”The big question that needs to be asked is can this team transfer todays form into the minor games? It is ok motivating yourself for the big games, but if you can’t be assed against Stoke… what is the point?’
That quote was taken from the bottom of my Manchester United match report. Unlike some, I refused to get carried away with that result… I said to a Grover before that match that we’d win against the Old Trafford outfit and create a false horizon… then the cracks would appear at a later date. I must admit though, I didn’t expect us to run into trouble so soon after the last two results.
Today, without a doubt is the most disappointing result of the season. Aston Villa are a good team, I am not denying that but we are supposed to be one of the best in the country… plus, we’ve just come off the back of two decent results. The first team should have been brimming with confidence and eager to prove to the faithful that they are indeed, worthy of their places.
Sadly, there was no such determination.
I don’t think you can knock the coach. He picked the same team that beat the Champions, he made his subs fairly early in the game and we didn’t have a Champions league game in mid week. So what went wrong?
Well, for me… it all boils down to desire again. If there is no doubt about the quality and ability, it simply has to come down to attitude and desire.
I’ll list the main offenders:
Cesc: So at the start of the season we knew Cesc was playing badly and we blamed Euro 2008… then he continued to play poorly, so we blamed Denilson… Now Denilson is playing well, who the hell do we blame? He looks lost on the pitch and he doesn’t seem particularly interested in fighting for the club. As an Arsenal fan, I don’t give a rats arse what your name is… if you’re not playing well, you should be dropped in place of someone who will play well. Cesc is playing badly… and he needs to be dropped. Ramsey, regardless of his age would have put in a better performance today. British players are flawed in many ways, but there is always fight in them. I’m not seeing any fight from Cesc this season.
Nik B: I’ve been a staunch defender of the big Dane. Today I felt really let down by him… He was man marked by Davies, but he didn’t offer anything to the midfield in the game. He wasn’t looking for the ball and he didn’t challenge for anything… correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t remember him having a shot? I know the lone striker role is difficult to play at such a young age… but more often than not he had support… be it Diaby or Theo. If you are fighting for a place in the team with Adebayor… you try your bollocks off, Nik didn’t… and everyone in the stadium could see that.
Almunia: He made a great save from a penalty in the first half… but his flapping has started again. If Fabianski were selected you can bet your bottom dollar Clichy wouldn’t have turned that ball into the net… because he would have claimed it. I also think for the second goal, Gallas did everything correctly… and it was up to Almunia to keep the shot out at his near post. The shot was hardly ripped was it? A very average performance from a top 4 keeper.
Theo: Ok, so how long am I going to kid myself about Theo and his contribution? He was terrible today and for me… all this talk of a £60k a week contract is a bit premature. He is living off the back of his England performance because to be fair… he has never done that for Arsenal on a consistent basis. He was poor today… constantly running up blind alleys and making the wrong decisions. If he wants to play in the big leagues he has to start finding some consistency becuase at the moment, Arsenal aren’t getting enough from him. The one positive I will take from Theo today is that he never stop working hard for the team… unlike certain others. He is also playing out of position… but when you’ve been playing out of position for a year… you can’t really have any complaints. Thierry went from winger, to striker… back to winger. The best players adapt.
I thought there were some great performances out there today… I thought Denilson had a stormer. He was all over the park this afternoon… he tackled, he passed and he carried Cesc for large parts of the game. I thought he looked like a bit of a leader today, that of course is open to debate.
I thought the centre backs were top notch as well. Gallas and Silvestre really played well. Silvestre is your no nonsense type defender, his motto would be ‘if in doubt, boot it out’ and Gallas played in a more composed and thoughtful way. He looks calmer with Silvestre by his side.
Diaby looked pretty sparky in a crowded midfield. He is the most accomplished player on the ball in that Arsenal team… some of his on the ball skill is nothing short of outrageous. I’d be quite happy to see him pair up with Denilson in the middle of the park… with 2 inform strikers to feed, he could be a different beast.
Adebayor showed why he is Arsenal number one when he came on… his energy, power and aggression could have been utilised a bit better had he started the game. Eduardo will be fit soon… so hopefully we can find some more potency up front because from where I am sitting… we look pretty woeful at the moment.
On a more sour note… the fans started streaming out early doors tonight. The stadium was almost 3/4 empty by the time the final whistle was blown. I guess the fans think, if they can’t be fucked… why should I? There was a chorus of boos to top off a crap afternoon. I’m not a fan of that… but people are paying serious wedge to see a lot of average, ‘I don’t give a fuck’ type performances.
If you’re not happy as a fan… how else are you expected to express your displeasure? Oh… and before people start… don’t give me all this plastic fans bollocks. In Milan, if the fans are unsatisfied they turn the backs and hold a silent protest. In Spain, if Madrid or Barca fans are upset… they wave white hankeys. No one ever calls their fans plastic do they? They are just passionate about being anti-average.
Any boos yesterday shouldn’t have been directed at the coach (I don’t think they were)… they should have been directed to the players. Many of them were devoid of passion and heart yesterday… and I feel sorry for Wenger because he put his reputation on the line to back that crop of kids. Again… we know they can turn it on for the big games, but when it comes to digging out a performances against the not so glamourous teams… we are found wanting.
Booing isn’t an acceptable practice… but earning £30k a week in a recession and not giving your all for the shirt is also not acceptable. Fans are not stupid, they know effort when they see it… and they’ll always forgive a poor result if the players put there all in… I didn’t feel we saw that yesteday…. what did you think?
So… after a week of basking in the sunshine of a false horizon… we are back where we started, our title challenge is in tatters and our first team squad are not capable of giving 100%. Martin O’neil has a squad of just above average players… but he gets 110% out of them. If Wenger could work the same magic with his kids, we’d win the league. Motivating a bunch of young mercenaries must come with it’s own set of troubles though… they’ve been earning great dough since the age of 15 and they think they’ve made it.
How do you rectify that? Well… I’d kick their ego’s into touch… either by introducing a couple of the kids… or buying some serious talent in January. Nothing like a bit of competition for your place is there?
What to do, what to do….
Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section!
What’s going to happen in January Keyser?
i think this is your best post ever.
agreed with every word.
you didnt mention nasri. i thought he was shite as well.
At least in Vela we have something to celebrate about
Franchise. Agreed but seeing him start once in every 6 weeks is not enough for my liking.
