The myriad football forums and message boards on the internet do not make pleasant reading for Arsenal fans. With the exception of a few doughty souls, those with the will to pass comment speak in unison: Arsenal are a team on the slide.
Our best days are behind us, we are told. Our team is too young. Our new stadium has crippled us financially making us unable to compete in the transfer market.
We are, apparently, no longer a top team. We will soon be relegated to a meagre existence of UEFA Cup football, unable to gorge on the luxuriant delights served on Europe’s top table. In our place will be everyone’s new favourite second team: Aston Villa.
Villa are loved almost as much as Arsenal are despised. Crudely, this is because Aston Villa, unlike Arsenal, have the celebrated “English core”. You see, you can’t win anything with pampered foreign pansies. Some people want nothing more than to see the stoic English lionhearts put one over the cheese-eating surrender monkeys.
What interests me is whether the doom-mongers and gleeful opposition fans are right? How much of the talk can be put down to sledging tactics, media hyperbole and latent xenophobia, and how much is sound judgement based on good evidence?
Honestly, I think there’s little of substance in all the chatter.
Clearly, Arsenal have had a poor season. Their underachievement is marked against a previous season in which the club flirted with success and is highlighted still further by the strides made my Villa in the current campaign.
Much of this poor form can be attributed to bad luck with injuries. To be without four key attacking outlets – Rosicky, Fabregas, Walcott and Eduardo – for significant lengths of time is something the manager could not legislate for.
This lack of potency is evidenced by a worrying goal drought and partly explains the club’s decision to depart from the established transfer strategy and spend big on the relatively ancient Andrei Arshavin.
In addition to the unforeseen problems, there are problems that Wenger has brought on himself. Even my pet mole could see that last season's progress was founded largely on the superb midfield combination of Fabregas and Flamini… or Fabini… or Flabregas.
Flamini’s tireless running and tackling gave Fabregas the time and space to work his magic. Given the opportunity to get his head up, Fabregas was able to pick out the willing runs of Adebayor and Eduardo time and time again. The supply line was so bountiful that the naturally profligate Adebayor was able to plunder 30 goals.
Wenger clearly did not expect Flamini to leave – I’m sure he would have held on to Diarra otherwise. Yet once it became clear that Flamini was to accept the advances of Milan, Wenger should have made it his number one priority to find a suitable replacement.
If reports are to be believed, Wenger did indeed try to find a successor in the form of either Gokhan Inler or Xabi Alonso. However he made it clear that he would not pay over the odds for his man, assuring us that he had confidence in the players already at the club to rise to the challenge.
Though he would never admit it, that confidence appears to have been misplaced. Perhaps in contrast to the majority, I actually think Diaby and Denilson – the two players most frequently deployed in defensive midfield this season – are both good players. In fact, I’ve seen enough to think they have the potential to be great players.
That said, I don’t think they are very good defensive midfielders. Denilson does not have the physicality to defend and Diaby does not have the inclination. Had Wenger purchased the right kind of player to partner Cesc, the season may have been different.
Wenger would also have done well to purchase a real battering ram of a defender. Like good centre-mid partnerships, a good defensive pairing will compliment each other's talents. One to get to every first ball and one to mop up and bring the ball out of defence. Arsenal have several players who fit into the second mould but none who fit into the first.
Given these problems, why do I think the prognostications of demise are premature?
Well, simply, because the problems Arsenal have are easily remedied. There is clearly a lot of talent, both current and future. All that is needed are a number of choice acquisitions in the positions already mentioned. Given what the team nearly achieved last season, there is no reason to think they cannot do one better once the deficiencies are properly addressed.
The team may be hard pushed to make the Champions League this season given Villa’s relentless form, but Villa’s form must be seen for exactly what it is: form.
Things can change very quickly in football and there’s no reason to think Villa have what it takes to permanently deprive Arsenal of their top four status. Class, as they say, is permanent, and people are quick to dismiss the fact that Arsenal’s success is build on years of experience in the top echelons of the league.
