look a threat but they almost paid for giving Di Natale far too much room, Pablo Armero unable to get a clean header on the striker's cross.
Udinese should have been ahead midway through the half, Di Natale turning Mauricio Isla's cross onto the post from four yards.
But it was Walcott who wasted the chance of the half in the 33rd minute, Gervinho putting the ball on a plate for the first-leg matchwinner, who somehow shot straight at Samir Handanovic, the goalkeeper also blocking Van Persie's rebound.
Di Natale then tested Szczesny from the tightest of angles but the keeper could do nothing to stop the veteran striker six minutes before the break, the 33-year-old looping a brilliant header from Giampiero Pinzi's cross in off the post.
The restart saw Wenger take a chance on the fitness of Tomas Rosicky, replacing Emmanuel Frimpong, who himself had been a bold selection following his sending-off against Liverpool on Saturday.
Arsenal's surprisingly sparse away following did their best to gee up the visitors, who became involved in some needless handbags that saw Isla booked for dissent.
And they silenced the home fans completely 10 minutes in when Gervinho got the better of Medhi Benatia and squared for Van Persie to slot home from six yards.
Two minutes later, disaster appeared to strike again when Thomas Vermaelen was adjudged to have handled Di Natale's corner and Olegario Benquerenca pointed to the spot.
But Szczesny produced a wondrous one-handed save to tip the striker's penalty over the crossbar.
Udinese went for broke, allowing more space for the excellent Gervinho, who was showing just how much Arsenal will miss him when his domestic ban resumes at Manchester United on Sunday.
But it was, fittingly, Walcott who killed the contest in the 69th minute after outpacing the hapless Benatia and slotting past Handanovic.
Bacary Sagna was booked, as were Benatia, Walcott and Carl Jenkinson as tempers frayed amid the enormity of what was at stake.
Di Natale dragged wide trying to salvage some pride for the home side and also stung the palms of Szczesny with a free-kick from a tight angle after Isla was withdrawn for German Dernis.
The home fans immediately began to flock for the exit, with more than five minutes remaining, their misery compounded when Benatia was carried off on a stretcher.
Arsenal ran down the clock and they almost added a third goal when Van Persie and substitute Armand Traore both shot straight at Handanovic.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 24 Aug 11
Wenger's reaction to the Udinese 1-2 Arsenal match
Yes, of course, because it was a massive game for us. I heard it enough yesterday in the press conferences to be convinced of it. We responded in a very positive way, even after being down 1-0. We had a fantastic second half and created chance after chance. I am very happy because we kept our composure when we were down 1-0. We kept dominating and playing the football we want to play.
on Gervinho’s performance…
He was always dangerous. I told you yesterday, and many times, that he will be a big player for us. Sometimes the quality of the player is linked with the transfer amount and it is not always the case.
on Wojciech Szczesny’s penalty save…
Yes, that was a turning point of the game because it was at 1-1. You could see mentally it has an impact on their belief and they were not the same team after they missed the penalty.
on whether the result eases pressure…
I feel, of course, it will because we have been a little bit under pressure. For us not to play in the Champions League and with the players who have left, that pressure would have increased, understandably. Since the beginning of the season I feel a very strong, determined attitude within the team. We did not win at Newcastle but we played with 10 men. We did lose at Liverpool with 10 men but I am convinced that we would not have lost against Liverpool with 11. Overall, there is a strong attitude and spirit inside the team.
on the importance of the win…
It was important today because we were under pressure so it was important to keep calm, composed and not do anything stupid.
on recent criticism…
We live in a society where everybody has an opinion on everything. I'm like somebody who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept that somebody can come into the cockpit and thinks he can fly the plane better than I do. But that is part of our job and we have to accept that. I just would like to say that the Club is in, overall, a very strong position. Tonight, for 14 years on the trot, we play in the Champions League. We have a new stadium, a fantastic training ground, a very good financial situation and a very strong team. Sometimes you have to take a distance a little bit [from the criticism].
on Tomas Rosicky’s introduction…
I felt that we attacked and Udinese played on the counter-attack. I felt that we lacked a little bit of creativity in the middle of the park and needed to be a little bit more creative. Tomas had a big influence in the second half.
Source: Arsenal.com on 24 Aug 11
24 August 2011: Udinese 1-2 Arsenal, Stadio Friuli
They beat Udinese 3-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-1 win at the Stadio Friuli on Wednesday evening.
It was comfortable in the end but, before that, Arsène Wenger’s side had to endure 70 tension-filled minutes in north-east Italy.