Of all of us that are old enough does anyone remember going to Wembley in 1968 to play Swindon in the league cup final Now that was bad.
Geoff …. you’re coment that Bendtner has been hopeless in the last 3 games (Pedro game him 7 for his last game ?????) is a bit wide of the mark …he IS HOPELESS … I have never seen any quality in him because he hasn’t got any. We have persisted with players who are not good enough (and I include Ade in that) I said last season that if he doesn’t buy decent players and move the likes of those two out we would be a mid table team and Spurs would finish above us ….. If he doesn’t buy quality in January I stick by this. We are pathetic. Some of the fans reaction to the game against Man U reminded me of West Ham fans when the highlight of their season is to beat the likes of Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea on their way to the winning the League ….. The feather in their cap …as they see it …. is that they beat the eventual champions ….Is that what Arsenal is now reduced to???????
Rasputin…..Who knows what will happen in January, but it does present an opportunity for the additions to the squad we are all hoping for.
Rasputin – I don’t know do I LoL but it’s something isn’t it ? If Wenger had his eye on soo many players that we were linked him he may be tempted to buy one.
Either way we’re going to have lift our game until then, I say we need more violence in the team, people like Bendtner should be bullying people up front. Villa were clever with it yesterday, Denilson and Fabregas both got booked early on with rash challenges, Sidwell, Barry and Petrove each got about 5 niggly fouls in before they got the mandatory talking to, but each one broke down our play before it’d even started.
Adebayor with Vela could be a good combination, but Van Persie will be back for Man City and if we couldn’t break down Villa throught the short passing his set pieces would have been good, not saying they would’ve worked but it’s something else to go to.
I admire your optimism Truth and I wouldn’t criticise you, but – it also presents another opportunity to have our hopes dashed. I can only judge on recent history, and to me it loks unlikely that we will strengthen the squad with an experienecd proven player because that will cost upwards of 15 million
Sorry 1969
have to agree with this post 100%…but what a cunt the ref was that 2nd goal was a joke ..but the lack of chances we created was pathetc
Rasputin – We need an energy in the midfield that all four players we started last season provided us with.
I wouldn’t even mind if it was someone young, they linked us with Stephane M’bia and Blaise Matuidi, does anyone know much about these players ?!
Pedro – not sure Wenger can escape this one.
As mentioned last night, if a couple of new faces had made the team, it would have put all of the players under pressure and motivated the youth to keep up the good work.
Also playing the same formation against Man U and Villa does not make sense as they play differently.
We did not compete in midfield where Villa were happy to play the game. By playing 4 4 2, with the pace of Vela to start with could have turned the game for us.
Talk of selling Cesc, is a bit off the mark, give him a rest, drop him, call it what you want. If I were the Spain coach, and I watched his last performances, he would not be playing mid week, perhaps that can do the trick.
Citeh away and Chelsea away are perfect games to judge the players.
I agree on Almunia though, he needs to be rested.
has Alonso signed a new deal?
I hate to say it Keyser, but Diarra is the right kind of player – shame he’s such a little shit. Mind you, Wenger should have kept his options open when Flamini wouldn’t sign and kept Diarra happy by giving him more games. He was quality for us right from the first time he played in the CC team.
We may get a bargain for 5 to 10 million – it will just represent more of a gamble and I think we’ve had enough of those – don’t you?
I really find it hard to believe that all the players some of you are slagging off this week were your hero’s last week. Arsenal fans can be so fickle at times;quite a few of you were only brought up with winning ways and don’t know what its like to lose. Yes it hurts. I’ve supported them for almost 50 years and have seen some crap. So instead of getting on their backs try a bit of support which has been sadly lacking at the ground…..the atmosphere there is pathetic.
On another point I have to mention the officials. Mr Riley whatever you were on do you mind sharing it with the rest of us – because yesterday you were the star of the show with your ridiculous decisions. The standard of officials must be at its lowest when it still recruits this clown. two fouls on two Arsenal players resulting in two goals for Villa – not good enough.
And for those of you idiots that say the season is over – The season is not just the league!
Vela’s pace would have made no difference ystdy Mark C. Villa sat too deep to be troubled by pace. With a 442 ystdy or against Mancs we would have been annihilated
Mark C his trickery would have helped though. Theo as fast as he is couldnt get behind Villa’s back 4
Keyser, If we talk of those players, I like the look of Stephen Ireland
Looking at the squad and just forgetting the age issue for the sake of argument. If you want to inject energy into the midfield, these are the players who on form would give you that ‘enthusiasm’….Denilson, Ramsey, Wilshere, and Coquelin.
I’m not suggesting that they should comprise our midfield, just that they demonstrate the drive and hunger that we are lacking and maybe perming 2 from the 4 and rotating them might work?
And I would not be adverse to a return of PV4, even if only on loan
Rasputin – Everythings a gamble, Diarra isn’t that good, he has the energy and the talent maybe but he still wastes a lot of it because he isn’t clever with it, Flamini knew his strengths and weaknesses and worked with them the best he could.
There’s no-one out there that would prove an instant hit, it’s not one player thats messing us up it’s a team thing even if we bought in a couple of players we’re still going to need to step up as a team together.
Thats what Wenger needs to deal with most, we can deal with one player having a poor game every team should be able to but then add a second player and then a third and it just builds up.
Every game we’ve lost this season we can point to one or two players mistakes but it’s the team that needs to step up together.
A mature article, without any prejudice or biases. Totally aggree with Denilson looking like a leader. If he was 4 years older I would have liked to see him with the captains armband rather than anyone else. Cesc needs to be dropped, but he did himself a favor by getting suspended. It would be interesting to see who fills in his boots, would Wenger bring in Ramsey, or play Diaby/Nasri/Denilson in his place.
Paul. I was there in ’69, One of the worst days of my life. Still in shock !!
PattheGooner – Isn’t he more attacking though ? Is Johnson injured ? Because we were linked with him aswell LoL.
Rasputin – Out of all the kids Coquelin would be the best suited he just runs around non-stop and seems to have a good pass and he scored a good goal with his left foot despite being right footed for the reserves.
Ramsey and Wilshere are the creative types, I think this is what stops Wenger, Seriously Coquelin looks like exactly the type of player we need but the kids 15 ?!
Lansbury aswell is tht sort of energetic midfielder.
Coquelin does look good,
I also wonder how much impact the returning Rosicky and Eduardo can have.