Financially too the club is extremely well managed. The new stadium may have required a tightening of the belt, but the loan repayments are manageable. Just like a homeowner repaying a mortgage, Arsenal still have disposable income. What is more, this is income generated by the club itself and not gifted by a wealthy benefactor.
Unlike like Leeds, the club’s business model is not dependent on Champions League qualification. Although the loss of the Champions League revenue would be harmful, it would not be mortal.
People have suggested the greatest danger would not be loss of income but the loss of prestige and the loss of players that would result in failure to reach Europe’s premier club competition. There is always this possibility, but I’m confident that Arsenal’s players would choose to stay.
Firstly, they would shoulder some of the blame for the club’s failure to qualify and I think professional pride would motivate them to stay and put the record straight.
Secondly, the majority of Arsenal’s players are young enough that a season out of the Champions League would not be a disaster. If the team failed to qualify for successive seasons, the situation would change.
There are recent precedents in the form of Bayern Munich and AC Milan that a single season without Champions League is not fatal. Indeed, Bayern Munich successfully recruited Franck Ribery and Luca Toni without the lure of Champions League football and Milan captured both Flamini and Ronaldinho.
If Arsenal continue to adopt a long-term prudential strategy there is no reason to think they will go the way of Leeds and every reason to think that they will resist the challenge from below and get back to challenging for domestic and European honours.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Sue Barker fellating a dolphin...
I’m not a fan of cannabis. It just doesn’t really do it for me. I have had plenty of good times after hitting up the cheeba, but these days, more often than not, the effect is unwelcome.
I’m not prone to involuntary facial contortions and maniacal flailing of the limbs whilst babbling uncontrollably about the people who are quite clearly out to get me, but I do feel as though the slight heady feeling from a few puffs of the funky stuff does not adequately compensate for the self-loathing and crushing paranoia.
That being said, I appreciate that this is merely my personal experience. Some people clearly enjoy the effects of "blazing the chronic". I don’t presume to tell these people how they ought to live – especially as the pastime has minimal impact on me and everyone else.
The sanctimonious finger-pointers who get high on a homegrown strain of holier-than-thou smuggery while blowing caustic smoke in the faces of the less pious are an odious bunch of self-congratulatory hate-pushers. Keep your damn noses out of other people’s business!
It is with this in mind that I address the recent scandal over Michael Phelps. Here is a man who is considered a national hero for what he did in Beijing.
I think perhaps the media may have gone a tad overboard with the eulogising – the BBC’s coverage stopped just short of Sue Barker openly fellating Phelps as Stevie Cram massaged his cetacean sack to bursting point. Yet whichever way you looked at it, eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games is an incredible achievement.
Should a man who has achieved so much be so readily castigated for so minor an indiscretion? Is it even an indiscretion? Setting aside the legal issues, surely Michael Phelps deserves to unwind in whichever way he sees fit – he’s earned the right.
Of course, the reason for people’s indignation is exactly because Phelps is a national hero. He is an American poster boy, an embodiment of the way America views itself. His story illustrates what can be achieved through hard work and determination – the quintessential American Dream.
But just as his successes are America’s successes, so his ‘failure’ is America’s failure. Is this fair? No, of course not, but that’s reality. Phelps has learned the hard way that with his status as an American idol comes the unrealistic – perhaps unattainable – expectation of moral piety.
I’m not prone to involuntary facial contortions and maniacal flailing of the limbs whilst babbling uncontrollably about the people who are quite clearly out to get me, but I do feel as though the slight heady feeling from a few puffs of the funky stuff does not adequately compensate for the self-loathing and crushing paranoia.
That being said, I appreciate that this is merely my personal experience. Some people clearly enjoy the effects of "blazing the chronic". I don’t presume to tell these people how they ought to live – especially as the pastime has minimal impact on me and everyone else.
The sanctimonious finger-pointers who get high on a homegrown strain of holier-than-thou smuggery while blowing caustic smoke in the faces of the less pious are an odious bunch of self-congratulatory hate-pushers. Keep your damn noses out of other people’s business!
