Arsènal FC - 09/10 Season Thread

Ray Parlour wrote:I wouldn't be opposed to that Prof but that is the last place that needs strengthening and for those two we need to be edging close towards £30 million which I can't see.

Wenger's been experimenting quite a bit but I think we'll still be the 4-4-2 for the meanwhile.

I'd like a CM and CB before concentrating on the forward areas.

As said before I trust Arsene.

L r dd wrote:

The Professor wrote: at the nonsense spouted on the previous 2 pages.

There are no good players left at Arsenal save 1 or 2

Don't get wrong, I have been very disappointed with our transfer activity so far, but some of those comments were just way over the top.

They really are not. Arsenal have 5-6 very good/greatish players but all of them in the main have qualities that are purely attacking. You wont win anything like this. Staying in the top 4 would now be a successful season. That's how far you've sunk.

Rosicky wrote:Wenger has done a great job of lowering the fans expectations every year, and getting away with it.

I think most Arsenal fans will be happy if we hold onto 4th this year

The Professor wrote:

L r dd wrote:

The Professor wrote: at the nonsense spouted on the previous 2 pages.

There are no good players left at Arsenal save 1 or 2

Don't get wrong, I have been very disappointed with our transfer activity so far, but some of those comments were just way over the top.

They really are not. Arsenal have 5-6 very good/greatish players but all of them in the main have qualities that are purely attacking. You wont win anything like this. Staying in the top 4 would now be a successful season. That's how far you've sunk.

Our fullbacks are two of the best in their position. If u write off Clichy for his last season's performance, then do the same for Evra.

Gallas in one of the top CBs in the world.

Almunia is a very good goalkeeper despite what pundits or other fans think of him.

Vermaelen is decent and may prove to be exactly what we need at the back. We'll see. Then there's Djourou who might finally cement a place in the starting 11.

4 of our back 5 were part of the team that nearly won the league two seasons ago, If u are going to say they are no longer good enough on the basis of last season's performance, then do that. I know they are good enough, they just have to play better than they did last season.

The Professor wrote:

Our midfield 3 comprised of Song, Fabregas and Denilson. Fab looked to have a free role, sometimes it looked like he was playing a little bit deeper than Song and Denilson, another times he was playing ahead of them making runs into the box(one of them resulted in the goal). I was very impressed with them; they defended very well and played neat one twos through hannover, they dominated that area. Hannover even deployed an extra man in there and tried to play a little bit physical, but they remained 2nd best.
.

L r dd wrote:

The Professor wrote:

L r dd wrote:

The Professor wrote: at the nonsense spouted on the previous 2 pages.

There are no good players left at Arsenal save 1 or 2

Don't get wrong, I have been very disappointed with our transfer activity so far, but some of those comments were just way over the top.

They really are not. Arsenal have 5-6 very good/greatish players but all of them in the main have qualities that are purely attacking. You wont win anything like this. Staying in the top 4 would now be a successful season. That's how far you've sunk.

Our fullbacks are two of the best in their position. If u write off Clichy for his last season's performance, then do the same for Evra.

Gallas in one of the top CBs in the world.

Almunia is a very good goalkeeper despite what pundits or other fans think of him.

Vermaelen is decent and may prove to be exactly what we need at the back. We'll see. Then there's Djourou who might finally cement a place in the starting 11.

4 of our back 5 were part of the team that nearly won the league two seasons ago, If u are going to say they are no longer good enough on the basis of last season's performance, then do that. I know they are good enough, they just have to play better than they did last season.

So you're dismissing the bad season but remembering the good one. That's a bit um cheeky listen Djourou what the fuck. This is a young decent defender he is not somebody you think of when you think of top defenders he's hardly the best prospect around.

You had a good season two seasons ago but judge it on the whole you won nothing and you came third. A season is not till march. you've nothing in years with these players you mention.

Now Verma who i never heard of the bloke. Is he near a Vidic Rio Agger skrtel terry carvalho alex hell no. Gallas was one of the top CB's. Not sure anymore.

Alumunia is the worst keeper of the top 4 by some distance. Evra got in team of the season last year, Clichy was promising but always suspect in some aspects defensivly and last season even more than usual. And Sagna is a good right back but again i wouldn't say one of the best in the world on the back of one very good season two years ago.

The team is not good enough we'll disagree if you think it is and we'll see when it comes round. But im sure you don't expect to win the title really if you're honest.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must now spend some money, or provide some answers

Another week, another high-profile departure from Arsenal - at this rate the club will have sold off the tea lady and ball boys come August 15. The revolving door at the Emirates must be hanging off its hinges by now such is the alacrity of this summer’s departures, and with Emmanuel Eboue set to follow Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré out of north London next week, the Arsenal squad is suddenly looking weaker than at any other point in Arsène Wenger’s reign.