I still think Vieira is the short-term answer. He is not the same player but he is still better than what we have and I think it will give a massive lift to the fans and he will lead that midfield
Well said Keyser. It is a team thing.
Our problems do not rest with any individual. The fact is that at no time after the first 4 minutes did we ever look like scoring.
And the further we pushed up, the more likely we were to concede against a team that had pace a plenty up front.
No-one can be blamed for either goal. It was the team that conceded .
Oh, and Riley, who was his normal appalling self. When Daies got clattered by Gallas, he stopped play, but when Sagna went down with a serious injury, he allowed play to conitnue which left Young unmarked to cross for the first goal. The second goal came from what was a clear free kick – in fact two of them.
pat they wld probably help us to finish 4th
Lansbury is ok but I would rather see him go out on loan for a bit, he was really disspointing in pre-season as was Randall.
Lansbury had that nasty illness though so I still remain hopeful that he will break through.
I think I would go with Ramsey and Denilson against Man City but my money is on Wenger picking Denilson and Song.
Vieira for 18 months ? Good call.
I would take 4th right now Franchise..
I like Coquelin Keyser – unfortunately AW obviously doesn’t think he’s ready. It’s funny that young players can run around like lunatics in reserve/youth games, but not for 90 minutes in the first team. The pitch is the same size, the balls the same shape, they seem to handle the pressure because they are hungry for the porche and 50K a week.
I think I will actually start hoping that the top 3 clubs start picking up the points against the likes of Everton and Villa. The sooner we can build a gap between 4th and 5th the better.
Pat. Depends how close to fitness Eboue is.
Is Hoyte ready for Citeh? No, is the short answer. To put anyone untested against either SWP or Robinho is a recipe for disaster.
If Eboe is unfit, Kolo RB. Song DM.
RvP will be back as will Ade. So, I would like to see Diaby play the Cesc role, but I think AW will play safe and use that lump Song
PattheGooner – I don’t think he’s as mobile as he used to be, he had Petit and Gilberto behind him, we need someone to do the dirty work behind the midfield.
Against United we didn’t have a defensive midfielder on the pitch but everyone mucked in and we got through it together, we need that sort of energy from everyone we didn’t have a midfield yesterday we just had 5 midfielders doing their own thing.
I would love to see vieira back, he obviously still has a passion for the club. I agree that he isn’t the player that left us but his leadership skills and sheer bloody mindedness of not losing a game is exactly what we need. However resigning him would be the ultimate statement of ‘i’m in a bit of a crisis, my youth expeiment isn’t quite going to plan’.
I could never see wenger doing that.
Big_Raddy – I don’t know what to say about the refereeing anymore, he gave Fabregas and Denilson yellow cards pretty early on but let the whole Villa midfield do what they wanted until the second half where he gave them a talking to.
We need to abuse the rules like we used to, harass the referee like they were and perform the niggly fouls like they did, forget the respect campaign, no-one else is taking it seriously.
I think Dunn’s out for them and hopefully a few reds today should help us out. Carew being out yesterday actually helped them.
we pay these frauds 50 to 100 grand a week . we work our balls of all week then most of it goes on watchin our team on a saturday which is probably our only day off and the highlight of another hard week trying to keep a roof over our heads. All we ask for is our team for 90 minutes try your best to try win a match but if not at least we,ll leave the stadium knowing you came of the pitch with your head held high knowing u tried ur best.Wat im watching nearly every week is a bunch of spineless, cowardly , passionless chancers{not theo, clichy or dinnelson}taking us for a ride bluffing their way through matches, pulling out of tackles{no wonder we are top of the fair play league] SHOWING NO HEAT or fight. its getting embarrissing to watch . other supporters are laughing at us
Rasputin – I was thinking about that, at Barnet whenever you watch the game, I think it’s the camera angle, the pitch looks smaller and the reserves don’t look half as good as they did playing at the Emirates, playing on that pitch with that crowd behind them seemed to help them a lot.
It’s fuuny that the two best games of the season you can go and watch for a tenner. They were a joy to watch against sheff utd.
5 doing there own thing, that is where I think we are missing the leadership.
You dont need it so much when things are going well, but when they are not, they seem to slide further and further out of shape whilst the game goes on.
Vieira is not as mobile, but he is better than what we have got. I would prefer Barry but I just dont think we will pay the money for him. I would at least love his presence in the squad. he has a awe about him and we lack those players.
More likely we will buy this Witsel kid everyone is going on about.
I am in my mid-30′s but have supported Arsenal all my life and I always seem to remember us having a darling of the North Bank, and on occaisions we have been brimming with them. I think we are short of idols and personality. I have some good friends that are die hard Liverpool fans and on an occaision where they were talking sense, they mentioned how in awe they were when watching Thierry Henry at anfield. He said it was the only occaision where the home crowd really gasped in respect for an opposition player and they even clapped him. We miss that type of player. I talked to those same fans a few weeks ago and they made an honest comment that they would struggle to pick an Arsenal player that would get in their starting 11.
On that, which Arsenal players do you think would get into Man Ure, Chelsea and Liverpools starting 11.
Spot on Kelsey. HAd Carew played, we would have dominated midfield.
Sidwell was told by Riley, one more and your booked. He booked him 4 fouls later.
Our yellows were fair enough. Both played the man and not the ball. But how many times did AV stop our play with niggly fouls? Surely that is ungentlemanly conduct. A booking is not just for violent play
The pressure of ‘expectation’ can be debilitating, the hunger of ambition can be invigorating. Let’s give Ramsey, Wilshire, Coquelin a go – we,ve got nothing to lose because we are losing games without them
maybe the 1st team should start playing at Barnet and the Reserves should start playing at the Emirates.
Pat…. Song would be nice,
Dont start on Song BR
He did not even play yesterday and I still blame him for upsetting the feng shui in the stadium. That is why we lost. The sooner he is made to stay on the coach the better
Yes, but wouldn’t he look good so much better if he was playing for anyone else …..
Feng shui…
PattheGooner – I don’t agree Vieira is better than what we’ve got ? He was vastly better but he’s not the same player anymore, when we had Vieira in the team he had Petit next to him, Adams, Keown, Winterburn and Dixon behind him, Wright and Bergkamp in front and Parlour and Overmars to either side. It’s not just one leader.
Last weeks performance is what we need everyone working together and it’s not going to come with quick solutions, it’s going to take time, Gallas was the leader last week but he can’t do everything and we need to step up together.