It is with this in mind that I address the recent scandal over Michael Phelps. Here is a man who is considered a national hero for what he did in Beijing.
I think perhaps the media may have gone a tad overboard with the eulogising – the BBC’s coverage stopped just short of Sue Barker openly fellating Phelps as Stevie Cram massaged his cetacean sack to bursting point. Yet whichever way you looked at it, eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games is an incredible achievement.
Should a man who has achieved so much be so readily castigated for so minor an indiscretion? Is it even an indiscretion? Setting aside the legal issues, surely Michael Phelps deserves to unwind in whichever way he sees fit – he’s earned the right.
Of course, the reason for people’s indignation is exactly because Phelps is a national hero. He is an American poster boy, an embodiment of the way America views itself. His story illustrates what can be achieved through hard work and determination – the quintessential American Dream.
But just as his successes are America’s successes, so his ‘failure’ is America’s failure. Is this fair? No, of course not, but that’s reality. Phelps has learned the hard way that with his status as an American idol comes the unrealistic – perhaps unattainable – expectation of moral piety.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Stupid people
Turning away from the endless and rather tiresome rants about football, I want to pick up on a point raised by my friend and erstwhile class-mate Charlie, in his fantabuluously well scripted blog charlie farlie's boozy thursdays (http://boozythursdays.blogspot.com/).
In his There’s no business like Snow Business entry from February 4th, he talks, among other things, about the crippling negativity that seems to have infected our nation.
On a day in which London’s children – and many of its “adults”, such as me – awoke spellbound, desperate to cling to the one outpost of joy amid the procession of gloom that has swept over this country in recent months, the main news items were all about disgruntled commuters who couldn’t get to work and the damage that would be done to our already ailing economy.
This is to be expected. Plainly, disaster sells. What annoyed me, however, as Charlie points out, is how stupid some people are.
I heard one woman say on the Ten O’clock News: “It’s ridiculous, it’s like we’re living in a third world country.”
No it’s not, you insufferable ignoramus. What’s the point in having expensive contingency plans for something that very rarely happens? It’d be like carrying round a fully-functional bionic limb in your handbag just in case your leg decides to fall off.
Of course it’s frustrating to be thwarted by factors outside of ones control, but surely there are better things to be annoyed about than having to take a day off work.
In his There’s no business like Snow Business entry from February 4th, he talks, among other things, about the crippling negativity that seems to have infected our nation.
On a day in which London’s children – and many of its “adults”, such as me – awoke spellbound, desperate to cling to the one outpost of joy amid the procession of gloom that has swept over this country in recent months, the main news items were all about disgruntled commuters who couldn’t get to work and the damage that would be done to our already ailing economy.
This is to be expected. Plainly, disaster sells. What annoyed me, however, as Charlie points out, is how stupid some people are.
I heard one woman say on the Ten O’clock News: “It’s ridiculous, it’s like we’re living in a third world country.”
No it’s not, you insufferable ignoramus. What’s the point in having expensive contingency plans for something that very rarely happens? It’d be like carrying round a fully-functional bionic limb in your handbag just in case your leg decides to fall off.
Of course it’s frustrating to be thwarted by factors outside of ones control, but surely there are better things to be annoyed about than having to take a day off work.
Arshavin' a laugh?
On Sunday night, as Mother Nature unfurled her wondrous white robe over our nation’s capital, grinding it to an abrupt halt; a small part of North London was a hive of activity, frantically trying to conclude the most protracted transfer saga in the history of Arsenal Football Club.
Finally, on Tuesday February 3rd, after a month of hot air and unrelenting media attention, and almost 24 hours after the transfer deadline had passed, the marathon game of brinkmanship was over. Arsenal announced they had signed Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg.
The question is, does it represent a sensible piece of business?
Had you asked me the question six or so weeks ago, I might have been inclined to say no. Limited funds mean Arsenal must prioritise, and, although Arshavin is an excellent player, our main problems six weeks ago were most certainly defensive.