The Emirates bloodletting must stop. Enough is enough. Wenger must either spend some of the £50m that is coming Arsenal’s way or announce that the club’s well of money has run dry. No more talk about the potential of his young squad. Some have potential, while some - such as Abou Diaby - simply cannot cut it. The fans want signings and if they do not get them, they deserve answers.

As with the Adebayor transfer, I think Wenger has done good business by selling Touré. The Ivorian has been a magnificent servant to the club, and he will missed by many supporters, but in truth his best years are behind him. It will be a sad day for many Arsenal fans to see the last member of the Invincibles of 2003-04 leave, but with one year left on his contract, £14million represents a good price for a player that will miss around a month of the season when he departs for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

However, Wenger’s intimation that he has enough defenders to cushion the loss of Touré is farcical. He may have enough defenders, but certainly not top-quality defenders. Beyond William Gallas - who is unlikely to extend his deal when it expires next summer - who is there? Thomas Vermaelen is unproven in the Premier League, Wenger is open to offers for Phillipe Senderos, Johan Djourou has potential but needs more time, Alex Song is a defensive midfielder and Mikael Silvestre is just dreadful.

Wenger must know he has to invest in a commanding centre-half. The Arsenal manager has never fully replaced Sol Campbell and must now bring in an experienced, proven defender, one who can bring leadership to the backline. The Frenchman must also address the glaring lack of a world-class defensive midfielder in his squad, too.

Unless the club’s finances are much more parlous than previously thought, the money should be there to make the two additions that would significantly strengthen the team. They only need two, top-quality additions to become a real force again and Wenger will surely appreciate that.

Arsenal fans have been patient with the Frenchman in recent years, despite the conspicuous lack of success, aware that he is working within a tight budget with serious constraints. But if the money that he has banked this summer is not being made available to him, then he should admit it. There is no need to protect the board anymore, especially when it is Wenger who will bear the brunt of the fans’ ire if things go wrong.

I would hate to see Wenger made the fall guy by supporters if he does not sign anyone and Arsenal start the season poorly, all because he is too principled to reveal the full extent of the contraints placed upon him. He must come out all guns blazing, either in the transfer market or in explanation of the club’s fiscal position. After all he has done for the club, the Frenchman must not be allowed to fall on his sword just to protect those above him.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/robkelly/100000907/arsenal-manager-Arsène-wenger-must-now-spend-some-money-or-provide-some-answers/

The Professor wrote:

Ray Parlour wrote:I wouldn't be opposed to that Prof but that is the last place that needs strengthening and for those two we need to be edging close towards £30 million which I can't see.

Wenger's been experimenting quite a bit but I think we'll still be the 4-4-2 for the meanwhile.

I'd like a CM and CB before concentrating on the forward areas.

As said before I trust Arsene.

We played 4-3-3 again yesterday. I think we've only played 4-4-2 once in one half in the whole of pre season so far.

About the game yesterday, our 1st half performance was excellent. The fluidity of our play was a joy to watch. We played a front 3 of Arshavin---RVP--Bendtner, yes RVP as the lone striker(think he'll surprise a lot in that role this season) and it worked a treat. They were constantly moving and switching positions.

Our midfield 3 comprised of Song, Fabregas and Denilson. Fab looked to have a free role, sometimes it looked like he was playing a little bit deeper than Song and Denilson, another times he was playing ahead of them making runs into the box(one of them resulted in the goal). I was very impressed with them; they defended very well and played neat one twos through hannover, they dominated that area. Hannover even deployed an extra man in there and tried to play a little bit physical, but they remained 2nd best.

The Gallas-Vermaelen partnership looked quite promising, and I have a feeling it will grow into a very solid one this season.

Second half though was disappointing. We made some changes and we didn't look half as fluid and cohesive as we did in the 1st half. Djourou-Vermaelen didn't look solid together. They struggled to deal with the same types of balls that caused us problems last season ie a simple ball behind them or a ball over the top was enough to cause confusion in the area. I think it was their 1st game together, so maybe it was to be expected.

All in all not a bad performance, 1st half performance was very encouraging.

Ray Parlour wrote:By the way any news on Rosicky? He hasn't really performed in many games since the Curtain raiser against Barnet.

Wenger in no rush to strengthen

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he will not rush to spend the money raised from the sales of Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Wenger has generated in the region of £40m from the transfers but has made only one summer signing so far, Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax for £10m.