If Adebayor and Van Persie return next week I think we’ll see an improvement, small steps.
We can’t keep looking to the past, for one it’s just depressing.
Sorry mean’t to add I understand the Leadership aspect with him but he won’t work miracles, he lead by example and maybe thats what we’re missing but those players can still show it for themselves. He liefted the team with a crushing tackle a lung bursting run and thats the same with Henry I think, having him in run past defenders at will lifted the team.
I watched the united game a couple of season back and Adebayor worked his aSs off ran at all defenders, ran 40 yards to pick up a ball out of play and got everyone going.
Clichy against Everton was descrribed by sone as Superhuman, Fabregas controlling the midfield, people were impressed with Denilson’s tackling last week, they have it in them, they just have to get it out.
Kelsey, the problem yetserday was that the midfield coudn’t cope with the different problems that AV posed. We seem to struggle when our lads do not have space to turn and play their passing game. That Fulham, Hull and AV played the same pressing game will alert other managers, so we have to have Plan B. which we were clearly lacking yesterday.
http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/2008/11/16/anti-football-develops-another-tactic/
Hey guys look at this article.
IF THEO WAS NOT ENGLISH, WOULD HE GET AS MUCH PLAYING TIME AS HE GETS. THEO HAS PACE AND NOTHING ELSE, HE IS USELESS. HE CANNOT RUN WITH THE BALL, HIS DELIVERY IS POOR, HIS PASSING IS POOR, HIS FINISHING IS POOR – WHY CAN NO ONE SEE THIS?
DJOUROU IS THE ANSWER TO OUR DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD PROBLEM. HE COULD DO FOR US WHAT VIERA DID. VERY GOOD IN THE TACKLE AND USES THE BALL VERY WELL.
Finally somebody that agrees with me regarding Denilson ;P
Excellent stuff.Spot on. I disagree with u abt diaby havin a gud game. He was out of place. Him along with bentner were the major factor for our defeat.
paul, i fear its more of fab wanting to go to barca at this point//
What’s the story with Cesc? Was he persuaded from going to Barca in the summer by Wenger promising to bring in a world class midfielder to replace Flamini? Wenger lied to all of us regarding transfers. Is Cesc now so pissed off with Wenger’s lie but still expected to carry the midfield regardless? Is his head is now with his mate Hleb? Cesc will go next summer. Wenger will tell us it was the right time for him to go, “conwinced of the quality of replacements at the club”.
It is all very well blaming RVP, However I believe the 11 Players that were on the pitch should be capable of performing better than they did yesterday – If they are not then they should GO
Lets face the facts we’ve gone from having an embarrassment of riches in midfield to having a group who play like virtual strangers. The chemistry there is just all wrong. and most of us saw it coming. I do not understand why Arsene persists with the thought that bringing in some experience would hamper progress for the youngsters, surely the past results has at least the same effect. Our team is full of too many Arsene type players, and not enough individuals, the type that can take the game be the scruff of its neck and change it. I still believe we are just a few short of what could be a competitive squad and I cannot see why it should be seen as a failure to recognize and address this.
Hello guys…Wenger needs a plan B. He’s tactics are now being easily read by the opposition!
I agree with a lot of what you say. I thought Denilson & Diaby were the two bright sparks in an otherwise dire performance. Bentdner was utterly useless so i was puzzled when they took diaby off. Most the blogs i read slate Denilson whilst Cesc can do no wrong but I would say that mostly (apart from Man U) its the other way around. Most of the booing was directed at Riley, Its not good blaming the ref, we know he wont help us (especially a manure fan like riley) so we need to fight to win. Yesterday we were second best to a very good villa team. I have never before watched villa play and found myself envying their players but we could do worse than have Young, Abonglahour, Davis & Barry playng for us.
Some crazy transfer talk (Take it for what it is)
Vela to Hull on Loan……..WTF please no
Song to Betis on Loan……..How about on a free
Joe Ledley to Arsenal………Exclusive in the Mirror….6m……mmm not sure on that.
im surprised arsenal beat the champs realy never in my life a lame team like guners could win but is just pathetic lost to stoke ,villa and others teams to come arsenal will never finish 4 this year because they simply suck big time
Hi guys… sorry for the moderated comments… I’ve been out!
Worst weekend in a long time, i’ve realised my team are very average and i think ive just written off my very new and expensive car, but the game hurts more!!
I think the criticism of Fabregas is going overboard. Just as he was never as good last season as everyone was making out, so he’s not as bad this season as everyone would have you believe.
Fabregas is not suited to English football. He likes to play methodical, possession football. Slow, slow, quick, quick. When he is playing this type of game to a high standard, this can offset his inherent unsuitability to the english game, where players like Anderson and Essien seem to overpower him in short spaces and physical battles.
The problem is when you get rid of the best technical ball retainer in English football in Hleb, a player who enabled Fabregas to play this possession game to a high level, Fabregas no longer can use his technical ability to gloss over the flaws in his game.
Instead of Hleb you have a green Samir Nasri who doesn’t seem to link with Cesc in the possession game for a consistent period, and you have Theo Walcott, who is frankly an embarrassment when it comes to intelligent, probing football.
So, unless Wenger goes out and finds some top class flank playmakers to relight Cesc’s fire, he may as well sell him and go back to style of football we played with Vieira. Buy a big physical enforcer and play, direct.
At the moment Cesc is a 1500 metre runner being asked to run the 400. It’s not natural to him and doesn’t suit him. The question for Wenger is, is he worth indulging?
paulinho.. please stop with hleb. He has nothing to do with fabregas’s slump!
Keyser
you so argumentative !
just accept our squad isnt good enough to win major titles ..
i don’t know how people still talk to you ..
im glad you have faith but , theres a time to shield the club and there’s a time too criticize it ..
the fans pay a lot of money too see a 1st class team and that team isn’t currently delivering ..
stands are emptying and things need to be addressed , carrying on like you will only prolong this nightmare !
you fall into the classification of 1st class AKB squadron leader .
theres a place call ACLF .. i think you would be at home around them !
shit i haven’t read there crap in ages , but it would be a fuckin laugh too read some of there excuses!
they aint so super human this season !
and it only boils down too consistency , and consistency wins titles !
I notice a common disagreement with the post is me saying don’t blame the coach.
It is the coaches issue that the players are not good enough to sustain a challenge… but yesterday, with what he had… we should have won.