Antonio Di Natale wiped out Arsenal’s first-leg lead with a clever header six minutes from half-time.
Robin van Persie finished off excellent work from Gervinho to give the visitors the comfort of an away goal 10 minutes after the restart.
But, almost immediately, Udinese had the chance to regain the lead on the night when Thomas Vermaelen was penalised for handball in the area.
Di Natale, scorer of 57 Serie A goals in the past two seasons, stepped up. But Wojciech Szczesny flung himself to his right to palm the ball over the bar. A sensational, tie-turning save.
Theo Walcott added a breakaway goal in the 69th minute to kill the tie. It was a shame in one way. The first 160 minutes of this tie had been superb entertainment. The final 20 were pedestrian by comparison.
But then who cares? This was a pressure game for a team already under scrutiny from all quarters - and they got the job done.
As they have been ever since season 1998-99, Arsenal are a Champions League side.
Before kick-off, Wenger welcomed back Alex Song, Gervinho and Johan Djourou from Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool. Van Persie returned after missing the first leg at Emirates Stadium last week. Wenger was back on the bench too, his suspension had been… well… suspended.
Tomas Rosicky’s thigh problem had cleared up but he only made the bench. Despite his sending off at the weekend, Emmanuel Frimpong retained his place in central midfield.
Last week’s game had been wide open given its importance. The second leg took about 100 seconds to suggest it would be the same.
The opening salvo saw Mauricio Isla attack down the right but his shot drifted beyond the far post. Then, at the other end, Gervinho ghosted inside his marker and, from the tightest of angles, Samir Handanovic snatched his cross-shot.
The early flurry ended with Walcott driving at the keeper. As he had so significantly in injury time at Emirates Stadium, the Slovenian saved from the Englishman.
In the eighth minute, Di Natale hooked home a shot but the offside flag was entirely expected - and merited. Ramsey had a shot deflected wide and then Gervinho popped up on the right to test Handanovic from the tightest of angles once more.
Arsenal were going for the goal that would put the tie firmly in their hands. But at Emirates Stadium, Udinese had been quick and clever on the break. In the 16th minute, that combination nearly drew them level in the tie.
Di Natale found space on the right of the area and chipped a cross into the middle. Pablo Armero got a scrambled head to it and the ball bounced against the outside of the post before Kwadwo Asamoah was flagged offside following up.
Udinese were threatening. Midway through the half, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu drove through midfield and sent Isla into space on the right. His near-post cross was made for a poacher like Di Natale. Fortunately for Arsenal, he swept the ball against the post from six yards out. A huge let-off.
The visitors found some composure in the minutes that followed and then renewed their search for a goal.
It really should have arrived in the 32nd minute. Gervinho tricked and teased the Udinese defence and cut the ball back for the unmarked Walcott 12 yards out. His sidefoot effort was superbly saved by Handanovic. The rebound fell to Van Persie but the recovering keeper saved once more.
Di Natale was living up to his exalted reputation and, seconds later, his near-post drive was deflected into the danger area by Szczesny but no-one was one hand to convert the trickling ball.
Both goals were living a charmed life. The game could not stay scoreless forever.
It didn’t - and it was Arsenal who blinked first.
Six minutes from half-time, Giampiero Pinzi. chipped in a lofted cross towards Di Natale just inside the area. He peeled off Djourou and steered in an expert header off the far post.
It was just what the home side required and before the break Armero fired from distance following fine work from Di Natale once more.
Wenger replaced Frimpong with Rosicky at the break - an offensive move. In the early stages, Arsenal showed greater purpose going forward - but it only brought a pot-shot before the goal arrived.
The strike owed much to the brightest aspect of the visitors’ game so far - Gervinho’s ability to beat weave past full backs and reach the byline.
He did it again in the 55th minute and, this time, Van Persie was on hand to volley home at the near post.
For the first time since Udinese had taken the lead the Stadio Friuli was hushed. It would be very loud and very quiet in turn over the course of the next five minutes.
It began when Rosicky cleared Di Natale’s corner and, as Arsenal raced out of the area, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. It seemed an incredible decision at the time but the official booked Vermaelen and indicated handball.
Di Natale, top scorer in Serie A for two straight seasons, stepped up and his contact was decent. Szczesny thurst out one of his huge bucket hands to deflect the ball over the bar.
If this was a ‘money game’, one upon which millions of pounds rested, then what was that save worth?
Just for added value Szczesny saved a follow up overhead kick from Danilo Larangeira.
Udinese were wounded and Arsenal rubbed in the salt when, in the 69th minute, Walcott raced clear on the left and thumped a low shot past Handanovic.