"I feel we are strong enough but if we can add then we will do it," Wenger told the club's official website.

"In England, people think all problems can be sorted out by buying players."

Arsenal have been linked with a host of players this summer but Wenger says the club are not "close to signing anyone at the moment".

Defenders Brede Hangeland of Fulham and Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong as well as strikers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of Real Madrid, Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh, have been linked with moves to the Emirates Stadium.

Former skipper Patrick Vieira, 33, is also rumoured to be on Wenger's radar after falling out of favour at Inter Milan.

"We have money available so for us it is now (important) to spend it in the right way when we do it or if we do it," added Wenger after Arsenal's 1-0 friendly win over German side Hannover on Wednesday.

The lack of summer signings, the departures of defender Toure and striker Adebayor and the serious injury to Samir Nasri has put the spotlight on the club's transfer policy.

The Gunners lost out in their bid to sign Felipe Melo from Fiorentina, with the Brazil midfielder opting to sign for Juventus instead.

Since moving to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, the Gunners boss has focused on nurturing young players rather than capturing experienced stars.

The likes of Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb have all left the club while Wenger has developed the talent of youngsters such as Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.

But Arsenal are without a trophy since 2005 and finished a distant fourth in the Premier League last season, leading to a lively shareholders meeting back in May at which Wenger criticised the negativity of the Emirates crowd.

Ray Parlour wrote:De Rossi is now next in line. Matuidi is also back on the agenda

The suggestion that Wenger is prepared to bring his former captain Patrick Vieira back to the club has been privately dismissed, although it would now appear that the Internazionale player has decided against a move to Arsenal's rivals Tottenham.

After an informal approach from Harry Redknapp last month, Vieira had expressed a willingness last month to explore the move but he has since changed his mind. Subsequently, Vieira, 33, had hoped that rather than spoil his reputation as an Arsenal great by joining Tottenham he would like to return to the club where he made his name.

That was communicated to Wenger, who sold the player to Juventus in 2005, but the message that came back to Vieira was that Arsenal were not interested in a deal.

Ray Parlour wrote:I will explode with joy if we sign De Rossi.

WTF?! How much are holding out for Eboue?

Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud has taken a phone call from Arsene Wenger in regards to Marouane Chamakh.

The Arsenal boss made contact with the Ligue 1 champions during the club's recent pre-season trip to Canada.

The Gunners are in the market for a new striker following the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.

Moroccan ace Chamakh has subsequently been strongly linked with the Premier League outfit, while Wenger has revealed his admiration for the talented 25-year-old.

The French coach has now sounded out the player's availability, but Triaud admits an imminent agreement with Arsenal is far from guaranteed.

"Wenger has called me," he told L'Equipe.

"He told me he has a list of forwards and Marouane is one of the names on it.

"However, I expect this could be a complex case which could become a soap opera."

borocooper wrote:Held him off, not really a push.

For a long time, Arsene was a resolute 4-4-2 man. Recent years have seen him experiment with 4-5-1, 4-1-4-1, and even 4-2-3-1. In each of those experimentations, the system has appeared to be a step backwards: a negative, defensive effort to prop up our weakening midfield.

This pre-season, however, Arsene has taken a somewhat radical step. In all of our pre-season friendlies (bar the opening game at Barnet), he has fielded a 4-3-3 system akin to the Catalan side. This culminated in a solid first-half performance against Hannover on in midweek, with Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin playing either side of a central Robin van Persie. Cesc Fabregas started alongside Alex Song and Denilson in the midfield, and it worked a treat for the only goal of the game - Bendtner’s ball from the right brought under control by Van Persie, who turned and played in the forward-rushing Fabregas to score.

It’s not difficult to fathom Arsene’s thinking: we have a surplus of attacking players, so fitting three into the system is obviously beneficial. Furthermore, we currently lack the Flamini-style midfield player required to allow Cesc to flourish in a 4-4-2. As far as existing partnerships go, Denilson and Cesc lacks power, Nasri and Cesc lacks tackling ability, and Song and Cesc remains relatively untested and seems somewhat undynamic. Using three central midfield players allows Arsene to cover more bases.

I could look very silly if tomorrow we commence our Emirates Cup campain with a traditional 4-4-2. The indications, however, are that we will persist with this new formation - both this weekend and in the future. There’s no need to pinpoint which individuals will play where - part of the system’s beauty is its fluidity.

It’s this shift in tactical intentions that gives the tiniest bit of credence to those Patrick Vieira rumours. It’s far easier to imagine the elderly Paddy sitting at the back of a midfield three than striding around in a pair. That said, I maintain that I’d be absolutely flabbergasted were this to amount to anything.