He can’t be solely responsible for passion and desire can he? That should be mandatory for a professional footballer.
All I’ll say is that certain players haven’t made the jump this year… and if they get moved on, they can’t really have any complaints can they?
The buck stops with Wenger… but he did the same as he did against ManU… so the players need to take responsibility as well.
So Choy, Fabregas is merely off-form is he? Come off it.
So, of he stays ‘off form’ for the next three years are you still going to say it’s nothing to do with player departures?
I’m amazed by some people’s inability to call a spade a spade at times. Especially when you compare players like Walcott to players that have left and their differing attributes.
Gambon, sorry to hear about you car buddy.
Paulinho, Cesc is suited to our game… he just needs to play with great players.
I don’t think you can say a player who gets 24 assists and 10 goals isn’t suited.
I think we need some serious squad first aid in January. Especially now Sagna is injured! What a nightmare! Kolo or Eboue? It’s a tough choice!
Well said Pedro. Though not too many have blamed AW.
Ethan, we have consistency. We are consistently inconsistent & FFS please don’t start another dull argument with Keyser. All the other Le Grover’s have to read the comments, and it does you no credit to keep belittling each other.
So Raddy, what would you do?
My point is Pedro, when he can play his type of game with people who see football the same way he does, then he can get 24 assists and goals. But if he’s playing with people like Walcott who lack intelligence, he’s taken out of his comfort zone and his production drops.
Cesc is way more reliant on his teammates than someone like Gerrard is. Franchise mentioned it above, gerrard can just spark a game into life with a dazzling run and shot. Fabregas can’t do that generally, he needs to stick to his principles of softly, softly, nicey, nicey
So whats the story with Keown? ANy updates?
Looks like you are a party of one Paulinho.
On what basis do you make the claim that our only World Class player will be off-form for 3 years ?
Ethan – Who have I upset then ? We were actually discussing things pretty well ?!
You’re talking to me, so unless you have no control over what you type think again. I don’t get why thats always your opening gambit, instead of trying to join in you decide that whoever doesn’t agree with your way of thinking must be attacked.
The squad isn’t good enough ? Right now it’s weaknesses are being exposed, but it doesn’t mean it will never be good enough, what’s up for discussion is whether we’re willing to wait around for it to ever be good enough and what we can do in the meantime to improve it, January is the only time where we actually can and then on to the summer.
There’s criticising the team and then theres the doom and gloom you like to spread that refuses to acknowledge anything that doesn’t agree with your own comment, players are either shit in your opinion or great no in betweens because Ethan is simply right and the rest are wrong.
You qualify as the anti-AKB just as bad, worse even because while he detests people who follow blindly doesn’t realise that his comments are just as extreme and devoid of thought at times.
If you don’t like what I say then discuss it instead of being just as ‘argumentative in your repost, while trying vainly to raise a cheap laugh.
Big Raddy i wonder what it would have been like on here if Le Grove was around on that day in 1969.my god i suffered at work that following monday
I agree… Fabs game is the sum of other around him. Flamini clears up… and Hleb dribbled for him.
We should have a proper winger to play out wide… and we should have purchased someone like Alonso in the middle.
Denilson is coming on quite nicely, but he still doesn’t have the high energy game of Flamini. People say the Flamster was never the long term solution… but I disagree. Why wouldn’t he be? He worked didn’t he?
The closest I can see in the current squad to Flam is Ramsey. The closest I see to Hleb… is Wilshere (Maybe the Nas next year).
Keyser/Ethan. You’ve had your say… can you bin the arguing?
This blog was built on peace, love and sprinkling of happiness. Lets keep it that way, eh?
Your only as good as those around you. Hleb, Flamini and effectively Rosicky are all gone from the midfield that dominated games with Fabregas last season. Rosicky is a bigger loss that we realise. Its not just his abilit on the ball but he is also a leader. He is a senior member of the squad and the Czech Captain.
Tis no problem Pedro, covered by ze insurance! Dont wanna know what the premium will be next year!
Anyhows, i think the main problem with our club is the board, they are unbelievably unambitious, if a board doent demand success then there will never be success. AW is in a comfort zone the likes of which have never been seen before in football.
Well, Big Raddy, if Cesc continues to paired with mediocrity like Denilson and Walcott(at this juncture he is) then don’t expect any up turn in his form. He will keep on playing like he this. Two years, three years, four years.
Flamini’s departure has very little to do with Fabregas’s form. I think it’s a case of too many people listening to pundits and the media regurgitate the same old crappy clichy about Flamini giving Fabregas ‘freedom to go forward.
As far as I can see, Fabregas has plenty of freedom and plenty of the ball, and yet he doesn’t know what to do with the ball. Why is that? Because no one around him is on his wavelength so instead of relaxing and playing his expansive game, he’s keeping it simple. When he tries something risque qith high reward, it goes wrong most of the time.
Fabregas is bereft of confidence. All this as a result of the above. To the point where even his strong points are not as strong.
Pedro – I didn’t read Big_Raddy’s comment till after I’d posted I should’ve taken heed, it’s not worth it.
Thinking about it now Almunia should have come out 4 the first goal but just before
Denilson was o.k. but he does far 2 much ball watching and a lot of players have been able 2 run off him. Look at the first goal just before the cross look where Denilson is he is just standing there he should close down Young and force him wide.
Gallas was caught out off position far 2 often I saw him playing as a full-back on 1 or 2 occasions leaving the centre exposed he is hot and cold as far as I’m concerned. Walcott…..doesn’t he know how 2 run with the ball without tripping over it? Nasri understandably is inconsistent it’s his first season. And Bendtner oh my goodness anyone who can make Adebayor look like Samuel Eto is clearly doing something wrong.
Thinking about it now Almunia should have come out 4 the first goal
Almunia 4 the second goal was just shocking it was pathetic I said yesterday Gallas did everything right he closed the angle down and Almunia’s positioning was just amateurish. Gabbi used that technique where U hit the ball so it can bounce right in front of the keeper making it an virtually impossible 2 save what Almunia failed 2 do was take a step forward that not only makes the near post angle more narrow but also makes the technique Gabbi executed much more difficult 2 execute successfully in other word’s Alumunia continues 2 show why he is 3rd choice material.
Read confidentgoners comment on yesterdays post at 9:55pm. Interesting read
The only player that I’ve seen this season that is on Cesc’s wavelength is Vela. The problem is he’s a striker so we’re still missing that linkage in midfield.