To be sure, this deficiency still exists. We still require a midfield metronome to replace the tireless Mathieu Flamini – and we could also do with another top centre back. However, these are no longer the priority.
Over the past month and a half, the biggest threat to our top-four status has changed from being our defensive ineptitude to an offensive impotence.
This is not just about scoring goals, which is linked to confidence and can sometimes be a problem. Now, worryingly, we struggle even to create chances. For a team that used to be the most dynamic in the league, this is a major worry.
To be fair, a lot of it is simply bad luck. How would other teams fare without the likes of Rosicky, Walcott, Fabregas, Eduardo and now Diaby? Would Liverpool have reached the league summit without Gerrard, Alonso and Riera? One doubts it.
However, this doesn’t change the position we are in now. We’re failing to make ground on Aston Villa because we’re not able to break down inferior opposition. We need to start making chances and scoring goals, and in the absence of those mentioned above, Arshavin looks a good bet.
People have questioned what will happen when everyone comes back, but I’d suggest that having a selection problem like that is a good problem to have. It keeps everyone on their toes. Some players – most obviously Adebayor – could do with having to look over their shoulder every so often.
This season is pretty much a write-off, but next season, if we strengthen in the other areas noted, looks promising.
Although we have spent significantly on Arshavin, the deal represents very good value for money, and there should still be money in the bank for some more typical Wenger buys during the summer. This should be made easier with the installation of new Chief Exec Ivan Gazidis.
Finally, on Tuesday February 3rd, after a month of hot air and unrelenting media attention, and almost 24 hours after the transfer deadline had passed, the marathon game of brinkmanship was over. Arsenal announced they had signed Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg.
The question is, does it represent a sensible piece of business?
Had you asked me the question six or so weeks ago, I might have been inclined to say no. Limited funds mean Arsenal must prioritise, and, although Arshavin is an excellent player, our main problems six weeks ago were most certainly defensive.
To be sure, this deficiency still exists. We still require a midfield metronome to replace the tireless Mathieu Flamini – and we could also do with another top centre back. However, these are no longer the priority.
Over the past month and a half, the biggest threat to our top-four status has changed from being our defensive ineptitude to an offensive impotence.
This is not just about scoring goals, which is linked to confidence and can sometimes be a problem. Now, worryingly, we struggle even to create chances. For a team that used to be the most dynamic in the league, this is a major worry.
To be fair, a lot of it is simply bad luck. How would other teams fare without the likes of Rosicky, Walcott, Fabregas, Eduardo and now Diaby? Would Liverpool have reached the league summit without Gerrard, Alonso and Riera? One doubts it.
However, this doesn’t change the position we are in now. We’re failing to make ground on Aston Villa because we’re not able to break down inferior opposition. We need to start making chances and scoring goals, and in the absence of those mentioned above, Arshavin looks a good bet.
People have questioned what will happen when everyone comes back, but I’d suggest that having a selection problem like that is a good problem to have. It keeps everyone on their toes. Some players – most obviously Adebayor – could do with having to look over their shoulder every so often.
This season is pretty much a write-off, but next season, if we strengthen in the other areas noted, looks promising.
Although we have spent significantly on Arshavin, the deal represents very good value for money, and there should still be money in the bank for some more typical Wenger buys during the summer. This should be made easier with the installation of new Chief Exec Ivan Gazidis.
Back in the game
I've been away from the blogging for a while on account of my single-minded pursuit of NCTJ glory. Having now completed exams and simply awaiting results, I am left with the even more miserable prospect of having to find a job.
This isn't going particularly well at present but at least I can allay the boredom by waxing lyrical about stuff that no-one has any interest in reading! Great!
This isn't going particularly well at present but at least I can allay the boredom by waxing lyrical about stuff that no-one has any interest in reading! Great!
Friday, 12 December 2008
Ebooing hints at much larger issue
This whole thing is really quite a thorny issue. It’s never nice to boo someone and, I have to say, I felt so sorry for Eboue watching him trudge off to the chorus cheers that greeted his substitution. He looked on the verge of tears.