By this time even the excellent Di Natale was starting to falter; as he did on 77 minutes when put through by Agyemang-Badu.
Gervinho, Andrey Arshavin and Armand Traore all had chances but the closing stages were relatively lame and listless. The fight had gone from Udinese, Arsenal played keep-ball.
When the whistle went, Wenger’s men had retained their Champions League status too.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 24 Aug 11
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Match Preview: Udinese vs Arsenal, Stadio Friuli
“It has a big meaning to me, a big meaning to the players and for the Club as well.
“It's just our life. We want to be at the top. We do not want to be anywhere else.”
Arsenal Football Club has been on an emotional roller coaster over the past few months.
But you sense if they can see off Udinese in Wednesday’s Champions League Play-Off second leg then something like normal service can be resumed.
The Club is up for the battle. And, make no mistake, Arsène Wenger is most definitely a fighter.
The manager brought closure to another transfer saga on Tuesday morning when he decided to let Samir Nasri leave for Manchester City. The midfielder actually took part in training that day but did not board the coach for the airport a couple of hours later.
Wenger’s standpoint was always crystal clear – he did not want Nasri, nor Cesc Fabregas for that matter, to go.
However there is a ‘clean slate’ feeling about sorting out the situation before a game that will certainly shape Arsenal’s season. Champions League football is now an expectation at Emirates Stadium – and that is the work of one man.
Wenger is going for his 14th straight qualification for the Group Stage. Before the Frenchman came along, this Club had been in the competition just twice.
OK, the entry criteria are much wider these days but flick through your records books to find all the sides in Europe that boast such a record.
While you are there also search out how often they have got through the Group Stages – because Arsenal are on 11 straight seasons and counting right now.
Of course the higher the ascent the bigger the potential fall. But this is Arsenal Football Club – an organisation which has experience in coping with the downside of success.
It goes with the territory.
Wenger’s squad is stronger than the one that squeezed past Udinese in the first leg and lost to Liverpool on Saturday.
Gervinho, Alex Song, Robin van Persie all missed one of those through suspension but are available in Italy.
Meanwhile Emmanuel Frimpong’s domestic ban has not come into force yet. Johan Djourou and Armand Traore are fit once again.Laurent Koscielny (back), Jack Wilshere (ankle), Sebastien Squillaci (calf) and Nicklas Bendtner (ankle) are out. Tomas Rosicky (thigh) faces a late fitness test.
Udinese were bright, sparky and probably worth a goal at Emirates Stadium last week. Their failure to hit the net means an Arsenal strike at Stadio Friuli would leave the Italians chasing three.The home side are without striker Antonio Floro Flores (thigh), centre back Maurizio Domizzi (both thigh) and right back Dušan Basta.
They have qualified for the Group Stages only once in their history and so, not surprisingly, and taking the opposite route to Arsenal’s ‘play-it-down’ approach.
Captain and talisman Antonio di Natale said this was “like a World Cup Final” for him while coach Francesco Guidolin added: “We have been preparing this game for 50 days so we will try to hide our weaknesses and expose theirs.”
Wenger will be on the opposite bench after he was given a ‘stay’ on suspension for supposedly breaching his touchline ban in the first leg. A decision the Club are appealing in any case.
However, Guidolin’s side won his respect from the stands at Emirates Stadium and, interestingly, Wenger feels the loss of big-name players will create the opportunity for others on Wednesday.
“Udinese are team who are very dangerous with their strikers – Mauricio Isla and di Natale,” he said.
“Di Natale had more shots than anybody in the first game while their midfield was strong and compact. We respect Udinese, they are a good side and they showed that in the first game.
“We are in a strong position and we want to build on that. We need to score but as well not to concede goals because if we score, it's not enough. We want to be solid defensively because this is a team that has shown in the first game that they can be dangerous.
“However I believe in the players I have and the best way, sometimes, when you lose big players is that gets the team on the edge a little bit. It forces each of them to give a bit more, fight a bit together and that's of course what we will want to show on Wednesday.”
Then there is the heat. Arsenal flew from drab, grey London rain to bright Italian sunshine on the eve of the game. With temperatures expected to be over 30 degrees Celsius at kick-off, Wenger admitted it would be an issue for his side.
“It is little bit too much for us,” he said. “We hope you put a fridge on tomorrow night and it is a little bit colder! In London it is 20 degrees, so that is ideal to play football. Hopefully at 8.45pm local time, it will be better - and a bit colder.”
Climate control is a challenge beyond many but victory over Udinese tonight will certainly go a long way towards affecting some change.