Wilshere is another one.
paulinho what you are trying to say is that cesc is giving 100 % and things are not coming off is it? well.. i think he is not giving a 100 %…. his set pieces are pathetic.. he just seems not to be bothered at all!
This is a professional football club. If you want to play with your friends might as well go to a sunday park. So what if his friends have moved on? They did not win anything anyway. We all just want him to give his 100 % .. which at the moment is not there!
OK Pedro.
Firstly, there is no easy fix.
We need 5 things IMHO.
1). A player of World reknown. Someone who when he walks into the dressing room, gets the kids to say. “Fuck me, I must be some player to be in the same dressing room as XX’. We had that man in TH14, and he hasn’t been replaced.
2). A replacement for Flamini/Diarra. A player with a huge appetite, a box to box player. I think that Ramsey will be that player, but not for 3 years.
3). A replacement for DD. We need to have someone to clinch the deals. Had DD been at AFC, so would Alonso, and he would have made a huge difference to this team.
4).. Leadership. To be beaten because of a collective lack of desire is a disgrace. We need leaders all over the pitch, not just Gallas, who does what he can. But how do you instill leadership ?
5). The defensive coach we so patently need. I am not sure about Keown. I would prefer someone with experience as a coach. Not just as a player.
This is no different to what I wrote 8 months ago !!!
Choy, he played similar last season alot of the time. I remember against Everton at goodison he was terrible, sulking from the start and having to get subbed after a spat with Tim Cahill. He really was a immature little twat that day.
After Xmas he was poor the whole time really apart from the european games. He was shit at Old Trafford in the league game.
He only really showed fighting spirit in the games before Xmas.
Listen, I agree Cesc has been disappointing this season in terms of attitude, but what I’m saying is he was similarly comotose for large spells last yeat to. But yet fans are fickle and forget all that cause he scored 13 goals in a three month purple patch.
People are expecting too much of him. He’s really not that good unless things are tailored form himt o produce.
He would struggle to get into the Barca side as he stands at the moment. Xavi and Iniesta both have more spark in their play and have more zip.
oh for fuks sake . lets built a fuking intire team around fukin golden boy fabregas . get someone in to do his tackling for him . his running for him , his marking for himand wiping his arse. cesc has ben found out in this league. physically he is not strong enough as teams put a man tight on him he has not the speed or physic to get away from them .teams know this . they also know that all arsenal play starts through him so stop him stop arsenal. cesc can look a world beater when given space like fernabache allowed him . but so couldchris morgan given time and space
Raddy, 5 great points.
Who would merit a wow factor in world football today… that Arsenal could realistically expect to purchase?
Paulinho.
There are none so blind, as those that cannot see.
Harry, great players always have players who make them look better.
Henry —> Pires
Freddie —> Bergkamp
Paddy —> Petit
XAVI?
Good call BR I agree with all 5 of those.
You forget Kolo –> campbell
AW’s problem Pedro
Eto’o ?
Xavi ?
I dont think we have the pulling power for a “wow factor” player now, we did in the summer but i think we will struggle in january/june to sign anyone of true world class calibre.
Off out. Then there’s the Big Game this afternoon
Thanks for the banter chaps. Livened up a freezing cold, damp, dull Sunday.
4 defeats in a 3rd of the season so by my calculation we will lose 12 games this season! Well thats finishing 6th then! Am I the only one that thinks Bendtner is totally shite, his first touch is pathetic……. losing hope Grovers….but never faith!
But before I go ………………
I was asked what I thought would make the difference. Not what I thought was realistic !!!!
Pedro good point let me continue
Toure>Campbell
Adebayor>Fabregas, Rosicky and Hleb
I wish I could think of more but sadly I can’t.
I would only add that it’s not just a defensive coach we need as someone that can inject something else into the dressing room. As has been said already today AW must be running out of things to say at half time, we need a solid backup for AW like Quieroz was to Ferguson. I can’t even remember Pat Rice giving a post match interview, it is all falling on Wenger’s shoulders 100%. There needs to be someone else to whom he can say ‘fuck this you do the teamtalk, I’m too pissed off with that shower’ rather than him continually doing all the work. Or someone to lay into them rather than philosophise.
But it’s probably how he likes it, maybe DD had a quiet word in Arsene’s ear in the past when he was getting stuck in a rut, maybe a new CE would be enough.
Saying Wenger is shit and must go, is to ignore the fact that he HAS been phenomenally successful for us in the past – the real question is What has changed between then and now? Is it purely the youth experiment? Is it stuff behind the scenes with the board and the everyday running of the club? Is it Wenger getting stale? Find the answer, and we can start to heal as a club.
I asked this yesterday but got no answer so pease just humour me. IF you were given £15-20m to spend during the summer, and still having the same squad as now, what would be our best team. Everyone is fully fit. Realistically tho!
“Paulinho.
There are none so blind, as those that cannot see.”
Self-awareness is the first sign of perception, which can lead to clinical thinking indpendant of cliche. Well done Raddy. Your on the road to self-discovery. Which might awaken you to the fact that vague terms like leadership have little to do with anything.
We’ve gone from a midfield of Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini to Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson.
There’s your answer. Wenger teams will always be fragile things that look in need of leadership, it’s all about whether ‘our game’ will override those faults. At the moment our game isn’t strong enough.
If want those things you’ve mentioned in the five points, call for a new manager. Maybe you’ll get the box-to-box midfielder under Wenger. That’s it.
Yesterday was very poor, there was a lack of desire all over the field, and I agree wholeheartedly with Pedro’s post, I thought Denilson was good yesterday, and showed that he does have the potential to be a force in the team, just needs that little bit more concentration to add.
As mentioned, Cesc isn’t the kind of player to take the game by the scruff of the neck with dribbling and such. There is 2 players who can, and 1 player is a 16 year old reserve team player who is being shielded even though he appears to be able to handle the pressure. The other is Ramsey.