That said, he does himself absolutely no favours. Cristiano Ronaldo gets away with being an obnoxious little **** because he’s an amazing player, however even amongst United fans he’s far from being a fans’ favourite. In fact, just the other day a friend was telling me that he and his son – both United fans – had ‘gone off’ Ronaldo.
If even the great Ronaldo can’t command the unquestioned adulation of the crowd, what hope for poor old Eboue? If Ronaldo, suddenly, unbelievably, started playing consistently poorly – as poorly as Eboue – it wouldn’t be long before the United faithful told him exactly what they thought of his diving, whinging and overall petulance.
For the record, I actually don’t think Eboue is that bad a player. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s got decent control and I’ve often been surprised (in a good way) by his dribbling abilities. Lest we forget, it was only a few seasons ago that he was being talked about as the best right back in the country. I distinctly remember that he was an absolute must for every fantasy football team.
In my opinion he is still capable of performing well as a right wing-back, and should be used as such, but for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll be around for much longer. He has not really got the ability or the temperament to turn the situation around for himself. He’ll be looking for an exit in January.
Clearly, though, the booing was much bigger than Eboue. It was about a crowd venting its frustration about having to pay top dollar week in, week out, to see a team consistently underperform, against ‘inferior’ opposition, and fail to address the situation by not dipping into the reputedly rather healthy war chest to buy some desperately needed reinforcements.
It was about a manager who, though a genius, is, like so many others, a flawed example of his craft. Wenger has become so mentally and emotionally invested in his project that he now fails to see what seems obvious to those looking in. The wood for the trees, you might say.
That said, he does himself absolutely no favours. Cristiano Ronaldo gets away with being an obnoxious little **** because he’s an amazing player, however even amongst United fans he’s far from being a fans’ favourite. In fact, just the other day a friend was telling me that he and his son – both United fans – had ‘gone off’ Ronaldo.
If even the great Ronaldo can’t command the unquestioned adulation of the crowd, what hope for poor old Eboue? If Ronaldo, suddenly, unbelievably, started playing consistently poorly – as poorly as Eboue – it wouldn’t be long before the United faithful told him exactly what they thought of his diving, whinging and overall petulance.
For the record, I actually don’t think Eboue is that bad a player. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s got decent control and I’ve often been surprised (in a good way) by his dribbling abilities. Lest we forget, it was only a few seasons ago that he was being talked about as the best right back in the country. I distinctly remember that he was an absolute must for every fantasy football team.
In my opinion he is still capable of performing well as a right wing-back, and should be used as such, but for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll be around for much longer. He has not really got the ability or the temperament to turn the situation around for himself. He’ll be looking for an exit in January.
Clearly, though, the booing was much bigger than Eboue. It was about a crowd venting its frustration about having to pay top dollar week in, week out, to see a team consistently underperform, against ‘inferior’ opposition, and fail to address the situation by not dipping into the reputedly rather healthy war chest to buy some desperately needed reinforcements.
It was about a manager who, though a genius, is, like so many others, a flawed example of his craft. Wenger has become so mentally and emotionally invested in his project that he now fails to see what seems obvious to those looking in. The wood for the trees, you might say.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Captain Fabulous may herald turn in fortunes
I was supposed to have written something for Arsenal-Land last Monday, but a combination of extra college work, excessive play and my second job – moonlighting as a body double for David Beckham – forced me to admit defeat.
What I failed to consider at the time was the huge difference in tone delaying my regular contribution would have. After an away day at the once impregnable Stamford Bridge, I was preparing myself to inject yet more gloom into the bloated carcass of despair that has hovered menacingly above the Emirates in recent weeks.
What I got, in case I’d forgotten, was the perfect illustration of a why a week is such a long time in football. A vital, if unconvincing, victory to book a place in the knockout stages of the Champion’s League, and an unbelievable turnaround from a goal down to beat Chelsea, has gone some way to relieving the disheartening prospect of being out of the title race before Christmas.