Remember though that Champions League action is no divine right. It is an achievement and something other Premier League clubs have celebrated as a trophy in recent years.
At the end of his media work, Wenger was asked what it would mean to go out of the tournament at this stage.
“We will see after,” he replied. “Let's first give everything.”
That, in a nutshell, is his attitude for Udinese.
What is done is done, control your future and, above all, qualify.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 24 Aug 11
Nasri completes move to Manchester City
Nasri, 24, who joined Arsenal from Olympique Marseille in July 2008, made a total of 125 appearances for the Gunners and scored 27 goals.
Last season, Nasri scored 15 goals from his 46 appearances, including ten goals in the Premier League from his 30 appearances.
Arsène Wenger said: "Although we are all disappointed Samir has decided to leave us, we must respect his decision and also thank him for his fantastic contribution to Arsenal Football Club. Samir's on-pitch commitment to Arsenal was never in question and he always gave absolutely everything to the team."
"We will miss Samir, but if a player coming into the last year of their contract is determined to leave the Club and we also receive a competitive offer for them, this clearly influences our decision-making process."
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club would like to thank Samir for his contribution during his time at the Club.
Source: Arsenal.com on 24 Aug 11
Wenger must address his new reality
Samir Nasri, in April 2010, vouched for the Arsene Wenger philosophy just as he had belatedly started to establish himself in a key role as an Arsenal player. Just 16 months later, Nasri has headed to a club whose strong foundations are built on the spending of millions. Instead of surprise at this departure, Arsenal fans are getting used to a marked lowering of ambition.
Arsene Wenger has already articulated those feelings. He did it just last month, in fact. "Imagine the worst situation - we lose Fabregas and Nasri. You cannot convince people you are ambitious after that," he told reporters on the club's Malaysian tour.
"You cannot pretend you are a big club. A big club holds onto its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they just cannot come in and take [players] away from you. We worked very hard with these players for years to develop them and now it's time for us to keep them together."
That time has already passed. Cesc Fabregas has already won his first trophy and scored his first goal as a Barcelona player, while Nasri's move to Manchester City was eventually sped through when it became clear that his prospective club would not allow him to aid Arsenal's progress into the Champions League group stages.
In both cases, bigger clubs - one primarily in terms of achievement, the other finance - have paid top dollar to reap the benefits of Wenger's development of young players, still admired throughout the game. That this can happen to Arsenal, a club which has played 13 straight seasons of Champions League and is the third-highest achiever in English football since the advent of the Premier League, hammers home that the game's elite becomes an ever more select bunch, among whom money is always key to success.
Wenger now bears the look of a man who has had the rug pulled from under him. The repeated ministrations of his rain-soaked hair as his team lost to Liverpool conjured memories of McClaren and Hodgson at their lowest ebbs. His public statements have become odd. A statement a fortnight ago that he expected neither Fabregas nor Nasri to leave must now be seen as some kind of sarcastic joke, while a relaxed demeanour during an impromptu press conference at Heathrow Airport as Nasri's departure became official suggested a man who is yet to come to terms with the depth of his plight.
Though in confusing denial that Wednesday's match was critical, failure at Udinese with a squad shorn of the aforementioned plus an injured Jack Wilshere looks eminently possible, and could rob Wenger of £20 million of transfer funds, as loath as he seems to spend them. Lose in Italy, and at Manchester United, and Wenger faces the greatest crisis of a reign not without its disappointments but full of successes and artistic impression.
He leads a squad that needs a reliable goalkeeper to back up the promise of Wojciech Szczesny, at least one more central defender, an experienced left back, two midfielders offering variously creativity and grit, and a forward capable of filling in for the brittle Robin van Persie. Though he now has over £60 million to spend, he has eight days to do so or must then rely on a squad stretched thinly across its bare bones.
Youthful promise has been the quality most associated with Arsenal since the breaking up of the 'Invincibles' of 2004, yet that promise has not been kept. Two players expected to lead through the next generation are now part of someone else's future, leaving the likes of Ignasi Miquel, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong exposed as their manager seeks to rescue a season with August not yet out.
While clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United have augmented their own youth products with the expensive purchase of further talent, Wenger must blood those kids alongside the rump of a group who have repeatedly failed to deliver silverware.
If, as Wenger observed, losing their key players was to give up the pretence that Arsenal remain among the game's heavyweights, further failure can only diminish that status further. A big club should expect to win honours and, at the very least, finish in the top four. At present, Wenger's Arsenal look short of that capability.
Source: John Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 23 Aug 11
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