The Invincibles – not fragile and not lacking in leadership. You can’t be fragile and go a whole season unbeaten. Vieira in that period was the best captain we’ve ever had IMO
pedro /big raddy .
afternoon guys .
how many times have we said about not replacing gilberto/flamini !!????
your five points are bang on but as you say , we,ve all agread that for that last god knows how long .
also , I am afraid I came to the conclusion yesterday that Bentner is just not good enouh for us at this level . yes he was on his own but his first touch is not good enough and he misses easy headers , spent half of the game on the floor .
you have to think a couple of years ago we had th14 and dennis . you can not put bentner anywhere good enough for a club of this size , sorry to say , but he has had enough chances .
i know wenger is the type rant and rave and showt and yell but i think he needs to start doing that,i dont think there they want the title enoughthey dont seam to have the hunger and that distane for loosing that chealsea ,liverpool and manu, say what you like about gallas but i think the rest of players need to be like him i know at times he does potray it well but his complete distaine of loosing lets be frank to loosind is the same as dieing and that his the mentality that is needed at arsenal. what is the use in having all that ability but if you are willing go to likes of hull,stoke and do dirty work and do ever it takes the result,chelsea seam and liverpool clearly are famished for that title and they will do what ever and go where ever and get the result. cesc has been a huge disappointment he the most experiened midfielder and were the hell is he,diaby,delinson and song have played quite well, i do think wenger needs to bring in someone else but it will be to late, arsenal are not win everything until the end of the season are yet to drop more points,its sush a shame for team to have so much ability and not enough heart or backbone we need more players who the total distane of losing
Paulinho
“Wenger teams will always be fragile things that look in need of leadership”
Seaman
Dixon Keown Adams Winterburn
Parlour Vieira Petit Overmars
Bergkamp Wright/Anelka
Lehmann
Lauren Toure Campbell Cole
Ljungberg Vieira Gilberto/Edu Pires
Bergkamp Henry
Nothing wrong with those teams was there – fragility is unfortunately a trait of youth, which is where AW is going wrong at the moment. Someone has to wave those teams of the past in his face and point out the difference between then and now, it’s pretty obvious isn’t it. The club have greedily allowed him to continue pursuing this idea of young players even when we could afford to get quality in, because they knew it would save them a bunch in transfer fees.
Seb
when you look at those teams in terms of wnning mentality , tough , expirience ,
quality . I don,t think we are anywhere near it ,
compare those names to , song , bentner , denilson , eboue , diaby , adebayor ,etc etc .
no comparison .
At present it looks like Arsene is a one man band. There has been a succession of people leaving and not being replaced, both in the team and at board level. Surely this cannot be by design, so it must be by default. I just hope we do not have finish outside of the top 4 before the many problems are addressed. The lack of any urgency at our club seems to stem right from the very top, and therefore, maybe that is where the changes need to start.
Everyone is talking after the horse has boulted.All our deficiencys were visible after the villa game last year and nothing was done in january.RVP and rosicky weren’t even playing then.If money was available we had our best chance in the last 4 years to win the title,and i am including this year.We had another chane to strengthen in the summer with our world wide scouting mission,total money spent with nasri and Ramsey and bischoff(free0 against hleb was fucking 4 million.The famous saying “you can’t win anything with kids” is kicking us right up the arse.Someone is lying,you can’t win a title on a shoestring,yet one doesn’t have to spend 100 million.If wenger cant see the frailities,we are in serious trouble.jan will be too late,unless he starts playing the kids who are hungry,put ramsey,wilshere and Vela and if need be simpson in now,what have we got to lose.
This must be the only site where you can have an argument whilst agreeing with someone
seb age aint got nothing to do withit if you want something bad enough you will do what ever it takes,cesc may 21 but has been playing in prem for 5 years whats his excuse you can only use age as an excuse for so long they want it bad enough , that whats so bad about it seb they are clearly have the ability but whats the use in that if you have not got heart
Was there anyone else at the game that thought the atmosphere was very muted from the start,no idea why.
truth .
i love the champs league and would hate to see us not in it but maybe dare i say it .
it is the kick up the arse needed for this board.
it would also expose the lack of willingness to add to the squad by costing 15 mill
in lost revenue .
eg .
if it is true that we could of got alonso for an extra couple of mill and didnt do it which then costs you 15 mill n lost revenue . thats pretty ficking stupid business !!!!
Absolutely spot on…could not have said it better myself.
The difference between this team and our last is attitude. Henry, Pires, Bergkamp, Vieira, Campbell etc – all world class players – never ever came out on the pitch and thought it was their RIGHT to win. No matter who we faced they fought for every ball.
Our current crop of players are very talented, but without (the right) attitude and genuine leadership on the pitch, what’s the point?
I say now is the time to give our reserve team a run out – not all, but a few. Why not reward Jay Simpson with a game or a cameo off the bench? Why not give Cesc a reality check and drop him for Ramsey who has always looked lively in an Arsenal shirt? And how about buying/or loaning an experienced player in every position in January just so they can teach these kids a thing or two – like how to prepare for games, training and above all attitude.
Our players need to understand that because we fill a 60,000 seat stadium every week and are called Arsenal doesn’t give you the right to win football matches. You can’t win them all but you certainly can’t win if you don’t get your finger out.
The talent is undoubtedly there with our current players – maybe we need one or two defensive minded players to be added to the squad – but who are they going to be? As I said earlier, I think we should get on loan or buy on the cheap experienced 30+ internationals who have been playing at the top for a decade or so. They can teach our kids, just like Adams, Bould, Platt, Dixon, Winterburn did with our last crop of ‘young superstars’.
I love Wenger and his philosophy but he’s a stubborn bastard. He needs to accept that talent and pretty football won’t win in the long haul and you need some grit and experience – not just in football, but in life. I agree, these kids have been earning grands a week since 15 – they need a kick up the arse.
What about that cunt Van Persie getting a new 80k a week contract. He has done fuck all to merit that.
STU i agree 100%. RVP is a useless cunt!!!!
Fabregas overrated?
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg9OEUXD3sc
Keisey/Jules… that is what I find so frustrating, for what would be a modest outlay we could have a much more competitive group. Failure to qualify for a CL spot would be catastrophic for the club finances in terms of lost revenue, and yes I agree, stupid from a business prospective.
What do you guys say to Jack Wilshere being given a runout in league games? Not even as a starter, but just to be an option to come off of the bench?
Stu I agree when I read he could be earning 80k a week I thought 2 myself so how much did Flamini want? VP has done nothing 2 earn a pay-rise what the fuck is going on at this club that U let Flamini go IMO Arsenals most important player last season 4 a player who was on the sick bed 4 the majority of that season…..very confusing.
Great link Metal. Loved it. That video really highlighted that Cesc loved to play a through ball. No1 in the current team ever runs off the ball for him to pick out. All of our strikers always come short for a pass. Cesc is best at picking out runners.