There can be no question that Arsenal benefitted from some contentious refereeing decisions (it makes a change!) but the players also deserve immense credit. After the previous week’s humiliating capitulation against Man City, you would have been hard pressed to find a single person – Arsenal fan or otherwise – who thought a second half comeback against Chelsea was a realistic possibility.
What was amazing – dodgy linesman aside – was that once Arsenal got the equaliser, they suddenly looked like a team reborn. Certainly they looked the more likely winners.
Van Persie’s second came only three minutes after his first and thereafter priority shifted to defence and keeping the Premier League’s leading scorers at bay for the remaining half-hour.
Such a situation usually brings out the worst in us, but, bizarrely, the nervy, error strewn panic that tends to characterise an Arsenal rearguard performance never materialised. This may have had something to do with Chelsea’s strange but welcome loss of confidence, but there are also signs that the ascension of Fabregas to Club captain is having a galvanising effect.
We must not get ahead of ourselves – we have only seen two games and false dawns have been a feature of this season – but there are some causes for optimism. Not least has been the response of the deposed William Gallas and the partnership he looks capable of forming with the hitherto underappreciated Johan Djourou. I was also impressed with the midfield bite injected by Alex Song.
Another encouraging sign was the way Van Persie took his goals and the scenes of jubilation that followed. It suggests there is still plenty of confidence, belief and desire within the camp. What they must do now is build on this result starting at Burnley on Tuesday night and continuing at home against Wigan next weekend. Following this win up with a defeat as they did after the Man United victory would be terminal.
A few good results, however, should not blind us to the very real problems Arsenal still have. I believe the manager would be committing a grave error if he again declines the option to buy in January. There is enough to build on at Arsenal, but build he must.
What I failed to consider at the time was the huge difference in tone delaying my regular contribution would have. After an away day at the once impregnable Stamford Bridge, I was preparing myself to inject yet more gloom into the bloated carcass of despair that has hovered menacingly above the Emirates in recent weeks.
What I got, in case I’d forgotten, was the perfect illustration of a why a week is such a long time in football. A vital, if unconvincing, victory to book a place in the knockout stages of the Champion’s League, and an unbelievable turnaround from a goal down to beat Chelsea, has gone some way to relieving the disheartening prospect of being out of the title race before Christmas.
There can be no question that Arsenal benefitted from some contentious refereeing decisions (it makes a change!) but the players also deserve immense credit. After the previous week’s humiliating capitulation against Man City, you would have been hard pressed to find a single person – Arsenal fan or otherwise – who thought a second half comeback against Chelsea was a realistic possibility.
What was amazing – dodgy linesman aside – was that once Arsenal got the equaliser, they suddenly looked like a team reborn. Certainly they looked the more likely winners.
Van Persie’s second came only three minutes after his first and thereafter priority shifted to defence and keeping the Premier League’s leading scorers at bay for the remaining half-hour.
Such a situation usually brings out the worst in us, but, bizarrely, the nervy, error strewn panic that tends to characterise an Arsenal rearguard performance never materialised. This may have had something to do with Chelsea’s strange but welcome loss of confidence, but there are also signs that the ascension of Fabregas to Club captain is having a galvanising effect.
We must not get ahead of ourselves – we have only seen two games and false dawns have been a feature of this season – but there are some causes for optimism. Not least has been the response of the deposed William Gallas and the partnership he looks capable of forming with the hitherto underappreciated Johan Djourou. I was also impressed with the midfield bite injected by Alex Song.
Another encouraging sign was the way Van Persie took his goals and the scenes of jubilation that followed. It suggests there is still plenty of confidence, belief and desire within the camp. What they must do now is build on this result starting at Burnley on Tuesday night and continuing at home against Wigan next weekend. Following this win up with a defeat as they did after the Man United victory would be terminal.
A few good results, however, should not blind us to the very real problems Arsenal still have. I believe the manager would be committing a grave error if he again declines the option to buy in January. There is enough to build on at Arsenal, but build he must.
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