And it looked like he was having fun too. I know that was compiled form alot of diffenent games but this season he looks bored and annoyed that those around him are so shit. I mean Bergkamp and Vieira commenting on him. No1 in the current team deserves to even say their name like!
The off the ball movement of this team isn’t as good as the old Arsenal team of 2000-2004.
I only see that in the kids really, the kids are like the old Arsenal team. And for all their slight frames, they are much stronger than they look, which suggests they can stand up to the bulkier teams.
Agree 100% SDF
I bet Fab would love to play with the kids – he’s still one himself!
Totally agree Sion.
The Kids were playing fast attractive yet effective football. and the second goal was reminiscent of the way the invincibles played, absorb some pressure and hit them on the break. I miss those days.
Ramsey is a tough character, he’s very strong, used to be a rugby player apparently. He’s excellent going forward, but sometimes when he strides forward with the ball, it actually reminds me a tiny bit of Vieira going forward with the ball lol. Randall needs to learn to keep it simple, he’s too hollywood, but other than that, he could be a very useful member of the team. Wilshere is very important though, he can make things happen in the tightest of games, no matter what level he plays, no matter how off-form he is. He can do it, and now aswell. I think it is imperitive that he plays sooner, because I believe he is VERY close to being ready.
Agreed Stu. I haven’t seen Arsenal counter-attack that quickly in a long time. We were at the other end of the field in 5 seconds, remember those days? Pires taking the ball forward…..
That could be Wilshere, or Vela, or even Merida & Nasri. Nasri will get the benifit of the doubt from me because its his first season. Pires wasn’t perfect straight away and neither was Hleb.
Stu- about Your question.
If I was given 20 mln. pounds I would like to buy Cana(15 milion). Sell Senderos and Almunia and Song( plus 5 mln.) and for this money I would buy Zapata. Thats all- and of course Fabianski in goal.
Fabianski
Clichy Gallas Zapata Sagna
Nasri Fabregas Cana Walcott
Ade RVP
What do You think?
Jules …. Sorry it’s taken you so long to see that Bendtner has nothing to give this team ???? Unfortunately Wenger continues to see in him somrthing that us lovers of true football skill no he hasn’t got …. I’d also put Ade in the same boat and ship em both out. All the complaints about Cesc but when you’ve got useless and poor first touch and control strikers up front in Nikki B and Ade it is soul destroying to put all your work in time and time again to see the ball given straight back to the opposition cos your strikers haven’t got the skill and talent to actually keep the ball. And the forward move you’ve just created is coming back at you on the boot of an opposition player that you now have to try to defend. Cesc has had enough of it and there is only so much you can take of creating chances that your strikers aren’t up to and keep wasting time after time. Unfortunately Joel, W
(TO FINISH OFF) Unfortunately Joel Wenger hasn’t come to your conclusion and so he will persist in these rubbish strikers and we’ll finish mid table.
I disagree, I think Bendtner deserves criticism for his recent performances, but in no way is he a bad player. He can be an incredible forward, and he is still only 20, he will grow into a great player soon enough, he just needs good guidance through his bad patch at the moment.
Sorry Jules not Joel.
Wenger will not play our kids in any of premiership matches- so just forget about it. He is telling us that he cares about form of the player, but come on, fabregas will always start ahead of Ramsey and Walcott ahead of Jack Wilshaire, Gallas and Silv. ahead of Djourou. The are just his figureheads/ puppets.
folks,
I know we are all hurting, but the club has to move on. I think we need a new coach, AW will never see that his experiment has hit the rocks
All Wenger’s successful sides had George Graham players in them or at least foreign players who had those values instilled in them by those players. They complimented the technical class of the imports.
This team is the purest vision of Wenger and it reflects him perfectly. Both strengths and weaknesses. If someone like Martin Keown was on the market Wenger would never go for him.
The Invincibles only had two lol. Keown & Parlour. The rest was Wenger (apart from Bergkamp of course).
SDF ….. Sorry but I’ve heard too many times the old chestnut that Bendtner is only 20 or that he needs a run in the side to prove how good he is. As far as age is concerned look again at our 16, 17 18 19 year olds beating Wigan in the week and see the class, footballing skill and talent that they actually show. Bendtner has never shopwn that type of footballing talent because he hasn’t got it. I also think he has had enough games now to show what he can do and what he can do is crap. I’ts like saying a mini might win a grand Prix so keep entering it in the race and one day …… well we all know that one day, like that mini, Bendtner will keep giving the same poor performances because he isn’t capable of giving anything else ……. it just isn’t in him …not good enough.
“or at least foreign players who had those values instilled in them by those players. ”
Can you read properly Sion?
Yes I have now read that, you do kind of have a point, but that comment still in a way undermines the part that Wenger has played in the success of that side.
Mark: Well I still disagree with you, and others who say he doesn’t have it in him, I believe he does, and I am confident that he will prove doubters wrong.
fpolks,
yesterday we had no movement in midfield and attack and we were really pathetic. like a team playing out of its depth, not the team that beat the champions the previous week. Alumina was a disgrace to allow the second goal. Give fabianski his chance now. We also need to play Ramsey for cesc, Wilshire for Theo
Sion, my point is the combination of Wenger technique and Graham grit was a magical one.
Now, it’s unbalanced. Too much of one thing. It’s amazing why Wenger doesn’t seem to acknowledge this despite singing the praises of Keown and Adams etc.
I think the style of play we play now is Wenger’s vision in its purest form and he probably always felt players like Parlour and Keown, no matter how valuable, fell short of realising this vision.
The big problem is the players we have now aren’t even excelling at pass and move, so we’re not particularly good at anything. A mish mash with no discernable purpose or idea in our play.
Confidentgooner
If I was Arsene, I wouldn’t know what to say, I’d have to give them a bollocking for playing so badly. I respect the way that Wenger refuses to publically slate the team, but I’d have to do it in some way, I think they should have to do extra training and learn to have that desire to win every game. They are too safe, the kids have to catch them sooner or later.
the way man city are playing today, unless we improve, we will have the same result next week
OK SDF …. fair enough to disagree but it really concerns me that as the seasons go by and we continue with, what I see as poor talent, we will not be able to attract the big names and true talent (that we desperately need) to come and play with mediocrity at Arsenal. Do you think we really have the luxury of time????